She's in the double digits, folks!

Hard to believe but it's true...Penelope is 10 months old today!

As all three of us were sitting around in our living room, I looked at Penelope who was walking back and forth between our ottoman and me, holding onto my legs for support. She and I were sharing a banana, she'd walk away from me after I gave her some, and would walk back when she wanted more. I remarked to Doug how big our baby girl is getting, only 1o months prior, she was so tiny, so helpless...and now, she walks (assisted) and eats bananas. I probably say this in every one of my blog posts, but it really remarkable how quickly these months since Penelope's birth have passed. In certain moments, usually when I am nursing her at night, I get a little panicky when I think how fast it is all going. It is also in those moments when I remind myself that I must try to enjoy every moment, or at least appreciate it, whether it be good, bad or somewhere in between.

Doug posted a video of P crawling...a funny, leg-dragging crawl that, as Doug put it, gives it a Penelope twist. Well, she still hasn't dropped that other knee but instead has learned to MOTOR around the house doing her signature crawl! In fact, I don't even notice anymore that it is "different--"that she is not on her hands and knees. Frankly, I am more worried about where she is headed than how she is getting there! Doug installed latches on our kitchen cabinets and lower drawers and we have moved things off the lower bookshelves, etc. We have a bit more to do in the babyproofing department but I am feeling much more secure about her wandering through the house (of course, I never let her out of my sight).

In addition to crawling, Penelope is talking! Well, speaking a language only her Dad and I can understand. She says "mamamamama," "dadadada," and "tatatatata," in loose reference to myself, Doug and Tara, our youngest dog. I think she says "tatatatata" when Grizzly, our first dog, comes by, as well. Most of the time she is just vocalizing but every now and then, I swear she knows exactly what she is saying and to whom. She has also begun experimenting with her vocal range...she does both a high pitched squeal and low, raspy, growly sounds. We call the latter her Halloween or devil voice...it's really hilarous to hear her say "mamamama" in this rather demonic tone! She also points at interesting things, especially balloons. I have included a couple of photos of her with her very first balloon she received last weekend:

Boon!

In addition to the more fun stuff, we've also had to deal with the not-so-fun stuff, namely teething. Penelope's two top teeth came in about 2 weeks ago and her bicuspids are nearly poking through. Once she cuts those, she'll have six teeth total. She is a teething nightmare sometimes; in between biting me while nursing, she chews on everything in sight. The worst is the nightwaking; since really the only pain relief for teething pain tends to be nursing, guess what she likes to do, all night long? I am beyond the point of exhaustion; I think I am approaching insanity now. I know that some folks are still in much worse sleep situations with their babies but it is so hard to function on 4 hours of sleep. I try my best to nap with her but, and this may sound bad, sometimes I give up the nap just so I can have a few moments to myself (or a shower!). I especially feel bad for her...the pain must be awful.

Generally, life with P remains exciting and exhausting! We are looking forward to Halloween and the upcoming holidays with her...stay tuned for off-the-hook cute Halloween photos!

You honestly think that this will keep me in here?

Crawling*

*more like a movement that is akin to crawling, but with a distinctive Penelope twist to it.

The crawling comes near the end of the video, but I included just some of her being cute, which is what she does best. Well, eating, sleeping and pooping are close contenders, but cuteness is the only thing most people see.

I'm off to San Diego tomorrow for work as is my custom these days. I have been on loan to another engineering firm for the past two months and it requires me to travel, either to San Diego or San Francisco, each week for at least a day or two. Mostly, I'm up in San Francisco as that is where the main office is, but I also go down to San Diego if they have the need. The traveling has been pretty brutal and has put a lot of strain on our family. We have kind of settled into the situation, but it still kind of sucks and I'm not sure when it will end. Jenn really depends on me at night to give her a break and I miss out on being with her and P. Also, including the hours I spend traveling, I am logging 50-55 hours a week for work and that is burning me out quickly...gonna have to make a change in the situation soon.

Anyway, back to P. She is moving around a lot these days and getting into all sorts of stuff. We are quickly finding out things we need to baby-proof in the very near future. Anything she can get to, she will grab and pull on -- she already pulled out some board games, tugged on some power cords and got a picture or two. She still prefers to stand and move around by holding on to things, and she has become quite good at stepping. Does she ever move fast, too!

Here is your gratuitous Penelope picture of the day...

"I'm not so sure about this guy..."

Nine Months!

