Obligatory Pictures.

The top two pictures are older - the first was when she was about 10 months, the second one is from January. I guess she thought she was driving.

The bottom two are recent. The first was just today - I wanted to do something with her hair, and decided that I would try to put it in to pigtails - and it worked out wonderfully. The bottom is me - 2 Sundays ago at work. I cut and permed my hair - so here's the proof. Nice, huh?

Monkeys are Social Creatures.

Monkey has discovered that hanging out in Mommy's bed and terrorizing her pillows is TONS of fun. Except she never wants to put them back. Oh well, she's terribly cute.

We've discovered that she's a social eater. Meaning that unless some one is eating with her, she just wont eat. Strange little person she is. Really. But - I don't mind it terribly. It means that when we have something that resembles a normal schedule, I wont have much of a problem convincing her to sit down at the table every night for "family time".

My Little Monkey

Moments like this

and this


...make me forget that she's become a very headstrong, independent, and down right stubborn child. And she's all mine!

Monkey tantrums and language skills

I was so sick yesterday. So that's why there was no update. I threw up all day, and had horrible diarrhea. (You wanted to know that, I know, that's why I shared - You're welcome!). Whatever it was seems to have been a 24 hour thing because I'm fine now. Monkey didn't get it, so it's all good.

I really need to make plans to see all of you - Monkey is already growing up so fast. She's starting to understand (and follow through with) basic commands and reward systems. Like the other night we were trying to get her to put some clothes on (she likes to run around in just a diaper, sans clothes) and she wanted some gummy bears. Gigi told her to come see me to get some clothes on and then she could have some candy. The little monster came and found me in her room and as soon as she had some clothes on, she ran back to Gigi. Its awesome. Now if I could just get her to understand that throwing a tantrum is the quickest way to irritate me, everything would be perfect.

And don't you sit there, shaking your head at me like "No, Monkey is perfect, she doesn't throw tantrums. She just can't be capable. She's a little angel." Cause, let me tell you what, she's not, and she does. I'll have to get a video of one and post it for you - I think they're hilariously cute and usually laugh at her - which seems to upset her even more. But they're tantrums none the less and must be dealt with accordingly. I try to ignore her when she throws them - simply because I don't want her to think that she can throw a fit and get what she wants. Gigi's on the plan, but it's going to take a bit of work to get Babu on board. He seems to think every time she even so much as whimpers that he should go running to her to find out what's wrong. She takes advantage of it too. So - it's some thing that we're going to have to work on.

As of today here's the list of things the little Monkey can say:
no, yeah, go, down, nose, eyes, ears, belly, juice, ow, hii-yah (don't ask, but do know I had nothing to do with it) monkey, baby, hello, babu, gigi, mama, shoe, bath, done (she also signs all done), fishy.....
I think that's it. There may be more - but I simply can not remember them all. All the body parts that she can say, she can also show you where they are.

Poll

is up. Its on the side bar under About Me.

Vote!!!!

Christmas Pics!

Sword fighting Christmas Eve - This may become a new tradition!



Opening Baby Crazy's secret santa gift from our NNM friend Kristen! (Thank you again, by the way!)
Christmas Morning!
Yes, the shiny bow on the head was COMPLETELY necessary!
The haul from Gigi's house.

I think she had had enough of the camera at this point. Quite the face though, huh?


I know they're late. But they're up now. Certainly worth the wait in my opinion!

Baby Crazy.

My happy go lucky baby is still the MOST. AMAZING. THING. EVER. Sometimes, though, I just don't know what to do with her.

Lately she's turned into quite the clingy baby. Seriously - she follows me every where. I can't even pee by myself. She's fine as long as we're in the same room, and she can see me and talk to me. At first it was awesome - reminded me how much she needed me and how much she depends on me for everything. It was awesome to realize that I created this little human (ok, I had a little help - but since he chooses not to be involved, I get to take ALL the credit.) Now, its a little annoying sometimes. During our waking hours I try to find ways to distract her just so I can go to the bathroom alone.

She's becoming quite the little chatter box too. Hardly any of it makes sense - but I hear her say new things almost EVERY DAY! Its amazing. Right now the list of things she says is: hello, thank you, mommy, love you (I cried over this one), no, and here. Well, that's all I can think of - I know there's more though. I talk to her all day to get her to talk more - and say more intelligible things, instead of speaking baby. Though I suppose I shouldnt rush her to grow up. She's getting more cuddly too - which is awesome. When she was born she wasn't so big on the being held stuff - she wanted to be propped up so she could see everything. She wouldn't even sleep in the bed with me. She's been very independent up to this point - sometimes its great, other times I just want her to cuddle with me.

Oh - cute story.... I was cleaning my Oscars tank today and she was in the bathroom trying to help. I guess since she saw me dropping rocks and such into the tank she decided that she would do the same. She grabbed my pumice stone and threw it in. When I retrieved it and thanked her for trying to help, she promptly yelled at me, grabbed the pumice stone and a body puff and threw them both in...... Had I been a bad mood I probably would have been irritated, but it was just so cute because she was trying to help.