Look at Me!

Mommy was noticing I was getting better at holding myself up so she kept giving me more and more time to try sitting by myself. She took some video for daddy the other day which was the first day I was sitting. Since then we have been trying to get a picture of this great achievement but were not able to until today.

I can only stay up for a short time and then I topple over. I am quite pleased with myself and with how far I have come. I tried to share my joy with Maxie but he didn't seem as impressed as mommy was. As a matter of fact, he pretended he didn't even see me. I wish daddy was here to see this too, we'll have to get the video out to him as soon as possible.

Great Jammies

I've recently started wearing 6-12 month jammies and some clothes. It's a whole new world in my closet and I'm loving every minute of it. My favorites are my jammies, these make me think of daddy.

Mommy, Max and I slept in today. I think it was because of all of the fresh air from yesterday. We made it to the late church service but had a low key day after that. I took a really long nap in my swing while mommy played in the backyard. Max just layed around in the grass and chewed on some tree branches. Mommy says he's a lazy-bones.

Back Online

After many days of going around and around, trying to figure out our computer woes, mommy has gotten us back online. Murphy's Law comes into play during a deployment. The camcorder, camera, computer, sprinkler system and lawn mower have been on the fritz. Mommy has had to learn more about electronic equipment than she ever wanted to and is now considering starting her own lawn/gardening service.

Charlie Company families had an event today at a ranch up in Temecula. I wore my special shirt with the yellow, glittery ribbon on it. It was about 90 degrees and I didn't really enjoy the heat. Mommy had to keep me in the shade so I wouldn't burn. We had some really good barbeque and they had all sorts of animals. I even saw a camel, I thought of daddy!

Ready for Summer

We're getting ready for summer and making sure that we have the appropriate gear for the California sun. I have very fair skin so I need to make sure that it's covered as much as possible. Mommy says that I need to keep slathered up with spf 30.

We went for a walk around the lake on base today. It was quite windy and we ran into some mud puddles because of the rain we've had recently. I'm still getting used to my jogging stroller so I fussed a bit but ended up falling asleep halfway around. All in all we had a great time. I feel especially sleepy from all the fresh air, mommy says that's a good thing.

Girly Fun

I have been a bit inconsistent with the posts lately. We've been having some technical difficulties and then Auntie L came to visit yesterday. Us girls went out for dinner, we had a great time and I was so well behaved. I sat on mommy's lap playing with her napkin for most of the meal. Then we got up this morning, went for brunch and did some shopping. It was such fun!

She had to go home this afternoon so I got caught up on some sleep after she left. When I woke up I was my happy self and right back on track. Mommy and I are deciding what to do with our day tomorrow. I think we'll just wake up and see where the day takes us.

New Development

Since I have grasped the idea of my feet I love to hold my legs straight up in the air and really check them out. I haven't been caught with my feet in my mouth yet but do love to touch them. Mommy especially gets a kick out of this because when she comes in after naptime the first thing she sees is a full shot of my bottom.

Mommy talked with daddy last night, I was already in bed. It had been close to a week since we had heard from him so mommy was really excited to hear his voice. He'll be going back out to look for some bad guys in a few days. Grammy says that he should be able to take care of them from their camp with a few golf balls and his strong swing. Maybe he'll run that plan by the Colonel.

5 Months Old

It's hard to believe I'm 5 months old already. I have accomplished and been through a lot for a girl my age. Here are some highs: Met my parents, flown on an airplane, taken roadtrips, visited with friends and family, seen the ocean, eaten cereal and found my fingers and toes. And some lows: saying goodbye to daddy for 7 months, three Hep-B shots plus many more, thermometers placed where they should not be and the process of pre-teething.

Mommy is so excited to see what the next months have in store and to share all the news with daddy. We wish he were here for every minute but know that he has an important job to do. Mommy always says how proud she is of him and we will have a big homecoming before I know it.

Busy Girl

When mommy's busy getting things done around the house I have the chance to play with all of my friends. I'm exploring everything and, I'm sure, after the picture was taken something went in my mouth. Things seem to make a little more sense to me after I've been able to have a taste.

On our walk today we ran into Max's friends Sam, Alex and Aspen. Aspen just had his 10th birthday and Max was invited to his party. Unfortunately, we were out of town that weekend but we heard it was tons of fun. Alex just graduated from doggy high school today so he was happy to show off his star. There's nothing more funny than a big white dog with a blue star on his head.

Two Things Down

I have been getting quite good at sucking my thumb, although it doesn't usually stay in for very long. I'm surprised that mommy was quick enough to get this shot. My thumb comes in handy for those times when I pop my binky out and can't seem to get it back in. I have learned that when it's time for bed mommy lets me fend for myself once the door's closed. I'm a quick study.

We have made it through one month of the deployment! Six more to go. It helps that we stay very busy and we're planning for our trips and visitors in the upcoming months. Mommy, Max and I think this month has gone so fast and so slow all at the same time. We miss daddy so much!

