In Virginia

Well, we're here! We drove all day Monday (last week) and got here in the evening. Things have been crazy, but I'm finally able to hop on and post a bit.

Baby- is off to a flying start with her walking. Literally. She stands up, and then hurls herself forward, landing face-first with a painful-sounding thud, only to repeat it until she reaches her desired destination. (I must point out that this was only attempted once on Grandma's tile floors). She somewhat resembles a clumsy frog.

Didi- is in love . . . with Grandma and Grandpa's dog, Tori. Tori is a Great Dane, and weighs about 150 right now. Didi is tipping the scale at about 21 lbs. So they make quite the pair. Tori is very patient with Didi, and puts up with her constant attention. Didi gives her hugs, leans on her, pats her, and blows her kisses. A few days ago, she wandered off, and when I found her she was on her tummy, nose to nose with Tori, just chatting up a storm.

the Z-monster- is having fun visiting Grandma and Grandpa's house. We got him registered for school, and he is OH SO VERY eager to start. He likes to go on walks with Tori, and gather rocks. We have a whole collection of rocks he has toted home in his pockets. the Z-monster has enjoyed helping Grandpa build a floor in the basement, and playing with Uncle D's toy cars and airplanes.

Grandma and K are off shopping for K's last minute needs before she's off to Scottland, but the kids have really enjoyed spending time with her too.

Peek-a-boo

It's so much fun watching my precious little girl grow up! Today she started playing peek-a-boo with me during diaper changing time. Not a first, but there was just something so grown-up about it that I had to stop and think. Today she also helped me pick up some of the Kix she threw on the floor, and put it back in the bowl. The art of the dismount has been mastered- she can get down from chairs, stairs, beds, and couches! She babbles all the time, too! I'm always mistaking her babbles for Didi, and being surprised at how quickly her language skills seem to be progressing.

At the same time it is sad. She is my last baby(barring adoption or miraculous acts of God). Tonight she fell asleep in my arms. It has been so long since she has done that. It almost made me cry, holding her snuggled under my chin, as she slept. I just sat and enjoyed it for half an hour or so.

Home at Last!

Well, we made it!

The rest of the vacation was wonderful. We had a lovely dinner for my grandparents at The Sea Ranch, a nice restaurant on South Padre Island. I learned that my kids love deep-fried onion blossoms, but not waffle fries. I also discovered that I like scallops, but only if they are grilled. AND, pan grilled is NOT the same as char-grilled. Pan-grilled is a fancy way of saying fried-blech. See? You learn something every day.

We went to Schlitterbahn Waterpark with the whole gang. The kids loved it! Didi went on the rapids three times with me, and was very enthusiastic about going again. The Z-Monster was very nervous about the whole situation, he doesn't like getting water in his face. He went on one ride with me, and then did all of them with Daddy. By the end of the day he had a total blast! Baby had to be content with a few trips under the fountains, since I was (justifiably, I hope) too nervous to take her in any deep water. She didn't seem to mind.

The trip home was waaaaay too long, but we made it . . . mostly. Poor Buzz Lightyear got lost somewhere along the way. The Z-Monster is heartbroken. We left a message with the airport lost and found, and we're hoping it will turn up.

We're back at home, only part of the way unpacked, have our cat back, and AAAACK! it's time for the return to real life.

My Littlest Princess

Well, I've been telling every one about how Baby is growing so much- and it is wonderful. However, according to her pediatrician, she hasn't grown all that much. She weighs 13 lbs 7 oz, and measured in at a petite 23 inches long. She is officially in the 1% percentile. That's down from 5% at her last checkup. She is growing, and healthy, and doing all those things babies her age should be doing, so the Dr. isn't worried. She's just . . . well, little.

I have been worried about the fact that Baby keeps spitting up/gagging on her rice cereal. It turns out that she just wants some better food. I can't say that I blame her. She smells chili or spaghetti and gets . . . rice??? So we started her on peas today. Those were a BIG HIT. No spitting up, or gagging, or further fussing. Just ate them right up.

Tongues are amazing pieces of muscle, and there is a lot that goes into learning how to use them. Today at the dinner table, Didi was experimenting with her tongue, and the different noises she could make by sticking it in different places (mostly) in her mouth. la, wah, da, etc. Bby was watching this, and during her post-dinner diaper change, started sticking her tongue out at me, and going off in a miniature fit of giggles. Thank you, Didi.