Violet's First Bite

One of the good things about living with Melissa, Jamie and Violet is that I get to witness firsts.

Today Violet had her first taste of rice cereal...I mean "organic" rice cereal. Although she didn't eat much she seemed to enjoy it.

After the second bite you can see her shudder a bit. It was so cute. Personally I'd add a little apple sauce to make it taste better. Even Melissa said it tasted a bit like throw up. But I don't think the book says you should do that and Melissa likes to follow the book.

I can remember with Michael, I went step by step. First rice cereal, then oatmeal. Slowly introduce the fruits and vegetables checking for any allergic reactions. With Melissa, I smashed up the leftovers on my plate and fed them to her. They both grew up strong and healthy so I couldn't have done anything too bad.

And then we caught Lola licking the leftovers off the bib. She didn't seem to mind the throw up taste.

Lunch with Friends - Happy Birthday Carol!

Sometimes it seems as though all I do is go to lunch and/or dinner with friends or family and today is no exception.

I've been friends with Debbie (center) for the past 16 years. I met her when I started working for KCP&L. A few years later I met Carol. Carol just returned to work after suffering from a concussion she received from tumbling down her basement steps while doing laundry. We met at Harrah's for lunch to celebrate Carol's birthday and catch up on all the KCP&L gossip that I've missed. Melissa joined us for lunch and Debbie and Carol were able to meet Violet. As much as I miss daily conversations with my friends, I don't regret retirement.

Shopping...Lunch...Dinner...Family

Wow, today was busy for me. Melissa, Violet and I went shopping to complete my outfit for my class reunion next weekend. We started at DSW for shoes (couldn't find any) then to Charming Charlie's for jewelry. We then stopped at McAlister's for a quick bite for lunch.

Violet is so good in restaurants especially since she's learned she can sit in the big girl high chair. As long as she has her krinkle book with her she's happy.

Later Michael and I took Dad to Longhorn Steakhouse for Thursday night dinner.

I was explaining to Michael if he ever happened to peek in Grandpa's wallet and could only see a $20 bill and a few crumpled ones and Grandpa offered to "trade him wallets", he should always accept the offer. As far as I can remember Dad has always been able to take a wallet and hide money inside the lining.

After dinner Michael stopped by my house to see his favorite niece.

She always has a big smile for her Uncle Michael.

Toys, Toys, Toys and Cheese Wrappers

I'm amazed at the variety of children's toys and their symbolism to learning. Melissa had a gift certificate to Babies "R" Us and Violet needed a new toy and some new pajamas - she's growing so fast. We bought her a Pop Top which is a spinning toy that plays music and has round animal figures that pop out sporadically every second or third time you push the plunger to make it spin. It scares Violet every time they pop out.  There's a ring stacker that is like the toys Michael and Melissa had as babies where you stack the different size plastic rings on a centered post.  In honor a Teresa, Violet has a Press and Go Pal we call Casey the Cow.

Violet has learned that if you push the yellow center of the cow it makes moo sounds and plays a couple different songs. The only problem - the orange circles on the cows legs are wheels that automatically spin so it rolls away from her when she pushes the button.

But my favorite is the teething book which I call the "krinkle" book. It's a plastic book that has three pages in it and sounds as though there is plastic inside the pages that is like the plastic used to wrap individual slices of cheese. We could have saved a fortune on toys if only Melissa would let Violet play with empty plastic water bottles and individual cheese wrappers. When Melissa isn't looking, that's what I give her to play with!

Good Bye - Dale Hunter Lane

To Violet,

You spent the first 5 months of your life at the house on Dale Hunter Lane that your Mom and Dad bought in 2006 just before they got married.

You wouldn't even recognize this house today from the day they bought it. Dad worked so hard to update the inside and out. He put in new landscaping around the front of the house, painted the house and installed new garage doors.

Inside he put in new carpeting, painted all the walls, remodeled the kitchen and bathroom and painted your bedroom a beautiful bright pink.

But now you're stuck at Grandma's until your new house is built. But you do have your new apartment downstairs. Maybe you'll be able to celebrate your first birthday in your new house. Is that my birthday wish or yours!

Project Runway

Melissa says a little TV is okay for babies. She lets Violet watch a little Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi or Meg on Fox 4 News in the mornings.

I'm teaching her to watch Project Runway and America's Next Top Model. As soon as she gets old enough, we'll add popcorn!

Big Girl Shopping!

Going to WalMart was getting a little difficult to do. Not only was Violet getting cranky having to sit in her car seat all the time but that car seat was heavy and hard to carry. Plus it never set on the cart just the right way.

Well now shopping is a whole new experience now that we can sit in the cart like a big girl. I think they make a shopping cart seat cover to help protect from previous cart users. Melissa? Where's her seat cover? Check out the blue WalMart strap around Violet's waist. Is that to keep her from crawling out or falling over?  :)