We have lift off!

Well, roll off. Today Adele turned 42 weeks old and she started rolling like crazy. It's amazing how quickly things change. Just a few weeks ago I was wishing she was more mobile and now it's here. She's such a smart little girl too. We played with some cups that nest inside of each other and she followed my suggestions after a few questioning looks. The cups nested together nicely and we clapped and cheered at her accomplishment. Adele is crawling kind of too. She crawls backwards while not completely up on her knees. She'll get there, just in reverse.
On another note, her big sisters have had some accomplishments and big things lately too. Caitlin just turned 19 and Courtney turns 7 tomorrow. Fred's at Caitlin's senior night tonight. We had fun looking at baby photos of Caitlin, Cole and Courtney the other night. He's got cute kids - all four of them. Lucky dad. We're lucky to have him too. I can't wait for him to see Adele roll. There will be lots of smiling.

Time flies

Today was my 28th birthday and it was great. I got to spend it with good coworkers and the two loves of my life. Adele and Fred will both have birthdays in April. Two big ones too - 1 and 40. I can't wait to make their days as special as mine.
We got to talking about birthdays, relationships and wedding anniversaries at work today. I did the math and realized that in 2024 we will celebrate my 40th birthday, my parents' 50th wedding anniversary and Adele's 13th birthday. Eeek! I'm going to need a nice cruise to the tropics to handle all that awesomeness.
Adele will be nine months old in 6 days. She's babbling constantly but isn't too mobile yet. She loves bouncing/dancing and her laughter brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. Oh, and she still loves bathtime. I'm sure that the day she gets introduced to bubble baths will be the day it starts getting really hard to get her out of the tub without a fight. Her hair is starting to grow more and it's coming in a sweet, golden blonde.
Right now her little blue eyes are shut in her crib and it's time for me to beat Fred in Wii everything.

Update

Seeing as how I have not updated my blog for a few months, I thought I would fill you in on how Adele and I are doing (Daddy too).

In two days Adele will be eight months old. She is still not rolling over, but isthisclose to that milestone. She's been sitting up without support for quite some time now and loves to babble make other noises to test her vocal cords and our hearing. Adele is starting to slim down, but I still have body/weight issues for her. I just can't stand it when someone calls my baby fat or constantly comments on her weight. Yes, she is in the 94th percentile in terms of weight, but why do people feel the need to bring it up in casual conversation. How would they like it if I nitpicked their child's appearance?
Speaking of weight, I have regained the pounds I lost after Adele was born. I guess that's what a desk job, cold weather and the holidays will do to a person. Adele and I continue to run into problems with our clothing. Things that used to fit me or were too big are now tight. Things that I assume should fit her (9-12 month clothing) are either skintight or super-baggy. I guess women's clothing is hard to size and buy no matter what age you are.
I started a new job in October and love it. I'm working for the local newspaper. We found a nice, small, in-home daycare for Adele. She's doing well there and will go back to being the youngest (by one month) when a new baby joins the group next month. As with a lot of babies, she tends to nap better at daycare than she does at home. I guess she just wants to spend more time with me and Fred instead of sleep.
On the bright side of things, Adele is a great traveler. She cried and fussed for maybe an hour or two tops during our 28 hour Thanksgiving drive to MN. There she got to meet her uncles and aunties and cousin Sullivan. Cousin Declan was born two weeks after Thanksgiving. It was sad to head back to MT, but we should have family visiting us in April if not sooner.
Fred's family continues to be a blessing. Grandpa Greg gets Adele giggling like only a grandpa can and Grandma Judy dotes on Adele and loves her smile and blue eyes. Big sister Courtney made a great comment one of the last times she was in Absarokee. "Wow! Adele can eat human food now?!" What she meant was that it was pretty cool to see Adele eating baby food and not just drinking a bottle. We've moved on to some other solids as well and she just got introduced to a sippy cup. We will have to see how she does with that, but so far she is enjoying having something new to look at and play with.
I'm lucky enough that Fred gets up with Adele most nights/mornings. Every now and then I have a few nights without him, but Adele does well. I miss him like crazy when he's gone.
Adele's first Christmas is fast approaching and we will spend it with family and I'm sure Fred will enjoy his time off and hopefully catch up on some sleep, although he does plan on staying at home with Adele at least a few days during his break. Maybe he won't be as well rested as he would hope.

Never Grow Up - Taylor Swift

Your little hands wrapped around my finger

And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause your dreaming

So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funnyYou got nothing to regretI'd give all I have, honeyIf you could stay like that
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow upJust stay this littleOh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow upIt could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt youWon't let no one break your heartNo, no one will desert youJust try to never grow up, never grow up
You're in the car on the way to the moviesAnd you're mortified your mom's dropping you offAt 14, there's just so much you can't doAnd you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots
But don't make her drop you off around the blockRemember that she's getting older, tooAnd don't lose the way that you dance aroundIn your PJs getting ready for school
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow upJust stay this littleOh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow upIt could stay this simple
No one's ever burned youNothing's ever left you scarredAnd even though you want toJust try to never grow up
Take pictures in your mind of your childhood roomMemorize what it sounded like when your dad gets homeRemember the footsteps, remember the words saidAnd all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I haveIs someday gonna be gone
So here I am in my new apartmentIn a big city, they just dropped me offIt's so much colder than I thought it would beSo I tuck myself in and turn my night light on
Wish I'd never grown upI wish I'd never grown up
Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown upCould still be littleOh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown upIt could still be simple
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow upJust stay this littleOh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow upIt could stay this simple
Won't let nobody hurt youWon't let no one break your heartAnd even through to you want toPlease try to never grow up
Don't you ever grow up(Never grow up)Just never grow up

Baby Steps

I love watching Adele learn, grow and change every day. She seems to have a new skill mastered or at least practiced more all the time.Sweet little coos surprise both me and Adele, and she loves to smile when Mommy is acting goofy. It all reminds me of how awesome life truly is.

Adele waiting patiently at the doctor's office.

Fred and I took Adele to her two-month checkup just the other day. She currently weighs in at 13 lbs. 3 oz. and measured 22.5 inches tall. It's hard to believe she's the same baby who looked like she was drowning in some newborn clothes when we brought her home from the hospital. Adele is happy and healthy.

Besides growing like a weed, Adele is exploring the world of toys more and more. Her bouncy seat is not only relaxing now but also entertaining. I watched her for a bit tonight as she gazed intently at a Winnie the Pooh rattle hanging above her. She kept her eyes focused on it and I could tell the gears were turning in her little head. "How do I get that thing?" she seemed to be asking herself. It was a mere few inches in front of her, but she only got as far as raising her arm before she went back to simply looking at Pooh Bear. Those few inches must be like 100 miles to Adele. She is bound and determined to make that journey and many others. They all begin with one little step.

Artist, Naturalist and Political Humorist | Flathead Beacon

Artist, Naturalist and Political Humorist Flathead Beacon

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Adele and I look a lot alike, but thankfully she also looks like her Daddy and big sisters. So many people have told me that she has my lips. I think she has my eyes and hair too. I am happy she has her Daddy's ears and she might have his nose. It's weird to know that I have a mini-me. The fact that we look so much alike is not surprising though. Years ago some elementary school friends of mine saw a photo of my maternal great grandmother and thought it was my maternal grandmother they looked so much alike. I see my mom, as she gets older, looking more and more like her mom. Some days I look in the mirror and I see my mom's face staring back at me. Heck, I was even called Mini-Sue by some coworkers in high school. I know what I will look like in 30 years and I know what Adele will look like in 20 years. She's so beautiful. I hope she remains a beautiful person both inside and out. I know I will do my best to help her.