Laughing and playing...her favorite things!

Devin started laughing last week. They are still not a regular occurrence but are such a treat when she does it. We happened to catch this one on video. Sorry it is sideways. I was trying to hold her and video at the same time and it was all being done from a weird angle.


Here she is posing with her first bow in her hair...it didn't stay there for long!

From March 09

And the exercauser is one of the new favorite toys we like to play with. Devin loves to stand with our help so we have been trying some of the toys out that allow her to do that all on her own! She is also starting to grasp for things and play more and more with her hands.

From March 09

From March 09

Such a big girl already

Chris and I went to a baby shower last night for a friend of mine who is having a baby. I think all of my friends are pregnant right now. I have at least 5 friends who are expecting right now. Isn't that crazy? And I have a lot of friends who have had a baby in the past couple months before I had Devin. Needless to say there are A LOT of babies around me these days!

So I was having a conversation with one of my friends who had a baby in August. It was interesting to think about the difference b/w our babies now, who are just a few months apart, and then a year from now. In that first year of life, a few months makes a world of difference as they are meeting so many major milestones each day of their life. In a year from now, a few months won't make such a big difference. I hadn't really thought about it that way before.

So last night was our first official outing without the baby. My mom and dad watched Devin and I think they really enjoyed themselves. We go over there enough that my parent's see what I do with her and how I handle her when she is upset etc so they felt really ready. Chris and I enjoyed ourselves at the shower and since it was pretty early when we left, we stopped and got some food and a drink before we went to pick up the little lady. We tried out this new wine bar here called Winslow's that is right down the street from my parent's house. I had a great glass of wine and Chris tried a local beer. We shared a tenderloin pizza that was wonderful with Gorgonzola cheese and everything! We just celebrated our 10 year anniversary of being together this week so it was the perfect time for us to have an adult outing!

As I mentioned above, babies are meeting so many milestones in their first year of life. Devin has totally discovered her hands and really likes to use them. She is grabbing her toys and if I hold a toy for her, she will try to spin the pieces on it after I have shown her how. She loves to sit up with our help, both in the bumbo as well as in our laps. She loves to stand up too and stretch those little lamb chops of hers. She is so proud of herself when you tell her how strong she is or what a big girl she is. She has started paying attention to the TV a lot more when we are playing with her. She is sleeping longer at night now, with typically one 5-6 hour stretch which I am more than grateful for! And as you have seen, she is talking up a storm! My mom has asked if I think she will talk as much as Edward and I do and think there is a good possibility she will talk our heads off just as much as we did to people....and still do! It has been so much fun seeing how much she changes everyday!

On to some pictures and more videos!

Trying out her exercauser...look at those eyes! I wonder where she got those from!

From March 09

From March 09

Busy day at the office...

From March 09

Look what Grandma Cherry sent her. Daddy can always get a reaction out of her.

From March 09

Working on her links

From March 09

Sitting up like a big girl

From March 09

And playing with her toys while sitting up. Looks like she is enjoying herself doesn't it?

From March 09

Now for some videos:
There is our little Maggie Simpson with her paci! And who can resist that smile?

Another kitty tail

Here is one with Chocolates too! He isn't quite as wild as Rockets is so he happily sat there while she checked his tail out.



And here are a few cute pics from the same shoot:

From March 09

From March 09

And if you ask me this is the cutest EVER!

From March 09

A little fun with the kitty cat

Everytime I go to my parent's house, which is at least once a week but usually more, my dad loves to show the kitties to Devin and show Devin to the kitties. Rockets is especially curious about that little being that she is. He always jumps up on the bed with her to check her out. Today my dad was waving his tail around and eventually placing it in Devin's hand. Here is a little video we took where she got it in her hand, didn't want to let go, and even tried to taste his tail! Too bad you couldn't see how he was reacting. It was pretty funny, and he kept coming back for more!

Videos and more pics!

Here is some video from my parent's house where the little lady is talking up a storm...



And a few more pictures from my mom's camera from the past few months.

Mom and Dad with the baby and the kitty....daddy is always showing the kitty to the baby and the baby to the kitty! She is really interested in them now as you can see from the videos.

From March 09

Oh how she loves that baby.

From March 09

Talking up a storm

My baby girl has been talking up a storm lately. She loves to tell us all about her day and is very talkative especially right after we get home from daycare. She seems to be doing well with a bad day here and there....usually it is on a Monday as she doesn't like going back to school after being home with us all weekend. I can't say that I don't feel the same about going back to work on Mondays after being with her all weekend. I have a wonderful video of it from tonight at my parent's house but it was so large, I don't think the email ever went through. I will get it the next time I am there though on my key!

