Photo Download Overload

Today, after spending an hour or two proof-reading my husband's paper that was due for his night class tonight, I decided to download photos from my camera and phone and unearthed some fun memories from the last little while.  You know what that means?  Photo download overload upload to the blog!  lol

Now that Mia's got forward momentum down, I have to really keep a sharp eye on her because when she sees something she wants, she can now get to it and sit up and reach for it, as well as get herself into place she either shouldn't be or doesn't WANT to be in.  Case in point from this morning:

Mia flossing with the power chord to my laptop.

Sadness - figuring out she can't sit up against the table without bonking her head.

Not thrilled with the outcome of backing herself under the table either.  Luckily mommy rescued her!

My silly little turkey and her crazy poses!  lol  Luckily, she enjoyed playing in the laundry basket with her toys so that mama could safely get some things done in the living room without having to keep QUITE such a constant eye on her.  :)

Then later today when I was under the gun and reading through Zeus's paper, Mia decided she was STARVING and tired.  I wanted her to eat before she went down for her afternoon nap, but I had a half hour to finish Zeus's paper and get it printed up for him as he dashed from work to home to grab his paper and head to school.  Well, I gave her some puff snacks but after that she was still hungry for her bottle.  I quickly made a bottle and put on a different nipple than we usually use on it.  This one we got in Houston from Shriner's and I think it's a Dr. Brown's nipple.  It has a "Y-cut" in it so that when Mia attempts to "suck" at it (because of the cleft she still can't create suction), the pressure of her sucking motions opens up the "Y-cut" so that milk comes out.  I'd been thinking about trying it as she's recently started holding the bottle when I feed her.  I thought it would come in handy on road trips, but hadn't tried it yet.  Well, it worked!  I was partly happy and partly sad!  It was so hard to have her next to me holding her own bottle while I frantically worked on finishing the paper.  I wanted her in my arms, snuggling as I fed her!  Zeus came home and snatched her up to finish the last ounce of the bottle while I finished up looking over his paper, but she did so good on her own.  Of course, I had to pause and take a few photos.  :)

A little half-smile for the camera during her self-feeding.

Seriously mom, must you always be snapping photos?!?!

This is serious business!!!

I also broke out the 9-12 and 12 month size clothes box.  (Thanks to those of you who have passed on hand-me downs!)  Well, inside were two little bathing suits I'd gotten on clearance last year for her for this year.  They are SO CUTE that I had to get them out and try them on her, which of course resulted in... photos!

LOVE this one!  It's so soft and I'm loving the large polka dots and the bows on the shoulders!

I love the little criss-cross back and "ruffle bum" of the back as well!!!

I think Papa loved the cute ballerina tu-tu swimsuit best!  :)

Then, there were the photos we took at the kite festival on Sunday.  We went to Mass and then came home to change into shorts before heading downtown to the Austin Kite Festival.  We parked in county parking lot and then waited in line, for what ended up being an hour, for a bus shuttle ride over to Zilker park.  There were TONS of people there and lots and lots of kites. I was surprised at how many kites there were and how few actual kite string entanglements we witnessed!  Thankfully we remembered to take the camera and were able to get some fun photos.

In line for the shuttle with mama - Mia loved all the people and animal watching (and so did mama)!

The shuttles were school buses - Mia's first bus ride ever with papa.  Not the best photo of my little Mia, but DANG does my honey look HOT!  :)

Tons of people and kites - and kites and people of all shapes and sizes!  Hard to see the hundreds of kites in this one though and was really hard to get a good photo of all the kites that were flying!

Ah, there we go!  There's a kite shot.

Our good friend Chrissy met us there and hung out with us.  Good times!

I love Mia's sweet little face in this one!

Well, Mia's up from her nap, so I'd better finish the rest later.  Toodles!

Mia pics and video

Sorry, but we just can't get enough of her, and now that mommy's feeling a little better, prepare yourself for mass Mia picture posting!  :)

Holy Hannah does a having a baby change your whole view of packing for a trip!  How many bags and items did we check for our little Mia?  Can you say FOUR?!?!  Car seat, stroller, diaper bag, and big black duffel bag with diapers, wipes, blankets, outfits, socks, hair bows, and a thousand misc items of necessity.  Oh my!

Our little family heading out on our first family flight/trip to Seattle for Michael and Deena's wedding.

Mia's first flight and a little smile caught on video.  Mia did great on the flights to and from Seattle and just chilled on mommy's pillow on either mama's or papa's lap.  Such a great baby!!!

Yay! - cooler Seattle weather means we can finally use some of the cute long sleeved outfits we were given!

Our little family on our first "cruise", a boat ride to an island in Seattle, dinner on an island and then a ride back.  All bundled up on the chilly ride over.  I think Mia liked the rocking of the boat.  :)  Thanks to Auntie Brienne who's cousin hooked us all up.  We were able to go on the $80 a person tour for only $20 a person - woooo whoooo!!!!  Smokin' hot deal!!!

Our little cutie pie, all bundled up and wide awake in mama's arms.  Love those big brown eyes!

Oh, and there WERE other people from the family on the trip.  :) 

Newlyweds Deena and Mike (oh, and us in the background).  :)

Grandma snuggling on grandpa, Uncle Kevin, and Uncle Dan and Auntie Brienne with Dan doing his sexy "kissy lips" pose once again.  :)

Where's darling cousin Sadie you ask?  Well, down here of course, enjoying the view from her stroller. 

Such a smiley little thing!

Grandpa, Uncle Kevin, and Auntie Tiffany chillin' on the boat trip over.

Now, here are some of Mia's "official" one month old pictures that we were finally able to take now that we are home safe and sound and have the blanket and giraffe for the monthly shots.  :)  Thanks to Auntie Michelle who got Mia the blanket.  It's design name is Mia Rose, so we just had to register for it and Auntie Michelle couldn't resist getting it for her when she saw it's name.  Thank you Auntie Mish, even though you are now officially "across the pond" in the UK, we won't forget you!!!

All stretched out in a food coma.

Oh, little one, all stretching and yet not...  :)

In grandma Lina's rocking chair as cozy as can be.

Tia Bertha learned how to feed me her very first try!!! 

(Mama was a little - okay a LOT - envious of her learning curve, but don't tell Tia Bertha.)

Below are some practice shots of Mia on papa's arms.  We're going to try again when she's in a milk coma and not quite so wiggly, though we think we still got some good shots.

I love this one of her stretching!  :)

Reading with mama.

Auntie Jaclyn sent us this book in a care package for Mia, along with another book and some darling outfits.  You can always count on teacher friends to send books for babies!  :)This one is our current favorite and Mia loves to be read to.

And last, but not least, a video.  :) 

Mia has, in the last few days, started smiling more and more.