Jumbo Music Block

Amelia received a Neurosmith Jumbo Music Block from her Uncle Derek and Aunt Erica. This is no ordinary musical toy. It contains a powerful speaker that plays the full harmonic range of nursery rhymes. It also allows you to change cartridges and play different songs. As you can see it keeps her quite busy. Thanks guys.

Grandpa Jim

Amelia had a visit from Grandpa Jim, Nana Janice and the little ants (sic) Brandi and Sabrina. Here Amelia holds her favorite thing of all time, her very own remote control. She became so obsessed with the remote that we gave her one. Just try taking it away and let the screaming begin.

Caged In

This picture was taken a few weeks ago - before she learned how to stand up. Now she would never be caught in such a stance.

Stand Up

Amelia is pretty pleased with herself. She has the whole pulling up and standing thing down. Once she gets up she is not real sure what to do. Shortly after this picture was taken she collapsed to the floor of her pack & play (unharmed but confused).

New Movie

Click here to view Amelia on the move in a big way. What was she after you might wonder? The TV remote of course. Those of you at work might want to mute sound before viewing.

Peek-A-Boo

Amelia loves to play peek-a-boo.

Here she and her teeth are.
PS: She is still not sleeping and is currently taking a cocktail of 4-5 over the counter and prescription medications.

Sleep Terrorist Teeth

These little razors have become more pronounced. If you get close enough she will probably try and take a chunk out of you. The teeth will be making another appearance later in the week. Stay tuned.

BTW: She got over pink eye and but has relapsed and infected dad. She has also become an expert sleep terrorist - striking fear into the hearts and minds of moms and dads everywhere who just want a solid 8 ... no 6 ... ok anything more than 3 hours of sleep a night. The world is just so new and they days are so short. Why waste time sleeping.

Baby Tad

Amelia loves her Baby Tad. Here she is listening closely to him.


And giving him a kiss.

Pink Eye Strikes

Everyone else in the day care has had it so why not Amelia. She feels ok but looks very sad. She is on drops and should be improving soon.

As If She Isn't Tall Enough

Amelia enjoys an unseasonably mild February day.

February Watch Me Grow

From left to right: 1.15.05, 2.15.05 and holding her valentines day candy. She just keeps getting longer.


The pictures from left to right were taken on: 10/15/04, 11/15/04, and 12/27/04, respectively. That doll doesn't stand a chance. Click the picture to enlarge.


From left to right these pictures were taken around 6/15, 7/15 and 8/15/04, respectively. Click on the picture to enlarge.

Birthday Party

Amelia went to her friend Alex's first birthday party this weekend. There were lots of kids there but Amelia and Alex managed to spend some time together and pose for a few pictures.

Alex was sporting a cowboy shirt complete with pearl buttons for this cowboy party. Amelia was as cute as ever in her classic pink.

Animal Lover

Amelia is fascinated by the fake aquarium that sits on the side of her crib. Now she can pull up and get a close look at her fish. One of her favorite tricks is to try and kick the button that starts the bubbles, lights and music when she should be sleeping.

Get Movin'

Now she can crawl forward ...

and she has got this whole pulling up thing down.

New Movie and New Tricks

Click here to view a short movie of Amelia waving. She is doing all sorts of new things now that she has emerged from the month and a half of sickness. Those of you at work might want to mute sound before viewing.

Happy Valentines Day

Here is the little sweetie in her valentines day outfit trying to tear into some chocolate.

She got chocolate all over that outfit so before she could eat the second box we had to change her.

8 months and stalled out

With little fanfare Amelia turned 8 months last week. Apparently at 8 months kids decide they no longer want to sleep anymore. After a few hours they decide it is time to get up and play. Why? Shouldn't her sleep keep progressing in a linear fashion from ok to good to great. Things seemed to be going that way. From the 2 hours at a time we suffered through when she was an infant to the freakin awesome 8-10 hour stretches she gave us before Christmas. But no. The picture above was severely photoshoped and she was real drugged up at the time (just kidding). I fear she will never sleep like that again.

Sleeping, or what she doesn't do anymore

Amelia has recently decided that she likes to party in her crib anywhere from about 11 pm - 4 am. She can now turn her self over, get up on her knees, get her legs stuck, scream and perform a host of other tricks. This is all well and good unless you are trying to sleep. To add insult to injury she usually laughs at you when you come to rescue her from one of her hopelessly stuck positions. I wish I had some photos for you but our goal at these moments has not been photographic.

This picture is a happy and rested Amelia after a good night of sleep. It is usually the last glimpse I catch of her before I leave every morning. No matter how tired I am she can always make me smile.

Feeling Better

Our old baby is back.

