Screaming Contest

She wins.

Feliz Navidad

Three days before Christmas I noticed the Roo felt a little warm while getting her ready for daycare.  She had a temperature of 101 degrees, and to make a long story short ended up having ear infections in both of her ears.  Ever since I became a Mom, ear infections have always freaked me out.  I guess it's because it's hard to tell what the problem is, especially when you throw teething in the mix.  Regardless, we ended up having a great holiday.  The Roo got to spend her very first Christmas in Dodge City, America.  We spent Christmas Eve at my Dad's and went to my Grandma's on Christmas Day.  Needless to say, eating wrapping paper was the name of the game this year.

We seemed to somewhat the get hang of opening presents.  Atleast the part where we tear the paper so we can eat it.

This is wear we found Holly while we were opening gifts, and if  you know her, you'd know she'd rather be around people than by herself.  Apparently even Holly has a chaos limit.

Signs that we've had enough Christmas.

 We had a great time, but I think we were all ready when it was time to head home.

All I want for Christmas is my two bottom teeth

The Roo turned 8 months old while we were celebrating Christmas with the Plummers.  It was really nice for Clyde to decide to come along.  We had Emerson there so getting her to cooperate wasn't nearly a problem!

Also over the weekend we discovered her two bottom teeth are finally coming in, however I don't believe she'd be saying it that way.  It would be more like "my two $#@& teeth are coming in, damn it!"  I'm joking, she's not all that fussy, however she has been much more clingy than normal (which makes getting ready for work tons of fun) and doesn't have as big of an appetite.  I never thought about it before, but I bet it does hurt like the dickens when those teeth first poke through, poor girl.

Here's her 8 month "about me":

• She weighs 18 lbs. and is 27 1/2" long (since she doesn't go back to the doc until 9 months these are our measurements....she was 27 1/2" long last month too so I don't know how reliable that is, ha!)


• Is pulling up onto everything....the couch, her toy bucket, Mom, Dad's pineapple plant pot, etc.

• Knows the word "no", although she's already trying our patience with it. 
• LOVES bananas!





• Still practicing her "Mammama's" and "Bababbaba's".
• Finally becoming ok with the big bathtub.  It was a little rocky there at the start, but since Mom has started taking baths with us, it's becoming more and more fun.
• We've mastered the soft-nippled sippy cup (mainly due to her daycare lady's excellent persistence & patience).  She still gets her first morning and last bottle, I can't seem to take those away from her. ;)

• Loves Toro.  I can't remember if I've mentioned this before.  She's not quite as interested in Holly as much as the cat.  Her face lights up whenever he comes near her and he very much tolerates her rubbing her face into him.
• She's finally getting more of those puff cereals in her mouth than in her lap.


  

Plummer Christmas

We spent this past weekend back down in Kingfisher, OK, for Christmas with the Plummer family and it was an excellent weekend filled with International Santas, ice skating (watching, mind you), presents, delicious food, "Kingfisher In Lights", and of course playing with our cousins!  Each time we get together with the little ones gets to be more and more fun.

The Seay Mansion in Kingfisher, which use to be the home of the Governor back in the day, held an event on Saturday that showcased many Santas from different parts of the world.  Here's the Roo with the Russian Snowflake (honestly, can't remember her name, I just remembered we held hands and did a ring-around-the-rosey type dance around a potato bag) and the Russian Santa Claus.  My favorites were Black Peter from the Netherlands that carried a whip and gave naughty children sticks for Christmas (Chad got a stick) and Glyla from Sweden that ate naughty children.  I think we're waaaay too conservative with our coal over here in the States. ;)

Emerson listened to each Santa's story verrrry intently.

Next stop, ice skating in Oklahoma City, oops, I mean WATCHING ice skating in Oklahoma City.  I gave my good college try a couple of years ago.  Chelsi, Emerson, and their friends Michelle, Hannah, and Gherig were all troopers.

Sunday morning brought us a good old-fashioned Griswald..err, I mean Plummer Christmas!  Here's the twins (we got asked that multiple times on Saturday) trying to peak in their stockings while we waited for Emmy to wake up.

