Hangin' Out

Just some pictures to share - 'cause this is what we do on the weekend:

Crawl...

Take pictures...

Climb...

Learn to use a cup...

Nap...

Welcome to the World!!

Welcome, Eiljah David Huang. We have been waiting to know you and are so excited you are here! And Naomi can't wait to play!

We gave peas a chance...and it was messy

I know, another baby-in-a-highchair picture. But food is still a novelty, and peas are messy, and the girl has to grab the spoon and help every time she gets a bite. She also liked to put her fingers in her mouth while "chewing". That doesn't really work, in case you were wondering.

Oh, and she does love her daddy.

Maya-Cat

I walked outside to get the stroller to take Naomi for a walk, and found Maya (the cat).

I think Maya is getting in touch with her maternal instincts. She does not really come around Naomi much, will walk around her if she is in the way. That is more Maya's style anyway - she is not a cuddler and approaches us timidly when she wants some petting. But the other night Naomi woke up and was sad and tired, and crying because she was having trouble going back to sleep. I was holding her and Maya jumped up on the nightstand to see what was wrong, just to be near. She sat and checked things out, and Naomi watched her and calmed down and went back to sleep.

Thanks Maya. We love you.

Creativity

Like her friend Ellaiden, Naomi also found a new way to use her exersaucer. I think she thought it could be a sneaky way to get to the cat bowls. Her problem-solving skills must be inherited -- note her parents' creative use of the couch cushions as a way to keep her in!

We will...

In two weeks I will start working part-time.
Here are some of the things Naomi and I will do together with more time:

• Sing
• Learn to pet Wendell and Maya (the cats)
• Eat pears (and other new food)
• Cook and bake
• Use the jogging stroller
• Learn to walk / Learn to run
• Read books
• Hang out with friends
• Learn a new language
• Meet Mark for lunch
• Meet friends for coffee
• Yoga (Naomi has Downward Facing Dog and Cobra down)
• Laugh and smile at each other
• Water plants
• Play in a kiddie pool in the back yard this summer

We like pears!!

Hooray for pears! Just when I thought it was just going to be another ice day with little napping, we discover Naomi likes pears. As an earlier post documented, Naomi has had some solid food. But honestly, she hasn't been that into it. We've tried sweet potatoes, avocado and rice cereal, and she never has more than a couple of bites, if that. Today on a whim we tried pears. After the first bite she made a really funny face, and I thought she didn't like it. But then she grabbed the spoon and wanted more. She ate them all! I am really excited, mostly because I really like food. And what would I do with a daughter who doesn't like food?

And she finally got her nap - in her mama's lap with Battlestar Galactica in the background.

Ice - Day 3

Kristen got a second day off work, and Mark is working from home. Naomi's school is closed. Here are some pictures Mark took of the house and yard - granted it doesn't compare to 9 inches of snow in Colorado, but this is Texas, and we do ice. But we don't do it well, and we sure don't drive on it. So everything is closed! (And as I write this the sleet is turning in to snow.) Wendell (the cat) wishes he could go outside - the cats ask to go out, but when we open the back door they just stand there and then turn around back inside. But Naomi liked that the glass in the back door was cold.

Arctic Blast, Day 2

Naomi is way happier today (yay!). We get a fun free day to watch all the new things Naomi does every day. It is amazing what she is learning to do - there is something new all the time. For example, last Tuesday she learned to play peek-a-boo by herself (see video below). She is commando-crawling around the house, with her favorite destination being the area of the cats' bowls (we move her, don't worry grandparents!). And she is getting closer daily to pushing herself up to sitting. Hmmm, it may be time to finish child-proofing the house.

Arctic Blast...

So, it is MLK weekend and an ice storm is supposedly coming with enough certainty that my work is closed Monday (and we hardly ever close). Its a three-day weekend for all of us! So exciting - we only have to leave the house for church tonight. We're stocked up on food, have a list of projects to do around the house, but really, we're all bored silly. Mostly 'cause Naomi just won't nap. After becoming free of snot over Christmas break, two weeks later the runny nose has returned.



Isn't this a great picture of Mark and Naomi? And the video is just fun - she is so much fun to play with.

New Year, New Food

Mark and I had our black-eyed peas and sweet potatoes for New Year's Day, and thought Naomi should try some sweet potatoes for good luck.

Happy Christmas!

We spent Christmas in Colorado - where the second snow storm and 9 inches of snow kept us there a couple extra days. We walked, snow shoed, rested, opened presents, visited family and friends. Naomi had a blast playing with her cousin Alvin, getting into the presents early and stealing his toys.

Naomi and the blog

Naomi is new to the blog, but she is happy to be here! Come here to see pictures, video or find out what's going on with Naomi, Mark or Kristen.