Lots of new stuff

The blog's been very quiet, but we do have a bunch of new stuff to make up for it.

Lots of new photos over at Flickr.

And there's a few new videos going up over at Vimeo, but they'll take awhile to show up. But they're videos of Violet crawling, laughing, and showing off other talents that are well worth the wait.

Nom nom nom.

Happy Nine Months!

(A bit belated, but it's been busy lately.)

Violet nine months old now, and it amazing all that she can do. She's crawling up a storm and chasing Josie the cat all over the house. Her little personality has only gotten stronger, and we can tell she's going to like things her way. She prefers to feed herself, and we're eating, she wants to eat too.

The crawling is the best. Her laugh as she shimmies around the house. How she can now meet us at the door when we grab her from daycare. Watching her as she explores the house.

And Violet's still working on the walking. She's been practicing at night, standing up in her bed instead of sleeping. (We've caught her a few times.) Josie is having to head to higher ground already.

And she's continuing to babble in her cute little voice. No words yet, but she's definitely trying to tell us something. Usually, it's "I want to eat that."

We're so excited to watch her grow up. Time flies when you're having fun.

Home Again

We're home from our trip to Oklahoma, and have a few new pictures to show for it. Violet is very excited to be crawling, but is now focusing on her cruising and walking.

We are crawling!

We're finally crawling. Started in the hotel room yesterday afternoon. Getting the hang of it rather quickly. Here she's chasing Daddy's laptop across the floor as he tries to upload some more photos.

Wiggler

This is one determined little crawler. Violet spends every spare moment wiggling over and around anything in her immediate area, including Mama and Daddy. She wants to crawl, and she wants to crawl yesterday.

It's tough to see her try so hard, and not quite get it. She's moving all over the place, but it's still all very accidental. But she'll get the hang of it soon...

As always, more pics on the Flickr.

8 Months Old Today

Violet is officially 8 months old today. It's a cliche of "look how much she's grown" but it really is amazing how far she's coming along.

We're seeing more and more of her personality come through. Her sheer determination at wanting to crawl comes from Mom. Her frustration that she can't comes from Dad. Her love of the outdoors... well, we have no idea where that came from.

She's rolling and sitting up and wigging all over the place, but not quite crawling just yet. She's also working on getting up to her feet and balancing on two legs, so she might just jump ahead to walking.

Violet is babbling too. It comes and it goes, but she's definitely a lot more vocal than before. It's cute to hear her voice take shape.

The last 8 months has been frantic, crazy, and wonderful. We are loving our little girl.

Violet Goes to Bed - Directors Cut

Violet Goes to Bed from Jourdan Perla on Vimeo.

Here's the full version of the "Violet Goes To Bed" video that Flickr cut short. It's a long one, so get comfy.

Also, I've done some computer magic to help get more photos on Flickr. So you should be seeing a lot more there.

Took a Break

Sorry about the lack of updates here. Just getting used to a more active Violet. (This is her in a rare moment of downtime.) Got more pics on the Flickr with more on the way (once I find my adapter).

Violet's desperately working on crawling now. On the bright side this helps wear her out for naps and bedtime. But on the downside, she still doesn't like naps and bedtime. She's got the basics of movement down, just needs to put it all together. But she's also working on climbing and trying to get herself to her feet, so she might just skip crawling altogether. Either way, Josie's days are numbered.

July 4th Violet learned how to pull hair. She is almost ready to battle the playground bullies. ;)

Newsletter: Month Six

Violet,

You're already half a year old! This for me is a major milestone and has made me more reminiscent than other months. I know that only six months ago today you were born but the idea while true seems absurdly impossible. It's like that special moment in time is frozen in another lifetime and now I only know you as the sweet, giggly, happy girl I hold today. As I write this I realize that someday soon this moment will be frozen in the same way and that only makes me want to squeeze you more, kiss you more and love you more.

Speaking of more, you are all about more these days. More inches you grew, more teeth you've cut and more food you like. You are such an adventurer and so quick to try new things or meet new people. Your lack of fear impresses me and most people you meet. You seem to only see good and fun in everything and welcome it all in with open arms. I admire your open mind and willingness to try new things as well as envy it too. ;)

You're now on a steady diet of fruit and vegetables now. You like Japanese curry, sweet potatoes and pears but you really flipped for cherries and bananas. I've never seen you grunt for more at dinner time like you did when we offered you that dish. I not so secretly smiled when you eagerly gobbled down your cherries just like I do. But just like your dad, you love nomming on watermelon and chew on Dad's rinds after he's done. I'm glad for your father that he finally has someone to share his watermelon with.

Besides food, you've started sitting up. You can't quite get yourself to the sitting position but if we sit you that way, you'll hold onto the position and self correct if you're beginning to tip over. You've also taken a spin on the kid cart at daycare. Miss Jackie sent me a picture and there you were beaming with pride at your latest adventure.