Many afternoons when I pick her up, the ladies that are there in the afternoons comment on what a good baby she is. I always worry that she is going to make up for lost time when we get home but she really is a good little girl. We have some nights when she has inconsolable screaming at the top of her lungs, but I am starting to think it is just time for her to start going to bed a little earlier. Right now she usually starts falling asleep in the living room with us b/w 7:30 and 8:30 and then I wake her up to change her, feed her and put her back to bed anywhere b/w 9:30 and 10:30. I wish I could have her ready for bed by the time she falls asleep and get her up for a dream feed before I got to bed, but I am always rushing by the time I get home to get dinner made and wash bottles and stuff. I guess I need to just change her as soon as we get home so she is ready when we get here. Hmmm...thoughts on how to change our schedule yet again!

Last weekend we had my parent's, brother and a close family friend over for Daddy's 61st birthday dinner. Chris made us some excellent steaks and really all of the food that night was absolutely fabulous! Happy Birthday Daddy!

Well, enough rambling already. I am about ready for bed but thought an update was in order! Here are the pictures!

I just can't believe how much bigger she seems.

From March 09

From March 09

Cheesin for the camera a little

From March 09

Showing off her dress her Aunt Tracy gave her.

From March 09

My part of the fixins for daddy's birthday. We all love deviled eggs and I cooked the broccoli in Soy Vay sauce that turned out great! There wasn't ANY broccoli left!

From March 09

Devin helping me cook.

From March 09

Back to the daily grind...

Well, I officially started working again this week...I have been working at home since about 4 weeks after delivery, but I started back in the office this week. I was really nervous about it but everything has gone very smoothly. I went to visit the daycare again to fill out paperwork last week and after visiting again, I was 100% confident in my decision with the place I had chosen. If I have to leave my precious baby girl somewhere, I am happy to leave her here. I really like the people, it is clean, affordable, and I am looking at it as an investment in her future...much like I would if it were private school or even college. I know it is early to be thinking that way but that is what makes it all OK for me.

Devin has done really well her first week in daycare. She has been exhausted but happy as a lark all week when she gets home. She is starting to go to sleep a little earlier each day and is sleeping longer at night. I am typically only waking up once to feed her each night which is fabulous. I know not to get too excited b/c this can change at any time but I am going to be happy while it is happening!

Work has been going well for me too. Fortunately, it is tax season and my favorite part of my job. Unfortunately it requires more than the standard 40 hours a week. I am lucky b/c I can work at home on the weekends which means I can spend a little more time with Devin on the weekends while she is home and awake. I missed her so much each day this week while I was at work. It feels like she got 10 times bigger over the week and is no longer a tiny infant baby but an little baby girl.

Her little personality is just blossoming! She smiles very regularly now which everyone is enjoying to the fullest. I finally convinced my mom this week to not hold her and to let her lay on the bed and play with her. When she holds her she just goes to sleep. On the bed my mom and my dad both got to witness her smiling and talking. Daddy must have really enjoyed it b/c when I came over again today he told me to bring her in his room and while I was in the other room putting her bag down I heard him arfing and making silly noises at her. She thought is was humorous enough to give him a lot of smiles....still didn't get a laugh out of her. I can't ever seem to catch a smile on camera though!

Speaking of laughs, I am doing anything and everything that I can that I think she might find funny to get a laugh out of her. She has had two small laughs after a bath many weeks ago but nothing recently. I can hardly wait for her to start laughing regularly!

Last weekend my cousin came in town and we started going through my aunt's garage. Man, you can actually enter the house through the garage now. It is strange every time you see someone come through the garage door rather than the front door. The garage was a huge mess but we got it cleaned and organized and found a ton of treasures from our childhood which was so much fun! Alison and I both got really excited about some of the items we came across. I can't believe Bird saved ALL of that stuff! She must have saved everything Alison and Clay every had!

Ok, enough rambling...onto the pictures!

My little valentine! I think my mom may have been right, her hair looks like it is turning red to me now.

From February 09

From February 09

The thing I miss most about working at home.

From February 09

From February 09

From February 09

A wonderful surprise from both of my valentines! :)

From February 09

8 weeks...no way!

I tell you what, this baby is growing up way too fast for me. I am not sure I like the speed at which all of this goes. I will say that each new day brings more new fun discoveries which we are all enjoying immensely.

Things are going well in the Morris household. I started working from home a few weeks ago, with a week break in between when my aunt passed away, and it is going pretty well. Devin goes back to the pediatrician next week and starts going to daycare the week after. I am not looking forward to not spending my entire day with her while I work, but I am convincing myself (because I have no other choice) that it will be good for both of us.

Everyone asks me if I will be taking her to work with me. I am so incredibly fortunate to have a boss that would let me do this. The problem is that I would most likely get even less accomplished there than I do at home where I have all of her stuff...plus, in the office I can't walk around nursing her with no regard for anyone else. I may be eating my words in a few weeks when I have to leave my precious baby girl with someone other than myself, but I have to be realistic about the next few months ahead of me and how busy they will be. I have been fortunate enough to be able to stay home with Devin until she is almost 10 weeks old though. I couldn't ask for a better situation. I think about all the moms who return to work at 6 weeks and I am still not sure I am fit for work at 10 weeks. More on that one later though.

