B-I-N-G-O

Yesterday I was helping Mommy with the dishes (and by helping I mean I kept climbing on the dishwater door, reaching into the top tray to grab cups and bowls!) and singing my new song. Mommy thought at first I was attempting the alphabet since she had practiced singing & signing them with me earlier in the week, but Daddy corrected her and told her I trying to sing B-i-n-g-o.I'm pretty good--I sing D-I-hum, hum..D-I-hum, hum....Here's a video of me, where I am singing at the start and also as I walk away from Mommy.

Speaking of dogs....I got to play with one all weekend long. We dogsat for Static. I wasn't too sure of him the first night, but by the 2nd day I was busy playing with him, petting him and chasing him around the house. Although he didn't like it when I pulled his fur!!

I also pushed my 8th tooth through a week ago. Now I'm balanced out--4 on top, 4 on bottom. Mommy hardly even knew I was working on it until she saw it, although as she thought back there was an evening I was a little fussier than usual.

The most exciting news of the week (at least for Mommy!!) is that my sleeping habits are back to where they were in March-April (before teething, sickness, etc.). Not quite all night, but 9+ hours. I get up around 5, but after minimally intervention from Mommy I go right back to sleep until about 6:15 or so. At least I let Daddy sleep "all" night!!

Colorado Musings

Here's a picture to remind everyone just how beautiful Colorado is!! Here's the long story: Saturday it was raining on the front range; anywhere from light drizzle to a downpour. Mommy & I ran errands in the morning looking for a raincoat for me, so that I could go to the Broncos game with M&D later that evening. We had just gotten home and was putting brownies in the oven for Sunday's potluck, when Aunt R. called saying she was stranded at the Denver airport. She had taken a friend down to fly out and the windshield wipers stopped working. So being the smart girl she is, she was not going to drive the car back up to Estes Park. So Mommy & I hop in our car, with the windshield wipers at full speed and drive down I-25 to pick her up. The rain started to clear up as we left the airport. We were almost back to I-25 when the clouds parted and the snow-capped mountains could be seen. Isn't it gorgeous? All evening the news was interviewing all the skiers and snowboarders on Loveland Pass. (just as a side note, most of the snow was gone by Wednesday afternoon, so didn't stick around long!)

Anyhow, since Aunt R. was already late for work, she decided just to spend the night with us, go to church with us Sunday morning and then Mommy took her back in time for work Sunday afternoon. So M&D got a date night to the football game and I got to stay dry and warm playing with Aunt R. at home!!

Helping with Laundry

Yesterday I was helping Mommy with laundry and found a pretty "necklace" to wear! Mommy thought it was so funny so she just had to take pictures of me. I also found a fun pair of socks to walk around in. Aren't I cute?!

It's A Jungle Out There

In all my discoveries I have found that the world is a big place, a great big jungle out there. Mommy thinks it is funny when I play in our willow tree. It really is like a jungle for me, trying to weave myself through those branches. Enjoy this little clip.


Here's a picture of me just lounging on the patio just like Mommy.
I am learning and discovering new things every day. This past week, the world of communication was opened up to me. I mean I have already been able to get my meaning across somewhat, with pointing and a few words, but now I have started to learn sign language. My first word was "MORE". What a wonderful word. I sign it and I get something in return!! Although Mommy thinks that I started using it whenever I wanted anything, not necessarily more of what I just had. But hey, whatever works right?!
Enjoy your discoveries of your world around you today!

Big Girl

I am officially a big girl now. As of Sunday, I am weaned. I think this is more exciting for Mommy then it is for me. I had a bit of a hard time adjusting Sunday and Monday nights. I was still getting up at least once a night to eat (which is the only time I nursed, since during the day I have whole milk from a cup and real food & a formula bottle right before bed), so when Mommy decided no more nursing, that meant that I didn't get to eat at night. So Sunday night I was up for 2 hours , Monday night for 1 hour and Tuesday night about 40 minutes, although I only fought with Mommy for less than 10 minutes each night. The rest of the time was me wanting to be held and rocked and not put down. I would be sleeping in Mommy's arms and then she had the nerve to try to lay me back in my crib. I would wake up when she put me down, realize that she was trying to leave and sit back up. As soon as she picked me up I would be asleep again. So it was more of a challenge for Mommy trying to trick me into laying me in my crib and make me think she was still holding me, and slowly remove arms and hands from my body until I was sleeping soundly in my crib. Wednesday and Thursday night, I had to have minimally intervention from Mommy. Wednesday I was up 4 times and last night I was up 3 times but each time Mommy just had to pick me up, rock me about 3 times and lay me back down and I would fall right back asleep. So each night is getting better. But I am pretty excited when Mommy offers me a bottle right away in the morning!!! I mean 11 hours is a long time without food.

