Under the Family Table

They say that the best moments happen around the family table. Well, Reilly disagrees.

See, she can form opinions now due to her new-found movement. And she can go places. Places that SHE wants to go. Places that, usually, Mama would rather she not go. Places like...my painting table. There is just nothing good that can come from a baby near a painting table. Or the front doormat. Also known as, the dirtiest place in the house. People feet are wiped there on the daily, for goodness sakes. And yet, something pulls her there.

One place she is allowed to hang out though, is under the kitchen table. She loves it there. She crawls under there, bring her toys, spins around, investigates. It's glorious.

This is Reilly enjoying her favorite spot on a gloomy day.

We wear sweats when it's rainy.



She took a well needed break from crawling to chill out on this chair.

Off she goes! Like a little turtle. She really crawls EXACTLY like a turtle walks. Very slowly, very deliberately. It's hysterical.

Love & lots of sweeping,

dirt road Mama

Sneezing Babygirl

Here is a video of my hilarious laughing girl.

After having little colds for a week or so, babygirl starting imitating me when I was sneezing. So I started recording her and fake sneezing. And then she decided that I was really hilarious with my fake sneezing. And her hysterical laughing ensued. Of course, this took place during her happiest time, our daily YoBaby lunch.

As a disclaimer, my hair does not always look that sopping. I had just gotten out of the shower, and was feeding her with my hair soaking wet. Figures, she never does funny things when mama looks awesome. Oh well, at least she's a cutie.

Watch this video when you are sad, I bet you will smile!

Love & giggles,

DR Mama

Crawling!

It is official - as of yesterday - our little baby is a crawler!

Yesterday Reilly and I got together with some friends, one of which is almost 2. He is talking up a storm, running around everywhere, and SO interesting to Reilly. He showed her all of her toys, and talked non-stop to her, and she was utterly mesmerized by him. And his mobility. While we were there, she took for "steps" crawling across the room. (What is that called? Four "crawls"? It's such a difficult thing to describe.) It was her longest stretch, but seemed a bit like a fluke because she didn't continue.

We made joke about her chasing after her friend, and how he taught her to crawl in a few hours. And then I said, "Can you show Reilly how to crawl?" And he crawled around and said, "C'mon Reilly!" But still - all jokes.

Until that night. At around 4pm. When she crawled clear across the living room to reach my whisk. That I may have strategically placed across the room, knowing it would entice her. Strange forbidden kitchen utensil always get her. And it worked!!

And then, she crawled back across the living room going for the computer. It was amazing. Now she is slowed crawling around her toys, like a little baby turtle, just learning he has legs. Or a little baby bird, slowly fluttering two inches from the ground.

Or a little baby girl. Just learning to crawl.

She is amazing, and it is so amazing to watch her.

Love in Motion,

Dirt Road Mama

Blackberry Memories

So you all may remember my sister and her Blackberry, from previous posts. Or should I say, disasters. Good times. Well, this is an entirely different Blackberry from the one pictured there. I believe that was actually 2 Blackberries ago. First off, she got a new one when her plan was up. But she also dropped/destroyed it somewhere in there too, warranting a replacement Berry. I can't keep up with all the Berries, I just know it's never far from her hand.

Anyway, I got these pictures via email from my sissy. The email stated that she had "like a hundred" recent pictures of Reilly, and she decided to send her favorite ones. I thanked her for not emailing a hundred photos, and for taking such adorable pictures of her niece. She loves her girl, and loves photographing her via the Berry.

And Rei Rei loves her Auntie so much!

Reilly stole my lip gloss.

Then she stole my magazine and tore it up. HA.

Then she ate spinach and decided to casually remind everyone how big she was.


Then she got dressed up all pretty for an outing with Mima. Now you know where she gets her mysteriously blue and mysteriously giant eyes.

Then she got all tuckered out in the car. And made her adorable sleeping face, of which I am so obsessed with that sometimes I want to wake her up. But I don't. But I think about it.

The End.

Thank you Aunt Mimi for being addicted to Blackberry!
Thank you Blackberry, for taking pretty pictures!
Thank you Aunt Mimi, for just being pretty!

Love & Berries,

Dirt road Mama

Ready for Spring!

I am ready for spring! Are you ready, Mima & Poppy?

I wuv you!

Love,

Rei Bee

Adventures in Cribtown

I just looked at the monitor during naptime, and she was out of the monitor view. Like, her whole body. Which is kind of impossible, so I ran in her room. She was sitting on the edge of the crib mattress, with both legs hanging through the bars, like she was sitting on the edge of a dock. She was smiling. It was hilarious.

So I laid her back down, and left again. Two minutes later, she was sitting up again. I peeked in the crack in the door, to get a better look at what she was doing. She reached through her crib rails again, into the basket next to her changing table (which evidently she can reach, now that she can sit up), and grabbed her hair brush. As I was debating whether or not I should leave her be, she reached back in the basket and grabbed the tube of diaper cream. Not good. So in I went again, for the second time in one nap time. I usually never go in while napping is taking place, and she always drifts off to sleep. So I took her little treasures, moved the basket away from the crib [note to self: rearrange the nursery], and laid her back down again. A few tears followed, but I wished her sweet nappy dreams and left again.

A short while later, I peeked in to see this.

I swear, that little button nose just melts my heart.

I love my little monkey girl.

Love,

Dirt Road Mama

Up, Up, and...Never Going Away Ever.

Okay, so this is a little bit false. She did not exactly lift herself to this position. BUT! When I pick her up, she can stand and hold herself here! For a little. But she's SO proud when she does it.

Another recent development: she is sitting up in her crib when she wakes up in the morning, or from napping. Just sitting there. Chillin.

Notice the pillow. We are not professionals yet, people. She is a little Irish banana girl face. And she just keep growing! Watching her reactions to her accomplishments is my new favorite thing. The laughter and giggles when she does something that she knows is funny, or interesting, or amazing, or against the rules. Without even gauging my reaction, she will just react hilariously and appropriately. I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone. But I swear, she's the funnest person ever.

Love her Button Nose,

DR Mama