Like a fish to water...

Rubber ducky- you're the one.

Ok- so by and large I am not a "invest in large pieces of plastic" kind of mommy.  All our large plastic items have come to us passed down, which eases my green guilt a little.  However, this particular thing is my favorite baby item ever.  You LOVE it, and I have the comfort of knowing there will be no accidental heads under water during bath time!  And in case you all were wondering out there- Yes, it quacks.

Christmas 2010- having fun at Grandma and Grandpa Nielson's!

Winter wonderful!

Due to our camera-less nature since thanksgiving- recording your world has been tough! We left our camera at Aunt Evelyn's on Thanksgiving, and then our video camera went caput. Thus the silence.

But, I have been thinking for some time that there are so many thing about you right now that I don't want to forget- the way you reach out and touch peoples' cheeks when you meet them, how fascinated you are by little kids (especially your cousins!), the way you wake up every morning (lately at 6:30, ugh) with a long string of babble and a happy yell or two to greet the day, the joy you get from turning the faucet on while you sit in your bumbo seat watching mom getting ready for work, the way you happily sit and flap your arms on the little froggy potty we got you (starting early!!),  the way you follow your dad with your eyes wherever he goes and completely light up when you see him.

I do remind myself throughout the day to breathe it in- you are really only this little for today. Tomorrow brings new sounds, new skills, and more bittersweet moments of putting away jammies that don't fit any more.

a quick visit to Utah-photos by Grandpa Nielson!

Ginny going in for a sloppery kiss with Great Grandma

Surely up to no good with cousin Luke

the traditional salad-bowl bath at grandma's!

showing off sittin' up skills

All by myself!

Sittin' up- 5 months and 1 week

Halloween fun!

This is actually Pepper's Lobster costume- but it is pretty cute on you too!

Playing with Alex next door

Our little chick! (Thanks to Margaret for the costume!)

Your cheeks totally make this ridiculously cute.

Pepper the none-too-happy lobster. 

I couldn't resist...

More of you "talking" ...today has been one of your chattiest days ever! If you were awake, you were talking (except come evening time when you got cranky!).

Our social butterfly....

The Isabell Gang at Great Aunt Evelyn's  Labor Day Barbeque- that is you sleeping in the sling

Getting ready to party! What a cute dress from Aunt Steffenie!

During a recent video- we showed the world your talking skills.  You recently blew us away, however, when we took you to a barbeque at Great Aunt Evelyn's for labor day.  You engaged every person that walked up to talk with your own special language of aooowwwwoooaaaaa.

Then, I took you over to my friend Luci's house- she had her baby Mahi 3 days after you were born.  The two of you LOVED each other- and you were so cute trying to grab her face and "kiss" (picture a big open slobbery baby mouth coming right at you- another of your favorite ways to interact!).   I think you have your first girlfriend!

Mahi and Ginny- 4 months old

Lean on me, sister.

Chitter chatter

You are really into talking right now- super freaking darling.

Best way to end a day.

I've been back at work now for three weeks.  My first day going back was so hard- I was crying when I left the house and the whole way to work, and then some more in the hallway when someone asked how I was doing.  But, lo and behold, as soon as I got home that first day and saw you having fun with your daddy- I felt 100% better and it has been fine ever since.

Coming home to you, daddy and Pepper makes my days SO fun.  I can't wait to get in the door and scoop you up and soak in the smiles you give me.  You get pretty excited to see me even if you are tired! I am also watching magic happen with you and your dad- the two of you are like two peas in a pod and you are growing closer and closer- it is wonderful to see.  Also, it is something not every little girl gets- lots and lots of dedicated daddy time.

Plus, your dad is excellent with the unpredictability of being with a baby- he loves not knowing what the day will be like.  That is something that is hard for me- I like to know what is coming!

More than anything- you are surrounded by loads of love and showered with hugs and kisses all day from both your parents and we can't imagine life without you.

a photo update....

14 weeks old- you had a major growth spurt!

With your Pappy...

15 weeks old with Mommy after a bath.  You LOVE your baths!

Nighty night...

I figured you would want your naptime/bedtime song Mama made up for you recorded, so here it is- I sing it to you while I'm swaddling you for sleep. Here you are, all tucked in your cradleboard (on loan from the Fivecrows) and a captive audience.  These moments are some of my favorite of the day, you almost always smile and coo when you are all snug.  We've yet to catch you "singing" along on video- but you do it sometimes, it melts our hearts. Next time I'll record your "I can fly" song your Daddy made up for you.

11 weeks of fun!

Everyone said time would fly- it feels like a I've been in a time-vacuum for 11 weeks.  Next Monday I go back to work, I'm feeling very sad to miss the time with you, but at the same time excited to go back and happy that you and your dad will get to spend so much time together one on one. That is something not every girl gets and it is a pretty special thing!  I have loved all the moments- the challenging ones and the happy ones and being your mom is the most amazing experience of my life thus far- every day it feels like I will burst with love when I look at you!

Who is Virginia Beth?

What fun it has been getting to know you over the last 11 weeks! There are lots of little things that make you Ginny- some of these might be "every baby" sort of things, but they are special to us!

• You are very quick to smile! You started smiling at about 4.5 weeks old and haven't stopped since.  You have a smile for everyone you meet as long as you have been fed and aren't tired!
• You have very strong opinions about wet or messy diapers- they are intolerable to you. You like to be dry and comfy.  I think you are sensitive to touch- you love soft things and being massaged too.
• When we sing to you, sometimes you coo along, it is adorable.  You won't do it for the video camera though!.  I'm thinking you are going to like music a lot as you grow.
• You like people- one of your favorite things to look at is our refrigerator door.  You get so entranced looking at all the faces of your cousins and our friends. 
• You feel like you are lighthearted and like to have fun to me, I'm excited to see how you play in the months to come!