Quick review with pictures!

Hey Everybody,

It's been forever... but you have to understand how busy I've been. I've gone from exclusive eating at the Mommy Buffet to eating in my highchair with veggies, Cherios, and lots of yogurt. I'm on the second half of my first year (currently 10 months old). I have crawling down pat, and I can clap, give you high five, play peak-a-boo with you and walk if you hold my hands.

Things are going quite well for me. I've been going on outing to the park and I've even gone down the slide all by myself! I can't wait for summer, since Mommy and Daddy have promised to take me to more parks... and there's talk about going camping, which I think means spending all day outside. Outside is my favorite place. There is so much to look at and poke at!

Here are some pictures from the end of last year to now.


Me at the park on a sunny January day.

Me with Santa, we got along just fine.
Me, Mommy and Daddy at the Ballard Locks.
Me and Daddy on a ferry boat going to Pouslbo in November 09
My Super Pooper costume for Halloween 09

Happy July Everybody!

Well guess what. I'm growing and growing and growing. At least that's what my Mommy says. On July 1st I measured in at 23 inches long and weighed 11 pounds 5 ounces! The doctor was quite happy with my growing progress. The only part of this visit that wasn't my favorite was getting shots. :( I had to have 3 of them, and they hurt. At least I got a shiny band-aid when it was over. :) And I was only grumpy for one day.

The 4th of July was a new experience. (Just like everything else these days.) Mommy and Daddy invited some people over and BBQ'd. Mommy also decided to make it her birthday party, she said something about it being her 'first 29th' birthday. I haven't even had my first birthday party, 29 seems like a long ways away. We had fun; we colored the sidewalk with chalk, ate tons of food, had berry short cake, and watched fireworks from the front window. Our neighbors blew up fireworks for close to an hour, and they were big and bright.

I also went swimming! The water wasn't quite warm enough for me, but I spent 30 minutes remembering the good old times when I always was swimming. At least I was having a good time until some one decided to see if I remembered how to hold my breath under water. Auntie Susan and Teresa were there to entertain me and make sure I didn't drown. Auntie Teresa is a life guard, so Mommy knew I would be ok, but I still didn't like going under water.

Mommy says pictures will be up soon.
Kisses and hugs,
Allison

Late June 2009

So now for more on what I did in June.

Remember how I said going out to Olive Garden was the second time Mommy and Daddy have gone out to eat? Well Daddy took me and Mommy out to Red Robin and they thought it would be funny if I had my picture taken with the large bottle of seasoning. So there I am, in my car seat hanging out with my pink friend and the big 'ole bottle of seasoning. Funny parents. The same night we went out to RR, Daddy's office buddies decided to go out to Whirly Ball. We went and watched a few matches... and it looked like so much fun that I just had to let them know I would be on the team just as soon as my feet can reach the pedals of the go cart. I figured I would start by practicing with the catcher thingy. Just need to grow a few more inches...

I also got to meet some more family. Aunt Michi and Uncle Harold and my cousins Shannon and Natalie were so nice to invite us all over for coffee and cookies. Aunt Michi made a scrumptious rubarb crisp, at least that is what I was told since I couldn't have any. I got to hear all about Natalie's engagement and upcoming wedding, and Shannon is moving and changing practices. I had a very nice visit.

The major event of June was Shop Hop. Mommy and Auntie Teresa decided that at 9 weeks old it was time for me to take up a hobby, and apparently quilting is it. If you haven't heard of Shop Hop it's a 5 day event in Western Washington and you drive around to the 50 some odd quilt shops and pick up free blocks and fabric to make a sampler quilt. We started on the 24th with 6 shops, then on the 26th we went to 11 shops, then on the 27th Connie and Lindsay joined us to go to another 11 shops, and then on the 28th Teresa stayed home and Daddy took us to the last 4 shops to collect an amazing 32 blocks!! It was a total of 717 miles that I drove around picking up fabric. It was fun, but I was so tired. Mommy said she would help me put together my fabric to make my very first shop hop quilt, which is good since I don't know how to work a pair of scissors.

On that last day of shop hop, Daddy and Mommy were trying to plan it so that they could go on an 'alone date'. I didn't quite understand why they didn't want me to come too, but since we were in Olympia and I got to spend more time with Ohbah and Ohgee, I was happy. I guess I am too cute because Mommy and Daddythey were only able to stay out for an hour and a half!

So that was June. So busy! July looks to be a busy month too... I have a check up at the doctor's office (I've been told that the shots won't hurt too much), I get to see 4th of July fireworks, it's going to be Mommy's Birthday (she mentioned something about it being her first 29th birthday), Ohbah and Ohgee are throwing me a 100 day party, GiGi is coming to town... and that's all before the 15th!! Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Hugs and kisses to all,
Allison

Me with Red Robbin seasonings...
Me practicing for Whirly Ball.
Me with Aunt Michi and cousins Shannon and Natalie.

