For Grandma D

Look how nice my new shoes are! They are cute and tasty too!

A close up of my dainty little feet.

You know what? Today is my 11 month birthday. I am almost a big One year old! I can't wait!

Oh yes, I also love the books. I took the Halloween one into my little corner and look at it all the time. And mom wants you to know that she took the white box and hid it in my closet so I can't reach it.

One week of Weight Watchers...

lost 3.2 pounds.

This is good.

This is very good.

Plus, I found "Smart Ones" desserts. They are in the freezer section. Low on the point scale (so low fat and higher fiber) and very tasty. Everyone should try them.

Cheers!

Fear our money!!!

No really, you should.

Today I opened my internet to discover that Wachovia is getting bought out. Interesting. You know what other bank just failed? That would be Washington Mutual. Guess which banks have gotten our business for the last few years? Oh, you're so smart! Apparently we have bank killing funds.

Fear my money!!!

C with your tour guide Melly!

Hi! I'm Melly. You might remember me from such posts as "Barbarian Baby" and "C is for Carrots". I know that lots of you wonder about the new neighborhood I just moved to. So to curb your curiosity, I'm here to take you on a little walking tour to the library. So put on your walking shoes and come along.


And so we're off. This is the first street we walk down. It's pretty with trees and houses and grass. I like it. It is also very quiet. I know that my mom likes the houses and can't wait until we can move into one.


Here is the second turn. We still have a ways to go though.


Are you still there? I haven't lost you have I? Do you need me to slow down or anything?


Right about here is where we leave the neighborhood walking and get on the walking path. It's pretty and has lots of trees and stuff. Sometimes we find kids playing here. I like to watch them play and will be big enough one day to play with them.


This is my favorite part. We get to see frogs and rabbits and all kinds of birds and stuff. And when the Hurricane came through this whole path was completely under water. Just behind those trees is a big lake. Not a swimming lake, but pretty anyway.


Oh, we are almost there! This part is not so pretty. We have to go back to the street and off the walking path. But that's OK since it's only for a tiny little while.


We made it! Look at how pretty the building is. It's full of books and computers and other kids for me to play with. I just love it here. When I am a little older (and don't eat the books anymore) I can check out stuff too!


Sadly, now the tour is almost over. I can see the complex now. And that means I have to have a nap.


Oh but wait, I can show you so much more before we go home. If the weather stays nice, this is where we are going to have my first birthday party! I'm so excited. I get to eat all the cake I want!


And we're home!


That concludes our tour today. I hope you have all had a nice time. For those of you who are wondering this little walk is just about two miles. I hope to have some new tours for you soon.

Bye!

Happy Fall!

We have officially made it to Fall. Thank goodness! The temperatures are dropping and going outside is much more pleasant. It is also time for a lot of stuff to happen... (and here is yesterday as a case in point)

We... Slept in late (7:30 ?!?!?! WOW!!!)
Went to Gymboree
Did some sewing. (Almost finished a project I promised to Mr. C about two years ago)
Took two naps.
Got an appointment to talk with the UNC people about my MSW.
Joined Weight Watchers.
Went to the fabric store.
And ran errands... all in time to come home and watch the season premiere of Heroes.
Not bad for one day if I do say so myself.

What's that, you are questioning my Weight Watchers? Yes. That's correct. This will be the second time I have joined a weight loss group. However, if this one goes as well as the last one, we will be doing great (minus the baby part where I get all the weight back and then some).

And UNC? Well, I need to talk with someone about written evaluations instead of grades. I finally got up the courage to get all of my evaluations sent to me to read over. And you know what? I didn't do as badly as I thought. The first thing is they really only look at your last 60 credits. Which is good because I apparently rocked in my Junior and Senior years but was not as cool as I thought I was in Freshman and Sophomore. When converting goods and very goods to As and Bs it is all subjective. Hopefully they will look past my need to not have grades and look instead to my two years of Peace Corps and my three years of Social work after that. Who knows what might happen.

And...as we all know, I can't leave you without a picture. So here you go. After all the excitement yesterday we were just a little tuckered out.

Yarrrr!

Happy talk like a pirate day, Matey!

Barbarian baby

Barbarian baby?


Baby-arian?


Bar-babian?

Last week

So on Sunday we went to a fund-raiser for the local children's hospital called Dish it up. They brought in about 30 different restaurants for the surrounding areas and had them all serve samples of their food. It was a lot of fun. We ate way too much and bought too many food tickets but it was great. And now we have a bunch of menus and ideas of local places to go and eat. Plus we gave money to the hospital. SO go us and yummy!

Yes, I know...the first picture is a bit obscure... But we had this beautiful full moon and I wanted a picture of it. Unfortunately, digital cameras don't do so hot in the moon light. Oh well...For your viewing pleasure...


As Melly gets older she makes her wishes and needs known far more clearly. As you can see here, she wants to be picked up. Really she does.


I realized that I haven't posted pictures of our place yet...and for good reason. Here is one of Melly being proud of her bedroom... But soon it will have even more stuff in it as I just ordered the dresser and we should be getting some wall shelves for her more fragile stuff soon. However, she doesn't seem to care.


As you can see, the difference between shadow and light is still possibly the coolest thing ever.


Taking a quiet moment to read by herself in her room.

Taking a page from Fluffy...

Get Sorted By The Hogwarts Sorting Hat!

Just another Saturday morning

Reading my favorite book with dad.

