Vacation, Part II - Jailhouse Baby

We setup Cassandra's play yard for our overnight.  This is her first time in it since she figured out how to sit up.  Naturally, her first reaction is to try and escape.

Let me out!

Vacation, Part I - Visiting Friends

With the summer here, Mommy and Daddy have decided to take a road trip to visit family.  Cassandra has met all her aunts and uncles with the exception of the family in Maryland.  While out that direction, we will be making a tour of Ohio visiting Grandpa Hodges' side of the family.  The first day's travel will be ten hours.  That may not sound like a good idea with a six-month old baby, but the first few hours are spent with her asleep.  We stopped to see some friends at wakeup time.  Their son was kind enough to share his basket ball with Cassandra.

Baby In Motion

Cassandra and her new bouncy chair.

Mommy tried to take some pictures of Cassandra bouncing in her new chair.  Even on the "Sport" setting, we coudn't get Cassandra as much more than a blur.  I wish I still had that kind of energy.

I Have Hair

It has been commented on that Cassandra doesn't seem to have hair.  In fact, she does, and it has grown from the peach fuzz she had a birth to over 1/2-inch long.  Of course, it is fine and light blond so most people have trouble seeing it in pictures. 

Passed Out

Cassandra tired herself out before Mommy had a chance to take her to daycare.  She really enjoyed her bouncy chair.

She's Ticklish!

Sitting Up On Her Own

Cassandra has been busy this last month, rolling like crazy and now learning how to sit herself up without help.  She now will not lay on her back (diaper changes are an interesting task).  She will get down on all fours, roll over, and then sit back up.  She is enjoying her new independence.

For those of you familiar with "The Thinker" at the Nelson, here is what I suspect he looked like when he was an infant.

Playing With Cousin Samantha

Cassandra was visiting Grandma Hodges' house as part of the celebrations of Aunt Cheryl's birthday.  Cassandra provided entertainment during intermission (the time between opening of presents and eating cake).  Her Cousin Samantha assisted by building a tower for Cassandra to knock over.

New Toys

Based on Cassandra's behavior, we decided to buy her a bouncy seat.  While Mommy was building it, she got very excited.  Based on the way she was bouncing up and down, you would have thought she had already been in one of these things.

Why Do Babies Sleep Like This?

Demolition Baby

 Cassandra's eyes light up when she sees a tower for her to knock over.  I think she may have a career in demolition.

The Many Different Uses For A Plug...

Cassandra has been making some large strides this last month and been learning new skills.  She has decided that her plug makes a great chew toy...but she doesn't necessarily gnaw on the soft part.  In fact, she acts like she thinks that side is a handle.

Helping Daddy Out

Cassandra decided to help Daddy out with the computer this weekend.

Cassandra is working to improve her typing skills.

Mommy was able to catch a bunch of different smiles.  In one she looks like she just got caught doing something she should have been doing.

Ah, Cuteness...

Nothing special going on here.  Daddy just loved how Cassandra looked with her arm wrapped around Taggy.

Smiling Baby

Look at that smile.  She looks like a perfect angel, doesn't she?

Interesting Sleep Positions

Now that Cassandra has mastered the art of rolling over, we have begun find her sleeping in all kinds of positions.  Not content with sleeping on her side like most people, she pulls her legs up and sleeps in this "L" shape a lot.

Worn out!

Cassandra had a rough Monday, including the indignity of her staff trying to get her to go to bed.  After a long fight, she finally was too worn out to argue any further.

Playing Around At Grandmas

Cassandra decided she wanted to show off how mobile she is.  She can now get on all fours but then rocks, and realizing she is not crawling, becomes very mad.

Surprise!

Cassandra has become a real pro but every once in a while the camera still manages to surprise her.

Happy 40th Anniversary!

Cassandra enjoyed a little road trip up to Omaha to visit family.  While there, we helped surprise Mommy's Aunt Harriette and Uncle Tony.  Happy 40th Anniversary! 

A Couple Of Roses

Random pictures of some of our roses.

Cheap Organic Food

Janice has been busy this year planting stuff in our garden.  From left to right, we have tomatoes and peppers in cages and then green beans.  The third row is a mixture of broccoli and cauliflower.  Beyond that is a row of potatoes followed by a row of cabbage.  We then have a space for pumpkins, a row of onions, and a row of snap peas on the far side, using the fence to grow up.  The fence is three feet tall so you can get a feel for scale.  Finally, we have lettuce in bunches on the side with the gate.

Better view of cabbage, very important for bierocks.

Tired out!

Cassandra has become somewhat mobile.  She rolls at will and scoots around as well.  After a several hour demonstration of these new abilities, she still had the energy to wrestle two of her stuffed animals into submission.  It apparently took every last bit of energy she had though.