Then it was stocking time!

The Roo got the hang of tearing the paper.

A big hit was the table from Zac & Chelsi.  We thought it was pretty cool!

I thought this was pretty sweet.  Chad & the Roo zonked out, then not too much longer later we saw Zac & Alex in the same chair. 

We managed to leave fairly early Monday morning to beat whatever storm was brewing.  It rained on us the whole way home.  Chad acted like a little kid Monday night, refreshing the radar on the computer each minute.  I don't know what he was all worked up about, the guy is already out for Christms break anyway!  Either way, the storm was pretty much a dud for us.  I hope Dodge City has some left for us this weekend, I have a major SLEDDING itch!

Dog food, the main food group

With the Roo's mobility only getting stronger (and faster) comes the need for us to be more on our toes.  She was a big help this weekend while we were getting the house ready for Chad's team Christmas party.  The girl loves cords.  And Holly's dog food bowl.  Everytime we'd turn around she'd be trudging towards our bedroom (where Holly's station is).  Finally after three or so times of chasing after her and catching her mid-handful, a light came on:  How about we shut the door?  Doh!  I know this is only a short-term solution but for now, it works!


Now if I remember correctly, that pile of brown pellets is just around this corner...

Almost!

How we help vacuum.

The girls watching Dad get the smoker ready for the party.

And boy our party's have changed.  The babies were the entertainment. (as well as the Heisman Trophy ceremony, but come on now, what's REAL entertainment?)

A "Mama" here and a "Mama" there...

So what has the Roo been blabbing on and on about the past day and a half?  No other than "Mammaammaama"!  Everything is mamama...Toro, my sandal by the back door, her imaginary friend, the exersaucer, Clyde the monkey...you name it, it's Mama.  I particularly like when her mouth is moving but nothing is coming out, old man-like.  Nonetheless, she's saying it, yaaay!  I like to attribute it to me reciting it to her and over and over again since her birth.  Yes, I've been pretty adament about it.  Sorry Chad, looks like you need to work a little harder next time.


Here I was trying to capture her bouncin' like a freakin' rockstar when she decided it was yet again time to practice her latest achievement.

Lastly, pre-parental title milestone, the Roo figured out a wrapping paper tube is a great megaphone (do I need to add 7 month olds are a GREAT help in the Christmas wrapping process?  Ugh!).  What you don't see is Holly is on the other end of the tube listening intently.  Ok, I kid.  Still pretty cute, though.

Turkey Day

All in all, we had a fantastic Thanksgiving break visiting the Plummer family in Kingfisher, Oklahoma (despite the Dad contracting a bug Saturday night that he is still trying to overcome). We enjoyed lot's of family time and playing with the kiddos; the babies are getting to be more and more fun and big cousin Emerson is getting so grown up. Saturday we went and saw The Muppets which I totally recommend. Is it sad to say that I got tearful during the opening act of their show? (I am my Grandpa's granddaughter.)

Yes, I know the Bumbo's aren't supposed to be on the counter but hear me when I say we were standing right there. I don't need another "bed" incident already.

The Roo thought she was pretty hot stuff when she was able to pull up onto the step. She let you know it too, as she stood there hollering. I tell ya our daughter is going to have excellent abs.


Thanksgiving's over now so that only means one thing.....CHRISTMAS!!! Reason #475,579 to have children: You can live vicariously through them during holidays (and everything else for that matter!).

7 months old

Well here we are, 7 months old. We met with our Parents as Teachers educator yesterday, and in her words, the Roo's motor development has really taken off this past month. Still no gains in the vocal department (babbling, adding consonants, etc.) but according to PAT's, babies can only concentrate on one area of skills at a time. I can understand this considering what all our little Roo has accomplished!

We now sit on our own.

Hold our own bottle.

and as previously mentioned....CRAWL!

We had our very first falling off the bed incident this past Sunday. I, of course, felt TERRIBLE but the more people I talk to the more it seems as a parenthood right of passage. If nothing else it taught me to not turn my back if even for a split-second. According to Grammy, when I was a baby I fell off into the crack between the bed and wall, and I seem to be at least sort of ok, ha!

