Motorcycle Time

Arthur is sooo happy with his new bike.  So thrilled, he just had to take his little girl out and show her the ropes.  

"help mommy!"

"see this is how you use the navigation"

Piper stilled mesmerized by the navigation 

while Arthur is being his goofy self.

Showing Piper how the wind will 

blow through her hair

"see and this is how you start it up and drive"

I think I might have some trouble in a couple of years....

Watermelon

On a lighter note and away from my current issues with my sweet girl...

Yesterday, I decided to cut up some watermelon I had in the fridge, while little miss was having a snack.  A snack that was ending up everywhere except in her mouth and this protest with food has become a daily treat for me and the floor.  I have found out this summer that Piper LOVES watermelon.  So in the middle of my cutting, I get the typical "uh, uh" and pointed finger to the watermelon.  I give her a couple of pieces which she immediately gobbles up and is followed by first a grunt, then finger point.  I get her to say more and this makes me proud and puts a smile on my face.  I, also, get her to say more please, which thrills me even more!  Well after about 15 pieces, I put an end to watermelon time, but not before I got some pics of this little girl stuffing her mouth full.

Yay for watermelon!

Shovel, shovel, shovel it in...

What a mouth full!

Check out the juice running down her chin

Sleep!

What happened?!  My sleeping beauty has lost interest in sleeping.  The past couple of days and nights it's been complete turmoil during bedtime.  Although, she has recently started protesting against naptime; she would still fall asleep no problem.  Now, it's a knock down drawn out battle with her.  I put her to bed with her normal routine for naptime and bedtime and the minute I walk out the door the screaming fit begins.  I just don't know what to do!!!  One minute, I feel like I should go up and comfort my baby who is screaming so hard you would swear she was being murdered and the next I tell myself no because the more I go up there the longer this battle is going to last.  What to do; what to do?!  What happened to my girl who would sleep like it was her job;  I miss the days when a 3 hour nap was guaranteed.  I can't take the grump who is fighting sleep and fighting with Mama over everything she does. I feel like I need to vent about this because all day today I had Miss Attitude and Miss Defiant.  Tonight, it was a long 40 min battle of blood curdling screams, which finally (and I mean finally) ended with silence and hopefully a complete nights rest.  I really hope this is temporary and not what I have to look forward to as the Big 2 approaches.

Back To School

We have a new school that just opened it's doors the monday before last for the very first time for back to school night.  Rockland Drive was packed with cars all up and down the street for the great event.  Piper was so excited when her friends Lance and Caleb stopped by to say "hi" before heading over to their new school.  She decided she was going to follow them and see what this new school was like too.  I can't wait for Piper to start school.  I know she would be so excited to go and she's such a social butterfly that I think the socialization would be great for her.  We are starting to look at different schools in the area, but through recommendation we are seriously considering some Montessori schools for her to attend next fall.

Some kids heading down to the new school to check it out

Piper all set to go to school too!

"Mommy, it's really not a big deal"

Check out those huge shoes she's got on

"How do I put this on again?"

Daddy Time

Daddy doesn't get to spend much time with Piper (due to his work schedule), but when they do spend time together it's so much fun to watch.  He is so goofy with Piper and turns into such a big kid!  I think she'd prefer to play with Daddy more than Mommy any day since "dahee" is so much more fun.  Piper loves and I mean loves hats, but the funny thing about it is she won't wear it forward.  It's always backwards or sideways and Daddy took the opportunity to teach Piper how to be a real "thug".

Like father like daughter

"Here Daddy, you try this one"

"Nah, you can have yours back"

"Nigh-nigh" Time

Piper has started a new thing where she will lay down and say "nigh-nigh".  This night she laid down a blanket to pretend too.

Daddy decided to join Piper in storytime before night night

"okay enough pretending, i don't wanna go nigh-nigh"

"i don't wanna go nigh-nigh" is Piper's new phrase everytime we head upstairs.  As proud as I am of her first full sentence, I wish it hadn't been that one because it's so hard to get her to go upstairs even to change her now.

Our First Month

Although there were countless sleepless nights in our first month, we were blessed with having a baby who slept through the night by 6 weeks and who enjoyed spending most of her day sleeping.  She made taking care of a newborn a breeze!

As a side note...I will continue to post pictures from the first year of Piper's life periodically between current posts.

The first bath which wasn't too enjoyable for Piper

Piper loved to sleep all day long

What a little peanut!

One of the first captured "gas" smiles

A little pea in the pod

"What's up with all the flashing?"

A Look Back....

After a long New Year's Day, Miss Piper Jeanne Robinson finally arrived at 11:51 pm (1/1/07).  She was as beautiful as we could ever expect and just so perfect!

As I said, the most perfect baby!

Our little thumb sucker

First car ride home

The Semenick BBQ

Last Saturday, we headed over to Angie and Aarons for their new annual Semenick Family BBQ.  Good food and good times; I think we all had a blast, especially Piper who definitely digged Will's sandbox!  Here are some pics of Piper and her TLG pal McKenzie.

One too many home brews...

"Hey Will!  You wanna come play with us?"

I guess not.  He's too busy playing football with the guys.

First Trip to the Dentist

Last Monday, we headed to the dentist to get Miss Piper's teeth checked for the first time.  I know I've heard that taking your child to the dentist for the first time isn't recommended until they are around 3, but I had some concerns.  Piper's teeth had a yellowish-brown tint developing along her gum line and I got very worried that she might have some tooth decay.  I found a great pediatric dentist in Frederick and would recommend him to anyone.  Although, as expected, the visit was not pleasant for any of us, Piper's teeth were fine and it turned out to just be plaque.  So, I just have to brush her teeth more efficiently.  This isn't easy with a 19 month old, but I keep trying and have moved from using a toothbrush to using a washcloth.  We have another appointment in February and I'm getting her off to the right start with dental care (even though it's very excruciating for both of us right now).

Larriland Farms

Last Friday, Angie invited us out to pick some blackberries and raspberries at Larriland Farms.  I wasn't sure if Piper was going to be bored or out of control, but she was actually quite the little helper in the blackberry field.   She was even able to to distinguish between the ripe and not ripe ones...what a smart little girl :o)

"Come on guys!"

"See Mommy this one isn't ripe"

Let me inspect this further

Maybe I should go ask

Aunt Angie how about this one?

Angie's little helper

Too cute!  Piper wanted to hold Angie's hand

Lunch with Daddy afterwards