From my Midwest Command Center stationed in the Kansas City, Missouri, kitchen of Grandpa David and Grandma Vicki, I am able to access even farther reaches of the universe.
Donned with my Chiefs baseball cap for cover, I continue to execute my plans for world domination. Now I just need to establish a West Coast Command Center and I will be unstoppable.
On my first full day in Kansas City, we met Gram Kaye in Lees Summit for lunch (see previous post) and then went over to Great Grandma and Great Papa Brittingham’s house for a visit. It was the first time that I had met my great grandparents and we had lots of fun looking through old family photos and memorabilia.
Dad dug out his Fisher Price toys from the basement storage — the parking garage, barn, and camper look super fun! He even found the bear chair he was photographed in when he was little, so he did the same with me.
On our recent trip to Kansas City, Missouri, Flora ordered up the blue plate special at Neighbor’s Cafe in downtown Lees Summit. Read about Flora’s first flight (below), first fireworks (above), and first family visits (above).
With Flora in tow, we got to take advantage of the pre-board and settled into our seats on Midwest Airlines before the rest of the passengers. Flora watched all the activity on the tarmac and made sure they got her suitcase, stroller, and car seat on board. Since the flight departed at 6:30AM — which means we left for the airport at 5:00AM — Flora took several naps and slept right through the landing. But not before she projectile vomitted during take off.
Today I got a taste of sweet, sweet, Sweet Potatoes — where have they been all my life?!
Take my Apples, take my Bananas, even take my Pears … but man, oh man, don’t mess with my Sweet Potatoes.
Note to fact-checkers: these are some sort of organic, sweet potatoes and not orange in color at all.
Today Mom took me over to Raessler’s house in Lower Melrose for a play date. We met Raessler and her Mom Jennifer through the North Suburban Family Network. Raessler has a sweet pool with fountains and a whale and a slide and all kinds of things to play with! The water was a bit colder than my bath, but I quickly got used to it and had fun splashing and kicking my feet. Our swim was cut short when a thunderstorm came rolling through. But I didn’t mind — I got to try out a bunch of Raessler’s toys inside.
Flora and I sported matching shirts (technically, hers was a jumper) on a recent hot and humid day. The sad thing is that I wore this shirt last year when I was in my first trimester — when the heck does the baby weight come off again? Sigh.
Be sure to click the link below — there is a very cute photo of Flora sitting on a rock (with Marty’s help, of course) in our front yard.
To celebrate Father’s Day, Amy and Flora let me sleep in. When I woke up, they were making a homemade apple pie — the one thing I really wanted for Father’s Day! Despite the near-90 degree temperature, they also made two quiches with organic veggies from the Farmer’s Coop we joined this year.
After installing the window air conditioner units in the bedrooms upstairs, we showed our true surburban nature and headed to Chili’s for dinner. No, we didn’t get the Awesome Blossom … or the Baby Back Ribs.
Flora has a new high chair — the Stokke Tripp Trapp. It was designed to grow with the child with an adjustable foot rest and seat, and eventually converts to an adult chair. In fact, it can hold up to 300 pounds, but we’re hoping Flora never sees that number (though, at the rate she pudging out, it’s possible!). The chair is sans tray and pushes up to the table to include the child with family meals. Flora is enjoying rice cereal and apples in this photo — she tried avocado yesterday but it made her spit-up green!
Tonight Marty and I took Flora to her first art opening. Atlantic alum Robert Moeller exhibited his series of paintings called Dead Mediums at Space 186 in Cambridge. The canvases were long and vertical and depicted simplified, genderless figures. Flora liked staying up past her bedtime, shmoozing with all the folks, and looking at the art. We’re hoping to purchase one of the pieces for our walls.
Today I turned five months old — I can’t believe how big I’m getting! I can sit up for long stints and even play with toys at the same time. I can open my mouth really wide for solid food (currently I am enjoying bananas) and drink from my sippy cup all by myself. I can almost roll over from my back to my tummy (but I can’t imagine why anyone would *want* to do that). I like to say “Heh” — I think I’m saying Hi. I can even bang on the keyboard and instant message my Dad when he is at work. Just wait to see what new tricks I have up my sleeve next!