Officially mobile

After weeks of "almost", acrobatics, and not knowing what we're supposed to do with our hands we are officially crawling! Look out Holly and Toro.

Never enough video

We've been having fun capturing video of our little bugger lately. Here's a few for your viewing pleasure.

Peaches, peaches the magical fruit, the more you eat the more you...wait wrong fruit. Either way, they are fun to spit out. It probably doesn't help that we are laughing at her the entire time.


We already LOVE Mickey Mouse. No thanks to Grammy, for sure. I kept waiting for her to do something so really, only the first 20 or so seconds are interesting.


Exersaucers are fun. She was in an exceptionally great mood Sunday evening when we shot this. Chad was taping when he realized he didn't hit the "record" button (duh) so once he finally realized that, she was starting to wind down. My helium voice is a little overbearing, and for that I will apologize. ;)

Sisterly love

It seems as if each day that passes brings more curiosity to the Roo regarding Holly. I really feel like they are going to be best friends. Holly's wonderful with her despite pulled hair/ears and grabbed feet/tail. She just lays there until it gets to be too much for her then she just simply scoots over out of the Roo's reach. That will soon change once the Roo's able to chase after her. :)

1st Halloween!

We were a skunk for our first Halloween! We were able to make a few stops when I got off work which included K-State and daycare, then took a break for a nap & supper. We were back at it again with stops at four more places! Needless to say we were ready for bed when it was all said and done.

Face plant

Probably the first of many in her little life, but the Roo performed her first face plant last night. For your viewing pleasure...

Downward facing dog

So I should sign the Roo up for yoga classes. Here's a video of her working her "all four's" and also practicing the popular yoga move. Needless to say I didn't realize she had spit-up on her arm until about the 50-second-mark. Mom of the year, right here, ha!

Half-a-year-old

This past Tuesday, October 18th, our little girl turned 6 months old; crazy! She's everything and more we ever wanted and is getting to be more precious and more fun by the day. To sum up this wiggly girl:

• EVERYTHING goes in her mouth. She wants everything you have (so she can put it in her mouth)!


• She's got the crawling stance down to a tee. I'm trying to capture decent video of this, but it hasn't quite happened yet.


• She definitely knows her name. Call it once and she'll look in your direction.


• She gets a kick out of Holly, especially when Holly is excited. She looks at her as if it's the most amazing thing she's ever seen.


• We're starting to love peek-a-boo and patty-a-cake.


• She loves to touch your face, especially when she's eating. She's starting to twirl my hair as she eats.


• She doesn't get stranger anxiety so much yet (atleast not the screaming-type) but she definitely knows her Mom & Dad and stares at us when someone new is holding her.


• She sits with support.


• She loves to stand and does really well just holding your hands.


• She loves her feet.


• We've tried applesauce, avocado, banana, peas, pears, peaches, green beans, sweet potatoes, and squash. She reallllly likes squash (crazy kid).

I'm sure I'm leaving stuff out, but this is her in a nutshell. We're really looking forward to the holidays and all the fun that will be had in the coming months. I'm sure April will be here before we know it! :(

10-16-11 Update

Showing her stuff pushing up and on all four's.  Doing it more and more each day! 

A few photos we took over the weekend, quite the ham!

Trip to Rolla/Elkhart (aka God's Country)

Last weekend we made the nearly 6 hour journey to the wonderful barren land that is also known as extreme Southwestern Kansas.  Most people don't know that anything exists much past Salina, let alone Dodge City.  Holly stayed at Grandma's (and had a blast) and we kept on a'trucking to Elkhart.  Friday night we made the trip to Rolla for a very important dedication that was to take place before the Rolla vs. Ashland football game.  They dedicated the field to Papa Plummer!  It was also dedicated to Daddy's old high school football coach, Gary Bane.  Gary Bane and Papa Plummer Field it now is!  Despite the long drive we had an awesome trip and can't wait to see that family again at Thanksgiving.