Peek-a-boo

Bella likes to pull all the DVD's out from underneath the TV, and we have always let her do this because we figure it gives her something to do and she can't hurt anything. But lately she has started opening the DVD's and playing with them. So, we have had to find another spot for them. Meanwhile, Bella found a new spot to climb into. She also has been known to get into the kitchen cabinets as well.

Happy Valentine's Day

Bella went to Mother's Day Out today in her Valentine best, but she wasn't on her Valentine's best behavior. Apparently she was hitting and pulling hair unprovoked. I guess even sweethearts have a sour day. Perhaps Bella was feeling poorly and decided to take it out on her fellow classmates because by the time Grammy picked her up, she was running a fever and had a runny nose. So, I came home and took her to the doctor. Upper respiratory infection. In other words, she has a virus. But I did take the opportunity to discuss with the doctor whether whole milk was agreeing with Bella. Turns out, it probably isn't. Turns out my sugar plum probably can't tolerate the sugar in milk. So, after working so hard to get her to drink whole milk, we are switching back to the toddler soy formula. Just when we thought we were out, Similac pulls us back in.

Walk in the Park

Yesterday was a beautiful day, so we loaded Bella into the car and headed for the neighborhood park. Of course it was crowded, but we knew of a smaller park that was out of the way. And sure enough, there were only two little boys at the park when we got there. Bella seems to suffer from the opposite of stranger danger. She has approached several women and asked them to pick her up. If fact at her gym class yesterday, she was practically adopted by someone else's mother. So it was no different when we got to the park. She wanted the little boys' mom to pick her mom. And she did, but shortly thereafter, they left. And Bella had the playground all to herself to climb on, slide on, and run around on. Then another little boy showed up more about Bella's size but about twice her age, and I didn't feel so bad when the mother busted out the camera and started taking pictures. Maybe they have a blog, too. Todd said Bella looked ridculous with her hat on, but I was just glad she was keeping it on for once. I did wish it had matched, though, but I figured that was no reason to take it off. All and all, we had a fun day yesterday.

Happy Birthday Bella!

Bella got an a taste of birthday cake in the morning when Grammy came in singing Happy Birthday and holding out a cupcake for Bella. Bella really liked the icing! And by the end of the day, Bella was saying, "cake, cake, cake!" What a wonderful year it has been. Thanks Bella!

Bella can stick her tongue out

Can you?

Mother's Day Out

Bella began Mother's Day Out last week. On her first day, Grammy was a little upset that Bella began crying once she saw her. Thinking that maybe she didn't want to leave and that is why she cried, I asked my mom, was it an, "oh thank goodness you are here" cry or was it a "oh goodness you are already here" cry. Grammy said she thought it was the former. So, when Grammy dropped her off the next time, she was glad to see that Bella got really excited when Bella realized where she was, and she went running down the hall to her classroom once they were in the building. Bella walked into the room and never looked back. So after I relayed this story to Todd, he said, "oh, I want to take her next week." So, he took her this morning. Todd said that as they lifted her over the gate and into the classroom, she screamed and cried. I can just picture Todd walking down the hall with his head down and his heart broken as he hears his little girl crying out to him. I'm sure she had a good day, although maybe not as much fun as she would have had if her and daddy would have played hooky all day. Oh, well. We'll try it again on Thu.

Blanket Ride

From very early on we have said this Bella is a dare devil baby. She has never appeared to be afraid to be thrown up in the air, to be swung by her legs upside down, or to go fast via some other locomotion other than of her own accord. She likes fast walks, fast stroller rides, fast rides in her little car, fast rides in the laundry basket, fast rides on the blanket, and as of today, fast rides on the moving dolly. I had to sanction this one. Todd was using the dolly to move some furniture out of our bedroom, and as I was sitting in the living room I hear Todd tell Bella to hold on tight. I think to myself what could he be telling her to hold on tight to, his head? Then he comes wheeling her into the living room - on the dolly - standing up, holding on tight, and riding the lip of the dolly. I frowned as they went by. Then they came by for a second pass, and I said, "How about you entertain her some other way." So, after he took her off, and she cried for a while, they went back to their old fun of riding the blanket. Observe...