Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Stormy skies brought us a beautiful rainbow this morning. Megan

Here Crawls Lydia

Click on the link to see proof positive that Lydia CAN crawl! Megan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBS653QjiLI&feature=youtu.be

Rubber-Duckie

Happiness is hearing Lydia laugh uncontrollably to the squeaking sound her rubber-duckie makes when the air is squeezed out of it. Megan

This Baby...

CAN Crawl! Lydia has started crawling towards items of high interest--lap top, coffee cup and surprisingly vacuum cleaner. These poor knees are going to take a beating. Megan

Inspiration

One of things I admire about my mom is that she has lots of hobbies that she loves. During her visit, she inspired and taught me to make this cherry blossom onesie for Lydia. I'm extremely pleased with the way it turned out! I hope to follow in my mom's footsteps and explore more new interests. Megan

Shark Attack at Navarre Beach

Just kidding!!! This 6 foot, 130 pound shark was caught off the Navarre Pier over the weekend by local fishermen. You would think this sort of thing would deter people from swimming in the Gulf. However, John and I did go for a quick dip on Sunday afternoon while Grandma Carole was watching Lydia. Megan

A Week with Grandma Carole

What a difference a week can make! After landing in Pensacola, Grandma Carole jumped into the back seat of our car to find a frightened baby. It took a day or two for Lydia to get over her stranger anxiety but from then on Grandma and Lydia were great buds, sharing lots of time playing on the floor. Grandma Carole also introduced Lydia to yogurt, which is now one of her favorite foods. Megan

Lydia at Nine Months

So what is Lydia up to at nine months? She has not quite mastered the traditional method of crawling forward though she certainly finds a way to get around. At night, she has started crawling backwards to the base of her crib. Lydia also has trouble staying still during diaper changes. We are hoping Grandma Carole will help us better baby-proof the house this week during her visit for these reasons. Additionally, Lydia has started to imitate head movements and vocal play sounds. Yesterday during her favorite Sesame Street music video, she sang along with a ba-ba-ba sound. Just in the past week, she has shown a greater appetite for various purees. When Lydia sees other children at the grocery store or beach, she often reacts by shrieking in excitement. She loves to swim in the pool and enthusiastically kicks her feet and splashes her hands. My favorite new development is that her hair is now long enough for a little ponytail in front. Megan

Dinner Al Fresco

We bought this patio set the first week we moved into the condo, anticipating eating many meals on the balcony. In reality, there are only a few months a year where the temperature is neither too cold or hot for dining al fresco. Luckily, this is one of those wonderful times and we took advantage last night. A great view makes even the simplest pizza feel special. Megan

A Budding Basketball Fan

John was in Jacksonville for work this weekend so Lydia and I were on our own. We went back to the beach and watched several basketball games. The games, unlike most other shows I watch, actually held Lydia's attention. Go Jayhawks! Megan

Dolphins!

I took this photo while in manual mode. Thank you very much Pensacola Photo School! Megan

Motown Mix

Often during the day Lydia and I put on music from Pandora to liven the mood. Our favorite is oldies, particularly a Motown mix. At the risk of being cheesy, this is one song that makes me think of Lydia, as if it was written for her. Megan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbX66Ddxtow

Spring Break 2012

This week is Spring Break for our local community. We have seen a big increase in the amount of people here at the condo, mostly friendly families. Lydia celebrated her first Spring Break with her buddy Garrett on the beach. They watched the waves, played and napped for over three hours--a successful day at the beach! Megan

Lydia Hearts Daddy

This is a head-shot of John I took several weeks ago. I thought it turned out quite professional-looking for such an amateur photographer. I am actually going to take my first photography class tomorrow evening, a basics course, and I look forward to sharing more pictures on the blog. But back to the point, I posted this photo because today was the first time Lydia cried when John left for work. She didn't want to see her daddy leave. I'm not taking it personally--I don't like to see him go either. Megan

Giggles and More Giggles

Click on the link below to hear Lydia's laugh, my favorite sound. Megan
http://youtu.be/INYG6VrPpmA

Pass the Cheetos Please

Everyday Lydia enjoys some finger foods, usually Cheerios. Her ability to pick up the little o's and then actually release them into her mouth has significantly improved over the past few weeks. Recently, we added some Gerber Graduate foods to Lydia's highchair tray. She is a big fan of the Cheeto-like cheddar puff. Megan

On Your Mark, Get Set....Take a Break.

John and I anticipate that any day now Lydia will figure out crawling. Her newest movement is something similar to a calf stretch, which I'm pretty sure takes more muscular control than what is needed to crawl. Understandably, Lydia does become frustrated. Keep it up Lydia, any day now. Megan

Standing On Her Own Two Feet

If she had it her way, Lydia would stand all day long. The difficulty is that she needs a spotter as she is not completely steady yet. I spent much of the day yesterday starring at the back of my daughter's head. Lydia makes sure I am paying attention by purposely falling back from time-to-time, followed by giggles. Megan

Let's Have Some Fun

Lydia has always been fun to hang-out with but now she is also fun to play with. Popping bubbles, rolling the soccer ball back and forth (while shrieking in excitement) and swimming in the pool--this parenting thing is pretty fun. Megan

Walking the Way, Our Way

Last week we watched "The Way," a movie about the pilgrimage route in Northern Spain. Come to think of it, it was ten years ago exactly that I spent five days walking the Camino de Santiago with friends. The movie made John and I thirsty for a little adventure of our own. On Sunday, we trekked from Pensacola Beach to Navarre Beach along the beautiful Gulf Islands National Seashore, 11 miles of clear skies and ocean vistas. Sun, exercise and adventure--thirst has been quenched. Megan

Lucy Hearts Lydia

Lucy truly does love Lydia. Since Lydia came into her life, Lucy spends very little time in the crate, goes on daily long walks and enjoys fallen cheerios. It is not unusual to hear Lydia laughing and find Lucy tickling her neck. Megan

Naval Aviation Museum

Yesterday, Lydia and I tagged along with John to his eye appointment in Pensacola. While he was getting his eyes dilated and tested, we enjoyed a few hours at the Naval Aviation Museum. There was much for Lydia to see! She loved the aircraft hanging from the ceiling, the flashing runway lights and seeing John's helicopters for the first time. Megan