Summer, summer, summer time!

Storing up strength for all the places we'll see now that Daddy is home a fun-filled summer.

Enjoying her dad and the swing at a nearby park.  Just chilling, watching the older kids climb and play.

Heading out the door to church. I have mixed feelings about putting away the 3-6 months clothes, but we definitely enjoy the new 6-9 month wardrobe!

Memorial Day weekend: family and fun! (All photo credits to Nana!).

 

Naomi had plenty of quality time with Nana and Papaw, considering the quickness of their up-and-down visit.

Not just any 6-month old is allowed to strum on Papaw's fancy guitar.

Uncle Jonathan has caught Naomi's eye.  Many smiles and sustained looks.  Beautiful posture, Naomi, Opa would be proud.

 "Can I really hold on to your camera case, Nana? Can I chew on it too??"

Telling Great Uncle David all about it.  A little conversation, a little snuggle, head on shoulder. Repeat 4-5 times.

One loved little girl.

She crawls.

Yes, that fateful day has arrived: May 28, 2011.  Aged 6 months, 12 days.

Growing pains

Teeth popping out is not all fun and games.  Here she is getting some tender loving from her dad.

 6 month appointment: smiling before the doc came through the door to prod and poke. I have never heard N weep so uncontrollably.  He made it up to her to her, however... 

...by sending in a nurse armed with a shot AND a lollypop.  "Not all parents let their children have these, but I brought one anyway." Wow, really? I know she looks older, being 94 percentile for height, but she does not even have the green light to eat Cheerios! I grabbed N a (slightly) more age-appropriate souvenir: the Snow White sticker you see her sporting here (removed before she could get to it to ingest).  

 Because the excitement of a doctor's appointment, shot, and learning to administer infant meds through an eyedropper were not enough for one day, we locked ourselves out of the house and hung out with our neighbors in another neighbor's storm shelter.  All the while, tornado sirens, golf ball-sized hail, and rain torrents raged outside. Thankfully we endured no damage, and our neighbor gave us our spare key so we could sleep inside.  

Let's end on a positive note!

Flashback: The Big Four

April 19, 2001

Just a weekend in May

After Covenant Christian Academy's graduation.  Wonderful ceremony with keynote speaker Steve Peifer, missionary to Kenya.  Naomi was heroic, staying up way past her 8 o'clock bedtime.  A 6-month old can only remain a hero so long.   

Catching a few winks after communion.  Justin, returned home for the summer (along with Jessica!), remarked how Naomi now has reached a point where she is cuter awake then asleep.  This photo is tough competition, but let us compare:  

Justin may just be on to something.  Taken 4/23/11 while I was at work.

The spice of life

We are adding some variety to a super-healthy but otherwise monotonous diet.

Half-price frappuccino days.  What better time to introduce Naomi to iced coffees?

We have successfully introduced cereal, bananas, avocados, and green beans into the diet. Peas seemed like another good option, but our sweet pea had her own opinion.

Smiling at me - NOT the peas approaching her.

Color theory 101: Set side-by-side complementary colors (opposite from each other on the color wheel) to make each POP.  Cases in point, the green peas in red ice cube tray, and the orange sweet potatoes in a blue tray. Thank you, college education!!

Intoxicating: Yawning and laughing

May 15th, on the way home from church. Music credit: Bon Iver, with Naomi "singing" along.  

May 13th.  Friday excitement is contagious.  

First Mother's Day

A quick trip to see Mom (and Dad!) Mother's Day weekend.

Of course, most of the activity centered around food, with a quick shopping trip thrown in.

Lunch at the Black Walnut.

Dinner with Maria, Jeanette, and James.

Maria (in yellow) was biking 500 miles from Wewoka, OK - Galveston, TX for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) awareness.

 What could be distracting Opa from this photo op?  ...Aha!

Still eating, but we are sad that Phil could not come with us.

And, still interested in that phone, Mom!!

 Throughout the day.

We drove home after coffee Sunday and were greeted by this feast prepared by Phil: French bread, caprese, and Giada's intricate lasagna.  

The last cold days of spring

Now, we have enjoyed some gorgeous weather since, 

but May 2nd was the last day for fleece.

Naomi is fascinated by her mom's camera: maybe the needed impetus to start crawling.
I may get rid of it.

When that operation failed, she moved onto something more readily accessible.