Rock-a-bye baby

Tomorrow we head to Seattle to visit our families for Christmas, so I probably won't update until the new year. Fortunately, my most avid reader is in Seattle and can hang out with us, so she won't be upset about the lack of updates. Here's a sweet picture of Baby B in the rocking chair from Grandma Mary Lou. She should probably wait for another year or two to use it, but she loves little chairs so much, we couldn't resist getting it out for awhile this afternoon. Today we packed and relaxed; Mr. B finished his grading this morning. Baby B seems to have a little cold today, but hopefully she won't be miserable on the plane! She is a sweetheart even when sick, but I am grateful Mr. B is with me on this trip!

Odds and Ends

Baby B loves to climb onto this ottoman. We moved it to an out of the way corner because she is not good at getting down, but she still finds it.

Church Christmas Party. Nice dinner, but we didn't stick around for Santa--Baby B was losing the battle to sleep.

Reading with Daddy. For awhile, they were both intent on their respective literature, but soon Baby B was more interested in Mr. B than her book. Understandably.

Birthday playgroup--we celebrated all the December birthdays with cupcakes and fun times. The weather was in the 70s, so we played out back, the recycling bin ride being the highlight.

Another ottoman pose. This time with her favorite piece of jewelry, the camera cord. I was typing away an email when I looked up to see this pose. I barely got a picture before she sat up. The spiral notebook is one of many books she pulled from the bookshelf before relaxing.

Again, loving the camera cord. Baby B loves to get into small spaces, including this spot under the computer desk, any small chair, behind the rocking chair, under the bed, between the M&M box and the window...

Portraits

A few weeks ago I took Baby B to get one year portraits and Christmas pictures. Here are a few poses:

Birthday girl

Baby B celebrated her first birthday last week!! We had a great little party for her, which everyone enjoyed. Brian, Amber and their kids came over for quesadillas, cupcakes, and presents. Baby B enjoyed the whole thing. We had her open presents first, before she got tired and messy!What could be in this big package from our Puyallup family?

Birthday cupcakes

Baby B got quite a nice pile of presents. She was more interested in climbing on them than opening them, but she had Chaz and me to help.

Love this dollhouse! Thanks Aunt Laura and family!

Happy Birthday to you!

Definitely enjoying the cupcake!!

The next day: Baby B put this bag on all by herself (I swear, I did not pose her!!) and was just walking around the house, very proud of herself. I guess now that's she's one, she thinks she's big enough to go to school!!

Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas is a Dutch holiday that takes place on December 5th. Our friends Brian and Amber served LDS missions in the Netherlands and brought the Sinterklaas tradition to their home. They threw a wonderful party, complete with delicious Dutch foods and Dutch gift-giving traditions. Presents must be creatively wrapped and accompanied by a poem that pokes fun at the recipient. We brought a flower (from Mr. B to me) and tree (from me to Amber), and a snowman (from Baby B to Chaz).Mr. B and me with the presents we brought.

Mr. B reading a poem to me about my M&M winnings (poem featured at the end of this post).

Amber and Finn, reading a love poem to Baby B, whose gift was a baby doll in a birthday cake.

Appropriate wrapping, as Baby B's birthday is this week!

In her cute little Santa outfit from Aunt Kelley.

Sweetie!

Ryan, Cecily and Friedrich. Ryan wrote Mr. B a poem about his Nacho Libre Halloween costume, and his present was wrapped in a wrestling ring.

Chaz, Finn, and Brian, eating yummy Dutch food.


"The Major Award" by Mr. B

There never has been a fair lady so blessed
as my dear sweet Bonnie, as I can attest.
And how, you may ask, is her life such a dream?
Well I'll tell you about my Bonnie Maureen.

One day while her baby was crawling around,
Bonnie web-surfed online to see what could be found:
Viagra, Home Star Runner, a game blasting gems,
and a contest awarding a year's M&Ms.

"That's a contest I'll enter, I admit it's true,
I'm known to have eaten an M&M or two."
So she filled out a form and entered her name;
from that moment on her life would not be the same.

Instant Winner! Congrats! This prize you have won!
A big box of candy that weighs a whole ton.
Now what would you do with a year's M&Ms?
Would you give to the poor and share with your friends?

Not Bonnie, she hoards them in a box in the back
and only retrieves them when she wants a snack.
And our diet has changed now that Bonnie's a winner:
last night we had M&M meatloaf for dinner.

They're ground up and simmered; they're in every meal.
I say M&Ms are a big pain to peel.
And I'm starting to fear for the health of her teeth;
below five grand of braces, is there rot underneath?

And what of our baby, do you understand
that her first words were "Melts in your mouth not your hand?"
And poor Audrey's health problems will really begin
when the doctors tell us she can't make insulin.

Oh Bonnie I love you and think you are great,
and I'm so glad those M&Ms haven't increased your weight.

Pink Pig

A Macy's department store in Atlanta features this Pink Pig train ride every Christmas season on a tented parking lot. It's a cute tradition, although I fail to see what it has to do with Christmas. Our playgroup went on the ride together and then out to lunch. We had a great time and the little girls were all in awe. The ride is VERY pink, even the pictures took on a hue.

You spin me right round baby right round

Baby B has discovered spinning in a circle (see video below). She also likes to talk on the "phone," using these toy keys to babble about I wish I knew what. Click on the second picture for a close-up: that and the last picture crack me up. Is that what Mommy looks like when she's babbling away on the phone??
Two minute video: Baby B shows off her spinning, tries on Daddy's sock, briefly takes a phone call, starts to read a book, and finally comes in for a close-up.