Picnic in the park

Yesterday M&D took me for a picnic in the park. We met friends there, for sandwiches and some playtime. Since the sky was threatening rain we decided to ride the train instead of swimming at the beach. After the train ride, my friends and I played in the sand. Mommy's favorite part was when Bella was crawling away and I tried to hitch a ride (like a pony!!). Mommy couldn't help laughing as she pulled me off and attempted to discipline me. Bella didn't seem to care too much!!

Also this week, Mommy decided that my hair was long enough to have some pretties in it. Although today when Mommy came to pick me up, I couldn't decide if I wanted it in or out and I was very frustrated. But don't I look cute!!

Family Reunion

Last weekend was Mommy's family reunion at YMCA of the Rockies/Snow Mountain Ranch. So we didn't have very far to go, just up and over through Rocky Mountain National Park (with a stop at the YMCA/Estes Park Center to pick up Aunt R). It was a very fun weekend. There were 15 of us in one cabin and another 11 in a rental home. I was the only child in the cabin, so I was the designated entertainment every morning and evening!!!
It was fun to meet all my relatives. I got reaquainted with G&G even before the reunion since they stayed with us 3 nights and G1 took care of me 2 days that Mommy worked.
The first day we got to the cabin mid-afternoon and hung around the cabin most of the evening, with a evening stroll to the park with my cousins. On Saturday, we went for a short hike to the waterfalls before M&D went white water rafting. (To view their pictures go to http://www.rapidimagephoto.com/ on the Clear Creek River, Adventures in Whitewater, 7/26/08 Intermediate: although I believe they will only be there for about 25 days). M&D are in the 2nd boat in the front (starting with #23) with G2 and Aunt R. Aunt M and Uncle B are in the first boat. The swimmer was Aunt Teri.
Sunday morning we took some group pictures. Then everyone kind of split up for the day. Some went to church, some went hiking again, Daddy got a long ride on his ATV (where he saw 2 bull moose), Mommy took a nap with me, and some took a trip to the medical center (Uncle Bob was diganosed with bronchitis and so spent the rest of the weekend laying low), while the rest just relaxed in the cabin. After lunch I got to go watch the zipline. Even G1 went! But the weather turned bad so G2 didn't get his turn, but I think everyone who went had fun. That evening we had a campfire. Have I told you before how much fun I have outdoors?! Well, again I had a blast getting myself completely filthy. Before bed Mommy made me go back a take a bath. But it was fun while it lasted!!
Monday G2, along with Aunt R and 2 cousins got up at the insane hour of 3 to go watch the sunrise. I mean sometimes I am up at 3, but that's just to eat and then I go right back to sleep!! So 2 more cars went at the more decent hour of 9:30 to meet them in the park. We hiked to the scenic lookout at the Alpine Vistors Center, then drove down towards Estes before driving back up the one-way gravel road. Along Fall River Road we stopped twice to hike to waterfalls and Mommy even let me walk up the hill. We saw quite a few elk and some marmots. Once at the top, Aunt M and Uncle B had to leave to head back to the airport, and the Kellogg's wanted to tour the gift shop some, so it was just M&D, G&G and I heading back to SMR.
Once we got back M&D, along with G2 went for another scenic drive, so I got to play with G1 again. Daddy wanted to show where he had gone 4-wheeling and scout out camping spots for future trips. The road went through Stillwater pass for 20 miles. The beginning and end were fine, but the 2 miles at the top were tight, windy roads. It took 1 1/2 hours to go across, but once reaching the highway it only took 30 minutes to come back around. The highlight was seeing one moose and just seeing the scenic beauty of the mountains and creeks.
When I woke up Tuesday morning, M&D were ready to leave so Mommy could work. It was pretty foggy right away so it was slow going. We dropped Mommy off at work and Daddy and I continued home to unpack. It was a great, fun-filled weekend. See below for a slideshow of photos taken from the weekend.