Easter Fun

This week was full of fun!

My good friend Logan and I went to visit the Easter Bunny. I don't know why he was sitting in the middle of the mall, but none-the-less I was able to sit on his lap and take a picture. The Easter Bunny wasn't as cool as Santa Claus, but he came in a close second. Mom joked that he was the Easter Bunny equivalent of Billy Bob Thorton's character in Bad Santa...

After I met with the Easter Bunny I couldn't wait for the weekend to come.

On Friday night we drove down to Grandpa Ron's house in Jamul. I loved being there because I could crawl ALL around the house, and mom didn't have to monitor me like she does at home. Because of the soft carpet I was able to practice using my walker. Mom and Dad are SO proud of me, as I took my first official steps on my own:

As you can see I have become quite good at standing, and now have the desire to climb. Mom better baby-proof the house ASAP cause here I come...


On Saturday we got to go see my Great Grandma Jensen. While we were there she gave me an Easter Bunny that sang Peter Cotton Tail. I had lots of fun laughing at it! In the afternoon I put on my boat outfit and went down to see Grandpa Ron. I really liked being at the boat, and think I made a pretty good captain.




Dad even held me up and let me steer (Grandpa's boat is docked in the harbor and doesn't go anywhere, but I got to steer anyway)


I loved being at the boat and was able to take a LONG nap as the ocean waves rocked me back and forth. After playing all day on the boat Mom, Dad, and I went out to Jamul to dye some Easter Eggs to leave for the bunny. Dad didn't like the vinegar smell of the dye, so he kept his distance but still managed to give us some decorating tips. We even made some eggs for people who couldn't spend Easter with us this year. Uncle Shawn, Aunt Hayley (and Hollywood, Jack, Kahlua and Bugs, although I did wave hi to Bugs in the morning), Grandma Schafer (who was working on the mountain in Mammoth as the Easter Bunnies assistant- in full costume), Grandma Frankwick, and Grandpa Frankwick. Dad even made an Easter egg for his favorite dance crew The Jabbawoockeez (sp?). We were being very silly, but had lots of fun.

Before I went to bed I put out all the eggs, along with a note and carrots that I left for the Easter Bunny.

In the morning we woke up REALLY early and got ready to go to church. While mom and dad were busy getting themselves dressed I was allowed to crawl around the living room. To Mom's surprise when she came out of the bathroom I had managed to crawl to the ottoman, stand up, and pound on Dad's computer (the only thing in the whole room I shouldn't have been playing with)




Mom, Dad, Grandpa, and I all had a very nice time at church. I learned the special meaning of Easter, and am glad to know there is more to the holiday than just a bunny and some eggs. I was a good girl throughout the whole service and only made a couple peeps during prayer. When we got back to Grandpa's we took a family picture of our first Easter together.

After we changed into our play clothes we got to hunt eggs and open our Easter baskets. Hunting eggs was a lot of fun!!!

The Easter Bunny brought me all sorts of neat things, from rattles and sippy cups, to sweatshirts and toys. My favorite things to play with were the eggs in the basket. As with everything else the first place they went was my mouth.


Mom told Dad that it was OK for me to play with the dyed eggs, but she forgot that when I put them in my mouth the dye would come off. I had a blue mouth for the rest of the day...

While I was opening my Easter basket my family came over to spend Easter with me. Great Grandma Schafer, Connie, Randy, Ryan, and Brandon brought over an Easter feast and Mom and Dad ate until they felt sick!!! While they were busy gorging themselves I spent some time playing with Aunt Connie. She sure makes me smile!

The Umbargers brought me a puppy that talks and sings, and Great Grandma Schafer brought me a big Easter Bunny to play with. Holidays are AWESOME!!!

All the food and excitement left everyone feeling very tired. The Umbargers decided to go home and rest up for the dinner feast, while Ryan stayed behind to have some one-on-one time with me. I sure love my Uncle Ryan!

The crowds all came back to the house in the late afternoon and some of Grandpa's friends from the boat stopped by. I got to play with Ava, who is 6 months older than I am. I enjoyed watching her run around the house, and tried as hard as I could to keep up with her.

Our Easter festivities went on well into the evening, and all of us were exhausted from all the fun. We said our good-byes to the family and went back home for some rest and relaxation.

Easter was a special occasion and I am grateful for all the blessings I have been afforded.

Everyday I am learning to do new things.

Mom is giving me more freedom to be on my own, and I am loving it. As you will see, in this past week I have been doing lots of things like a big girl.

For about a month mom has been working on teaching me to use a sippy cup. At first I didn't like it because the flow of liquid was different than in a bottle. Mom would hold it up for me while I drank out of it. Now that I am big and strong I use a sippy cup at dinner time, and can hold it up all on my own.

Look how big and fat my cheeks are getting!!!

Seeing as how I use my two front teeth to bite on EVERYTHING, mom and dad decided to start letting me munch on different types of foods. My new favorite snack are snap peas; listen closely and you will hear my compers biting into the pea...

