Go, go, go!

Milestone day, Stella.  You took your first steps all on your own. They were small, timid ones, but you did it!  Mommy and pappa are so, so proud of you.

Here you are at Aker Brygge, enjoying a rare sunny day.  This summer hasn't been very nice, but today was sunny and warm.

It's Bedtime, Little One

Stella, do you want to know a secret? Every night when I go to bed, I gaze upon your beautiful, peaceful face, stroke your hair, rub your back, make sure you're not too hot or too cold, and climb into bed.  Every. Single. Night.

Birthday Girl

About a month and a half ago, you finished your first trip around the sun.  We had a little birthday party for you, and invited all your friends.  I would love to post pictures of them, but I would need their parents' permission first, so I'll just put them in your photo album.  Here are some pictures of you enjoying your birthday cake.  It was a heart-shaped butter cake with pink buttercream icing.

You got lots of great presents, and your absolute favorite that day was a wooden duck on wheels.  Sorry it is sideways.

You received many other toys, including a puzzle, a magnetic farm, clothes, block crayons (you have yet to draw your masterpiece), a purse, a pail and shovels for the sand pit, an old-school rotary phone, books, a train that spells your name, and much more.

I know you'll never remember your first birthday, Stella, but I will remember it for the rest of my life.  I love you, sweetheart.

10 months and flying

My dear sweet Stella,
I can't believe 10 months have just flown by.  We gave you a bath yesterday, and ducks were dive-bombing and you loved it.  Then the ducks started spitting at you, and you loved that, too.  Your giggle is so infectious. 

Yesterday was a challenging day for you.  While I was busy making you some food (I hope you like beets!), you were playing on the floor, getting into everything, as usual.  You opened the lowest kitchen drawer, and promptly closed it on your fingers.  Twice.  I'm afraid this is the first of many owies you're going to get as you learn about the world around you.  You are also learning to stand, and while pulling yourself up on the coffee table, you bumped your head.  See?   First of many, many owies.  You are so proud of yourself when you can stand without support, even if it's only for a second or two.  I am so proud of you, too.

You make the funniest faces.  Here is your "warrior" face.

And here you are brushing your own teeth, all two of them.  Sort of.  Mostly you're just chewing on the toothbrush, but that's okay.  You've gotta start somewhere, right?




















10 month favorites:
Activities: climbing, getting into things you shouldn't
Food: Bread, or whatever mommy is eating

Climbing in bed

Stella, my darling Stella, you are such a big girl.  You want to climb on mommy, trying so hard to stand, but you don't quite have the balance yet, and your chubby little legs aren't quite strong enough.  But you persevere.  You have such determination.  Today you are finally asleep, after practicing sitting up and standing up in your crib.  Mommy had to go in to your room and help you back down several times before you finally fell asleep.  And now she is ready for you to wake up, because bedtime is in two hours!

Here are some of your favorites:
Food: Cheerios, peas, avocado, toast with Prim, grated cheese.
Toys: Fisher Price Bird Bath toy, Fisher Price phone.
Clothes:  Eh, you don't really care about clothes.
Books: Oh, you love books.  Humpty Dumpty, Ten Apples up on Top, Brown Bear.
Activities:  Emptying your toy box.
Sounds: dege dege, blowing raspberries, and testing your lungs.

I should have done this 9 - or 18 - months ago

So I will try to backtrack along the way.

Inspired by a few blogs I've seen over the past few days - including my awesome cousin Mrs. Lowery - I decided to journal Stella's life.  She is already 9 months old, how time flies!  One day I'll spend more time on design, but just for tonight I thought I'd write a little bit.

And that's my little bit.