After viewing the super-cute *and* interesting photos on Ursula Hongisto’s Web site (her parents Eric and Susan are artist friends of Craig Taylor’s), I figured I had better step things up a notch on Flora’s blog — at least every now and again — with a more interesting shot! I also like a bigger photo here and there to break up the page, so I’ll be super-sizing my favorites!
Well, I can’t say Flora ia actually waving Hi and Bye just yet, but we’re working on it. She is, however, very proficient at making the raspberry sound (which has replaced sticking her tongue out); maneuvering herself by pushing with her legs, half-rolling, and rolling (she somehow did a complete 180 in her crib the other night); eating solids (apparently nectarines aren’t that bad); and manipulating cause-and-effect toys.
In other news, Flora interviewed three sitters over the weekend and is still deliberating. Meanwhile, Marty put Owen Strecker to work while Owen, his Dad Dave, and his Mom Mandy stopped by for a visit. Owen is in the running for Flora’s future husband — now that Asa is long-distance Flora has to keep her options open. Plus, his parents own an *island* in Nova Scotia, so he comes with a good financial package.
Flora tried her first fruit tonight for dinner — apples — homemade organic fuji apples pureed in the food processor to be exact.
She mostly liked them, but made the “blech” face a few times as she was getting used to the new taste and texture. Even still, she gets mad if we don’t shovel the food in fast enough!
Pears and nectarines are awaiting in the freezer — fruit is fun — and stinky — Marty’s reservations were warranted!
Yah, I can sit up — for a few seconds anyway — but it doesn’t mean I like it! In fact, I find it pretty difficult to balance this big head. But Mom and Dad say I’ll get the hang of it soon enough and keep me practicing.
I remember all the way back to last week when I couldn’t even roll over. But now I’m so quick that you can’t even get a photo of me on my tummy anymore!
As part of my ploy for World Domination, I’m practicing the art of camouflage — I bet you can’t even see me!
But if you can, don’t be fooled by my cuteness — I laugh at you and your failed attempts to stop me!
Ha, Ha, Ha!
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As you can see, I now have a command center from which I can watch over my ever-expanding empire. So far I have successfully colonized the living room (with my playmat, papasan chair, Bumbo seat, swing, changing station, and toy box … oh, and my Baby Einstein videos, too). I seized an entire cupboard in the kitchen for my burp cloths, bibs, bowls, sippy cups, and bottles. My *mobile* command unit (aka the Honda CRV) houses my rocket-ship harness (Mom and Dad call it the car seat) and my stealth stroller. Plus, I have an entire bedroom all to myself. From the den, I formulate my plans to take over the universe — just try to stop me!
Flora has nearly mastered rolling over from her tummy to her back (but only to the left); has started to make the raspberry sound and other such spitty sounds; retorts with a single, short screech when amused; laughs more frequently and talks non-stop (she has a Kathleen Turner-type voice but can belt out some high-pitched screams to keep things interesting); slept in her nursery crib last night all by herself; finds her feet quite interesting; and devoured her first oat cereal for breakfast this morning. She’ll soon be starting a succession of fruits followed by the same of vegetables — but Marty has serious reservations about the subsequent matter from her other end!
As soon Flora started eating solids, we introduced her to the sippy cup and offer her water after each meal. As you can see, she got the hang of holding the cup right away, and doesn’t seem to mind taking a drink!
Over the weekend, while Marty was in Montreal celebrating Wally Blank’s upcoming nuptials, Flora’s Aunt Tracy came for a visit. We went on several shopping trips as well as visited Flora’s Aunt Hanna and Cousin Seneca. Seneca couldn’t stop hugging her little cousin, but being a toddler, she didn’t stand still long enough for us to snap a photo!