Halloween

This is Bailey's first Halloween. We weren't going to dress her up, but Nana sent out the cutest little pumpkin outfit...so we just had to do it. She looked very cute. Thanks Nana!

We didn't do any Trick-or-treating because it was too cold outside. But next year she will be walking and running around with her cousins in Boise, Idaho. I wonder what she will be for her second Halloween? A princess like her cousin Mackenzie? A truck like Max? It will be fun to see. We can't wait to get her back home.

Bailey's on Solid Food Like White on Rice!

Bailey is 4 months old now. She is able to start taking solid foods. We are starting with single grain rice cereal, like most parents seem to do. We mix a little with each bottle now to thicken it up (hopefully to slow down the "squirts"), and we give her some by spoon. The pictures are of her first time with thickened rice cereal from a spoon. She seemed really into it but also a bit confused. Most of it came back out as soon as I dished it in. And a lot of it ended up on her bib and hands. I think that she got 2 or 3 swallows down. It was funny when she did swallow, because she would get a surprised look on her face as if she was thinking, "what did I just swallow?" This very new to her, but she is taking it in stride. Hopefully this will keep her little belly full longer so that she can space out her feedings from every 2 hours during the day, and also allow her to sleep through the night. So far so good. Last night she slept for a full 8 hours, then another 2 after a bottle! That was great!

tj

Bailey and her Bumbo

We bought Bailey a Bumbo chair a couple of days ago.  It allows her to sit straight up without one of us holding her.  Our friends, the Parkers, have one for their daughter and love it.  They use it has her high chair for now.  We are doing the same and plan on starting Bailey on rice cereal very soon.  

Bailey loves the chair.  She can sit up and see things pretty much all around her.  She likes to play with her toys while sitting in it.  She looks so big and grown up too.  

tj

A Nice Sunday

Today we are hanging out watching football, blogging, and interviewing Nannys. Yes...we are looking for a new person to care for Bailey when we are at work. Our Babysitter had to give up her position for personal reasons. We have 4 candidates, and have interviewed 1 of them. She was a very nice lady in her 40's.

But besides that, we are just chillin' today. In the top picture, Bailey is wrapped up in a warm Deedee (Susie's blankie), fresh out of the dryer. And in the second picture, Bailey just finished a bottle and is sleeping. She has recently gone from eating 4 oz to 5 oz. She is eating, spitting up, and growing like a weed.

Well....back to the football game. KC is playing the Jets. Susie is rooting for Favre...of course!

tj

Bailey's Princess Leia Necklace

When Susie was a little girl, she had a plastic necklace that she would put on her head and walk around calling herself "Princess Leia." Susie doesn't remember this, but her mom told her about it the other day when we had Bailey on Skype. Arlene saw Bailey playing with the very same necklace! It is one of the toys that Julie sent to us. I guess that it was Susie's, and Julie's toy as well. Now it is one of Bailey's favorite toys. It is just the right size to fit into her little hands and she loves to bring it up to her mouth. She hasn't put it on her head and walked around yet, but we hope to see her do that soon.

tj

Bailey and her Books

Bailey has been really into all of her new books that people gave her during her baby shower in Boise. She loves to sit up and read them with me and Susie. As she learns to use her hands more she has been trying to hold the books and turn the pages. She hasn't quite mastered the timing yet. She likes to turn the page before we are done reading that page. But as long as she is happy, it's cool.

Bailey might be a Boise State fan...don't tell Nana!

Grandma Kemp and Bailey watched the Boise State Broncos kill San Jose 2 days ago.  And they did it dressed up in the orange and blue!  Grandma brought Bailey her own BSU shirt to wear during the game.  They looked good together, cheering for the Broncos.

I am not sure what Nana is going to think of this, given that she is a Vandal!  We might have to make her a shirt that is half Broncos and half Vandals.  

tj

Bailey attacks Elmo and growls

Bailey had made a new friend in the past week.  His name is Elmo!  She loves him very much...so much that when she sees him she talks to him for a few seconds, then lets out a big growl and attacks him!  She grabs him with both hands and pulls him into her face and sucks on his eyeballs.  It is hilarious to watch.  She is turning into a real slobber monster, with everything going into her mouth. 

Bailey Gets New Shades

Grandma Kemp arrived a few days ago to help us take care of Bailey while Susie's back heals.  She has been a huge help.  Susie's back is getting better each day.  We are searching for a new babysitter/nanny since ours had to quit.  It has been nice to have someone that we trust to look after our little girl.  

Grandma brought Bailey a new set of shades from Idaho.  They are pretty sweet.  They are pink, and have a elastic and velcro strap that keeps them snug to her head.  I wasn't sure if she would like wearing them, but it turns out that she does.  Especially outside when it is sunny.  She would normally wear a big sun hat that hangs over her eyes a little, obstructing her view.  But with her new shades, she can see everywhere!  She looks all around now on her walks.  

My mom met me at the Stamford train station a few days ago to pick me up from my commute home from NYC.  She brought Bailey with her of course.  Bailey was dressed in all pink with her pink shades and making quite the impression on all of the passers by.  

tj

Family Picture

It was a beautiful fall weekend in the Northeast.  Susie, Bailey, and I went to Bruce Park in Greenwich, CT for a picnic and a walk.  We decided to take some family pictures while we were there.  Bailey did very well.  She loves to be outside and she loved the attention that we were giving her while trying to get her to look at the camera.  We took over 100 pictures!  The best one is above.  We were all looking at the camera and smiling at the same time.  That was hard to accomplish.  

The fall colors were great.  It is our last fall in the Northeast.  We will miss the amazing colors that occur every year as the leaves turn.  

tj