Cutie girl

Miri is almost 9 months old now. She has started waving and has gotten even more personable. She still isn't crawling, but she really loves to stand and can take a few supported steps if she is in the mood. She has started to eating three solid meals a day and sleeping longer and longer stretches at night; she made it 11 hours last night! She also has started getting opinionated (or more opinionated) about things. I gave her a lovey (she has several) the other night, and it was not her favorite one. She picked it up, looked at it for a second, then threw it against the wall of the crib and screamed. She stopped screaming, stuck her thumb in her mouth, and went right to sleep after that.
Miri has started enjoying toys a lot more, especially stuffed animals. She loves balls and anything that is fun to chew on. Still no teeth though. She still loves peaches best, but likes everything I try to feed her.

She loves playing with Reagan and Ike (the two babies that I babysit during the week). They get along great, at least until she decides to pull Reagan's hair. She loves hair and jewelry of all kinds. Reagan loves Miri's hair bows and tries to steal them, then put them back on. Very cute!

Cousins Part 4 (Pictures!)

While Matthew and Audrey were visiting we went to take pictures. Miri was not in a good mood! We managed to get a few good shots, though we only managed to get those as long as she was touching me and standing. I think the picture above is my favorite of Miri so far- that little pouty mouth is so her!

Sweet kiddies. Miri wanted Audrey's hair bow so bad.

Finally a little smile!

Miri sure has sweet cousins.

Cousins Part 3 (the Alligator Farm)

Matthew and Audrey wanted to go the the Alligator Farm (a cool zoological park near San Augustine) while they were visiting. Miri enjoyed herself, but was kind of hot. She enjoyed getting to hang out with Daddy.
Matthew and Audrey were fascinated by the giant reticulated python; it was 21 feet long. The snake was interested in them too, or maybe it thought they were cute enough to eat!
We tried to get a picture of the kids together, but Miri was having none of it.

Cousins Part 2 (A day at the beach)

Miri had her first trip to the beach with her cousins this week- actually we went twice. Miri liked the warm, shallow tide pools, but was not a fan of the cold ocean. She dipped her toes in the Atlantic and cried. Matthew and Audrey loved the beach and wanted to ride the waves up and down the beach all day. They also enjoyed sitting on the life guard tower.









Miri would only wear her hat if it was damp, she kept taking it off. She also wouldn't wear her sunglasses, but she did think they were fun to chew on.




Miri got sleepy during our first trip to the beach. She fell asleep on Daddy's chest. She was so cute there we couldn't resist taking her picture. She also passed out the second I put her in her carseat after the second beach trip. I guess the beach is exhausting.

Cousins Part 1 (the Butterfly Gardens and Museum)

Aunt Ashley, cousin Matthew, and cousin Audrey came for a visit in July. Miri had a big month, she started sitting on her own, clapping, giving kisses, and saying Mama. She seemed to just decide that she was ready to sit alone all of a sudden, she did it one day, and by the next day she could sit alone for 20 minutes with no problem.

We had friends over for an Iron Chief competition between Dustin and I (I won) and Miri decided she couldn't live without Mama. She was crying if anyone else held her and said Mama for the first time that night. It got clearer and clearer as the days passed that she meant it when she said Mama, and it became easier to understand. A few days before the first saying of Mama, Miri gave Daddy a big, open mouthed kiss. He didn't mind the drool.

Miri had a lot of fun with her cousins. We went to the Natural History Museum one day and visited the shark jaws (since Matthew is into sharks) and the butterfly rainforest. Audrey was crazy about the butterflies, which she calls badubadubs for some reason (very cute). Miri liked the butterflies, but was most interested in the fish in the pond.

A long two months

It's been a busy, crazy two months! Miri is 7 months old now and has had her first mother's day, her first father's day, has been dedicated at church, and had her first trip to Houston. The baby dedication was on Mother's day at our church, it was a very sweet time to see how many people love and pray for Miri. There were 5 babies dedicated that day and three of them were from our one another group; there must have been something in the water. Our good friend Steve Doorman was the elder assigned to us for the baby dedication. When I tried to hand Miri to him, her lips started to quiver and she got tears in her eyes. The whole church "awed" over that one. So she stayed in Mommy's arms for the dedication and the prayer.

She thinks her cousins are absolutely hilarious, especially Matthew. He was playing peek-a-boo with her while she was in her high chair at Nana and Papa's house- she was giggling like mad. She also had a great time in the pool with Matthew, Audrey, Daddy, Papa, Uncle Joel and Aunt Ashley. As you can see below, we got family pictures taken while in Houston- that's a good looking family if you ask me (Erin). Unfortunately, I got sick and went to the hospital a few hours after most of the pictures were taken, which resulted in surgery. So Miri had another first- spending the night without Mommy or Daddy. She stayed with her Aunt Ashley, Uncle Joel, Matthew and Audrey. I think I missed her more than she missed me.














Miri did great on the plane rides to and from Houston; she loves to watch people, so the airport is a treat. Once we got home though, she missed her cousins. It took several days to settle back into a routine and get used to not being held all of the time.




















Miri has been eating two meals a day lately, though the meals are very small. Peaches are definitely her favorite, but she also really likes sweet potatoes. We have discovered one food allergy she has though. Amazingly enough, she seems to be allergic to rice cereal, which is the first food they tell you to try, since almost no babies are allergic to it.


Miri also is rolling around a lot. She really wants to walk, but can't quite figure out all that balance. She still hates to be on her tummy, so Dustin and I are wondering if she'll ever crawl or it she'll just go straight to walking. She loves to watch Reagan (a one year old I watch sometimes) as she edges around furniture and stands to reach for things. She has also started to develop a case of stranger anxiety. She likes to look at people and even interact with them, as long as they don't touch her.