Seven Months Old

Cassandra is seven months old today.  Here are some pictures of her playing with her stacking rings.  Bit different from the ones you remember, eh?

Excited and Proud

Cassandra pulled herself up on the footstool.  Since the footstool is a glider type, this is actually a bit of a challenge.  As you can see from her face, she is very excited about this.

Trying To Escape

Cassandra can stand-up on her own now.  She has been busy pulling herself up on things.  She has been referred to as a daredevil at school.  She as also been busy scheming to escape her play yard.




Cassandra trying to lick her way out.

Since she can't go out through the sides, she has begun to look at tunneling.

Talking With Her Mouth Full

Here is another video of Cassandra eating as she tells us about her day.  Unfortunately, she still hasn't figured out why she shouldn't talk with her mouth full.

Baptism

Cassandra was baptised today.  She was well behaved and really didn't make much noise.  She really enjoyed the music and was kicking her legs in rhythm with the beat.  She spent most of the sermon gnawing on her new zebra from the zoo in Maryland.

Cassandra eyeing the water.  She really likes to splash.

Obligatory family picture

Yummy

Cassandra appears to like the solid foods.  So far, she seems to be eating everything that is offered.  Our biggest problem seems to be getting her in the right mood.  It is not that she is not in the mood to eat so much as she is not in the mood to be strapped into a high chair.  She also is not very fond of the washcloth cleaning her face off.

Vacation Hangover

It seems that in spite of all the sleeping she did in the car, the vacation tired poor Cassandra out.  Here is what Mommy found Cassandra doing after Daddy left for work.



Solid Foods!

We had been holding out on giving Cassandra solid foods until after vacation.  Hauling all her stuff when she was only eating bottles was going to be a lot of stuff so we waited on the solid foods to avoid dealing with more stuff.  As you can see, she seems to be enjoying the rice cereal.

Vacation, Part XII - Family And First Beach Visit

On our way back home through Ohio, we stopped off to see more family.  This is also Cassandra's first visit to a beach.  Of course, we forgot a swim suit.  It is a fresh water lake (Lake Erie) but still, it has a beach, just no tides.

Liz feeding Cassandra

Mommy's cousin Dave

Family photo.  Included are Dave and Liz's daughter Ali and her husband, Nick.

The beach.  Cassandra was just staring at it.

Light house on opposite shore.

Is a hippopotamus for the 4th of July as good as one at Christmas?

Hanging with Daddy.

Vacation, Part XI - Family And A Bear Ride

The next stop on our whirlwind tour of Ohio is to Mommy's Aunt Jane and Uncle Carl.  It had been a while since we had seen them and the first time we visited them at their home.

First Bear Ride

Vacation, Part X - What Did I Do This Time?

After we got back to the hotel room, we put Cassandra down so we could get ready for bed.  Here she is giving us a pained look, trying to make us feel guilty. 

She is now starting to recognize our tones of voice better.  If we say her name in a frustrated tone, she smiles and sometimes laughs, and then keeps doing what she was doing.  It is amazing how much she is acting like an obnoxious child already.

NO comments from the peanut gallery!

Vacation, Part IX - Partners In Crime

After returning to Ohio, we visited with Mommy's Cousin Cathy and her husband Bill.  We had seen them earlier this year when their son was married.  I'm not sure what is being smiled about, but doesn't it look like these two are up to something?

Vacation, Part VIII - And Mommy Got Wet

This was Cassandra's first bath without a baby bathtub.  Daddy held Cassandra most of the bath so she wouldn't fall over while Mommy washed the sunscreen and sweat off of her.  When we first put her into the tub, she didn't know what to think.  Daddy showed her how to pat the water to make noise.  Cassandra quickly realized that it was playtime...and Mommy got wet.  Since Daddy was behind Cassandra, he did not get wet.

After we had finished washing her down, Daddy picked Cassandra up to get ready to be toweled off.  Without any prompting from Daddy, she realized that she could kick the water...and Mommy got wet.  Again, fortunately Daddy was behind Cassandra and didn't get wet.

Vacation, Part VII - Playing Around

In spite of a busy day and only recently learning to crawl, Cassandra decided that she wanted to work on the skill of standing.  It is hard to see with the plug in her mouth, but she is smiling.

Vacation, Part VI - Zoo

At six months old, Cassandra had never been to the zoo.  To make matters worse, she was asleep pretty much the one time she was at the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead.  However, thanks to the efforts of Aunt Diane, Cassandra was able make it to the zoo. 

Sharon feeding the deer.

Cassandra watching Sharon feeding the deer.

All three girls at the zoo.

Aunt Diane and Uncle Bill

Vacation, Part V - Dressing Up For Church

The girls were all dressed up from church so we thought it would be a good time for pictures.

Cooperative baby

 Carol loved this picture.  It seems little Miss Sharon had a habit of pulling on hair when she was little.

Not so cooperative baby.

Sharon and Cassandra looking cute.

Vacation, Part IV - Visiting Family In Maryland

Well, we've finally made it.  Cassandra has now met all of her aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Of course, there is still family yet to see but we are slowly working on insuring the Empress meets as much of her family as possible.

Cousin Sharon

Cousin Carol

Aunt Diane

Before we left home, Cassandra had started crawl a step or two at a time.  I think she is happy to be free of the car seat and so she decided to show off for us.



 

Happy Baby

Vacation, Part III - Visiting Family In Ohio

After getting up at 6:00, we headed out for our first visit to family on this trip.

Cassandra's second cousin Kait

Mommy's Uncle Bob

Kait's mommy Anna

Picture of the whole family.