Lady of Leisure

Mommy forgot to take any pictures today so we're heading down memory lane, about three weeks ago, for my glamour shot. Life is tough for the baby that can take time to take it easy in her hammock. Mommy and I try to swing in the hammock each day just for fun. This was the first and last time that she let me swing by myself. It definitely wasn't as relaxing on my own.

I have some great news to share. I have been suffering from a clogged tear duct since my first day on this earth. It was part of my day to have mommy and daddy poking at my eye. I've gone over one week without any goop in my eye. Mommy thinks the clog has been unclogged for good! Who knew how exciting it would be to live life without people's fingers in your eyes.

My Highchair

With all the excitement of the past week, I forgot to share a picture of my new highchair. It will take me right through a booster seat. Mommy is realizing how much 'gear' I have around the house and didn't want to add one more thing. This special chair attaches to one of our kitchen table chairs so it's out of the way. That makes mommy happy and, as you can see, I love sitting up to the table!

We're getting back into our daily routine. Errands in the morning and a walk in the afternoon. Max is quite pleased with this. He went to the vet Tuesday, he could afford to lose a couple of pounds. He also had shots so we compared notes since I recently had mine too. Mommy and daddy had some concerns about possible arthritis in his front leg but the doctor gave him a clean bill of health. We were all happy to hear it.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

It's daddy's birthday today. Despite what he may have told you, he is exactly one month older than mommy. We wish he was here to celebrate with us but he is in our thoughts today and every day. Daddy called this morning. He's been able to catch up on my blog and that made his birthday a happy one despite his distance from home.

He let mommy know that he had just received packages from Auntie Michelle and Grandma and Grandpa. He was excited to get all the treats and especially loved the bug zapper. He mentioned some things that he could really use if anyone is sending packages to him. Some things that would be great are: bug zappers, bug spray/wipes, Mach3 razor blades, golf balls and ground coffee. Mommy said if you're not sure where to send the goodies to let her know, she'd be happy to get you the information.

Love Mommy

One of my many obsessions, along with examining my hands, is grabbing mommy's face with all my strength. Once I have a good grasp I come in to suck some spot on her face. My favorites are her chin and mouth. Mommy loves my lovin' but could do without the red marks all over her neck.

Grandma and Grandpa left today. We're all so sad to see them go because they were such fun to have around and so much help for mommy. We had all sorts of outings, playtime and quiet time together. The next visit is planned for July, I'm sure I'll have a lot of new tricks to share with them then.

Flower Fields

Every spring in Carlsbad you will find field after field of flowers blooming on the side of a hill. The view is amazing, not only of the flowers but of the ocean in the distance. We went to the Flower Fields today to take advantage of the photo-op as well as walk around the grounds. I didn't last too long because I was extremely hungry but did agree to a few pictures.

We had lunch at a Greek restaurant. I sat up at the table on mommy's lap and practiced grabbing things off the table. The paper placemat was particularly enjoyable. I am starting to examine my hands a lot. I try to scoop up toys within reach but many times end of missing. As always, growing up is a work in progress.

No Cameras Allowed

April 9-

You will have to trust me and what I'm about to tell you. There is no photographic evidence to support my claims and the claims of my mommy.

The day happened as follows:

We got up early to drive to LA to meet up with Auntie L. We picked her up and headed to The Grove for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. In spite of the large lunch portions, grandpa was still able to enjoy a piece of chocolate-peanut butter-cookie dough cheesecake. The girls helped him with exactly four small bites.

Then we headed back to Auntie L's apartment so mommy, grandma and grandpa could get ready for their night at 'Dancing with the Stars'. The rest of the story is true but undocumented due to ABC's no cameras allowed rule.

When they got to the studio they were shuffled to the VIP entrance to get a special stamp and wrist band for the after-show party in the greenroom. Imagine their surprise! They were seated in 'the zone' and even had their names pre-printed on their seats. The show was extremely exciting and fun, you may have caught the show. They realized that although they had amazing seats, they probably would not end up on camera. They were directly across from the main stage.

After the show they waited for the exclusive green room access and were let in after about 30 minutes. In the meantime, grandma talked with Ian Ziering and let him know that he was her absolute favorite. Grandpa talked with the judges, he let Bruno know that he didn't boo him that night. Bruno, in turn, let him know that he really appreciated that!

Apollo Ohno accompanied them up to the party in the elevator. Grandpa assisted him with putting on his jacket. He was not too appreciative or very friendly. He must have needed a cocktail.

Once at the party the three grabbed some drinks and snacks and headed to a bistro table in the corner for some optimal people watching. They met a new friend named Keith. He was a special guest of Leeza Gibbons. He pointed out some people in the crowd and kept them company.

At the next table sat Lance Bass (N-Sync) and Alfonso Ribeiro (Fresh Prince of Bel Air). Grandma knew who Lance was which really impressed mommy! When Joey Fatone came in grandma let him know that he was the best act of the night and grandpa noted that he really enjoyed him pulling his partner by her hair. Joey said that it was all her idea and thanked grandma.

