A Story of Aftyn . . . in Pictures

Little Stinker.

Rolling . . . and Other Twists and Turns

I've been feeling a little confused the last 2 days.

Confused about who I am and what I'm supposed to be.

Mostly because at work, they decided to let me go a week early. It was nice, since Aftyn's got the flu, our daycare provider (my sister) has probably got the flu, and who knows where Aftyn could go for care since most people are avoiding the flu like the plague! :) who knows it might end up being that way!

So, now here I am, with the prospect of many many tomorrow's to enjoy with my Aftyn girl, keeping the house clean, making dinner, doing laundry. . . . and not knowing what to do with all this extra energy that wants to invest itself into something beyond my house and my baby!

As my husband has told me, this is my opportunity to become whoever I want to be. Does that mean I'm having a mid-life crisis this early, already trying to find myself again?!

This might take some getting used to.

I'll keep you posted.

And by the way, Aftyn's rolling a LOT lately. Video to be posted soon!

What's Happening To My Baby Girl?

I started noticing things this past weekend. With Aftyn.

Suddenly my baby is changing in so many ways! In so many grown up ways, instead of

being that helpless infant. Here are just a few I've noticed:


--- Wanting to kick off her blankets at night when swaddled, which made for a few
cold moments in her life until she and I both figured out the whole blanket
thing. Now she chooses not to kick off her blankets as long as I don't swaddle
her. I think she takes it as a personal challenge to get out if I do swaddle.

--- LOOKING at the pictures in books. You can actually watch her eyes go back and
forth, going from one page and then to the other. She really enjoys brightly
colored pages. I think this has definitely been helped along by my sisters
kids who love to show her books when she goes to their house to be watched
while I go to work.

--- Talking. She loves to just make noises in her crib at night when she wakes up.
It's now how I can tell the difference from waking up with tummy pains because
she's hungry or gassy and "I'm awake so I'm entertaining myself by playing with
my hands and sucking on them."

--- Even the way she plays with toys. It's in a more awake, alert way. She's
really trying to grab things, to feel them with her mouth. She now loves to
suck on her soft blankie my sister made and her super soft bunny that her
grandma gave her.

It seems my baby girl is bound and determined to grow up, whether I want her to or

not. Mostly, I'm okay with this newfound independence and inquisitiveness she's

showing. It means I can share the beauties and wonders of the world with her. In

all their complexities.

Per Request

Someone at church mentioned to me how much they enjoyed the new pictures I had put on the blog of Aftyn and Reed and I. The same person then requested to see ALL the pictures that had been taken. Normally, I would have already done so, but when I do it, I feel like I am tooting my own horn and how cute my child is and look at all these cute pictures we have of us. When really, I realized, I am tooting the horn of the photographer who TOOK them. And so, I would like to show the fabulous shots my own sister Alyson took.
By the way, you too can experience the fabulous photography skills of Alyson. Go to Alyson's Photography on my sidebar to find out how. And by the way, for a limited time it's FREE!

Tummy Time With Aftyn

Random Posting

Aftyn surprised me this morning after she woke up from her mid-morning nap by turning from her back to her tummy! I honestly thought she would never do it since she seemed to dislike her tummy so much. She has had more opportunities to lay on her tummy this week, and I think she is beginning to like it because she can push with her legs and try to scoot herself forward. That little stinker! I'm afraid she will be crawling before we know it!!

Our Latest Trip

Yes, that's right. Her shirt says "Did ya moose me?".

Proof that not only did we go away, we bought Aftyn our only souvenir! (The other one we received is also for her, and was a gift from Reed's VERY sweet Aunt.) (This picture is further proof of Aftyn's latest talent, spit bubbles!)



Last weekend we decided it was time for our one and only camping trip of the whole summer, and it was actually in the fall! Here's where we went:



We had so much fun. It was great to just relax, enjoy nature, do some wading in some very cold water, cook some food over fire, and did I mention just relax as a family?

Thanks bunches to Reed's aunt who shall remain nameless lest you try to go and visit her too and enjoy the mounds and mounds of helpfulness she provides.