Me with Lindsay in the fabric aisles during Shop Hop.
Me with Mommy, Auntie Teresa, Lindsay and Connie outside the Kingston Quilt shop, which was the last shop of the day.
Me and Ohgee in Olympia.

Early June 2009

Gee wiz... sorry to make you wait so long for a new post, but as you will read, I've been so busy that I haven't had a minute to sit down and type.

Let me start by saying, June was a hot month!! I went from being swaddled in a flannel blankie to using a piece of cotton fabric from Mommy's quilting stash. It took a little getting used to, but it was cooler.

On the last day of May we went to the Edmonds waterfront festival and I got to meet some more vanWinkles. Bob says he likes babies best when they can fit in one arm. It was fun to go outside and smell the water and see bigger kids playing in the sand, I'm looking forward to building sand castles and flying a kite! June just got hotter and hotter, so I ended up spending some time over with Ethan and lounging in the shade with Tricia.

One day I took Mommy and Daddy over to Aunt Susan and Teresa's house for a little impromptu BBQ, their friend Wyatt was there too... he's 9 months old, but he's 3 times bigger than me!! He can crawl and play with keys and eat watermelon! Zita and Jake didn't quite know what to do with Wyatt, so they hid in another room. Silly kitties.

My Gigi sent me a really pretty bracelet with my name and birthday engraved on the inside. It has birdies and flowers engraved on the outside. I really like it and Mommy finally let me wear it. Gigi sent some ribbons with it too so that Mommy could tie it to my wrist and not worry about me loosing it. It's still a little big, but you can see how well it compliments my dress.

And then it was Father's Day weekend. This was Daddy's first Father's Day, so I made sure that he got an extra special present. (No, not a full diaper!) On Saturday Ohbah and Ohgee came up and took everyone out to Olive Garden. We had a nice time visiting and it was only the second time Mommy and Daddy have gone out to eat since I came to town. I was just so happy to see my Ohbah and Ohgee that I sorta forgot that it was Daddy's day. But I made up for it on Sunday when I wore a new pair of overalls and gave him a model airplane from Boeing. I know he liked it because he put it together right away and then put it on his dresser. We also went over to Grandpa Martin's house for pancakes in the morning, and Uncle Cully was there and so was Grandma Mihntam. It was a great weekend!

We did so much in June that I'm going to write a whole 'nuther posting for the second half of the month... it should be up in the next day or so, so come on back, ya hear?

Kisses and hugs,
Allison


Bob and me at the Edmonds Waterfront Festival... I just barely fit in one arm.
Here I am lounging at Tricia and Ethan's house, we always have fun!
Auntie Susan and Teresa and me.
Wyatt and his keys... he makes me look so petite.
My fancy new bracelet from Gigi.
Daddy and Ohgee and me on Saturday of Father's Day weekend.
Grandpa Martin and me. (See my overalls?)

Some fun things I've been doing

Hello again,

I have been a very busy baby lately. I went to the doctor, a wedding, a couple of BBQ's and celebrated Mothers Day... although not specifically in that order.

My doctor visit was pretty uneventful for me, I just got measured and weighed and looked at. Mommy and Daddy however seemed to have an unending list of questions and talked forever! I'm happy to report that I am officially growing; I am now 8lbs 9oz and 20.5" long! Even though the numbers clearly indicate growth, Mommy is convinced that my clothes are just shrinking in the wash... I think she wants me to stay really little forever.

For Memorial Day weekend we went to two BBQ's. The first one was over at Sean, Melissa and Sidneys house and a lot of Daddy's work friends were there. Daddy and Mommy ate hamburgers and potato salad and Melissa's home made baked beans, I heard they were really good, but they didn't share with me; maybe when I have teeth. Remember the picture of James holding me a few weeks ago, well I let him hold me again and he was much more relaxed! I'm a good teacher. Victoria also held me, and didn't really want to share me which was ok with me because she is so pretty. After watching Sidney run around with the other doggies that came to the BBQ, Daddy, Mommy and I loaded back into the car and went to Susan and Teresa's house. The grill was full of Brats and corn on the cob and more baked beans, I just watched everyone eat their dinner while I feasted on the usual right then left entree.

The wedding we went to was in Bellingham, which is the farthest away from home I've ever been. Matt and Brayde were the groom and bride and Mommy and Daddy were so worried that I was going to cry during the ceremony that we sat all the way in the back next to the door. Well I didn't make a peep and everyone gave me compliments for being so quiet. Brayde was so pretty in her wedding gown and Matt looked very handsome and happy. Daddy's friend Ryan was a groomsman and I tried but I didn't end up getting any spit up on his tux. I also got to meet Matt & Kayla, and Sean & Melissa were there too. At the end of the night Ryan & Kaylee gave me a book full of Curious George stories, it was really heavy so I had Daddy carry it home for me. The wedding and reception were a lot of fun and I'm glad that we all got to go.

