Okay....I neglected my blog. I know it. I figured I would set a record for inactivity. Not buying it? Neither am I. Here's a few pictures and I'll see if I'm feeling froggy to get some major updates on this site. :)
Life has become quite hectic and has sped by this year. I cannot believe it is already April. I haven't posted since 2009! Why? Taking three classes this semester may have had a bit to do with it. Work becoming overly busy the past few months may have not helped. Here's my first quarter, 2010, recap:
Melayna sporting a pretty cool sweater from her Uncle Robert. It is a little big for her, but she'll grow into it.
Melayna testing out the balance beam at the YMCA downtown. They had a free Easter celebration and I went along with some good friends.
Tristan playing at the YMCA for Easter.
Melayna going through a crawling tube. She was having a blast!
Tristan having fun.
On Melayna’s first birthday, Tristan stayed with Grandpa while Melayna got Mommy and Daddy all to herself. We took her to see Coleen Swanson, a very talented photographer here in Colorado Springs. I first met Coleen almost two years ago when my company hired her to do some event work. Since then, she’s been to numerous events of ours taking pictures. I love photography and seeing her work really inspired me to take my photography to the next level (DSLR, instead of point and shoots).
I really didn’t know what to expect, but we came prepared with several outfits, including a homemade tutu, and a small cake for Melayna to dig into during the session. We must have changed her five times during the session. Coleen let us do what we liked and kept everything natural. She would see Scott interact with Melayna and start taking pictures. She valued our opinion and thoughts as well as suggest our own. She was patient with our curious, active baby. I was amazed at how easy the process was and how relaxing it was. When Tristan turned one, we took him to one of the mall places (Sears, JCPenny’s, or some department store like that). We waited and waited because they were running behind. While Tristan was cute, he never smiled. The pictures were too plain, too ordinary. After our session with Coleen, we got to preview the SOOC shots and choose what we liked. She took at least two hundred shots! While I wish I could keep almost every one of them, we had to narrow it down. I think we got it down to just over fifty. Anyway, none of the shots were too plain or ordinary. It was our little girl’s personality shot after shot. Her cheesy grin when digging into the cake. That trouble-maker shining through when she was doing something she really shouldn’t be doing. Her curiosity seeking out something hidden. And her persistence, always trying to go for what she’s after over and over again.
If you’re in Colorado Springs, or close by, and looking for a photographer that is personal and creative, I suggest meeting Coleen. She doesn’t just do portraits of babies. She does family sessions, senior photography, sensual photography, weddings, and more. She’ll come to you where you want to shoot (the park, the mountains, your home, etc) or you can see her in her studio. Either way, you’ll be impressed with what she does. For a sample of her work, check out her site at TINaciousphoto.com.
Here is a teaser photo she sent us after post processing work:
Melayna had her nine month check up two weeks ago. She's a big girl, apparently.
According to the charts, she is in the 98th percentile for weight and 96th for height.
Our daughter weighed in at 23.5 lbs and 29.75 inches long!
Funny thing about our little girl is that even though she has the typical baby Buddha belly and chunky legs, I don't think she's fat.
She definitely loves food. And her brother. And getting into things she shouldn't be getting into. And standing up. And putting things in her mouth.
She is definitely going to cause trouble as she gets older. I know that she and her brother are going to fight and argue. I have a feeling, though, that she will be the instigator. She will be the source of most disagreements. I can see it happening already.
So, life has been busy. Life has been hectic.
Besides being super busy with work, we've had a whole bunch going on that I just haven't been motivated to post.
Since my last posting, we made our second trip to the Renaissance Festival. We dressed up Tristan in usual fashion, but for Melayna I finished a princess dress just for her.
These pictures don't show everything, like the shoes I made to match. The dress isn't perfect, but it looked adorable on her.
She wasn't happy here. She really needed a nap.
This time, Tristan got an octopus painted on his face. 
An even better picture of Captain Jack of the Colorado Renaissance. Not bad, eh?
So, Melayna has another tooth...well, now it is actually two more.