After their hob-nobbing with the celebrities they came back to see how my night went with Auntie L. We had such fun and it was so nice to visit with her! But we had to get home so we jumped in the car and headed back to Oceanside.

Happy Easter

April 8-

We got up for the early service to celebrate Easter Sunday. I stayed in the nursery and, from all accounts, was a perfect baby. When mommy came in to get me I was relaxing in the arms of one of the older ladies. We were going to go to the Easter brunch at the O-club but decided to call out for pizza instead. A little out of the ordinary but just as enjoyable.

Daddy called last night to wish us a Happy Easter, it was already Easter where he was. He's still looking for bad guys in the desert but there have been none to be found. Let's hope he doesn't run into any!

Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny came early to the Blackford's! Mommy will stop at nothing to get a cute, posed photo. Usually I don't mind the paparazzi but this didn't seem quite so fun. I felt better when mommy decided to put Max through the same ordeal. Needless to say, he was much quicker about fleeing the scene than I was.

I have had so much excitement these last couple of days that I spent a lot of time in my crib today. I needed to regroup and get some zzzzzz's. I had my second helping of cereal and was much more eager to open my mouth wide for the spoon. Although, getting it to stay in my mouth is a work in progress.

First Rice Cereal

Mommy thought it might be fun to give me my first rice cereal while grandma and grandpa were here so it would be extremely well documented. Grandma with the camera and grandpa with the video cam and mommy with the spoon. I wasn't sure about the whole thing but did take a couple of mini-bites. Most of the cereal ended up oozing out of my mouth and on my bib. Mommy's plan is to feed me the cereal once a day to start, until I get used to the idea.

Just when you think I couldn't have had a more exciting day, daddy called this morning! He was riding in one of his vehicles in the middle of the desert and he just wanted to let us know he loved us. The phone cut out quickly but we heard enough to know that he's thinking of us. It was great to hear from him since we hadn't since Sunday.

Grammy, Grandpa and Me

We went to the airport today to pick up Grammy and Grandpa. They had a very long journey to get here, with all sorts of flight excitement along the way. We were so happy to see that they got here safely. Since it was late in the day we decided to have dinner at the Seaport Village in San Diego. I was a bit of a grump but they still thought I was pretty cute.

We plan to do some antiquing, walking by the beach, visiting the Carlsbad Flower Fields and taking a car ride up to LA to see Auntie L. While we're there mommy, Grammy and Grandpa are going to 'Dancing with the Stars'. They'll be in the audience, not dancing! I'll keep you up to date on all the fun we're having in the next few days.

New Friend

I got an Easter package filled with goodies from Gram and Pop. I especially love my big bunny rabbit. I cuddled with it, chewed on it a bit and rolled all over it. It was great fun and kept me occupied between naps today.

Mommy and me are getting ready for a visit from Grandma and Grandpa. I had fun watching mommy vacuuming today while I took it easy in my Bumbo chair. We made sure to get out to the post office to finally send daddy his golf clubs, hope they get to him in one piece. I bet he has a lot of open spaces there to practice his swing with his sand wedge.

Teether Woes

I don't think I'm teething yet but I do love to put everything in my mouth. I especially love to put my hands in my mouth and spread the saliva all over my face. You may notice that my cheeks are especially shiny in this picture.

Mommy got me this teether so my fingers wouldn't turn to raisins. When I try to enjoy my new toy when I'm on my back, I usually end up with it on my face. Then I'm not quite sure how to get it off so I just lay there really still hoping it will find it's way off. Needless to say, mommy thinks this is one of the funniest things she's seen and had to make me lay in my misery while she grabbed the camera. I'm glad that I can keep her laughing.

Nothing But Love

I have learned that as long as you are rubbing Max he will be by your side. I think he also likes me to spend time in my chair because there's someone closer to his level. Plus, he just loves to be close to his sister no matter where we are. I'm so lucky to have him.

Mommy and I had fun over at Miss Maria's tonight for her 'Chili Night'. I loved watching the other kids and wished I could crawl my way over to the action. We got home after my bedtime so I didn't get tucked in until 8:30 and mommy's hoping that I don't wake up a grouch tomorrow. I told her that the fun we had was worth that risk!

Palm Sunday

Without Palm Sunday my life as I know it may be completely different. You see, grandma and grandpa got engaged on Palm Sunday in 1965. Had they not met, not gotten engaged, not gotten married, not had my mommy and mommy did not meet daddy I may not have the family today that loves me so much. Goes to show that everything works together in absolute perfection! Maybe my grandkids will look back to appreciate the same thing in their lives.

Daddy called on the way to Miss Lisa's house this afternoon. Mommy and daddy talked about a lot of bank account business... boring... but he's taking care of himself and sounded good. He said to send him golf balls because mommy will be sending him his sand wedge. Then, us girls went to a street fair in San Marcos. There were a lot of booths with food and crafts. Mommy got me a tank top with a yellow ribbon on the front made out of glitter. Everywhere we go we're thinking of daddy!