Today Baby Belle is 6 months old.  

Wow.

In ways it has flown by, and in many ways, it has not.

We have been busy the past 6 months:

Big Belle has started Kindergarten,

Clara Belle started a new daycare, and then Baby Belle joined her.

I was off work, and then back to work.

And so on.

I haven't had (oops, made) Baby's 6 month appointment, but hope to do that this week.  I don't know if they will get us in because flu, viruses, and strep throat are running rampant around here.  And naturally, it is a flu not covered by the flu vaccine.  While not usually one to become "paranoid" (except for only semi-rational reasons having nothing whatsoever to do with any current world crisis) the thought of this crud running through my family has me a little on edge.  

Would YOU want this little face to be sick?

I know I just posted this picture, but I was too lazy to add comments before.  

Just LOOK at those toes.  Pointing and flexing, they were just delicious to kiss.

Notice our 6 month skill -- sitting up!  That is ALL she wants to do, but she gets pretty upset when she bonks her head.  Which makes sense of course.

I have big plans for this photo.  I'm thinking 8x10, black and white....hanging somewhere on my wall.  

At her last doctor's visit pre-ear infection 11 days ago, Baby Belle was just at 15 pounds.  We've just about used up the size one diapers, I try and squeeze every last moments out of them that I can.  I have been using the size 2s at night to make sure there is enough leakage protection.  She sure is not a skinny baby, but doesn't have a huge tummy.  It is more in her thighs, and duh -- those cheeks.  So she must have a small bum.

She has slept through the night twice, last Thursday and Friday.  What  happened Saturday and Sunday I'm not sure.  She's being OFFERED baby food every night, but isn't a big taker.  No surprise seeing it took her 4 weeks at daycare to even nibble a bottle there.  I can't remember her height, so that will have to wait until the official 6 month visit. I think some of her outfits are getting a little small.  But I'm not breaking out the next size quite yet.

Thanks for checking in with us!  I'll try to be back with more tomorrow.  Baby Belle is yawning, so it's time to begin our pre bedtime stuff.

'Night!

My Favorite Places

I have started a new page (see the tab at the top) called My Favorite Places on the Web.  It is (going to be) full of websites that I visit regularly and think are worth sharing.  It is NOT a list of blogs I follow, though there are a few on there, but more sites with interesting and/or helpful information.  There is no secret benefit to me posting these on here except that I really like them.  If you have a site you think I should see, let me know!

The Many Faces of Baby Belle

A pictorial.

100th Day of School

Happy 100th Day of Kindergarten to Big Belle!

I love being able to see her "anytime" I want during the schoolday.

I love being able to pop into her classroom.

I love hearing "Hi Mommy" down the hallway and knowing that she is calling to me

(and I wonder how many years that will last...sigh.)

She is growing up so fast.  I can't believe first grade is "around the corner". 

Things kids need to know and do in school is so much more intense now.

There is a very good chance that Greta will never be taught cursive writing

formally. I find that amazing!  However, she knows how to type better

than many adults. 

We are anxiously awaiting an extra wiggly tooth, and it's neighbor. 

I think we have a few weeks to go, but even so the Tooth Fairy

is on standby.  Now if we can just curb the thumbsucking....

The Future.

Baby Belle

Baby Belle wanted to say hello and tell you a few things. 

1) She's feeling much better, but teething really is a bummer.

2) She is trying hard to sit up, but you know gravity tends to win.  And let's face it, that head is big.

3) Toys are really awesome.  She loves them.  Especially ones she can put in her mouth.  

4) Life Is Good.  Baby Belle really exemplifies this, and reminds us to be happy.

Thanks Baby Belle!

Pretty Slow Weekend

I tried having a photo session yesterday.  I tried cute positions, we even brushed our hair, but not one picture came out.  Not even anything crazy, but cute.  Just blech.  So I have nothin' for you there.

Baby Belle is improving from her ear infection.  And, let's just say that if you were worried about her intestinal troubles, for the meanwhile, worry no more.  I think we can lay off the pears....

Big Belle is at a playdate since today is a Teacher Workday -- oops, I'm taking a quick break.

And Clara Belle?  Well, she's fine.  She cracked us up yesterday by walking around saying "oh yeah baby!"  She has also surprised by REALLY REALLY REALLY (get the picture) liking the 2 different toys with microphones that Santa brought.  Clara Belle got a little piano with microphone, and Big Belle got a cd player with microphone.  While both girls play with them, it's pretty funny to hear Clara get on there.  She doesn't use it so much for singing, but more to amplify her voice in telling people what to do, what she wants someone to do for her, or just to generally yell meaningless comments.  Funny it is.

