Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Traveling Baby...



Happy Easter! Amelia and I flew back to Nashville Easter morning after a 2 week stay in Michigan. Ford stayed behind to work and to attend the South x Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX. So, it was just baby and mama on a whirlwind trip that included visiting friends and loved ones in such towns as Rockford, Lansing, DeWitt, Mason, Grandville and Grand Rapids. Amelia loved all the attention and especially all the kids. She couldn't take her eyes off of them, her little head whipping around trying to keep up with all the activity. She developed so much, socially and physically in those two weeks and upon returning, her daddy, who missed her like crazy, couldn't get over how much older she seemed.
Some new things...Amelia is 33 weeks old or 7 months and 3 weeks and growing up so fast. She is in the pre-stages of crawling. She hasn't coordinated the arm and leg movements together but can scoot backward as well as launch herself forward by pushing off with one leg and reaching with one arm for a toy in her sights. She is so close to a full on crawl, I think it will be soon. In the meantime, she can really move herself around with some innovative moves. She also does quite a few yoga moves, including downward dog (see above photo). She started waving just towards the end of our trip. If waved to, she'll wave back. She is also working on pulling herself up in her crib. Her vocab is the same, mama, papa and hi but she seems to understand so much of what is spoken to her. She gives kisses. The big wet slobbery kind with a happy smile and squeal to boot. She gives hugs too.
Amelia had a happy first Easter even though we spent the first half of the day traveling two planes with a layover in Chicago. The Easter Bunny came to Rockford and Nashville both! Lucky baby! Traveling alone with a small baby is tough, I have an even greater respect for single parents everywhere. Amelia did great but had a few meltdowns due to fatigue and an inability to get comfortable on the tiny airplanes we rode in. It was long and tiring and not the ideal first Easter but I continued to thank God for safety and protection and I kept reminding myself that this is the day the Lord has made, (especially as I changed Amelia's stinky diaper in a 3x3 foot airplane bathroom on a changing station way too small for her long body all the while trying to keep her from touching anything, impossible...more airport/airplane stories to come I'm sure...) She was visibly happy to be home in her own room and in her own bed. We could almost see her remembering everything as we walked her around the house getting her reacquainted with the sights and sounds of home. Huge smiles for Mister and her bedroom, and of course her Daddy.
We are happy to be home with Ford and it is spring in Nashville...flowers and warm air! We miss everyone in Michigan like crazy but are so thankful we got to see so many of you and hope to see those we couldn't connect with this time very soon!
Hoping your Easter was full of blessings and promise....
Kim

Friday, March 7, 2008

pigs...



Flash forward a few years to Amelia with pigs...

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Spring for a day...

Amelia on a swing for the first time.
Looking a little concerned...
...not sure she likes how her tummy feels.

There we go!
I like swings.

Today we had a taste of spring here in Nashville. It was in the lower 70's and sunny. A beautiful day. We rolled all the windows down in the car so we could feel the warm air and watch Amelia's Mohawk blow all around...
Even though it's going to get cold again, today made me excited to introduce Amelia to the up and coming season...she's never seen spring before. She's never felt the grass in her toes, seen spring flowers bloom, been pulled in a wagon or been on a swing...until today. We took a drive and stopped by to see our former neighbors, the Martins, and Amelia got to try out their tree swing. She was very, very serious and unsure about this new sensation but she finally got the hang of it and had some smiles.
Ford also put her toes in the grass...fearful screaming.
What will she think of sand? :)