Daddy's Birthday

Daddy had a long day at work on his birthday, so he was happy to come home to his girls and an ice box cake decorated by you three (well, you cheered your sisters on as they did it).

You watched intently as he blew out his candles, cut, and passed out the cake. I'm sure you were wondering where your piece was. Only a few more months and you'll get a taste of your own! But today, happy 35th birthday to your Daddy!

Blue-Gray Skies

Your Daddy and I discuss your eyes often, trying to decide what color they are. Will they be brown? Will they be more green? Even now we can't quite agree on what word truly captures their color. What do you think? To me they look like beautiful blue-gray skies. :)

Seven-Months-Old

I can't believe you are 7-months-old. I know I say it every month, but how have seven of them past already?? You are just starting to find your voice and babble. Your favorite consonant seems to be "B" because we hear "bababababa" a lot.

You're rolling all over the place, and chewing on everything (including your 7-month sticker). You love food and are starting to get quite demanding about the pace at which I keep the spoon coming. Your current favorite seems to be sweet potatoes although you have eaten everything I've put in front of you so far.

You're not quite ready for solid snacks yet, but like to chew on frozen fruit we put inside the little mesh holder for you. You are still a champion at nursing too, you've surpassed your two older sisters by far!

You are generally calm and carefree. You enjoy hanging out on a blanket on the floor and rolling around to pick up a chewable block or grab a monkey to snuggle. And you smile. You smile a lot. That beautiful, toothless smile. I love blowing raspberries on your belly or tickling your neck to make you laugh.

I will look back on this one day and wonder if it was real. Were you really this little? I'm trying to soak up as much as I can because I know how fleeting these months really are. All too soon I'll be writing about your 8th month. For now, here's you at seven months.

Oh, and you have your Great Nana Piciulo to thank for the onesie you're wearing. She loves you to the moon and back! (So do we.)  :)

P.S. You still have that fantastic tuft of hair that stands up at the back of your head...although it's beginning to lean to the side.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

  ...Hopping down the bunny trail. Hippity-hoppety, Easter's on it's way!

Nonna and Ga came down to celebrate your first Easter with you this year! It was a little chaotic with Daddy getting sick and you being pretty miserable with a runny nose and swollen gums, but we still managed to have fun.

 The girls helped find the basket that the Easter Bunny hid for you. You didn't get any treats this year, but he left you lots of fun things to play with! You spent most of the day testing out how each new toy felt on your gums.

We snapped a couple of shots of you and your sisters in the outfits that Grandma and Grandpa got you three for Christmas. I love how you stick that little tongue of yours out when you smile these days. Happy Easter, our little pink bunny!

Irish Roots

Okay, so you don't really have Irish roots, but Daddy and I lived in South Bend, Indiana when we were first married, and Notre Dame became more than just a university to us. So it was with great pleasure that we took a trip to show you and your sisters around campus today. The excitement was palpable as Eleanore and Charlotte sang the fight song in the car at the top of their lungs over and over and over again on our way.

Our first stop was the grotto. You and your sisters each lit a candle and chose something special to pray about. We had the place pretty much to ourselves which was nice. It was beautifully sunny, peaceful, and quiet.

We also checked out the golden dome and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. I think you liked the Basilica's ceilings because your eyes were glued upward. (Or, as Nonna would say, maybe you were watching angels up there.)

Daddy was very excited to take you all into Hammes Bookstore. As you can see, your sister Charlotte wanted to make sure that you and she were dressed in your "Oater Dame" shirts for the occasion. Your sisters were in awe of all of the Irish gear everywhere.

You are our little observer, probably chanting, "Go Irish!" in your head as you took it all in.

6-Months-Old

We have had you for half a year already. You are such a sweet, smiley, happy and content little baby. You roll with the punches and put up with way more "loving" from your older sisters than I can believe!

You still have no teeth, which I am completely okay with...I'm not ready for that adorable gummy smile to disappear! You are already an expert at eating and devour whatever we put in front of you. So far you've had sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, peas and squash.

You love to turn the pages of books that we read together and you've mastered rolling from your back to your belly and back again. You haven't said much in the way of babble yet, but that could be because everyone else always talks for you! You love "naked baby time" (bath time) and you adore your older sisters (as they do you!).

I had to put away your 6-month clothing today and even some of the 9-month clothes. You're now wearing 9-12 month outfits. I'm loving your gorgeous chunk! Keep it coming my smiley little girl! (Just look at that toothless grin!)

That Gaze

I've been meaning to capture this gaze for a long time and I finally remembered to do it this morning. This is one of my favorite looks of yours. It shows up when your in the Ergo, nice and cozy and it's just about nap time. I see it most often at the grocery store in the mornings after we've dropped your oldest sister off at preschool. You, Charlotte, and I will be picking up food for dinner and I'll look down to see this stare. It is the sweetest gaze; this picture doesn't even do it justice. If only these moments could last forever.