Time is going by so fast!

I am already 7 months old!

Mom says time is going by way to fast! Each day is a new adventure, and I am learning so much! The past couple weeks were full of excitement, so make yourself comfortable, cause you're in for a long read...

Mom decided it would be good for me to play with a new friend this week. I was hesitant at first, but after meeting her we quickly became buddies. She was really funny looking and we spent hours laughing at one another - I even showed her how to play patty cake. We got along really well, and now we get play together almost everyday.

Friends are cool!!!

As you can see I have perfected sitting up, and really like to be in this position.

This week mom decided to take me on a trip to main street (in Huntington Beach, where I live). Before we could go she had to get me ready (what a process)! After she lathered me with sunscreen, she put on my hat and sunglasses and got me all dressed up in my beach wear for a stroll down the board walk. She even let the stroller seat face out so I could see all the people and the beautiful scenery.

I got to celebrate my first Valentines day on Thursday. Mom and I woke up early and made daddy some heart pancakes for breakfast. After he left for work we occupied our time by cleaning the house and getting it ready for the nice dinner we had planned for the evening. It was a lot of fun watching mom cook dinner, but it was even better watching daddy's face when he came home and saw what we had done for him! After the family finished eating (yes I got to stay up late) we all went into my play room and hung out together. I showed dad how I can military crawl, and he was very proud of me.

I sure love my daddy, and was glad he said he would be my #1 Valentine.

After months of picking on me from under the gum, my first tooth officially came out to play on February 18th. It's a sharp little guy, and I demonstrated that to mom when she tried to feel it by biting her. It was not a bite with malicious intent, I just don't like it when she sticks her finger in my mouth. After my tooth came through, one would assume that the pain of teething would go away- but no. My other bottom tooth isn't too far behind, and this one is proving to be quite a booger. I get a little bit of pain from it poking at my gum and hope it will surface soon. Until then I will continue to gnaw on everything in sight!

If you look closely, you can see it poking out...

Even though I am teething I am a very happy baby.

My skills are improving at an alarming rate! Last week I learned to scoot across the floor, and now I am able to use my arms to pull me around (mom calls this my military crawl). It won't be too long before I am able to us my legs as well. I like this new found independence; if I need something I don't have to call for mom like I used to, now I just maneuver myself to the object of my desire. After mom and dad realized how mobile I was becoming they baby proofed my downstairs play room. I now have carpet and a weird gate thing that lets me see out, but doesn't let me get out. Mom says they had to take out all the things that I could get hurt playing with. I sure like my new room, don't you?

This week we got to go up to Mammoth to visit Grandma Schafer. It was really weird, I don't remember traveling. I went to bed at home and woke up in Mammoth! Mom said I was such a good girl that I slept through the whole 6 hour drive (they drove from 9pm to 3am)! It was great seeing Grandma, and I didn't waste any time before I began showing off all of my new talents. She was particularly proud of me when I showed her how I can do a side plank!


Grandma was able to take the weekend off of work so that dad and mom could go snowboarding while she watched me. The two of us had all sorts of fun!! We talked, laughed, ate, you name it.

We had so much fun together that I conked out.

After I took my nap, Grandma showed me how to stand up. I was very proud of myself, but now want to stand up all the time.


The next day, while mom and dad were on the hill, Grandma bundled me up and took me on a walk to the lodge to show me off to her co-workers. They were all very nice, but I really enjoyed meeting Wooly! It was fun being out in the snow and I am looking forward to playing in it when I get big!

We were sad to leave Mammoth, but I was eager to get back to my home.

Things are happening so fast for me, one day I was content sitting in my boppy chair and now I want to roam around and explore this big world. I can't wait to find out what I will be able to do next!!!

Yesterday was a sad day; we lost a special member of our family. Liliana Rose Walters, only 9 months old, passed away peacefully in her mother's arms.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her parents, Debbie and Steve, as well as everyone whose lives she touched during her short time on this earth. Liliana's story has inspired our family and reminded us how important it is to appreciate every precious moment of life that we are given.

