Cookie Monster

This is what I wanted to capture: Riley's self-feeding skills. When she sees the animal cracker coming toward her from the package, she opens her mouth and leans forward as if it's just going to float right into her mouth. But after some "teaching," we've gotten to the point where I can put it in her hand and she takes it from there. I find myself cheering every time she does it...who would've thought such silly little moments could make your heart so happy?

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I had some really cute video of Riley and her animal crackers, but I couldn't get it to upload. I guess the files are just so big that anything over a few seconds is too much for this computer to process. I really wanted to share some live video with all of you, so I figured I try just a few seconds of footage. And I got it to work! So, this film is a "short," which is defined as "a first step into the cinematic art among young filmmakers. They are cheaper and easier to make, usually don't take very long to produce, and their brevity makes shorts more likely to be watched by financial backers and others who want some demonstration of a filmmaker's ability." So, maybe this feature presentation will sweep Sundance next year???
Well, at least it will make you smile.

Bauer stalks his prey

"BE VEWY, VEWY QUIET...I AM HUNTING ANIMAL QWAKERS..."

If it wasn't so darn funny, it would be quite disturbing -- the intensity with which Bauer fixates on the "low-hanging fruits" of the highchair and Exersaucer. He waits so patiently and intently, it's like the primal, ancestral hunting skills are summoned from deep in his domesticated bowels. Cesar would not approve. We tell Bauer that we're going to call for a Pack Leader consultation, but he knows we're bluffing. There's no doubt that we have created this monster. Well, to be fair, Riley encourages it as well. Most of the cereal and crackers I give her are promptly tossed on the floor to lure the wild beast forward.
The good news on the Animal Cracker front is that she actually picked one up herself and put it in her mouth for the first time yesterday to help soothe her gums. I was pretty excited. It's not that I don't love holding the crackers for half an hour at a time while she chews them, it's just that unless we find her a wealthy toddler Baron, the grape-feeding servant life may just not be realistic and some manual dexterity might come in handy.

Chompers!!!!

We have visual contact!!!
One cute little tooth is in the process of erupting onto the lower gum scene. It's funny because just yesterday, I met a woman with a little girl two days younger than Riley and we were talking about how neither of them have any tooth action yet. And then, voila. She's had all the signs for what seems like a few months, but she's also had two nasty colds lately, one which we still can't shake, so it's been hard to tell. But sure enough, when we were playing eye-to-eye this morning, I saw a flash of it. Impossible to snap a picture just yet, but as soon as it finishes its grand entrance, I'll be sure to post one. In the meantime, here's one from the other morning when Mr. Rubber Ducky was probably helping to sooth the gum line. Oh, and another thing we're perfecting this week is our pincer grasp. She'll spend minutes at a time holding her pointer finger straight out and just staring at it and its incredible separation from the others in amazement. So far, she has used the new skill to pick up a piece of Bauer's food. (He likes to bring one single piece of food as an offering to whomever is available before he eats it. Strange habit of the last few months -- not sure the reason, need to call Dog Whisperer). And yes, I'm realizing that the once "oh that's still a ways away" concepts of baby proofing and choking hazards are becoming swift reality. Now, as far as the dog food itself, well...it is all natural...so maybe, hmm...
Kidding, kidding!! She can also pick up small pieces of cereal, but she doesn't put them in her mouth, she just moves them from place to place and then onto the floor -- which is perfectly fine with Bauer.

View from the treadmill

When I get to schedule a morning run, Riley usually spends half the time in her Jumparoo, bouncing from the doorway, and the other half on the floor practicing her rolling. Yesterday morning, she managed to roll right over to Bauer and the two of them hung out cheek to cheek for the rest of the time. The view from the treadmill was so precious, I had to snap a few pics.

When winter in Missouri is cold, cold, cold, the only thing to do is think sun and surf!! When the forecast calls for snow, go bathing suit shopping. Our mall outing Saturday resulted in two stylish swimsuits for Miss Riley P. First up, a butter yellow one-piece featuring a great little green gator, white trim and ruffle skirt.

Our second suit is one I'd seen on sale at Baby GAP a few weeks ago and have been kicking myself ever since for leaving on the rack. Luckily, it was still there when we went back this weekend! This one is just too much...one shoulder with open ring detail, great pattern, just killer. Was the matching sun hat on sale as well? Why yes, yes it was. But you'll have to wait for summer to see the entire outfit. So, swimsuits, check. Thoughts of warm weather, check. Checking out the indoor pool, check. Turns out the community center's open swim is the best family deal in town...$6 for all the splashing you can handle. No doubt this little girl is a water baby -- we had a blast.