gumball machines, grocery carts, baths...

... these are a few of my favorite things....

So - the only "gumballs" that I know are big & plastic, and they go into my toy gumball machine. It is pretty self-explanatory... you put the gumballs in the top, push the lever, and they come out the bottom with a lot of fun noise and music to drive mommies & daddies batty. I have had my gumball machine for a couple of months, but it has taken me a while to get the hang of it. After a couple of weeks with the toy, I could push the lever to make the gumballs come out, but just yesterday... I started putting them back into the top. Just when mom & dad were giving up on me... I did it! woo hoo! In the 1st video below, you can see my gumball machine skills. You'll notice that I have a little trouble pushing the lever hard enough, but daddy helps me.

Earlier today, I got to try out my BRAND NEW shopping cart cover. My amazingly talented & sweet Gingi made it for me. My nutty mom could not find one that she really liked, so she begged Gingi to make one for me out of her 2nd choice nursery fabric. She did not have to beg hard... Gingi said she was up for the challenge. Yeah right - it was obviously not a challenge, because that cover is perfect! I was definitely the most stylish baby at the grocery store today. I suppose it's better that I have a cover now, because I really like to gnaw on the shopping cart while mom's driving. This way I won't lick up all of the nasty germs on the handles. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, Gingi... I looooove my cart cover. Mom let me gnaw on the cover as much as I wanted today.

Finally... in the 2nd video below, you can see that still LOVE taking baths. I get very excited when mom or dad starts to run my bath water. I crawl right on into the bathroom... see for yourself!

lunch w. aunt e & chowin' on chickin

Oh, how I love my ewicka ("aunt e" for short). Lucky me - I ate lunch with her today at Subway....and I've finally put on enough pounds (ha!) to wear the blue jean skirt that she gave me many months ago. I must say that it looked quite darling with the sheer butterfly top that my Popi brought to me from NYC a while back. Boy was my outfit hot today!


I should also mention that I have decided to boycott the Gerber Puffs that mom gives to me a million times a week. Mom's a little bummed, because that used to buy her at least a few short moments every day to clean up the kitchen. Part of the problem is that they've begun to give me more big people food. Aside from the ever so popular peas that I've come to love, over the past few nights - they've let me have shredded chicken, a nilla wafer, and chicken 'n' rice. Enough is enough on the puffs, mom! Bring on the meat and potatoes!

Well, no videos for you tonight (mom's been slackin'), but enjoy the pix. I'll try to do something "video-worthy" tomorrow :o).

it's my bebay's birthday

Woo Hoo!

It's your birthday, Aunt Bebay!

Where's my present?

Oh, wait... I forgot... I don't get presents on YOUR birthday, huh? Bummer.... I'm still learning about this birthday stuff.

JUST KIDDING.... hope you have a great day! HUGS!!!

girls just wanna have fun

Mia and I don't see each other much, (only every couple of days) so we decided that we needed a girls' day out. We don't require much $$$ to be spent (that'll soon change, daddies)... in fact, we were happy just to meet at Sonic for lunch & then spend the rest of the day napping & playing on the floor at Mia's house.

Below are a few pictures and videos from our day. In the 1st video... you may mistake my actions & think that I was trying to bite my friend. Now really.... I am so sweet & I LOVE my Mia... do you guys really think I would try to BITE her?? NEVER! I was simply leaning in to give her a lil "kiss" on the cheek. Needless to say - my mom was freakin' out, and they managed to keep me from doing any damage. It's a funny one - you'll like it!

You can also see us making some music with Mia's blocks and my old oregano bottle filled with popcorn (high dollar toys around the Lewright house - ha!). In the last video, you'll notice that we spent some time hollering out the window (aka: signaling for someone to rescue us). Gosh we're growing up super fast.... at least that's what we hear our mommies say all, every day! :o)

clap, clap, clap your hands

That's right.... I have been working on mastering my patty-caking skills (aka: clapping), so that I can cheer for my COWBOYS!!! Romo's been doing his job (and I must say - he's quite the looker, too) ... so as a good fan, a girl's gotta know how to clap for da' boys!. I've been practicing overtime on this one, guys!

I've also been saying "da da" a little bit more. I actually said "da da" months ago as my 1st words, but I've kept that one in my back pocket until lately. "Ma Ma" is getting a little overused, so I think I'll see if I can pull on daddy's heart strings a little now :o) - he he he!

Mom took me for a walk this afternoon.... it was such a gorgeous day outside! After the walk she caught me monkeying around a little bit in these videos. You can see me clapping & saying "da da" (if you listen closely). You might also notice that mom's been working with me on my flexibility, too.... ha ha - not really!