Penelope fell asleep on the way home in her carseat (the bucket) and it reminded me of when we brought her home, nine months ago, today. So, here she is, then and now:

About fifteen hours old, 6 lbs, 13 oz, 20 inches

Nine months and about fifteen hours old, probably about 19 lbs and 29 inches

Needless to say, her days in the bucket are almost at an end; we are waiting until the end of the summer heat (we like to be able to bring the carseat indoors when it is so dang hot outside) to change it out for her "big girl" Britax seat.

She might be bigger but look at that sleeping face...she hasn't changed that much. That makes me happy...even when she is thirteen, maybe at least when she is sleeping, I will be able to catch a glimpse of the baby girl we brought home, nine months ago today.

Standing

Well, I've been trying to capture it for a couple of days now, but I've just been unlucky and/or unprepared. What am I trying to capture? Well, Penelope can now pull herself to standing and I've been trying to get video of the event. It's pretty fun to watch and she is so happy when she stands herself up. Someday I will catch it and then ya'll will get to see it.

Still no crawling nor any interest in doing so. She loves to roll, stand, and bounce, but that is about it. If we put her on her stomach she'll just stay there or end up rolling over. We've tried to coax her with toys, but she'll just lean over to grab the toy and if it's too far away she'll lose interest. Oh well, it will happen sometime.

Update: Finally! Here it is...

For Granny LaBouff

Penelope met her great-grandmother Maxine LaBouff last March, when Granny came out for Penelope's Naming and Dedication Ceremony. Like any loving grandmother, Granny spoiled Penelope with many cute clothes, including an adorable summer outfit complete with a bow. You know the which ones I am talking about: the bow/headband thingies that seem to look so goofy...mostly because they are on bald baby's heads?

I think they are silly and, at least until Granny gave her one, had no interest in putting them on Penelope's head. But despite my aversion to headband bows or whatever you want to call them, I promised Granny that I'd put the bow on her head and take a picture. We love Granny and would do just about anything for her. That's what we grandkids do for our grandmas, you know? And it is a darn cute outfit so, for Granny, just this once, no problem.

Here she is, Granny! And, okay, I'll admit it: she actually does look pretty cute in that darn bow.

Dead-Beat Blogging Dad

I'm back. Actually, I was never gone. Still, if it weren't for the pictures that Jenn posts, you would think I up and disappeared. However, that is not the case and I am returning to blogging on our little site here for the fun and amusement of everyone. This is particularly true for our little P as we can look back on all our old posts when she is older and embarrass her relentlessly.

Blogging...it's the new photo album.

For anyone who has been keeping tabs, I fell off the blogging wagon a while ago and have only made appearances here and there. I would say I have been extremely busy (which is true), but who isn't? I would say I've been traveling out of town for work for a couple of days each week (which is true), but that is what wifi and laptops are for. I would say...oh well, I've just been a slacker.

My mom once asked why I don't blog more often and I said something stupid like "I don't have the time" or "I'm so busy" or "I can't think of anything to say" and she responded: "It's not like you have to write a novel." So in that spirit, I'm going to concentrate on making my posts short and sweet (sweet = P), unlike the one I am currently writing, which is tragically all about me.

Jenn already covered this past weekend's activities and P's introduction to her future husband new playmate, so I don't have an awful lot to add. I will say it was great to see all of our friends and to watch another set of parents in action with a baby so close to ours in age. Let's just say it was reassuring.

Cheers.

Penelope's first playdate!

Lucky Penelope, her first playdate lasted two days! Auntie Tracy and Uncle Mike had all of us over this weekend for a bbq and general great visit with our old Santa Cruz pals Helen and Troy Faith Garcia and, of course, Uncle Dan (my bro) and Aunt Catherine.

We were thrilled to meet the son of our dear friends Helen and Troy, who was born only 2 weeks before Penelope. Carl is a doll...a beautiful, smiling, charming little boy! He is also incredibly mobile--crawling all over the place and pulling himself up to standing on the furniture. I told Helen and Troy that Carl had an assignment: to show Penelope how to crawl. He did and I'll be darned if she isn't moving around a lot more, now! Still not crawling (but I am in no hurry), scooting and rolling herself around quite effectively.

Tracy posted a cute photo on her blog (see link to the right) but I had to post some of the kids playing together. Aren't they adorable? Too bad arranged marriages aren't quite the fashion here in the US. hehe.

Look what Carl showed me how to do!

I think I like having a friend!

Mom, stop with the photos!