bath time

maren says hi

Maren learned to wave this week! We're not sure exactly how, since we hadn't been working on it particularly, but she began to wave 'hello,' mostly to dad, and now she is waving 'hello' to everything, including (so far):

the highchair

the laundry

six people at church

whoever picks her up from the crib in the morning

applesauce

Grandma and Grandpa on videochat

and just about anything else.

She has also developed a keen sense for the camera and smiles whenever you bring it out, which makes for some great photos but means it's hard to catch her on the sly! Perhaps she has a future in photography - as you'll see, she would really like to help take the photos. We are pretty sure her assistance would not be covered by the camera warranty.

Sitting up!

Showing off my new 'scrunchy face' smile

It's important to focus carefully on the task at hand.

Hi, Maren!

Can I help with the camera?

Really! I can help! I'm good!

See? Who else would eat this strap? Not you, mom.

Okay, fine. But just let me know. I'm available anytime!

busy girl

visualize whirled peas (and rice cereal)

So, remember when Maren's opinion about bathtime looked like this?

Thankfully, she's changed her mind. Now, bathtime goes more like this.*

Which is good, since dinner time continues to look like this.

*Oh, and bathtime won't be taking place in the kitchen sink anymore. But the counter needed wiping off anyway.

the food fest continues

I could work on captions for these photos, but all you really need is this:

Maren's first encounter with squash.

Enough said.

Pictures, shall we?

Those 57 washcloths we received as baby shower gifts are really going to come in handy.

maren meets sweet potatoes

Saturday marked Maren's six-month birthday! Six months? How did that happen?

She has learned all kinds of things in the last few weeks: she's sitting up almost without help (although there is the occasional face-plant or sudden lurch backward to watch out for); she's making all kinds of new noises (including squeals which will serve her well if she ever decides to go live with the seagulls); she's rolled over from back to front (although she refuses to do this on camera so far); and, to mark the big half-year mark, on Saturday she tasted her first non-milk food: sweet potatoes.

And a few more fun photos from the last few weeks:

Two of my favorite activities: sitting and chewing. Does it get better than this?

Sit? Why yes, I can sit. Was there ever a question? Of course I can. Why do you look so surprised?

Good thing I wore these on Sunday, because the sun may never appear in Seattle again.