What's Up With Diana?

Diana is 11 months old today.  It's hard to believe that in one month she'll be a year old.  This year has gone by very quickly.  Diana has made some new developments recently: stacking the rings, scooting backwards, saying "Dad", and moving across the room by rolling over.

Diana is concentrating on stacking the rings.

My New Camera!

For Hanukkah I received a new (high tech) camera from Sean.  I have been trying it out and managed to take about 200 pictures in the last two days.

Here are some of the first pictures.

Video footage of Diana in the snow

We took Diana out in the snow again on Sunday.  This time, we put on a lighter, more flexible coat so she could move around.  This seemed to make her much more interested in being outside.  We had about 8 inches of snow, so there was lots of stuff to play with.  

I videotaped the event, and here the link to the raw footage.  It's totally unedited.  Some day, when I have time, I'll make a little Diana snow movie.  But for now, to appease the diehard blog fans, here's the footage:

Diana in the snow

It's Tuesday, and we've been able to drive around the city a bit.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we'll be able to due Christmas in West Seattle and Hanukkah in Portland.

Diana's First Hanukkah

Last night we celebrated the first night of Hanukkah.  We had a quiet night at home lighting the candles, playing dreidel, listening to Hanukkah songs from the Barenaked Ladies holiday album, and watching the snow fall.

Dad and Diana celebrate the first of eight crazy nights

Diana intently watched the dreidel spin.  She tried to eat it afterwards.  She wins!

Diana opening her first Hanukkah present.  

Diana's first Hanukkah present was a xylophone.  Remember, Diana, there's a difference between being in a band and being in band.  Only a band will pay for your parents' retirement, so that's what you need to do.  No pressure or anything.

Diana really picked up the xylophone quickly.  And I mean that literally--she picked it up and tried to eat it.  After that was done, she tried to eat the wooden xylophone mallet.  When neither tasted like cheese, she decided to play the instrument.  

Neverending snow

We awoke this morning to find 4-5 inches of new snow outside our house.  I'm thinking about protesting because snow has one purpose--canceling school.  Snow during the holiday break makes no sense.  It's like Wookies on Endor.  But I digress.  

Diana woke up in a positively exuberant mood this morning.  She was ready to take on the day, snow or not.  She spent part of the morning playing with Grady:

Grady later went out in the snow, and was not impressed.  We have about 1/2 inch of ice on top of the snow, so at first Grady could walk on top of everything, but then she started sinking, and that was enough for her.  She bounded back into the house and under the bed--a much safer alternative.  

Here's the view from the top of our street looking down the hill.  Our house is on the right.

Here's the view from our front yard.  Our house is straight ahead.  

More Snow!

We've had two snow days in a row now, and it actually snowed on one of them!  Diana stayed home from day care yesterday and today, and it's been fun to hang out with her.  We took Diana out into the snow this morning.  This was the first time that she experienced snow falling on her face.  She was unimpressed.  It was dad's turn to take pictures, so it's mom and girl snow picture day:

Diana and mom bundled up

Look, I'm standing in the snow!  So is Diana!

Diana contemplates walking in the snow.  She ultimately decided against it.  Wise move--the local news said transportation was dangerous today.

How cute!

SNOW! And other happenings

Diana has been moving more.  She is standing longer (holding onto something), and taking more steps (holding our hands).  She is now rolling onto her tummy in her crib at night.  Diana has begun to try and pull herself up to a standing position.  The few times she has tried this in her crib she has gotten frustrated.  Her legs get caught under her. 

Look!  I can hold on with one hand!

Diana enjoys standing.

Diana experienced snow for the first time today.  It snowed when she was first born,  but she stayed inside.  

Snow!

All bundled up with daddy.

She is sooooo smart!

Some of Diana's aunts seem to be in a block spelling competition. Little do they know that she's already adept at obscure pop culture references. Case in point:

Diana Rolling Over

Diana likes lots of things--the swing at the park, food, her parents, etc. One thing she has never really cared for is tummy time. She learned how to roll over from her stomach to her back several months ago, and this proved to be a good coping mechanism when her overbearing parents tried to practice tummy time.

Tonight, though, she made a big step forward. She rolled over from her back to her stomach. Not just once, mind you, but about a dozen times. I didn't get video of the first roll, but later on in the evening I was able to capture the new moves. Like any good parent, I stopped grading US History homework (we're studying suffrage, and women will continue to have the vote whether I enter the homework grades tonight or tomorrow...) and pulled out the video camera. Here's the footage:

Diana Rolling Over from Courtney Harris-Campf on Vimeo

On the video front, we have some earlier footage that we'll try to put up when we have time.