For Mothers Day I gave Mommy the best present ever: 6 hours of consecutive sleep. Then we went over to Grandpa Martin's house and ate a big pancake breakfast. I got to meet my Great Aunt JoAnna and my cousin Crickett. They live in Montana and were leaving that afternoon, so I'm really glad I got to meet them. After that we went back home and just hung out.

See how busy I am? Well there will be much more to tell you about in the next posting... so stay tuned.

Hugs and kisses,
Allison

James standing, holding my hand and smiling... my grasshopper has come so far!
Victoria & me.
Susan feeding Teresa baked beans on Memorial Day weekend.
Mommy, Daddy & me at Matt & Brayde's wedding in Bellingham.
Sean & Melissa.
Matt & Kayla.
Ryan & Kaylee.
Mommy & me on Mothers Day.
Great Aunt JoAnna & me.
Cousin Crickett & me.

Friends and family are the best!

Well now that I've established my routine at home, I figured it's time to meet some people!

I spent a whole bunch of time with my grandparents... and boy are they fun!! Baachan and Jiichan are really funny, they come over to my house and hold me and sing to me. Baachan even made Mommy and Daddy a really yummy dinner. Aunt Shana came over too, and by the end of the day she was a pro at holding me and keeping me happy. While they were here Grandpa came over to show me a picture he had taken of me and printed on his new printer. The picture was bigger than I am!!! Mommy set the picture in my crib so it wouldn't get bent, and then Daddy walked into my room and thought I was in the crib!! Hahaha, if I had thought about it I would have saved that trick for April Fools day! Grandma came over too and just held me and stared at me.

And now that I've met the family I'm thinking it's time to get my parents out of the house. I was starting to feel a little coop'ed up and I wanted to put some more faces to the voices I've been hearing for the last 9 months. So first we went to Mommy's work and I got to meet all the people who gave me so many nice things... like my swing and blankies and books. Next stop was Daddy's work. I could tell that some of them had never held a baby before, but I really enjoyed meeting everyone.

Next we went over to the DeChenne's house and I got to see Ethan again. He's my buddy and when I'm big enough to walk and play he's going to show me how to do puzzles and play in the pool and dance. But for right now, I just enjoy watching him do all those things. Funny story, when we got over to their house I decided it was time to test my parents diaper bag packing skills, so I blew out my diaper and outfit... they changed me into a fresh and clean diaper, but guess what, they forgot to bring me an outfit! So I got brought home in a blanket. Now I think they pack two outfits just in case there is another pop quiz!! Or should I say, poop quiz! Haha!

Until next time,
Allison


Aunt Shana holding me.
Grandma holding me.
James at Daddy's work holding me.
Me being brought home in a blanket because I have no clothes.

There's no place like home...

So my first few weeks at home have been really interesting: first diaper changes at home, first meals at home, first time sleeping in my own bed, first bath at home...you get the drill.
My favorite game to play with Mommy and Daddy so far is poo launch. My current record is about 3 feet. Daddy wasn't very excited about that one because he had to take the curtains down and throw them in the wash (SCORE!!!!).

I order full service meals about every 2 to 3 hours, though the menu is pretty limited. I have a choice of breast milk from either the right or the left but I usually end up having both before I'm stuffed (my favorite is the right). I dine for about 30 min. and then I usually receive a small spa treatment which consists of a wipe-down with a warm washcloth, followed by a fresh diaper. If I feel I need extra pampering I'll opt for the additional bum warming from a toasty hair drier, it feels really nice.

Sometimes I get really greasy and I need a bath. I don't really care much for bath time. Mommy and Daddy make me get naked and hose me down with water. It sucks. I hate being naked, and I hate being cold, wet, and naked even more. The only part of bath time I can handle is when Mommy washes my hair. That part isn't so bad. Sometimes Mommy and Daddy like to give me special hairstyles, like a mohawk or duckbill (Mommy calls it a duck butt). After I get all warm, dry, and get a new diaper, I usually get all swaddled up. Every now and then I get dressed and go out.After I get all comfy and swaddled, I get burped and then I usually sleep. I don't have any problems with getting to sleep. In fact, I usually fall asleep while eating. I nap for about an hour at a time. When I get really tired in the afternoon I can sleep 2 to 3 hours straight. Mommy and Daddy don't look very happy when I need to be fed and changed at 3:00 am. It's really hard to be me; I live a very difficult life.

My first time on the changing table. I was pretty fussy so Daddy had to calm me down.

Bath time wasn't much fun for me, I don't think it was fun for Mommy and Daddy either.

Ahhhhh, life is so rough.

My punk rocker look, pretty scary huh...