Teeth

After many failed attempts the illusive teeth have finally been caught on film. Amelia likes to keep them hidden with her tongue. The one on your left is slightly larger, it popped out on New Years. The smaller guy on the right isn't far behind. Click the picture for a larger view.

And for an illness update: Amelia and Mom are both doing better.

Good Riddance January

This month Amelia had two stomach viruses, an ear infection, rhota virus, an upper respiratory infection and the dreaded RSV. Some how she hasn't caught the pink eye going around at her school. Mom and Dad missed quite a bit of work but happily did not pick up any of this sickness. Other not-so-lucky parents of infants have been coming down with BIDS (Baby Immune Deficiency Syndrome) as discussed at Trixieupdate.com


Her most tragic illness is the RSV. She is taking medicine through the "Sport Nebulator" on loan from the doctor's office. Amelia likes this treatment about as much as a shot. We have to show her Baby Einstein DVDs just so she won't freak out while taking the treatment. Baby Tad models the contraption below along with all the accoutrements. With any luck she will be over this soon and the equipment can go back to the doctor. We couldn't be happier to see this month come to a close.

P.S. 6 hours after this post Emma cough a nasty stomach virus from Amelia. I am probably next.

Creepin and Crawlin

She's crawling now.

But she can only go backwards. Yesterday she got herself stuck under the couch.

Too Hot

In an interesting aside, some of Amelia's biggest fans were recently blocked from viewing their favorite blog at work. Apparently, the combination of the name "Amelia Rose" with the amount of pictures on the blog triggered a human or machine internet filter to block the site as p_ _ n (don't say it or the filter might block us again). A classic example of the problem with internet filters, they don't work. Studies have found that filters block sites they shouldn't and let in ones that should have been caught.

The Supreme Court has overturned laws requiring filters in public libraries, recognizing that internet communications warrant the same level of constitutional protection as books, magazines, newspapers, and speakers on a street corner soapbox. See cases here.

Unfortunately, the Court recently changed course and upheld a law requiring filters in public libraries. (123 S. Ct. 2297).

The internet can be a dangerous place for children. Amelia will be watched and monitored closely by her parents but hopefully not by her government.

January Watch Me Grow

Doll better watch out. Not only is Amelia bigger but now she has a tooth.


The pictures from left to right were taken on: 10/15/04, 11/15/04, and 12/27/04, respectively. That doll doesn't stand a chance. Click the picture to enlarge.


From left to right these pictures were taken around 6/15, 7/15 and 8/15/04, respectively. Click on the picture to enlarge.

Bedlam Baby

Amelia is already keyed up to watch her Sooners take on the Cowboys Monday night.


Here she sports her first scarf, in crimson of course. Thanks Pat, Kim, Bill and Julie for the scarf. She loves it.

Playdate

Amelia's friend Alex came to visit this week. They had a nice little dance together.

Then they fought over toys. Alex shows his most intimidating face.

And after a while it was time to go.

Food Week - Tooth

To close out Food Week Amelia would like to unveil her new tooth. She enjoys biting just about everything with it. I know the picture is not so great but she likes to keep it hidden under her tongue. It took me over a week just to get this mediocre picture. It has been growing so it should appear more prominently in future pictures.

Food Week - Baby Cigar

I resisted the temptation to photoshop this picture and add hot red ash and smoke. Her cigar is actually a biter biscut, part of a whole line of baby finger food I never knew existed including wagon wheels and zwieback toast. None of it is very good, but she enjoys them. Here's lookin' at you Amelia.

Food Week - Frog's legs

Yum, nothing like traditional French cuisine for babies.

Food Week - Sushi

Continuing with our theme Amelia enjoys one of her favorite snacks, board books. We read to her every night and she usually seems very interested. She likes to look at the pictures and hear us reading but what she really wants is to chew on the book. She practically obliterated one last week, almost rendering it back into pulp. I couldn't resist posting this picture, a classic double entendre. First Book of Sushi (part of the World Snacks series) by Amy Wilson Sanger is really great. All young foodies should check it out.

Food Week - Duck Al'Bathtub

This week the blog will feature the culinary tastes of Amelia. Here she enjoys a crispy duck in the tub. Orange sauce on the side please.

Antlers

Here is a pretty cute pic from the holiday season.

Santa Fe

For New Years Amelia, Mom and Dad went to Santa Fe, N.M. to visit their friends Lynn and Mike Evans. Amelia proved to be an excellent traveler. She enjoyed strolling the plaza, eating wonderful meals on the town and even better ones prepared at home, watching pinion wood burn in the fireplace and taking naps while the grown ups drank wine. On her last day in town she saw her first snow. Time to put on the Sooner snow suit and head out on the porch.

It's still coming down.

Quite a view.

Let's Go Sooners

Amelia will be cheering on her favorite team tonight. Actually with any luck she will be fast asleep by 7pm CST when the game begins.