Jewelry Box Fun

The newest big hit in our house is "my first jewelry box," a vtech toy that sings, talks and sparkles all the while teaching kids about shapes and colors and telling them how pretty they are.  Well, the big purple jewel stole Carleigh's heart at the grocery store the other day and what could I do, except, of course, buy it!  We got it home and she repeatedly kept pushing the purple jewel, shutting the lid, and delighting in the fake lipstick, perfume bottle and comb that came with it. 

She was having so much fun!

I think this is how mommy does it ...

Decisions, decisions ... lipstick or perfume?

Lipstick it is!!!

Another Ear Infection

After running a fever for 24 hours (it peaked at 103.2 last night), I knew going into this morning's 9 month well-check that Carleigh most likely would be getting evaluated primarily for her acute symptoms rather than continue with her originally scheduled appointment. 

Turns out I was right.  Her shots were put on hold.  She screamed most of the visit, but at least we found out what was wrong (another ear infection) and got an antibiotic prescription, and are hopefully on the road to recovery.

Today after getting home, she was still not herself and though she tried to play, she cried alot and got frustrated easily.

But after lunch, when Daddy called, I put the phone on speaker, and held out the phone to her and a different Carleigh emerged!

She was so excited to hear his voice!!!  For the majority of the afternoon, she was in a good mood, even being her daredevil self!

Her fever is still hovering at 100, but by tomorrow, she should really start feeling better!  It stinks to have a sick baby, but stinks even worse to BE the sick baby!  Look at those tears, poor Carleigh!

Curious Carleigh

So, today was somewhat of a trying day.  As a stay at home mom, I'd love to say everyday is perfect.  But, everyone would know I was lying or on some serious medication.  Anyhow, rebounding off an amazing day yesterday, I woke up today hoping for a repeat.  Well, I couldn't get that lucky.  I won't go with a play by play by the hour, but by 10 am, Carleigh had:

1) dumped over the dog's water and food bowls while I unloaded the dishwasher

2) tipped over the trash can and tried to eat paper while I folded laundry

3) somehow unscrewed the cap to a water bottle (must have been loose) and poured the entired thing on the floor while I was jogging on the treadmill not 4 feet from her.

Oh yes, she made such a mess that she not only splashed and mixed the water and food, but then proceeded to dump them over. I took these pics a few days ago before she'd learned to dump them over. Today's episode was not camera catch-worthy because it happened so fast. This past weekend it was funny. Not funny anymore.

Then, she proceeded to have tantrum after tantrum after I removed the temptations in question from her reach.  She wasn't getting her "way" is all I could assume was the problem. You can see why baby-proofing is necessary for this child.  She's "curious," to put it mildly.

(loving to wave and say "hi" these days)

This afternoon, she proceeded to take the baggie of dried fruit snacks I had for her that I was putting into a snack catcher (my mistake was doing it in the family room at the coffee table, within her reach), and dump the entire contents onto the just cleaned wood floors.  What an exhausting day.

But as soon as I had called Dustin and questioned when he was coming home (he was on his way, thank God), it was like a switch went off, and my little terror turned into an angel.  She was fussy, I was frustrated, so when she walked along the couch to me, I decided to pick her up and turn on her Baby Einstein DVD.  She layed on me and twirled my hair and held my hand and together we watched her show and she was the most content she had been all day.  (Don't get me wrong she had highs and lows all day, but she was super content to just lay on me and chill, something she rarely does).  I didn't want the moment to end, or Dustin to come home, because the time was so precious.

Her sweet face melts me.  I am such a sucker!

Ready for FIESTA!

In the spirit of Fiesta, I dressed Carleigh up today!  I thought she looked adorable!

Look at those adorable sandals!

I thought she looked like she was the Fiesta Queen here!  Look at that wave!  (and the midriff - what a cutie)

But she was just waving at me and showing me what she wanted in her toy box.

So many choices!!!

I got it!

She was so sweet with Tyson, today!

And when the toys weren't cutting it, I brought out the pot and kitchen utensils!  Worked like a charm!  (she used the wooden spoon to wave at the TV)!

What a great idea ... or not

I have been trying to do a good job on baby-proofing the house from our little curious Carleigh.  Some people's children learn what "no," means, but Carleigh hasn't yet.  Hopefully, with repetition and as she gets a little older, she will.  So with the blind cord shorteners in place, the outlet plug covers on, the lower cabinet door locks installed, and the baby gates up on the bottom and top of the stairs (which the dogs hate), I figured why not buy these cute knee protectors I saw at Babies 'R Us today to help Carleigh's knees on the hard surface floors?  Sounded like a good idea.  Her knees are always red and sometimes even get cut when she falls.

Well ... I got them on her ... at first she played a bit in them and was okay.  But then she crawled to the French doors ... and threw a tantrum.  Apparently, they didn't give her the traction she needed to stand up and she kept slipping.

So, they came off and joined the stacks and stack of items I've purchased that sounded like great ideas but really weren't.  I am the quintessential "gullible first time mom."

"Yay, I got my way!"

Sunday Fun

What a wonderful Sunday this turned out to be!  The weather was beautiful, Carleigh was such a delight and we had so much fun!

The morning was mostly playing indoors but Carleigh was talking up a storm.  She's been a bit congested and has had a cough and though it's affecting her appetite, it sure isn't affecting her mood!  She was all smiles all day!  I didn't want the day to end.

Carleigh enjoyed the dryer weather, too, and spent the early afternoon outside with us.  She and Dustin played a game of toss me ...

... and then our little daredevil tested the waters of "no-hands."  Each time, she slowly lowered herself to the grass and was uneasy on her two feet with nothing to hold onto, but that uneasiness didn't stop her from continuing to try again and again!

While she took her afternoon nap, Dustin and I took advantage of the rays and laid out in our backyard with the baby monitor by our side.

And when she awoke, we headed to Orsinger park again where we joined the crowd to slide and swing and watch Carleigh laugh.

We were sad to see the weekend end but were so happy to have taken full advantage of it.