Books!

Diana has recently been showing an interest in books.  She in now holding them and opening them up.  She spends a few minutes looking at them on her own.  She has begun to turn the pages.  She gets mad if we take her book away or it is out of her reach.

Reading with Aunt Adrienne.

We had a chance to see Adrienne for a short visit before she headed back to New York.

Diana is reading Stellaluna.  This is a new book from Great Aunt Leslie.

Reading with Nana

One book is not enough.

Diana and Flynn reading together.

Thanksgiving

Last week we went to Portland for Thanksgiving.  We saw a lot of family and friends, ate good food, and relaxed.

Diana dressed up for Thanksgiving. 

Giving Grandpa a goodnight snuggle.

G2 playing with Diana after Thanksgiving dinner.

Cousin Brett meets Diana for the first time.

Diana helps Nana cook.  Someday she'll do more to help then eat the bag.

Annabelle and Diana

Edgar is still a bit jealous of Diana.  He tried to take her toys and get attention anytime Diana was getting too much attention.

Diana at the park near Nana's house.  Daddy pushed her very high.  She loved it!

Diana bundled up for our walk to the park.

Diana is more interested in standing.  She has begun to take steps while holding onto our hands.  

Other random pictures

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That was Diana saying hi.   I let her type for a minute, and she hit the keyboard a couple of times.  Then she tried to eat the keyboard.  When I took her away from the computer, she totally lost it.  I think Diana was just trying to say that she's a natural blogger and that she's ready to communicate with the world.  Either that, or Apple is really scoring with their new banana-flavored keyboards.  

Diana likes squash so much, the whole cooking thing is optional.  Diana is featured in her new big girl car seat, courtesy of Nana, Babies R Us, and the great sales-tax-free state of Oregon.

A theme is emerging...

We know Diana is learning quickly, but this is ridiculous.  

Diana has also started shaking her head back and forth like she's saying no.  That's cool, but I'm still working on her saying "yes we can."

November Updates

A lot has been going on this month.  Diana is finally sleeping without being swaddled.  We knew this was coming some day, and the image of a 4 year old being swaddled in a huge sheet was a bit disturbing.  She's not always falling asleep as quickly as before, but she's getting herself to sleep, and the transition hasn't affected the amount of sleep she gets each night.  

She's also standing up all the time.  She still needs something to hold on to, but her legs are getting much stronger.  She can stand for several minutes at a time.  She really has no interest in walking, but she really wants us to help her stand.  When she's sitting on the ground she'll reach out to us.  For awhile we thought she wanted to be held, but really she wanted help standing.  This has been fun to see.  

Other than that, school has been busy.  Sean just got done with conferences, and Courtney's start on Monday.  We're looking forward to seeing the PDX family over Thanksgiving.  

Diana hanging out with dad at HNA.  Notice the tubs in the background--we have a future debater here!

Diana reading in West Seattle

Diana with Aunt Colleen

Diana all bundled up to go out.  As you can see, we're a family that puts serious emphasis on stylish hats!

One transition for Diana is that she's drinking her sippy cup without handles.  Check out that form!  Uncle CJ would be proud.

We've Been Busy!

It has been a few weeks since we last posted.  Sean has started his debate season and has been at tournaments the last two weekends.  We miss him!

Diana turned 9 months old!  She weighs 21 pounds 14 ounces and is 29 inches tall.  She has gained 15 pounds and grown 10 inches since she was born.

Diana has begun to eat finger foods.  She was not able to pick up the food and get it in her mouth until this week.  She has been enjoying cheerois (organic o's) just like Sean did when he was little.

Diana loves Grady!  She is working on her gentle touch.

Will and Diana

Diana loves her daddy.

Diana has been practicing standing up.  She is able to stand holding onto something for a few seconds.

Diana is not a huge fan of standing on her own.

Danielle came for a short visit

Yum!

Halloween costumes with PEPS friends.

Diana tasted a leaf.  Yuck!

Thanks to Aunt Colleen Diana had a personalized Mickey costume

Last weekend Aunt Marianne and Aunt Colleen babysat while mom took an exciting first aid/cpr class.  Grandpa Joe joined them for lunch.