I love you so much and I have to say while you've struggled with teething, and I do mean struggled, you are a tough cookie. You shrug off getting shots so when you were wailing in pain during your teething, I knew it was bad. The hardest moment for me, since the breastfeeding letdown, has been during these moments when your pain is almost palpable and I can only offer you teething tablets, orajel or tylenol to ease the pain. I have never felt so useless and been so humbled. But somehow through holding you tight, rocking you and singing your lullaby, we get through it every single time. Last night after a particularly horrific teething moment, your Dad held me close while I cried. I realized in that moment, that there were going to be some things that would be painful for you and that couldn't be fixed easily. It felt so overwhelmingly sad, to think I'd be unable to keep you from pain and sadness. But now as I write this I know I can't keep the pain from you but I will comfort you and help you until the pain has passed...every single time.

All my love,
Momma

Pool Time

Today at daycare, Miss Jackie took Violet, Niu Niu and Sedona outside. I've noticed that Violet is quite a fan of being outside and really enjoys the recent nice weather, especially a nice swift breeze that makes her gasp. Miss Jackie reports that today Violet and Sedona got to have pool time. At first they were both sharing the same pool but that ended quickly after Violet blarged in her pool. I can just see it now, she got so excited about the pool or seeing Sedona that she couldn't hold back the blarg.

Father's Day

For Jourdan's first father's day, we mostly hung out around the house. Unfortunately, Violet was still amidst teething so she wasn't her normally happy self. But that didn't stop Jourdan and I from enjoying fresh blueberry muffins for breakfast. And sometime during the fussiness she was able to read her Dad's day gift with Jourdan and I.

After a long nap, Violet decided we should go to the nearby Pioneer Park and have a picnic. I picked up some Popeye's chicken and we ate some of the blueberry handpies I had made earlier. We then went off to play on the playground and we all took turns on the swings. Once just mom and Violet and another time just Dad and Violet then Violet went swinging by herself in the special bucket swing. Afterwards Violet and I took a very, very quick trip down the slide.

It was a very full day indeed. And one that we will both remember. And sweetheart, I love that when I look into the eyes of our child I see you. Happy Father's Day to a great dad!

P.S. Thanks to Pappy and Grandpa for being great grandpa's!

Violet at the Park

We took Violet to the Saturday Farmer's Market after we ran a few errands. She's quite the fan of being outside and looking around at people so we figured the Farmer's Market was a sure bet. We were right! After strolling through the crowds we had breakfast (mmm..Indian food!) and headed over to the sand box to play. Violet wasn't quite sure what to make of the sand but she did know it was something she needed to taste. Unfortunately that tricky sand is tough to hold especially when Mom and Dad keep batting it out of your hands. Before our kid ate the entire contents of the sandbox we head to the grass for a little investigation. I figured it was time for Violet to feel soft grass and both of us could use a little R&R. Eventually Violet joined us for a little rest along side Dad.

Infant Cognition Lab

Today, Violet and I went to the Infant Cognition Lab at the Center for Mind and Brain. This program is teaming up with the National Institute for Health to study brain development in babies. We signed Violet up to be a part of the program a few months ago and recently they called for us to come in.

Violet did some quick little tests that involved her wearing a headband with a sensor on it and watching TV. The first test was to see if she could tell the new face from the old face. Violet did quite well at this and picked out the new face faster than I did. (In my defense, they did look quite similar). In the second test, Violet was supposed to find the new item on the right or left screen. Violet heavily favored the right screen and only noticed the left screen occasionally.

It was really interesting to see how she tracked things and fun to hear her laugh at the videos. For her efforts to science, Violet got a nifty new toy and a little diploma with her picture on it.

Tooth Two

All last week's fussiness wasn't without cause. Violet's got a new tooth right next door to her other bottom tooth.

On a side note, I'm scared to think of how many more teeth we have yet to go.

Sleeping angel

Violet,

Sometimes I sneak into your room after you're asleep and just put my hand on your side and stare in awe. You are such an incredible gift to me and your father. I want you to know that seeing you there asleep, slowly breathing and clasping onto monkey makes me cry every single time.

All my love,
Momma

Giving Kisses

Violet shows Daddy some love. While out looking at couches Violet and Daddy took a break to give kisses. Typically this is pretty one-sided but today Violet was holding his face and pressing her open mouth (think fish face) against his cheek. She even made the "mwah"sound!! This girl sure loves her kisses.

Curry and Crawling

The family went downtown last night and ended up having some Japanese curry. We gave Violet a taste, and she definitely enjoyed it. She would wiggle in her stroller until we gave her some more. We ended up wiping the bowl clean with her pacifier to give her one last taste. Tonight she tried some red beans and rice goo, but she wasn't too impressed.

Were getting closer to crawling. Legs and arms are flailing, and we're getting some movement in the butt. Just a little while longer until she puts it all together. So while I put together our new entertainment center this weekend, a great deal of time was spent babyproofing it.

No Sleep Cause of Teeth

Kept us up all night. Teething sucks!!