Other than that... the pictures are from yesterday afternoon... just dad playing around with his new camera again... enjoy ladies & gents!

front row seat

Have you seen the latest Baby Einstein video?... it's a must see! Mom has not been playing videos for me much lately, but tonight - - she must have been really beat or something - ha! We were sitting on the floor by the couch, when I decided that I was tired of the cheap seats.... I needed to be in the front row, so - I boogied my little booty on up to the tv to watch. She pulled me back several times, but eventually just gave in & let me watch it up close & personal. Check out the video to see me practically put my nose on the screen.

Oh - and what's a movie without popcorn? Well... supposedly, I can't have popcorn just yet, but mom got out my banana puffs & I munched while we watched. Below, you can see some of the pix of me chowing down.

What a great show - you oughta rent it!

sharing & shakin' it

For the past few days, I have been sharing my toys 'n' things with mom & dad. Yeah, yeah - so I don't really understand the concept of sharing yet (wadda you people expect from an eight month old?), but if mom holds out her hand... I'll usually give her whatever I am holding. In the 1st video below, I am playing with my basket of socks.... one of my favorite pastimes. You'll see me pass the socks back and forth a few times. What can I say?.... I'm just "little miss sunshine" - like my t-shirt says!

Also... I've been shakin' the toshie my momma gave me. Sometimes, a girl just gets the urge to bust a move & so.... I DO! There's not much technique to my dancing yet - just a lot of bouncing up and down while standing against something. Honestly - there's not even any music on most of the time... but who needs music - I make my own! .... perhaps mom & dad have misunderstood this for dancing & I am really doing squats, so I'll have a toned, rock hard bottom... you be the judge!

Oh - and just for kicks.... here are a few pictures that I took with Mia on Monday. She came over for a dinner party, because her daddy's out of town. Don't be sad, girl... he'll be home, soon & then you'll be ready to get rid of him again ;o)...he he he! Just joking... I love you, Uncle Bill!

If you look really closely at this pic - you can see that Mia's got her 5th tooth poking through on top. No fear, my dear - I know a really great dentist. Now if yours truly could get some more teeth - that'd be great.... maybe for Christmas, Santa???

toilet paper & waves

That's right... you heard it... I like to beat on toilet paper... so what's it to you? Ha! Can you tell that I'm struggling for a good story tonight? Anyway... I did have a blast with the TP pack tonight, so mom caught a little bit of it on video for you.

I am also still perfecting my princess wave. Until just the past few days, mom has not been convinced that I know what I'm doing... but it's becoming more clear to her now. She waves at me and I wave back. What a concept, huh? Come on mom... give me a little credit. If you check out the 2nd video below, I will wave at YOU, too!

Oh - and how could I forget?... daddy got a new camera for his birthday, so he's been playing around with it today... I included a few goofy new pix. You'll see a few of me checking out dad's dirty shoes and a few of me with my sisters (aka: doggies). In a couple of the pictures, I am looking at mom's baby pictures. Mom got them out to see if I look like she did... It might be a little hard to see, but you be the judge of that... wadda you think???

Whoa... hold on just a second... is that ME or MOMMY????

brushing & flossing keeps dentists away

I don't suppose I'll be able to stay too far away from my dentists :o)! As you can imagine - now that I have a couple of chompers, my daddy makes sure that they are sparkly clean before I go to bed at night. The 1st video shows my daddy brushing my teeth & gums - you can hear them squeak.

... but brushing isn't all! When it comes to flossing, my popi always says.... "only floss the ones you want to keep"... so he & the girls at his office will be happy to know that I am taking the advice seriously. Although I have not actually taken any floss out of the container, I have found that the little box itself makes a pretty good chew toy. It smells minty... I like it! Mom has even caught me digging in my toy basket to find the floss, hence the picture. Check out the 2nd video for a glimpse of my "flossing technique".

The other videos are of me goofing around in my bouncer toy. If you've not yet heard me "talking"... you can hear me in these! Now that I can move around, I don't much like to be restricted to it, but every so often - it's ok for a little while. After all... I have to make daddy think that it was worth the $$$ he spent on it... otherwise I'm afraid he'll quit buying me any toys.... bwaa ha ha!

happy, happy birthday, daddy!!!!!

Today is my daddy's birthday! I want to let him know that he should not be down today... even though he is one year away from being 30, I still think he's the most handsome, fun, cool dad a girl could have! I can't wait for you to come home from class today, because I want to give you a big slobbery birthday kiss!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!

I love you very, very much!