If you would like to read about her story and provide words of support to her family, please visit her website by going to http://www.caringbridge.org/ and entering Liliana as the website name.


Mom and dad tell me that Liliana is with God, and together they are watching over me in Heaven; I hope to make her proud.

After a couple weeks of down time life got busy again this week.

And when I say busy, I mean BUSY!

My week began with a Super Bowl Sunday party at my friend Bella's house! There were so many toys and kids to play with that I was overwhelmed with excitement. I really enjoyed watching Bella crawl around, and can't wait till I can move! While daddy watched the game, mom, who insisted that football season ended 2 weeks ago, and I got to hang out with everyone. Gensesis, another friend of mine, was there and she was really nice to me. I hope to be just like her when I grow up!



On the way home from Bella's house I passed out from all the excitement. When I woke up on Monday morning I felt a little icky and didn't know why I was having trouble breathing. Mom informed me that I was experiencing my first cold. I don't know about any of you, but I sure don't like this cold stuff. My nose was really runny and I had a pretty bad cough. To err on the side of caution mom took me to see my doctor. As she had guessed they confirmed that I had a cold in about 2 minutes and told her to come back if it got worse. As we walked out mom and I were lamenting the trip to the doctor, but mom said it was worth the drive to find out that I had gained a whole pound in the last 2 weeks! Can you believe that I now weigh 14lbs!!! I guess my love for food and bottles is paying off!


I am really having fun eating at dinner time. Jax has started to sit next to me when I eat, and he even sneaks some off of my hands from time to time.


Dad showed off his man talents this week by putting together my new big-girl crib. After mom arranged the bedding Grandma Frankwick had given me I was allowed to sleep in it. I like it a lot better than my bassinet because Josh gets to sleep with me.


I still wake up every morning with a big smile on my face (even when I have a yucky cold)

Mom and I went to San Diego to see Autumn this week. After mom got her hair cut I got to get mine done! I really enjoyed sitting in the big girl chair, and Autmun said I am going to be a great client. She even put my hair in some tin foil for mom to take home; I sure thought that was silly, but mom is a little sentimental - she doesn't want the word to get out so don't let her know I told you.
On Friday we drove to Temecula for the wedding rehersal of Frank and Diane. They are good friends of mommy and daddy's, and mommy got to be part of the wedding! I got to help mom learn how to walk down the aisle and afterwards we went to celebrate at dinner. I got to wear my new red dress which I loved. In the picture it even matches my eyes. He He He

Because I had been such a good girl mom bought me a DVD player so I could watch my sign language video during dinner. I sure had the set-up!

We had a fun evening and everyone I met was really nice to me. After dinner we drove down to Grandpa Schafer's house in Jamul to stay the night. Despite all of mom's efforts I still had an icky cold and had trouble sleeping. I guess that I was snoring so loud that she couldn't sleep either. Two hours of sleep was all that I had in me, and at 3am I decided it was time to get up. It didn't take mom long to answer my screams since the garbage disposal sound of my breathing had kept her from really falling sleep. We made our way to the family room and mom put my movie on the big screen. I sat up and laughed as mom, half-asleep, tried to play with me. Around 5am she got up, turned off my movie, went into the bedroom, and returned with an amazing new toy. Grandpa and Debbie had bought it for me, and I am sure glad they did because it is AWESOME!!!

The house kept me occupied for a couple more hours while mom gave in to two of her addictions: red bull and re-runs of America's Next Top Model (another secret you CANNOT let her know I shared with you). I finally dozed off to sleep as Grandpa got up, and hung out with him while mom got ready for the wedding. We arrived in Temecula in the early afternoon and met auntie Andrea who drove with us to the winery. Dad showed up a little while later looking as handsome as ever and I changed into my wedding attire so that he could escort me to the ceremony.

It was fun watching mom walk down the aisle in her pretty dress, but I really loved watching Diane come out of the Bentley in her beautiful gown. The ceremony was nice, and I got really excited when they released the butterflies!!! As the reception began dad and I mingled with the crowd and I loved all the attention. People were gushing over my adorable Burberry Coat, and I have to say that I did look great!!

