The Grandma Days...

A week ago, Daniel had a business conference in Baltimore. This was the downside (the cloud, if you will). However, the cloud had a bright, golden lining filled with chocolatey goodness. My mama came to town! Days with my mom are always filled with joy, organizing (I make a mental list before she comes of things I know I need desperate help organizing), yummy food (especially fruit - my favorite!), extra sleep and lots of lovin' for little Miss Nugget. After the first uncertain night (we had to have Daniel talk to her over the phone before she would sleep; he is normally the one to lie her down for the night), Anni made sure my mom fit in lots of good baby things. She added new noises to her repertoire (a grunt that scared me the first time and a new level of squeaking/screeching and other high-pitched happy noises). She started to shake her rattles, compare them, pick them up on her own, and even switch hands with one at a time. So, while she's not huge on her gross motor skills (sitting up still escapes her, although tummy time is getting better each day), her fine motor skills are sky rocketing. Yep, grandma brings all kinds of good things with her. (Did I finish a whole bag of chocolate yogurt covered raisins within two days of her arrival? Yes, I did.)



And one thing I looked forward to were the walks. We only made it on one walk all three of us, as the other days were way too cold and windy for the baby girl. However, we traded off on the cold days and I got to see a lot more outdoors than I do otherwise.

The day of our walk together was definitely summer's encore. The sun shone down on fall colored trees with a gentle warm breeze. mmm, it was so good! We even gave Anni her first leaf experience. I think she liked it :).

Oh, yes. There's a new realization of the tongue, too. I love it!




So, for all the good things that come with Grandma, we can't wait until they come again!

ps Happy Election day! Hope you voted... even I made it out!

Feet, feet, everywhere the feet feet

Our favorite little nugget has discovered her feet! We have spent the last week watching her catch and attempt to chew on those beloved little toes. Because it's approaching winter, I attempt to keep her in socks... so we're going to have an awful lot of stretched out toes in those socks (especially on her favorite foot - the right one)! Speaking of her little feet... among all of the other daddy features she got are her long feet - so I finally bought a new pair of big socks from Target... and, um... I'm in love with her little legs and feet in those stripes! Oh, the sweetness!

Cue Fall: Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday, Anni and I took part in one of the wonderful typical fall activities [fall = favorite]. We went to the pumpkin patch :). While she won't remember it, it was a lot of fun to start a tradition and get out of the apartment to hang out with some other mommies and their kids. There was also a mini corn maze (that we basically just wandered around for awhile until we realized we should probably find the exit... and so we did...) and a sand-box filled with corn kernels. Could life get any better? I submit that it could not. Anyway, without further ado - a few pictures from our little adventure. (Did I mention that this was actually my first pumpkin patch ever as well?)




The sandbox full of kernels? Definitely didn't expect Anni to love it...but as soon as we added some mommy-shade so the sun stopped making her squirm... she was a happy little girl :). A true Cornhusker at heart.


Anyway, a good day. Even got to try out a much comfier baby carrier than mine (an Ergo... the hype is true - it's beautiful, and comfortable for both Miss Nugget and I). I told Daniel how much I loved it, and he promptly said, "Let's get one." Love my husband :). Also, check out another mommy's lovely blog on the day.

Happy Fall!

did I mention this is my very favoritest season ever?

Love.

Today, she grinned and talked and I loved her more than I thought I could.

Miss Nugget at 5 months...

At 5 months old, our baby Nugget is growing up :). She has officially started to roll over, but only when she really wants to. If one of us rolls her to her tummy, she likes to roll back to her back and give us an impish little look that says, "Excuse me? I want to be here." She has started to grab toys and more than once I have found her falling asleep mid-play with an arm cuddling a bear close. Only downside to this? This morning she clocked herself with a rattle. woops... maybe we should stick with the soft toys for now. She has gained awesome control of her neck and head in the last month. She absolutely loves being stood up; and, despite her wobbliness, will grin from ear to ear. She has had a little "cough-laugh" for a while, but the other night start actually laughing out loud at her daddy while he played with her in the tub. Every time I turned to look; though, she would just grin and stare at me. She's also started the constant chewing on her hands. She likes to grab one hand with the other and pull it up to her mouth (see picture). We think this is partly because she can and partly because she's starting to teeth. I have to admit, I've never been a big fan of baby drool (ok, honestly, before Anni came I thought it was the grossest thing about babies), and while I would still prefer it stayed where it belonged... it's true that all these things are different with your own baby. Miss Nugget has also had to endure her first...and second...cold... and therefore has quickly learned to despise her aspirator. Luckily she seems to be getting past the latest, and hopefully all will return to normal soon. I will try to update with length and weight when Daniel's home and can help me get those :).

Weight: 13.5 lbs (ish)

Forgot to add a favorite quirk: when she's falling asleep (especially while eating or sucking her thumb) at least one hand has to be over her eyes. Love it :).