Happy Half Birthday!

Well, hey there! Today is my half birthday! I am 6 months old and my parentals can hardly believe it. Daddy took me to my doctor's appointment today and I am right on track. That's good because I've been trying really hard to grow. Here's a picture of me concentrating.

I am pretty good at my pushups now.

See?

I've been trying my hardest to sit by myself. I'm getting progressively better:

Okay, what you didn't see... was this...

Daddy setting me up and hopping out of the frame quickly. But I DO sit by myself for a little while. :)

Here's me rocking my band-aids.


Daddy was there for me while I got a bunch of shots. But I loved rolling around on the crinkly doctor's paper (which I also ate and pee peed on.)

I love my Daddy. I say his name. He stuck up for me recently at school. You should ask him about it.


On a side note, Mommy accidentally called my godfather (Uncle Adam) the other night while she was pumping. Uncle Adam and Aunt Marianne got a nice background noise of what sounded like a printer. Lovely! Mommy had to explain the situation when he called back to check that everything was alright (Mommy thought she hung up in time... apparently not...)

Daddy is getting ready for his sprint triathlon right now. We took a walk tonight in my spiffy stroller (no pics, sorry).

Mommy and Daddy are trying a little sign language with me. I'll let you know how that goes.



I love you guys!

Just another Sunday

Well, hi there! What have you been up to this week? I've had a busy schedule, although not quite as busy as my last weekend with all my visitors and baptism. This week I've done so much... where to start? Well, I sat in my lamb chair, bounced around in the exersaucer, laughed, cried, pooped, talked... speaking of which, why doesn't anyone understand me?? I am CLEARLY communicating that I would like to go shopping and buy some new baby duds, I'd like to go see some fish in the pet store, and I would like to go to Disney World. I guess it will take a few years for Mom and Dad to figure this all out. Sometimes they are just so slow... I'm glad I got all the smart genes.

Grandma Mischinski bought me another lambskin so now Mommy lays both out and I have this luxurious spread! Which just means another photoshoot. Sigh. I should start earning money for my baby modeling. I mean, I strike a pose like so:

And you are all at my beck and call. Then I get a little distracted by these cool things:

And the photographer tries to get my attention, makeup and hair rush in to perfect my look (although... really unnecessary don't you think?)

So I do some stretches.

Streeetttcchhhhh.

Ahh! Now I'm ready. Check THIS out.

Oh yeah baby. My tummy time rocks. I own this bad boy now. And I'm alllmoossst sitting up without assistance. ALMOST.

Whooop - about to tumble. Throw some background scenery in (aka the pups)

And have I told you about my Arson puppy?

I really love him. I love Endo, too, but Mommy never seems to have the camera when she comes to kiss me.

But I sure do love him. He's a great hugger.

I love you, Arson.

Like a fish to water...

Mara has officially gone swimming! Woot!
Daddy took her in the swimming pool for the first time and dipped her toes. She cried, poor baby. We tried a few more times and she cried, but once she got used to it (and Mommy was hugging her as Mommy lowered into the water), she seemed to enjoy it! We even got her smiling! AND she was kicking and swimming around, with Mommy's support. :-D

Don't miss the Baptism post I made right before this (probably on the next page).

Mara's Baptism!

I've had a few requests for this post - I got to it as soon as I could! I have so many pictures but will have to select a few of my favorites. I tried posting them to Picasa but could only load 5 at at time... and then Shutterfly wants me to make my own website. Too much trouble.

My family came down Thursday evening through Sunday morning and was a HUGE help. We did lots of cleaning, cooking, and prepping!

Mara was so well behaved the whole day - she got passed around to everyone (I hardly saw her!)

There was lots of yummy appetizers and great company.

Mara was such a sport with the water being poured on her hairless head (like 4 times). And then she got some nice smelling oil rubbed on the top of her scalp:

Then the priest carried her around the church and she was all wide eyed!

Such a cutie patootie.

Susie and Adam are Mara's godparents!

And we are the proud parents!

Mara and all her "aunts and uncles." (above) Pop-pop and Grandma below:

YAY! Baptism is complete! No more original sin for this baby!

Smart Commute Challenge

So I entered a few photos in "The Smart Commute Challenge" photo contest... not that I expect to win, but there weren't a ton of entries and I thought hey maybe I stand a chance. Basically, it was a pledge to smart commute (telecommute, ride public transportation, carpool, etc.) sometime this month. Since we've been carpooling for 5 years, I figured why not? I had everything ready to go all week to take our commuting photo (which just had to be me in the act of smart commuting or something I see during my smart commute) and I had the fisheye lens on my camera on my tripod to add a little flair.. but a series of events unfolded that left me just with these photos just a few hours from the deadline:


Not the greatest shots, by far... nothing close to what I was envisioning... I forgot to put on the fish eye, I decided not to put the breastpump bag in the shot, or Zack's laptop or her bag for daycare... But it's us. With some of the stuff we have to take every day (minus the bike usually).
We'll see if anything comes of it. I doubt it. There were a lot of good photos of interesting things. But here's what I put with the entries:

The Darden Family has been carpooling for 5 years and the recent addition now requires another stop on the route to work (and much more stuff). Morning routine: Depart from Cary Home -> Morrisville daycare drop off -> RTP Mommy drop off -> RTP Daddy parks. Evening routine: RTP Daddy drives -> RTP Mommy pick up -> Morrisville baby pick up -> Arrive at Cary home! (Occasionally Daddy bikes home from Mommy's work).

Hehehe...

Have you seen my block?

Excuse me... have you seen my block? I was playing with it just a minute ago and I seem to have misplaced it.

Hey, that camera looks like a nice substitute. Can I have it? I promise I'll only taste it (just like she does everything else).

Fine, I'll make due with my hanging lamb... but I know that block is around here somewhere...

(Yes, she was playing with the block and somehow put it on her head...)

Other big news. Guess who her favorite parent is right now? I'll give you a hint:

And guess what little Miss Mara started saying Friday morning???

DAA DAAA DAAA DAAA DAAA DAAAA.
Sigh.
I don't think she associates the sound with her Daddy per se... but it's a step up from Bah bah bah bah.

She has also starting pushing herself up really far this week and rolling around like a hot potato!
I kept putting her on the lambskin and she kept rolling right off.
So big!

And here is my favorite:
Until next post....

(Yes, she has to fall asleep with her eyes covered)