When the wedding was over we drove back down to Grandpa's exhausted, and all 3 of us crashed out when we got there. In the morning mom made me a big bottle and for the first time ever let me feed myself!!!



In the mid morning Great Grandma Schafer, Cousin Brandon, and Aunt Connie came over the see me. We had lots of fun laughing at one another, and I thoroughly enjoyed showing off my new talents for them. While mom was off doing what ever she does in the kitchen Great Grandma Jean (Schafer) and I participated in some shenanagins of our own:

The busy week, combined with my cold, left me worn out. Mom tells me that there will be some down-time in the next couple of weeks, but I am finally recovering from my cold and am looking forward to creating some mischeif...

Not too much going on these days...

It seems like life has finally slowed down. Mom and dad haven't been traveling, and not too many visitors come to stay with us anymore. I went to the doctor for my 6 month well-baby checkup and found out that I am 13lbs and 24 inches! I am getting really big!!! Check out the difference from week3 to now:

At home we have settled into our routine and I am very happy when the routine is strictly followed. In case you are wondering, here is what I do everyday:

I wake up around 7am and play around in my bassinette until mom comes to see me (usually around 7:30am). I love to look up at her in the morning, and ALWAYS greet her with a smile. After my diaper is changed I get to hang out with dad until he has to start getting ready for work. I get my first morning bottle at 9am, and boy does it taste good! After a whole night's sleep I am sure ready for it. After I am done with my bottle mom lets me play on my play-mat. I have mastered the "tummy to back" roll, but am still working on the "back to tummy" roll. Sometimes I get so mad that I scream out for mom to come help me roll over (I don't really want to roll, I just want to see her). Once she has helped me, I like to let out a big laugh- unfortunately she is catching on to my tactics and has started to let me scream until I do it on my own. I play on my mat for a while until I go "play at the pond." As you can see, I really enjoy it!

At 11am mom and I go out in the stroller. In some circles I am even referred to as "the everyday baby." (Hi uncle Shawn) I always love stroller time because I get to take a long nap! I don't know what it is about the motion, but I am able to "sleep like a baby" (he he he) I eat again at 1pm and then watch my baby videos in the Johnny Jumper. It is sure fun showing mom how high I can jump. Once I get tired of the Johnny I practice sitting up like a big girl. I hate to brag, but I am getting really good at it!

I take my afternoon nap around 3pm, although I am not much of an afternoon sleeper. I sleep in the car while mom is running errands, but always wake up when we get home. After I eat my 5 o'clock bottle we walk the dog to the park to play ball and then I get to watch mom make dinner. I am sure learning a lot about the kitchen. The other night I watched mom make dad a beef stew. After I begged her to let me hold a carrot, I decided that it was really fun to chew on.

At 8pm everynight mom sits me in my highchair and food time begins. Every night we try a different food. Sometimes I like them, and sometimes I don't!!! I recently started to use a sippy cup for water at dinner time. I am having a hard time getting the concept down, but sure like to bang the cup on my high chair! After I am done making a mess of my food mom gets dad's dinner on the table and takes me upstairs for bathtime FUN! I get to lay on my towel while the bath fills and watch the dog and cat as they stare at me in amazement. Once in the bath, my FUN begins. While mom washes me I get to play with my rubber duckies, and after I am all clean I get to sit up like a big girl for more play time.

When I am out of the bath mom takes me downstairs and puts me in my jammies. Dad usually arrives home at this time and holds me while mom gets my bottle ready. We have about 10 mintues of play time together, and he sure makes me laugh!!!

I get my nightime bottle at 9pm and then get to lay on daddy while he sings me to sleep. Sometimes, if I am lucky, he lets me watch him play the guitar.

This may sound repititous and boring to some of you, but I love the monotony! I know exactly what I will be doing from day to day, and look forward to all of it. Yes there are days when we do other things, like therapy, but my schedule still remains predictable which gives me peace of mind!

Check back in soon, I promise my life will get more exciting as we have lots of things coming up in February!!!!