Almost captured the moment

In keeping consistent with the nature of babies and video cameras, these two videos don't capture the whole moment I was going for, but you can get an idea. The first was taken during dinner, when I was making faces at Baby B and she was giggling. Then her giggling caught fire and she couldn't stop laughing. All I had to do was my own little laugh, and she would explode with laughter. By the time I got the video camera she had cooled down a little, and then the phone rang, so the last part of the video she is trying to listen to her dad's conversation. Good memory for us though.

The second video is our future piano player. Before I started the camera she was playing very gently and studiously, but in the video she starts pounding the keys. At least I captured a brief moment of her studiousness, and I also captured her page turning, which she does just like I do when I'm playing. And of course she knows that a great performance is followed by applause.

It snowed!

It snowed twice this past week, really sticking on Saturday. They even canceled church! It's pretty cold outside, but luckily summer will be here before we know it (March??).

Trickier than I thought

The other day while washing dishes, I hear a soft thunk and then a cry out from Baby B's room, where I'd left her reading books to herself. I bound down the hall into her room, don't see her at first but strangely hear the cd player, and then I discover her behind the rocking chair, picking her up to comfort her. I figure she walked back there and then fell against the wall or something minor, because she appears unhurt and immediately strains to get back over to the chair. What she does next amazes and alarms me. She hoists herself up onto the rocking chair, albeit with difficulty, then stands up, holding onto the armrest. Meanwhile the chair is rocking back and forth, but she is unfazed. She then leans over towards the dresser and pushes the play button on the cd player. Precarious!! I assume that the first time, she fell off the chair, and I'm sick to think that she could have really hurt herself. But at the same time, I admire her curiousity and tenacity! She can no longer play in her room unattended. Click for a close-up. Her face is so cute!

Tag from Megan

Thirteen months old

Favorite foods: yogurt, veggie chips, pancakes, spaghetti sauce

Favorite activities: doing hair and makeup with Mommy, playing outside, climbing on anything she can (including me; she grabbed my hands this morning and climbed up my legs until she was in my arms!)

Likes: baths, hugs, kisses, bedtime
Dislikes: getting her face washed, naps, being told what to do

Favorite time of day: morning
I tag all my blogging friends to do a similar post!

I know it sounds cruel, but when I watch this video I think of wicked King Noah. It's just her fiendish smile and conniving hands. A cute wicked king.

Cute baby

Yesterday was a great day. Baby B took two great naps and she ate well--back on schedule. And I got the house clean! However, she is teething, so she's a bit whiny (she had four teeth before Christmas and now has eight!!), but I've been giving her teething tablets and teething rings. So we were happy girls yesterday with all our problems solved, and as I worked on laundry, Baby B played with toys. However, just five minutes passed before she started whining again, wandering around the apartment, not interested in anything. I assumed she was bored, and since it was such a nice day (I wore a tee-shirt outside), we packed up and went to the Botanical Gardens. Baby B sucked on her pacifier and looked cross the entire twenty minute drive, but once we got there, she was in heaven. We spent about an hour running around, getting into leaves and rocks and climbing anything climbable. Being outside with a 13 month old is not the most fun, especially one who puts everything in her mouth, but she was very agreeable at the gardens and we had a great time! Plus she looked so cute in this outfit, hoodie and matching socks from Grammy, the rest from McKenna (thanks you two!).

A love for jewelry

I got out an old bracelet and watch for Baby B to play with, which occupied her attention for a good forty-five minutes (while I read Enna Burning). The four pictures that follow are snapped in fairly quick succession, telling a story about Baby B's newfound love of jewelry (all types).

Baby B sits down after running around the room
with her lovely bracelets jangling.

Hmm, these look like bracelets too!!

She literally flings the bracelets off and puts on a new blue one,
kicking the now empty stand out of her way.

Look at me Mom, now I have three beautiful bracelets!

Happy Holidays!

We had a wonderful vacation visiting our parents and siblings in Washington over the Christmas break, and we still have a week here in Atlanta to enjoy Mr. B, who doesn't return to work until Monday. Some pictures from our trip:

A hug from McKenna. Baby B had a great time with all her cousins and with her Uncle Ben. Makes me wish she had an older sister or brother for her to play with--guess she'll have to be the older sister someday!

We stopped at Burgerville on our way from Puyallup to Longview. It's a super yummy burger joint only in the Northwest. Baby B enjoyed her bites of burger, fries, and especially vanilla shake. She also loved this balloon, but luckily she didn't notice when we left it behind.

I love Grandpa!

A Christmas Eve gift from Grammy--so much fun!

Lounging in Grammy's chair

Santa came! Look at that open-mouthed wonder.

Checking out the stash of presents Christmas morning.

I'm in the box!

A Hawaiian hula outfit from Aunt Amanda--what a babe!

Baby B plays some carols. Do you love her new Binga Bow??
She kept it on for much longer than she usually keeps things on her head.

My gorgeous Grandma with my amazing brother Paul, who leaves in two weeks for his mission.

Snuggling with Poppy Daddy

We celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary a few days after Christmas. Mr. B surprised me with an extremely romantic getaway to Seattle. We ate at the restaurant on top of the Space Needle, which was elegant and delicious, and we stayed the night at a posh Seattle hotel. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening! In case you're wondering, the bottle contains sparkling cider :)