Sometimes, There's a Bear in the Laundry

So yeah. Today I caught an intruder hiding in my laundry, waiting to pounce. I had taken my laundry out of the dryer and tossed it on my bed, then turned back to the washer to put the wet stuff in the dryer. When I turned back toward the pile, this is what I saw:

*Yes, I realize the photo's sideways. My computer is not cooperating with me today and won't let me fix this.

In less than two minutes of me putting my clothes on the bed Alice tunneled her way in to try and launch a sneak attack. The funniest part of it was that after I pulled the stuff off the top of her and started hanging it up she only tunneled down deeper!

Fun With the Activity Table

So, here's a quick intro for this little film. Yes, that's Cleo's tail you'll see a couple of times passing by, not a shark. Also, I realize that the music playing isn't actually disco, I couldn't figure out which button made the disco music play. But, I swear this thing does a very 70's version of, "This Old Man." Enjoy!

Sunday Funday

Today Taylor and I hung out solo at home, Jody's in Las Cruces until tomorrow afternoon, so we had a girl day! In reality, we ran a few errands and then stuck close to home. Someone was being uber grumpy, and for once that somebody wasn't me! I don't know if Taylor is cutting another tooth, but for some reason she was just tired (napped about twice as much as usual, hope that doesn't bite me in the butt tonight) and hella crabby all day long. But during our outing we did manage to find some little bows that will actually grip onto Taylor's hair and STAY! They still come flying out if she wallers her head hard enough, but it's a different look for when she's not feeling the headband. Also, we picked up some new toys at Toys R Us. I've been wanting to get Taylor an activity table to cruise on (and to help sustain my poor beaten coffee table a bit longer), and today my 20% off coupon finally became valid! And to boot, they were having a sale on Fisher Price, buy one get one free. So not only did we get the activity table, but Taylor also got a super awesome tool bench just like Daddy's! Ok, maybe not just like Daddy's, his isn't cool enough to play music or teach you numbers. And before anyone gets all up in my grill for buying her a boy's toy, understand that the free toy could only cost up to $24.99 and the girly options were either lame or only $10. Dammit, if it's free I'm going to get the most toy for my buck! For the sake of not overwhelming her all at once I only gave her the table to play with today, I'll let her check out the work bench in a day or two. After that, I can fulfill the American dream and finally start my own sweatshop ;)

SO happy to have something new to bang on!

Checking it out from every angle. Shortly after this picture was taken she fell over (kudos to me for being overly confident in her standing ability and not being close enough to pad the fall).

Yeah, she may be Jody's mini-me, but every now and then I get a shot where she kinda looks like me too!

Yeah, that's right, I'm sassy in my new bow that clips directly into my hair!

Dueling tool benches. Yes, those are the pillow shams for our bed underneath. Why you ask? Because like all cool kids, we keep our tool benches in our bedroom. You never know when you might need to fix something.

Lessons in Motion

We've been diligently trying to help Taylor in her mission for locomotion. She wants to go and do on her own so badly. Unfortunately she has her mama's temper and tends to get pissed off and give up a few minutes after she gets frustrated. As you can see below we tried to help her learn to keep her belly up while crawling with the creative use of a rolling pin (thanks to Uncle OE for the suggestion). After a couple of seconds she gave up on that and decided to just roll over onto her back. We've also bought her a little stroller that's designed to help babies learning to walk, but most of the time she just winds up pushing it away from her and not moving her feet - think Michael Jackson in the "Smooth Criminal" video. Oh well, I'm sure we'll be successful before too much longer.

Dad, this isn't how you make Monkey Bread, I swear.

Just going for a little stroll.......

Trip to the Panhandle

Last weekend due to some unfortunate circumstances (Jody's grandfather, John, passed away), we made a fast and furious trip to the Panhandle. We got to spend some time with our family, and Taylor got to enjoy the perks of staying in a hotel - sleeping in a REAL bed. She really seemed to think that being in bed with Mom and Dad (at midnight when it's freezing cold in Lubbock, TX you really don't give a shit about messing with the pack and play) was a lot of fun. Jody and I however only came to the conclusion that people who co-sleep with their kids must not get a lot of sleep. Taylor was a constant wiggle worm - kicking, punching, scratching, pinching - all night long.

Really, I think you should consider letting me sleep in one of these EVERY night.

Lounging at the hotel. It was too cold out, otherwise I would have totally put her by the pool!

Once we were finally there, Taylor got to play with her cousins and grandparents. After some initial anxiety with all the new faces she finally warmed up to everyone and played with everyone. We even managed to break away to spend some time with Papa Val and Gigi at The Plaza in Borger. All in all it was a good - albeit short - trip. With the exception of our window getting busted out by a UFO (I'm using that in the literal sense, not in the sense that space aliens vandalized us) on our way to the burial. But we even managed to take care of that before our return, so I can't even whine too much about that.