Bath time fun became even more fun when mom filled my tub with bubbles. My duckies and I had a good time splashing around, but the bubbles made the water taste funny! I am curious about everything, and like to stand up in the bathtub and survey my surroundings. I think it is great, but mom must feel otherwise because every time I stand up she is right there helping me back down.
My demanding shrieks asking for help to stand up are increasing as I want so bad to start walking. When mom realized that I am able to use objects around me to stand she decided to buy me a walker. I am very proud of myself for learning how to stand WITHOUT anyone helping me, but I get so excited to be on my feet that I shake with glee and fall down. I didn't know that standing could be so painful.

Last Saturday was my daddies birthday! After daddy got a haircut we went to lunch together. I kept trying to eat some of mom's food, so dad cut up an apple and mom let me try it.

It was fun biting into it, but the texture of the apple was a little weird. Despite the oddness, I kept going back for more.

In the afternoon we all took a trip to the bowling alley. Dad sat in the back with me and laughed at the new position I assume when in my car seat. He was teasing mom that I hold on because she is a crazy driver!

At the bowling alley dad let me dance around on the floor. I love being in public and getting lots of attention.

At home that night mom and I made daddy a lemon pie (one of his favorites) and we sang him happy birthday. Look at all those candles...

After they finished this birthday ritual dad shared his pie with me. I didn't like the lemon part too much, but the whip cream was awesome.

Monday was another holiday, and I got to play in the yard in my St.Patrick's day outfit. I enjoyed being in the sunshine, but wasn't given much freedom to roam given that the back yard is Jackson's Territory (mom says he hides booby-traps).

Later that afternoon mom and I went to Goldenspoon and shared some Mint Ice Cream to celebrate my Irish heritage. I have decided that I like holidays; you get to dress up, eat good food, and participate in silly rituals. I am eager with anticipation for Easter as mom tells me I will really enjoy it- I mean come on, bright colored eggs, candy, bunnies, what is there not to enjoy!!!

We are spending the rest of this week preparing for an Easter celebration with my family. Mom tells me that I will be doing all sorts of "first time" things this weekend (dying eggs, getting an basket from the Easter Bunny, going to church, etc.) so come back next week for my tale of Easter fun!

Life is going by so quickly, this coming week I will be 8 months old.

I may have been born a runt, but after my growth spurt last week I have turned into a BIG girl!!! (I may have even grown out of the 5th percentile). I am eating lots more; am able to feed myself a bottle, and mom gives me baby food twice a day. I would really like to feed myself, but mom said there will be plenty of time to do that when I am older.

Look how small the remote looks next to me NOW:

I have become quite the mover now that I am big, and can crawl everywhere!! Mom can no longer leave me unattended. The other night I was in my play room with my toys while mom was in the kitchen making dinner. I looked over and saw her stirring something on the stove and decided that I wanted to get a closer look. To mom's surprise I had crawled all the way from my play room to the kitchen stove and grabbed her foot. I think it startled her because she made a funny squeaking noise. Now she knows better than to ignore me...


This week Grandma Schafer came to stay with us for her birthday. We had lots of fun together and she helped me practice my standing. I am getting really good at it, but haven't yet grasped the concept that my muscles aren't strong enough to hold me up without support. I get really frustrated that I can't get up on my own and shriek for mom to help me. Mom always puts me back on my tummy (the doctor says it is better for my neck to be crawling), so the other day I decided to start using objects around to help me get up.

Mom caught me...

Mom really isn't that mean, but I really like it when daddy comes home from work because we have lots of fun! The other night he let me stand up, and showed me how to dance.

Our first Father/Daughter dance:

My second tooth finally came in this week. Mom and I thought that the pain of teething was gone for now, but after feeling a little under-the-weather we have come to conclusion that my top teeth are now making there way in to join the bottom.

Now that I have some teeth I like to put everything in my mouth and chew. Mom decided to let me share her banana since I love my baby food bananas, obviously I don't like the real thing...


Along with all the other things I am learning to do, I have found my voice. I love making noises. Coughing is a great attention getter, and I babble all the time. Ba ba, da da, and ga ga are among my favorites.


In honor of Uncle Shawn and his favorite band K Paz De La Sierra I learned to make a great Mexican noise. If you listen closely you will hear it...

I am looking forward to signing with him when he comes to visit!!

This week out family had a fun and eventful weekend at home. Mom dressed me up in an outfit she made JUST for me, and we went on a walk down by the beach. I got to show off my happy-girl smile to the public, and got to play outside in the grass (not a big fan of grass, it is too cold).

Afterwards we spent some time swimming in the spa! I am getting more comfortable with the water, and mom says we will be able to take swimming lessons soon.

Now that I am BIG I get to wear bikini bottoms like mommy!

Grandma Schafer had given me my own cell phone when she was visiting, and I quickly learned how to use it (mimicking mom and dad is becoming really fun). As you can see I am going to be quite the phone talker...

After the long weekend Dad and I were exhausted. We had so much fun together that we both took a nap,

I sure LOVE my dad!