Couch Tater

Someone already likes to watch tv. When she is on her activity mat, we noticed that she wasn't really looking at her animals. We noticed that she was watching the tv instead, so we moved the mat farther away from the tv. But rather than turning her attention to her animals, she turned her head so that she could continue to see the tv. So now we try not to keep the tv on while she is playing. But this morning we woke up and caught her enjoying tv in her new little chair. We bought the chair so that we can put her in it in the morning when we are trying to get ready and she still has to be upright after eating. Little did we know that our little one would be enjoying Sat. morning cartoons in her new chair.

What's so funny

I don't know, but Bella sure can laugh with the best of them, except of course when we went today to get professional family portraits at JCPenney. When I was little and I would do something cute or funny, my dad would try to get me to perform the act in front of others. As I got older I decided I didn't like "performing" in front of others, so I told him that I wasn't a show pony and wouldn't oblige him. Well, today I thought, if Bella could talk, she would be saying I'm not a show pony, so quit trying to make me smile. What is it they say about pay backs?

Happy Days

Yes, sir. That is one happy baby. She got her shots on 3/13, and she has been on the go meeting and greeting people ever since. She met my co-workers Friday in the morning and then met Todd's co-workers that afternoon, and she got to ride home from work with daddy in his truck. That was lots of fun I am sure. Then on Sat. we threw her a "Free Bella" party and invited my extended family over to my parent's house since they hadn't seen her yet. And then on Sunday she went to church with us for the first time and stayed in the nursery. We didn't even make it into the church doors because people came running out to see her. And as you can see, she has enjoyed being the center of attention. She truly did love it. I don't know if she is just not old enough to be scared of all the different faces, - I know she won't start experiencing separation anxiety until around 9 months - but she loved being passed from person to person (ok, she loves being held). It just seems impossible to believe that Todd and I would have an outgoing kid. But anything is possible. We will of course keep you posted.

I'm a model you know what I mean

At the ripe old age of 7 weeks, Bella has scored a modeling gig. What's the story you ask? Well, when I went to pick up the breast pump that I purchased off Craig's List (it's like an on-line garage sale), the lady who was selling the breast pump started telling me about her business that she was just getting started. Her little girl had tons of hair, but she couldn't find any barrettes that would stay in her hair, so she created her own. Other people really liked them, and that motivated her to start mass producing them and trying to sell them. She even created her own label - Bellaziza and had just recently received a large order from Babystyle (a baby store with several store nationwide). She showed us (Todd was with me) all the barrettes, and as we were leave she handed me a few and told me good luck with the baby.

Well, when Bella came out with a full head of hair, I knew just the little barrettes to put in her hair. So when I was taking pictures for her birth announcement I stuck one of the barrettes in her hair. I decided to email the barrette lady Bella's picture to show her that we were really using the barrettes and to thank her for them. Well, she loved Bella's picture and asked if she could use her picture on the website that she was creating (http://www.bellaziza.com/), and if I would be willing to take more pictures of Bella, she would give me more barrettes. So, of course I said yes! I'm trying to get more sophisticated in my picture taking, but of course I am working with an infant and a $200 camera. Todd laughed at me when he found the halogen lamp downstairs and asked me what it was doing down there, and I said I needed it for Bella's photo shoot. A friend has recommended a photography book (How to Photograph Your Baby by Nick Kelsh), so I think I will buy that. My friend now takes beautiful pictures and even has her own business (http://www.odomnet.com/photography/), so I trust the recommendation.

Pretty in Pink

Every day it seems that Bella is interacting with us more. She is smiling more, stretching out her arms to touch things, and looking at us in an effort to try and mimic our hand movements and facial expressions. I swear when I snap my fingers she moves her right hand (she'll be a righty) in an effort to do the same. Todd thinks I may be reading too much into things. I suppose that can happen when you spend 24/7 with someone who can't talk. In fact just last night he was saying Bella didn't really do much yet and that she might even be an angry baby because she really didn't smile that often. And then as if to prove him wrong, the minute we stopped the car she had lots of smiles and grins for her daddy. Like most first time parents, we take joy in all our baby's first. Last night I took joy in Bella's first time to prove her daddy wrong.

Flying Baby

Bella has been doing great. She can support her own weight for 10-15 seconds on her own (she has to be steadied by our hands of course). She locks her little legs, and she waves her arms as if she is performing just to make us laugh. She has been grinning real big and even laughing (ok, there was no sound, but she was laughing) throughout the day, not just during her happy time in the morning. She is always real happy in the morning for some reason which we don't quite fully understand. If we laugh at her, she will start smiling. She is already a ham in training.

We have not been taking her to church yet or over to her cousin's house yet since she doesn't have her shots. Cat's brother has started the FBDC (Free Bella Dyer Campaign) and plans to have T-shirts made in protest of us holding her captive. She will have her shots in a couple of weeks, and we will feel better about having her around other kids and taking her to the church nursery.

Here are a couple of recent pictures. This one is Bella during her tummy time. She has pretty good head control now and will only head butt you once in a while.





























This one was taken a few minutes ago. She was fussing, so I changed her vantage point, and she thought that was pretty cool.