Laughing with Grammy, she's so funny!

With Papa Val and Gigi at Braum's. Did I mention this kid looooooves ice cream?

This is the face she makes right before she starts crying. Pitiful isn't it? Fortunately Aunt Tracy has the situation under control.

Playing with cousins Cambree and Jonas is so much fun! She really thought she was one of the big kids too.

Our family at Mary Jo's house.

First Tooth!

I am proud to report that Taylor is FINALLY getting her first tooth! Jody noticed it last Thursday when we went to pick her up from daycare, and lo and behold there it was. She never gave us any indication that something was up, other than being a little clingy in the days leading up to the breakthrough. By the way she's been acting the last few days, I'm guessing that this tooth's next door neighbor will be joining us any day now too. I have tried several unsuccessful attempts to get a picture of the little booger, but Taylor either manages to cover it with her lips or her tongue whenever I try to get a shot. So, instead, here is one of my failed attempts below. Either way, it's still cute!

Eight Months

Wow. It's hard for me to believe how quickly this first year just keeps zipping by. We are rapidly approaching the end of infancy and headed at warp speed toward toddlerhood. Ms. Priss continues to grow like a weed (hello, 20 lbs!), and I'm sure she'll be on the move any day now. She's still not crawling, but she rolls across the floor very well. So far that's her main mode of transportation besides crying so that Mommy or Daddy comes and carries her wherever she needs to go ;) She is standing very well, she barely has to hold on for balance and can make some mean laps around the coffee table. Unfortunately my coffee table has taken quite a beating as a result of her enthusiasm (she gets excited and tends to slam things - remotes, my sunglasses - on the table while she's standing there). But, she's still not quite pulling up, so at least it requires one of us to get her in the proper position to beat the crap out of my furniture! Also, Taylor is still the toothless wonder; I've just completely given up the guessing game as to when one of those little pearly whites is going to make its debut. EVERYONE has been under the impression that she's been teething for months now, but so far we're all dead wrong. Taylor is also exploring new foods, I've definitely gotten MUCH more relaxed with my food introduction paranoia. At this point as long as she's supervised and there's no choking hazard I'm pretty much letting her try anything. The other night at Buffalo Wild Wings she was introduced to chili cheese fries as well as celery dipped in ranch and bleu cheese (Yeah, if you couldn't tell those were Jody's introductions. I tried to find a plain fry, and as I was looking he shoved a loaded one in her mouth. I just said to hell with it from there!), and last week we had our first outing to the ice cream shop - rainbow sherbet was a big hit. That's about all that's been going on this month that I haven't already posted about, I promise I'll keep everyone updated if anything else exciting happens!

Ice cream, nom nom!

Yeah, she thinks she is BIG STUFF being able to stand up sort of by herself.

That's queen bedhead to you, peon!

Oh, hi! I didn't see you there with that camera!

There Were All These Bright Lights, And Then They Probed MY EYE!!!!

Today we had Taylor's tear duct probing procedure. Now that it's over, calling it "surgery" is really a bit of an overstatement. We arrived at the surgical hospital bright and early, everyone seemed genuinely shocked at how calm and easygoing Taylor was. We actually had one nurse ask if Taylor had been given "happy drugs" before her procedure! No, we are just blessed with a very easy going baby (she definitely gets that from Jody, lord knows how high strung I am sometimes). At the hospital she was given a very weird sort of one-eyed fish that is apparently made of teddy bears (see below). I know it was probably hand made by a little old lady volunteering to help little kids, but c'mon? A one-eyed fish made of teddy bears???? That's a stretch, even for me. At about 8:00 a nurse carried our little Munkie back to the OR (insert brave-faced dad and bawling mother here). At 8:45 the surgeon came out and said they were all done and that she did great. All we have to expect in the next few days is a little swelling, some bloody drainage, and maybe a little crabbiness. Poor baby was NOT happy when we went back to see her. I guess having your eyes gunked shut on top of waking up in a weird place with unfamiliar people can be a little disorienting. But, after about fifteen minutes and a little apple juice she was pretty calm. Once they took out her IV, she was pretty much the same little happy girl we arrived with. She even was all smiles when I was buckling her into her carseat. Now that we've been home a little while, and have been able to nap and eat, life is pretty much back on track. Someone is a little whinier than usual, but not bad in light of the situation.

Bundled up and ready to go! Where are we going today?

The weird one-eyed fish? Look at this sucker sideways (like I first did) and it's true shape is not so easily recognized.

Poor baby in recovery.

All it takes is a bottle followed by copious amounts of juice and life is once again as it should be!