No More Crawling

I can't tell you the last time Lauren crawled. Now walking is all the rage. There is no middle ground. She walks and walks and walks...Then you know what? She walks some more. She gets her balance by swaying back and forth so far I'm sure she'll fall. She doesn't fall. Not much anyway.
What a person she is becoming!

No Fear!!

Remember a few years ago when No Fear stickers were all the rage? Now I see No Fear in my precious baby girl every day. She goes 100 mph when awake. Into walls, over the cat and dog, off of the bed, down the hall etc. and never looks back. She walks 1,000,000 miles a day and crashes at the end of the day.
If I could only live in No Fear, but sadly, no. I know there will be bumps and bruises along the way. I know she will have fears. I have heard of children getting fears of taking baths, of going into dark rooms, of strangers. My child? NO FEAR! Occational apprehension, yes. Fear? Not yet.
I hope my little girl is always fearless.

My big girl

I look at Lauren everyday. I look at her hair getting so long. I look at her shoes she is outgrowing. I look at how much she knows. I notice how her face is changing. I see her mind working. How she waves to me. How she smile with all 16 teeth shining. I only really look at these changes when I see younger pictures of her. How much she has changed.
One short year ago, she was 1 month and 15 days old. WOW!! I knew we'd get here eventually, but so soon?
She climbs on the couch. She "beats" the cat. She watches TV. She dances. She swims. She talks to the dog and to us. What happened to the crying, helpless baby? She's growing up and too fast.
That's my big girl...

US Olympic Team 2020

Here she comes. Lauren the swimmer. She LOVES her swimming class at the YMCA. She is a virtual fish. Not that we let her swim alone. We actually have never let go, which is good because she can't actually swim. She loves to try though. We work on kicking our legs, paddling our arms, getting our ears and chins wet and jumping (with help of course) in the pool!! We do all kinds of fun songs too!! She is sure if she tries hard enough, she will be able to drink the contents of the pool. Rest assured, we try to stop her, but boy, that much water...
Bath time is becoming much like swimming lessons as well. We kick, splash and try to put our face in the water. A mother's worst nightmare. I never turn my head for a second. She is so quick. I fear if I did...
I am pretty sure, she will be in the Summer Olympics 2020, so watch your local listings for times. I'll keep you posted.

New all over again

I like my blog, don't get me wrong. I am getting geekier everyday. Now you can comment on my blog. It has a new templet. A picture of Lauren. What's next? I feel like a new user all over again. I have to try and try again for every new feature you see. Not really very computer savvy, but I get by.
Then I start to think. How much more will Lauren know by age 10 about computers than I will ever know? John worries that one day HE will be the older American who is unwilling to learn new technology. I doubt that will ever be him, but it could SO be me. I get frustrated trying things that don't work the first time, every time. And I wonder where Lauren gets it. The screaming in frustration when something doesn't work/fit/taste good etc., then I look at her parents, and the question is answered.

Cheese!! 

Sad News

Last night about 9 o'clock, I got a phone call letting me know a friend of mine had died. It was not a surprise to me, but still, it makes me pause and think of him and his wife and three children. I saw him just last week, lying in his bedroom which now contained a twin bed for his wife and a hospital bed for him. He was sleeping and looked tired. I heard that yesterday, he seemed peaceful. Ready. He lived longer than doctors predicted. They said 2 years. He said HA! and lived 2 years, 1 month and 27 days.
I don't know how his wife will find the strength to go on. But she will. For their children, for their sanity, and mostly, because she doesn't have a choice.
I wish I knew what to do now. I guess just be their friend. Offer to help when I can. I am truly sorry to hear this news. I hope I never know the pain she has to be going through.

Universally funny

Walking is now part of daily life. What has now changed is something different than what you may think. Lauren now laughs every time she passes gas. Funny stuff!! She has also discovered that she can make me laugh by tickling me. Her sense of humor is becoming more apparent everyday. She giggles a lot when the cat is on the floor and she tries to grab the cats ears. Just before Lauren grabs her ear, Gracie moves them. She laughs loudly enough, when I'm on the phone with Rebecca, Rebecca can hear her.
There is nothing better than a baby giggle. Bottle it and sell it and the problems of the world will just fade away...

Not at all about Lauren

I have found a new "addiction". It is to a website. When Lauren is asleep, when John is home and with her, when I have a question, I go there. It is terribly entertaining, educating, fun, and infuriating all at the same time. Let me tell you something. People have opinions. Lots of them. And they are STRONG opinions. Opinions that, if necessary, would be defended to the death! Esp. regarding breastfeeding, politics, letting babies cry etc.
I like my new pasttime. I have to go, dh is on the phone and dd just woke up!:)

The amazing singing, dancing baby

She hums. She sways. She bounces. She claps. She's the amazinig, singing, dancing baby. This week she started showing real interest in songs from the library and swimming. It is SO cute. Doesn't matter who's singing it, Rebecca, Dad, me. She is a musical baby. She even started singing with Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star with Baby Galileo.
My daughter is officially the smartest and cutest in the whole world! So there!