Friday, I discovered one of her two front teeth (on the top) had finally poked through her gums. Naturally, I wanted to take some pictures. But I'll get to that in a second.
So, today, I decided to post about the new tooth. I got home, got dinner on the table and set up Melayna in her chair with some noodles. That's when I noticed another little bit of white sticking out from her gums. I checked it out and sure enough there were two of her teeth poking through. Now my little girl has four teeth.
Back up a few days to when I was trying to take some pictures.
All I kept getting were pictures of stuff in her mouth, her trying to grab the camera strap, and not correctly centered. It was hard trying to take a picture and manage to get a wriggling infant to open her mouth and lay still.
Then I had an idea. I called Tristan over and had him stand just above her head with her toy in hand. Melayna loves her big brother. She loves to look at him, smile at him, squeal at him, and play with what he's playing with.
It worked perfectly! If you look closely at the one below, you can see the second tooth close to poking through.
Now it is Melayna's turn. :)
Check out parts one and two for more pictures of a great time at the Renaissance Festival in Larkspur, Colorado!
So, Melayna, despite being limited in size and abilities, had a very enjoyable time as well. She was carried in wrap for part of the time, but mostly enjoyed the scenery from the Radio Flyer. She didn't get any special outfits. She didn't get her face painted. But she still had fun.
Melayna had fun because she was outside, enjoying the good weather (albeit windy), and she was with family, especially her grandma.
Who wouldn't be happy with Grandma? She even got her face painted.
Just chillin' with Grandma at the jousting tournament.
I think Melayna's eyes does the same thing that Grandma's does when she smiles. What do you think?
Grandma loves her grandkids. She spoils them rotten.
She loves to take Melayna around just like what she did with Tristan (and still does, too)
I think one of Melayna's most favorite part of the festival was the food. Most everything served there is on a stick or served without utensils.
She loved the sausage on a stick. Seen her after stick was removed for safety reasons.
But what is even better than a sausage on a stick? Why, turkey leg, of course!
Quick, daddy isn't looking!
Shoot, he's starting to look this way. Better hurry!
I got it!
Oh, no. He's taking it away. Slipping from fingers, must pull harder!
But, but.....it's mine.
Thanks Daddy!
Get your own turkey leg!
Remember my post about Melayna....so close to crawling? That was just a few weeks ago. Since then she's taken off.
About a week after that post she was officially crawling. Not the scooting around, but the full-on hands and knees motion.
Well, today we got an unexpected surprise.
Scott went in to our room to get the girlie (who woke up from her nap in a good mood). He then called me to come over quick.
This is what I saw....
Yes, she figured out how to pull herself up to a standing position all by herself. She isn't even eight months yet. We at least had time to get ready for movement milestones with him. This little lady just isn't content just crawling or sitting still. Even with diaper changes she's much more wriggly than Tristan ever was.
We're in trouble now....pretty soon she'll be up and walking about. I can't believe how fast she's growing.
This week is a special week at iheartfaces. Check it out at www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com.
We get to choose what we think is our best picture. I had a difficult time choosing. I hope this one fits the bill. :)
"I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites."
Melayna is so close to crawling. She's on the move....scooting, pushing, creeping, and rolling her way around our living room floor. She just doesn't have the coordination yet. Soon, though. Really soon. I can't believe how fast she's growing. Seven months have already gone by. She can sit upright on her own. She already has two teeth and I can feel her upper teeth just below the surface. She loves food...even pickles. She'll stick just about anything in her mouth...even a dandelion. She doesn't like to sit in the grass - especially barefooted - which leads me to believe she might be all girl. She doesn't like to be tossed near as much as Tristan did. She prefers watch and hear you talk than being left alone. And she's really starting to show affection. She's much better at sleeping, although she still needs at least one nighttime bottle. And she loves to "talk" to her brother.
Here are a few pics of my baby on the move.
She loves doing these "push-ups" It is so cute when she does them.© Free Blogger Templates 'Photoblog II' by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008
Back to TOP