Proud

Who just took their NC drivers license test and only missed one question?

That would be me.

Who had to surrender her CA license for this new one?

That would also be me.

It's like I live here or something.

Thank you

Thank you for the beautiful new clothes Grandma D. I can't wait to grow into them!

This is how Melly feels about hurricanes

A little scattered

I would like to start this post with everyone's appreciation of our beautiful new futon! It's so pretty... And squishy. I love it. You don't realize how wonderful a sofa is until you don't have one for two months. :) The best part is...we can now have guests stay over. Lots of room and a soft bed to sleep in.

This picture is for Grandma D. So the story goes, Grandma D sent us all kinds of wonderful toys and gifts for the baby in her new place. And one of these was an inflatable safety bath for Melly. I blew it up in the living room room to see what it would end up looking like. And Miss. Mell went right over to it and climbed right in. So, it has stayed in the living room as a baby play gym. And here she is, enjoying it. Thank you Grandma D.

And another story behind this one...
As most of you know, for the first several months of Melly's life we tried to get her to use a pacifier. She flat out refused. So after a while we gave up trying. On the day we arrived in C Ms. Mell went over to her toy basket, picked up a pacifier and has been very content with one ever since. (Strange kid.) She is very agreeable with it and doesn't want it when she is trying to sleep. But loves to crawl around with one in her mouth and holding on to one or two others.

And last but not least... We have one bookshelf in the living room that she will not leave alone. And on the shelf there is one book she goes after every time... And here it is... Definitely her daddy's child.

I have...

SIX TEETH!!!!

(A little upsidedown, but still a fun picture!)

Thunder storms, Futons and children at the library

Right now there are lightning flashes that are lighting up the house and thunder claps that are shaking the foundations of our third story place. Very impressive. Hopefully there will be some reason from this and the temperature will settle down a little. The really strange part...the baby must be zonked, she is sleeping right through it. I kinda like the thunder and lightning, when I don't have to be out in it. And, luck me, I currently don't.

We bought a futon! A brand new futon that no one has put in their home before us. It's a nice one too...cherry finish and it has these nifty arms that fold up to little tables. I am very excited. We didn't even have to get the cheap mattress either! So we are now all set for company and only have two big ticket items left to get (a table and a dresser/changing table for Melly... wanna see the one I want? Then click here) We have new bookshelves to replace the broken ones and new desks...*sigh* Our place really feels like home and will feel even more so on Tuesday when they deliver (and set up) our new sofa!!!! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.

Did I tell everyone that we went and got library cards? I think I did... if I didn't then I meant to... anyway Melly and I went to return a few of the books last week and then I decided to read her a few baby books. But once we got over to the baby area she had other plans. There were several other children already there. So I decided to be friendly...and guess what? I have two phone numbers to call and arrange playdates!!! Look at me trying to make friends. I am going to call one of them in the next few days and try to set up a swimming date with her and her 2 year old daughter. Oh, so exciting. *grin*

Well, I have been writing here in an attempt to not be working on learning stuff for my GRE. (Not that I have a date for it or anything, but I figure if I start studying now it can't hurt.) And yes, my GRE. I am planning on going back to school. I want my MSW (Masters of Social Work). Well, actually I want my LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). So I can be doing the kind of job I want to do instead of a job I have to do. I figure it's about time. I will, hopefully, be applying for the 09-10 school year. But depending on residence stuff, I might have to wait another year. But that won't be so bad... I have a beautiful little baby to watch.

Speaking of which...Melly has started taking a few steps at a time. Mr. C and I sit with our legs open across from each other and entice her to walk across the gap. When she gets there she gets hugs and kisses. I have even seen her attempt a few steps without us around. So I think this is the very beginning of a very mobile child.

And after all that... I'm going back to work. Study, study, study...

A little story

Hey!
Is anyone out there?
This is my story and I'm only telling it once, so settle back and enjoy my moving adventure.

First, I had to help my mommy and daddy pack even thought Grandma and Grandpa D were there because my parents are so slow. I worked really hard. But because of my help, we made it on time.

After all that packing Mommy and I went down to LA to visit Grandma C for a while. We went on lots of walks.

My favorite walks ended up on the beach. Not only was there Grandma and me, there was also sand and water! How did a girl get so lucky?

Sadly, if I stay in the water too long, my feet get all pruney.

My mommy came to the beach too. Just look at my wonderful hat!

Once I got to C, I helped unpack too. It was so warm that I had to work naked.

This baby was brought to you by the letter B.


(As you can all probably tell, the computer desks came, our computer is set up, and I found the camera cable. So I will attempt to take all kinds of pictures of NC for everyone! Cheers!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. C!!!

(This posting is a day late, but not a dollar short)

Baby steps

Tonight Miss Melly-Belle took her first step. Which was quickly followed by her plopping down on her bottom. But, not to be daunted, she tried again!

So let's take stock here... we are almost 10 months old and have five teeth and have taken her first steps!

My little brazen baby!

LA time

Grandma C sent us some pictures from our visit to LA. So, until I find my connecting cords and set up the other computer these will have to keep everyone happy. They make me really happy :)

Babyzilla!!!!

So tired...can't stay awake...

Baby motorboat!

Melly has decided that the beach is quite possibly the best thing ever!

Sand and sea, a girl could get used to this.


I hope you all approve of your baby moment. Right now there is a thunder and lightening storm outside and I need to go watch it.

Cheers!