I will attempt more pictures throughout the week, but I will put less forethought and energy into it, because naturally that's when you get the best photos.  In between all that is our daily life, I have a few crafty projects I'm trying to find moments to work on.  If you're lucky, I'll let you know about them soon.  I'm in one of those modes when I have 4 projects I want to do, plus about 14 books I want to read, and in the past 12 weeks I've read less than 100 pages in the book I am reading.  Not because I don't love it, simply because when I do have a moment, it's usually when I'm asleep.  So, not too sure how I expect to do any craft. 

Well, my workday breaktime should probably end.

TTFN

Belle Update

Poor Baby Belle has an ear infection.  Her first real illness, bar an insane amount of colds thanks to her sisters.  She is awash in pink medicine, drool from crazy teething, and anything else that wants to shoot out of her. 

Thankfully, after several days of intense intestinal straining (read: pooping rocks) I hope we are reaching a solution.  Pears seem to help get things moving.  I can only imagine how uncomfortable she's been between teeth, ears and tummy. 

Ill try to come back with an actual post today or tomorrow.

TTFN

Ho hum...

So, I really enjoy taking pictures.  And I really enjoy taking pictures of my kids.  The more kids I have, the more difficult taking pictures -- let alone pictures of my kids -- has become.

 I'm assuming we need no further explanation, but just in case:

Sweet Feet

I try

I try

And Celebrate

Success!

And yes, they taste as good as they look.

Today's To Do

Today we are off of school.  I will save the confusion over why we had a snow-makeup-day on Saturday, but are off today, because that horse has been beaten too much.  But we're off today.  And by we, I mean my 3 belles and myself.  Chris, much to his relief I believe, gets a day to himself outside in the cool fresh air.

I had a great list I wished to accomplish today.  So far, I think I've managed to feed everyone, and get everyone dressed.  Other than that, accomplishments are minimum.

Oh sure, I've played around.  Look at what I did with the blog!  I'm inspired once more!  Yet, my list of goals is sitting on the kitchen counter, where I quietly pushed it aside so I didn't have to look at what I wasn't doing.  Like I could try to hide it from myself.  I wrote it.  It's not like I was hiding broccoli in a napkin or something.

But now, it's time to get doing something.  Greta has the school Science Fair tomorrow, so we need to put together the board for her project and make sure she really does understand the results of her project.  Stay tuned for more of that. Happy Monday!  And Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day!

On Being 5 Months Old

There seems to be a lot of waiting in between my hugs and snuggles and playtime....

 There seems to be a lot of me watching the world go by....

 There seems to be some parts of life I seem to be missing out on....

And I wish people would realize that my head is just too heavy to wait for life sometimes.

Oh, That's What it's All About

I am definitely not talking about the Hokey Pokey.

Panic!  Reading only headlines or parts of articles (when will I take the advice of what I teach, that is NOT the way to learn something) I was informed that I was no longer a Libra. 

ACK!

Life as I know it crumbled over me.  Was I no longer balanced, fair, empathetic and just?  Did I no longer have trouble making decisions? Romantic, charming, easygoing, sociable? Gone for good? (Hey, I don't recall ever having those....)  Thrown into the world anew to live life under a new sign:  Virgo.  No offense to any Virgos out there, I know some.  There's nothing wrong with you!  I join your ranks with honor, albeit under mild confusion.  How could that happen?  One minute you're one thing the next minute -- poof! I suppose I should consider myself lucky I am not a whole new sign just created.  I have yet to figure out how to even pronounce Ophiucus let alone understand what attributes that might hold for someone. 

And then, finding some time to waste -- because why start putting laundry away NOW.  It's only 5 loads sitting there, why not go for 6 -- I actually read the article.

Turns out, I can stay a Libra.  The "change" is only for people born 2009 or later. 

That explains so much about all of the angst my 2 year old is harboring.

This is How We Do it....

This is how Southern Belles dress for the weather.  It might not exactly be the Paris runway fashion, but we piece together what we can for the rare days when we need boots, snowpants, etc.

The general Southern Belle consensus about snowy weather was a thumbs down.  They lasted a little while in the snow, but were amazed at how wet they got.  There was a lot of discussion about how cold their bottoms were after "sledding" down the driveway -- on pool floats!  How southern is that!

Today was just ice, and that was NOT fun.  We did venture out for a walk, it was fairly treacherous.  We will be spending our THIRD day at home tomorrow, but I actually am loving every minute of it.  There are minutes of the day when it gets a little cramped with 5 of us competing for some private time, but mostly it's going well.  The girls are playing well together -- jinx, I know.  Tomorrow I think we will be able to get out, and while it isn't our day to grocery shop, I think we might just head that way to get out.  Especially since Saturday Greta and I will be spending half the day at school making up yesterday's snow day!

hmmmm

seem to be having some trouble already...stay tuned.

