Belle's New Trick

Look what those boys taught Belle at school this week!  Scott also captured the crying face Belle gives us every morning now as we leave her at school.  It breaks our hearts, but the teachers assure us she stops crying once we turn around the corner.

Day Date

On Sunday, Scott and I were able to sneak away for a day date to the Portland Timbers game with some friends.  This is becoming our new date routine, doing them during daylight hours instead of evening.  It was my first Timbers game and I was kind of able to understand the game of soccer, shocker.  It was extra special because the Timbers beat the Seattle Sounders, their biggest rival.  Thank you to Jessie and Kyna for inviting us to tag along!

A New Routine

Yesterday was a big day for Belle, she had her first day at CCLC aka daycare.  For the past six months we were blessed to have our wonderful nanny, Vanessa, come to our home daily to care for her, but now it is time for Vanessa to have her baby and become a Mom.  We were so thankful that Vanessa came into our lives and gave Belle the care and love that we would if we were home with her all day.

At CCLC, I thought I would cry when we dropped Belle off yesterday morning and that she would join me with lots of tears, but that just didn't happen.  Our happy baby girl sat down in the middle of the room, smiled at the other baby boy and started playing with the new toys.  She looked up at us as we started to creep out and just went right back to her toy.  I was happy she was happy, but where was the reaching for mama and crying???  Then we received an email mid-day to tell us Belle was doing great, took an hour and a half nap on her belly (she never does that for us) and was a breeze to care for.  I beamed with pride at my desk as I read the email. So here we go, a new chapter for our daughter, I will let you know how many days she lasts before she gets her first flu bug or cold or any other virus.

Belle and Vanessa

Nap time on her belly

Our little girl, smiling and happy go lucky!

We swear we didn't give her sugar!

Belle at NINE months

Oh blue eyes, how I love you.  At nine months you are still long and lean at eighteen pounds and 78th percentile for length with no teeth, but one big gummy grin.  Man you have me figured out too.  You know exactly what tone of crying will make me drop what I am doing and rush to your side to make you happy.  You prefer to have us holding you up on your feet now while you stand and sway side to side with a smile of accomplishment.  Still no interest in crawling, just standing and checking things out around you.  You are becoming so vocal, lots of happy shrieks, you are saying your m's now (almost Mama!).  When your Dad takes you for a run you wake the entire neighborhood up with your babbling.  You are pointing at everything and have even done a few waves of good bye either by accident or on purpose.  You really enjoy putting your finger in every person's mouth that you meet, we think you are going to be dentist due to your interest in teeth.  You move toys from hand to hand and seem to enjoy toys that are the color blue the most.  You really love it when Mom or Dad give you an iPhone and you poke at everything on the screen.  You are perfect in each and every way and we soak up every minute we have with you.

Three People Turn 30!

Myself, Colin, sister in law Amy, Walker and Hilary

Thirty years ago today I went from being an only child to becoming an older sister to three amazing individuals.  Each of them are unique and have characteristics that balance the four of us out quite well as adults.  I would not have said this when all four of us were teenagers at the same time and were slowly driving our Mother mad!  However, I am happy to write we came out of that "dark period" and everyone is still alive and healthy.

Walker - You are such a loyal and dedicated person, whether it is to your family, your work or your healthy body as a Crossfit addict.  I am very happy you are living on the West coast once again!  

Colin - You are the family comedian and have inherited our Grandpa's talent to talk to anyone and make them smile.  I will always remember you coming to Switzerland to visit me and the sites we saw together and the laughs we had.

Hilary  - You are one cool cucumber that can handle pressure with grace and ease, which makes you the exceptional nurse that you are.  I am thankful you live in Portland with me and I am able to see you often.  

Happy 30th Birthday to each of you!  Much love from your big sister.

Countdown

Scott will be landing in 25 hours from Australia!  This trip was easier for me than his trip to Asia in April, mostly because Belle slept better and we didn't catch colds.

Now the real reason people check this blog, photos of Belle:

Pampers box = fun!

Gummy smile

Bouncing around in her activity center

Nap time

Peak a boo in the pillows

What a view!

Scott prefaced his email to me of this photo with, "I am not trying to make you jealous."

This is the view from his hotel room outside of Sydney.  Only five more nights until he is home and has the view of Belle and I when he wakes up in the morning.

Lots of Splashing

Belle's new activity while taking a bath, lots and lots of splashing.