Archive for November, 2006

First Thanksgiving (and BIG Milestones!)

Thursday, November 23rd, 2006

KC Chiefs 2 Today Flora celebrated her first Thanksgiving with the Swans: her Aunt Tracy, her cousins Greg and Josh, plus Greg’s gilrfriend Jen. She dined on turkey (pureed, of course), mashed potatoes, squash, and apples … and showed her team spirit by wearing her Kansas City Chiefs jersey and hat. Then for dessert, she wished cousin Greg a happy belated 21st birthday.

But her BIG news is that on this very day she first figured out how to get herself into a seated position (imagine my surprise when I went to retrieve her from her morning nap and she was sitting up in her crib!) and then how to forward commando crawl (the lure of the digital camera on the floor was just too strong of a force to ignore)! Her style is much like an inching worm but it won’t be long before she’s trucking around and tearing up the joint!

View Flora’s “First Thanksgiving” photos

Posted in Family, Firsts/Milestones, Food, Holidays | 5 Comments »

Candlepin Bowling

Wednesday, November 22nd, 2006

Candlepin 3 Tonight I got to go candlepin bowling at the Wakefield Bowladrome — a 1950s bowling alley with lots of its original charm in tact. I had no problem picking up a ball but it sure wasn’t easy fitting it into my mouth — which was fine with Mom because she thought they might be pretty germy anyway.

It’s been lots of fun hanging out with the Swan family — I have non-stop entertainment at home and get to go out and do fun activities, too!

View Flora’s “Candlepin Bowling” photos

Posted in Recreation | 1 Comment »

Cookie Puss

Tuesday, November 21st, 2006

Cookie Puss

Posted in Food | 4 Comments »

Fisher Price Farm

Saturday, November 18th, 2006

Farmer FloraMy dad and Uncle Andrew kept all of their old toys, so I now get to play with some retro Fisher Price stuff. One of the toys is a cool barn that goes “moo” when you open the door. My stuffed lamb and Heinrich The Pig are too big for the barn, but as soon as I stop putting everything into my mouth, I can play with the little people and animals that came with it. I also have a Fisher Price airplane, camper, mini-bus, and house boat. Hooray! As you can see, I’m sporting some overalls and the Harley Davidson jean jacket that Gram Kaye sent to me to up the on-the-farm ante.

View Flora’s “Fisher Price Farm” photos

Posted in Fashion, Toys | 2 Comments »

10 Months Old

Tuesday, November 14th, 2006

Today I turned 10 months old. My new favorite thing is to point, point, point to tell you what I want, to ask you what something is called, and to show you things I find interesting. And I’m understanding more and more simple questions and instructions — soon I’ll be communicating back! I’m still working on crawling and pulling myself up to a standing position — I’m so close I can taste it. Speaking of taste, I love yogurt the best of all foods, but cheese ranks right up there (except for that foul cottage cheese — blech!)

Posted in Birthdays/Milestones | 3 Comments »

Biscuit Mouth

Sunday, November 12th, 2006

Biscuit Mouth 2

What the heck is this hanging out of my mouth? My parents call it a teething biscuit — which means I may get some pearly whites of my own someday. You know … I’ve been very crabby lately. Maybe once I get some teeth like Mom and Dad (and learn to crawl), I’ll feel better.

I can’t wait — teeth are fascinating to me. I like to watch my parents crunch cereal or Gerber puffs between their teeth because it makes a funny sound. I laugh and then imitate them by chomping on my food. I like to stick my fingers in their mouths, too, and try to grab their teeth. Teeth are so enticing!

View Flora’s “Teething Biscuit” photos

Posted in Food, Silliness | No Comments »

Cooing … Cross … Crying

Thursday, November 9th, 2006

Cooing Baby This week Flora is expressing many emotions, mostly with agitated grunting, whining, and hand-slamming. We’re hoping it’s a temporary developmental stage in response to teething or immobility. The other day at lunch she went from cooing to cross to crying in a matter of seconds. Cross is her new, favorite face. Click the link below to see the succession.

View Flora’s “Succession of Faces” photos

Posted in Faces, Personality | 1 Comment »

Afternoon in the Park

Monday, November 6th, 2006

Afternoon Park 5 We took advantage of one of the last warm, sunny days this fall and spent the afternoon in the park. Flora was much more interested in taste-testing the sticks and leaves than in getting her picture taken. With so much to do and see, it’s a rare time when I catch her looking at the camera.

View Flora’s “Afternoon in the Park” photos

Posted in Outdoors, Recreation | 1 Comment »

Leaf Pile

Sunday, November 5th, 2006

Leaf Pile 1 Flora helped her Dad gather up some fallen leaves before bringing them down to the DPW for recycling. Unfortunately, the leaves are from our neighbor’s oak trees, which makes her Dad mad.

Miss Rolly Polly has adopted the method of rolling to get from point A to point B. Last night she went from play area to entertainment center in 3 seconds flat! She’s been successful in scooching herself forward on occasion but all attempts result in ugly displays of frustration. She can point (whole-handedly) to things she wants. She likes to share her finger foods. And she’s grasped the concept of stacking and sorting and manipulating her toys.

Each day Flora sursprises us with phrases and questions she understands. This morning at breakfast when asked “All done?” she made the ASL sign for more. She’s been having fun imitating sounds and her newest fav is a moaning grrrr sound, like Frankenstein. But whispering is the sound she finds the most hysterical.

View Flora’s “Leaf Pile” photos

Posted in Fall, Firsts/Milestones, Outdoors | 1 Comment »