Trial....

Since we've been snowed/iced in here for two days, and one more tomorrow, I'm playing around with the blog trying out some new things. Feel free to say yay or nay and leave your opinion. I may or may not listen to it. Meanwhile, check back often to see what new things I have in store. New tabs are one thing, I'll try and get content into each area just to see how it works.

stay tuned

2 going on 3 full days of being at home and I haven't blogged at all. Hopefully tomorrow I'll tell you all about the snow.

And ice.

Because we'll all be home again.

I'm in love...

WOW!

I'm quite upset that this awesome picture is a little less awesome because of "Pinky Dinky Doo" on the tv in the background. I think it is fabulous.

In fact, I would count it nearly as good as this one barring the background...

And then of course there is this one I have of an 8x10 at my desk with Greta -- over 5 years ago.

Stunning, even in a solo photo...

and finally,

he's not just handsome and photogenic,

he is an awesome father who will even play Dance Dance Revolution with 2/3 of his children, the final third not yet able to actually dance.

Happy Belated-on-the-blog Birthday Chris/Daddy! We love you!

New Year New Me

Not really. I couldn't think of a good title for this post, so really I am tongue in cheeking with what I see out there. Blogs are a dime a dozen. Any fool can -- and does -- have a blog. It gets me frustrated at times, am I just one of "those"? The masses? Well, yes, I am.

The ones who post their Year in Review.

Nope.

The ones who post their Resolutions.

Nope.

The ones who post their current reading list as well as their goal for the year. Well, maybe. I think I can do that for you. Are you ready? Here you go:

Now, moving on.

In between my games of Solitaire, which I have actually cut back on (Why can't I ever win 2 games in a row?), clearing my inbox of annoying Yankee Candle, Pottery Barn, World Market and a few other emails which seem to come almost hourly...I actually haven't been doing much. I realized I took very little Christmas pictures, certainly none of the ones showing my precious children lit while calming sitting amidst twinkling Christmas tree lights while surrounded by the intensity of the promise of presents. I'll try to start including a few soon, and luckily my sister sent some my way as well so that will help.

Here's the girls waiting to go to Build a Bear. It was a lot of fun, of course. I actually really really want the dress that Clara's animal is wearing...the shoes aren't too bad either. Hmm, what has my life come to me that I am jealous of the clothing a stuffed animal wears? Good thing they aren't too into Barbies, I could have a real problem.

Greta has a birthday party at the Bowling Alley today -- Chris and I are terrified that she will actually like bowling (she has been once bcfore and did) and we will have to go some time -- the grocery store is high on the list -- we are out of easy breakfast foods so now I have no choice but to make pancakes and I must create space for the Christmas presents. And that's just by 2:00 pm. Happy Saturday!

don't be impressed

It is with sheer force that I write this blog post. It's not because I don't want to, don't get me wrong. In fact, I have about 5 posts churning in my brain to write. But blogging is a routine, and once out of that routine, it's hard to get back in the saddle. It's hard to find those moments when this is important and fun to me. Which it is, once I get started. As I write this, Greta is at swimming lessons, Hadley is sleeping, and I finally turned on the tv so Clara (really me) could relax for a few minutes. I SHOULD be heating up the oven to throw in dinner, cleaning the dishes already accumulated in the sink, putting away presents that arrived in the mail being shipped from Christmas in Michigan, (it was like Christmas morning all over again. What a mess.) cleaning up the cat puke irritatingly close to my foot at the moment, cleaning any other number of rooms or floors in the house, or playing Solitaire. Our new addiction. Chris downloaded it to our phones a couple of weeks ago, and now we can't stop. We're both addicted, and that's an entire blog post all to itself. Hold your horses people, an entire post just on us playing Solitaire! I know, chain you down. Anyways, we're back to school/work this week, and back to our crazy life. I have found that pulling myself out of bed at 5:45 versus 6:00 really does make a world of difference, and if I could manage 5:35 I would be sitting pretty, but that's a goal for another week.

We made resolutions, and we've kept them all week. I really don't usually pay attention to resolutions, because why stress myself about breaking them, but these are some positive life habits that are fairly easy for us all, so I figured why not. I'm not going to tell you what they are, just in case.

I'm not big into "Year in Review" posts, so while I probably won't do one, you might see a Year in Photos. Maybe. There are too many other things to do, and I might have to squeeze in a game of Solitaire while dinner's cooking. In between the dishes. And the broom...and the, oh, laundry....