So I have become more and more brave about venturing out on my own. Kortnee went out one day with me and Devin when she was only 2 weeks old. Thank god for Kortnee b/c I was still in a total baby daze and could barely function. She held everything together for me on that little outing and laughed about how silly I acted. I am sure she was just so glad to get out of the house for a few hours that she would do anything! Then my cousin went out with me when she was about 4 weeks old. We took the stroller in one store and Devin proceeded to fall apart. I handled it all just fine but it was nice to know there was someone there to help me if I needed it and helped to confirm that I could indeed handle being on my own. So since then we have been out quite a bit. I have found that I prefer to wear her in my Moby wrap if there will be no weird lifting like getting water at the store. I always get a lot of comments about her and how cute it is etc etc. Even men comment on how I am wearing her and how neat the wrap is. She even went for my weekly grocery shopping this past weekend with me b/c Chris was working diligently on his most fabulous ribs for the Super Bowl which needed his full attention.

We have started meeting people for lunch and Chris and I have even gone out to dinner with her a few times. Life seems like it is all falling into place with a very loose routine. Last week Devin and I went to a Mommy and Me Nia class that we both really enjoyed. I got some exercise while she got a GREAT nap!

As for being fit for returning to work...last weekend Chris and I got dressed up and ready for a party we were invited to. We drove all the way there only to discover that there were no other cars, and we were at least 30 minutes later than the start time. I looked at my email on my phone only to discover that it was the next weekend! OOOPPPSS! Chris was a great sport and just laughed about it but it was so unlike me to make such a mistake!

OK, enough of the rambling...on to the pictures!

Here is a video from today. It is way longer than I want but I don't know how to shorten them. We just discovered an extra button on Devin's mirror today and she really liked it as you can see...she coos and smiles as it plays in the beginning. Then Izzy joins in which is distracting.


Here she is in the moby wrap:

From January 09

From February 09

And her newest accomplishment is sitting in the Bumbo and having a taste of her elephant!

From February 09

From February 09

And happy to see daddy!

From February 09

From February 09

6 weeks already?!?!?!

How in the world did it happen? My sweet baby girl is already 6 weeks old! Before I know it, I am going to be sending her off to college. When people tell you that they grow up too fast they really mean it!

Devin has been such a blessing for me during the past few weeks. With such a difficult and emotional time while Aunt Bird was sick, that baby girl needed me and there was no doubt that she could always put a smile on my face when I was feeling down. Aunt Bird was so excited about this baby and thankfully got to meet her twice. The circle of life can be so bittersweet sometimes.

She is starting to smile at us for real and it is quite a treat when she does it. Over the past weekend, a few other people were able to get one of those big gummy smiles out of her too.

If I didn't know better, I would almost swear she is starting the teething process. I hope it holds off a little longer but she is a drooling machine for sure and she likes to bite down whenever she has the chance! Not so nice for mommy when we are eating.

Here is a pic of her with one of those smiles. She was quite happy here.

From January 09

My cousin Alison gave her the cutest little hat. It just so happens to be just like a hat my dad had when we were little that Edward would put on then proclaim "I'm baby Didi!" Here she is in hers.

From January 09

And of course a few while admiring herself in the mirror.

From January 09

From January 09

And a few more smiles

From January 09

From December 08

From December 08

We will miss you Aunt Bird

It has been awhile since I have posted. My family has had a loss that we will all suffer so greatly from. Aunt Bird has been sick since Christmas and lost her battle last Friday surrounded by her loved ones. The past month has been an emotional roller coaster for all of us. I am glad that she is at peace now.

From January 09

Aunt Bird's house was a place that you could always find the family gathering when people where in town. She loved to cook and entertain and most importantly, she loved to bring the family together. Her family was everything to her. She loved and adored Rick, Alison and Clay and it was so apparent to anyone that knew her. She loved her brothers, sisters, neices, nephews and close friends almost as diligently. She is probably one of the reasons that our large family is so close.

Bird never met a stranger and welcomed newcomers with open arms. She always made sure you felt at home and was so generous with her affection. She was thoughtful and would always pay attention to your likes so she could cater to them the next time you came to her house. That was just one of the special things she did for those who came around often. Bird could always make you feel better if you were feeling blue.

She and Alison and I loved to go to a couple of really special places and meet for a girly lunch and it was always fine dining and an even better time. This will be something that Alison and I will continue doing together and with our children in her memory and honor. She will be so missed but would have loved that we continued to go, as she was a chef and always appreciated and wonderful meal.

If she loved you, you knew it and she would go to the end of the world for you. If you were blessed enough to have her in your life, you got to experience her kindness, generosity and and sense of humor. She had a bright personality and LOVED to laugh. Some of my fondest memories of our adult years are the times when Alison was in town and we would get together and laugh hysterically all night long. When I think of Bird, I think of her beaming smile and her laughing personality.

Fly Free Sweet Bird. You will be so dearly missed and never forgotten. We all love you so much and will keep you in our hearts forever.