Rolling Over

Playtime

Playtime
Originally uploaded by dandeelines.

She has fun batting her arms and accidentally getting hold of something.

Bryce and Miranda

Bryce and Miranda
Originally uploaded by dandeelines.

Playing

Wilber
Originally uploaded by dandeelines.

Not a lot of time to write, but wanted to post a few pics. Miranda is becoming more and more interactive and has begun playing with her toys. She has also spent some time with her friend Bryce this week. Her parents and he are moving this weekend to Tennessee. We are going to miss them a lot.

Miss Potter

Last week Dan trustingly sent me to Blockbuster to make a selection. With his words “Just don’t get a movie you haven’t heard something good about” ringing in my ears I almost settled for Happy Feet as it was the only flick there I’d heard anything about. I’ve heard it has good music and fun animation, but also that the story is sub par. However, I was in the mood for a good story and not really desiring animation, so I continued scanning the walls. I came to Miss Potter, which had a very large section and many of the DVD’s already taken. I took that as a good sign. It’s rated PG and is compared to Finding Neverland. It stars Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellweger. The true story of Beatrix Potter, it sounded good to me. I decided to go for it and be prepared to take full responsibility if it was a disaster, since I hadn’t heard a word about it. Fortunately, we loved it! The dialogue is clever, the story compelling, and Zellweger is a genius of an actress portraying the genius, Beatrix Potter. (AFTER you see the movie read her biography at wikipedia.com) So if you haven’t seen it yet, go out and rent it with confidence…knowing you’ve now heard something good about it:o)

Disclaimer: If you prefer seeing cars flipping over peoples heads and bombs going off, be forewarned this movie is on the calmer end of the dramatic spectrum.

Just Hatched

Just Hatched
Originally uploaded by dandeelines.

We've been watching this mother with her eggs for some time now and this week we were fortunate enough to see this little treat. We are so blessed to have such nature right outside our door... in the city! This picture was taken just off the walking path by our apartment complex which meanders around lakes and through trees. I am pretty sure these ducklings had hatched just a few hours earlier because one of them (in another picture) didn’t even have fluffy feathers yet. I went back to check on them later in the evening and the ducks had already left the nest and were sitting safely under their mother’s wing by the water’s edge. I wished I could have been there to see them jump from the tree and bounce onto the ground. Those poor ducklings had at least three feet to free-fall. Andie LOVES going on walks. She is usually wide-eyed with her head cranked straight back, (which cracks Dan and I up) but on this particular day she slept through most of the nature hike.

By the way, Miranda is official a roller over. She rolled over from her stomach to her back three times today!

Our Backyard

Nature
Originally uploaded by dandeelines.

Real Babies

Real Baby
Originally uploaded by dandeelines.

This is my Real Baby doll I got when I was seven. Her name is Emily. I remember being at the store in front of a wall full of Real Babies and walking up to one. I got real close and whispered to her through the plastic cover on the box that I was coming back for her. Wouldn't you know it my parents went back and got that exact one for my birthday, at least I'd like to think so;o) My friend had one whose hair was such a matted mess that I resolved that was not going to happen to my baby. I almost always left her little bonnett on, only to take it off on rare occasions to carefully comb it. Now here she is with my real baby, Miranda. Don't they kind of look like sisters?

Andie's Girlfriends

Andie's Girlfriends
Originally uploaded by dandeelines.

When I was home I was able to see my two college roommates, Molly and Meredith. All three of us have had girls within a year. It was great to get together with them and see their little girls. Here is Andie with her new friends, Anna (5 mths) and Georgia (11 mths).

Since I have returned I have reflected a little on my trip. Here are some of my thoughts:

A FEW THINGS I LEARNED FROM FLYING ALONE WITH AN INFANT

Wear jogging shoes (not as needed if you follow a couple of the other guidelines below) and pants with and elastic waist. (Old maternity pants work well and you may still need to be wearing them anyway:-( These are especially helpful when using the restroom with a baby strapped to you).

Pray the Lord providentially sits you by someone who loves babies.

When riding an escalator with a stroller, just as much caution is needed upon exiting as is needed when getting on. Make sure stroller is centered and wheels are directed straight ahead.

Err on the side of a long layover rather than a short one- that is if you want to be able to eat or go to the bathroom, WALK to your gate, leave time for delays, board early- basically make your connection while keeping your sanity.

There is no hot water in an airplane bathroom, but warming milk with your own body heat works well, that is if your body is warm.

Nursing in public is public. Don’t waste time looking for a discreet corner in the airport. There aren’t any. And the “family bathroom” has no added comforts, just enough standing room for your whole family.

Make friends quickly with the person sitting next to you. You may need their assistance in changing a poopy diaper.

And this should be a given, but... CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOUR GATE HASN’T CHANGED. Even if (especially if) you only have ten minutes to get to your next flight, as the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention…”

Miranda's Great Grandparents

Miranda and I flew home about a week ago to introduce her to family and friends. We had two open houses, one at the Lehman's and one at the Blosser's. Here she is meeting her heritage for the first time. People who have spent years loving her grandparents and parents. People who have a story to tell of God's love and faithfulness to them. People who have faithfully told the Story. It was a delight to see them each with her. Click on any of the photos to see more people Miranda got to meet (more coming from my mom's camera later).

Meeting Great Grandpa Lehman

Meeting Great Grandpa Lehman
Originally uploaded by dandeelines.

Meeting Great Grandpa and Grandma Blosser

Meeting Great Grandpa and Grandma Blosser
Originally uploaded by dandeelines.

Meeting Great Grandma Dorothy

Meeting Great Grandma Dorothy
Originally uploaded by dandeelines.

Meeting Great Grandma Showalter

Meeting Great Grandma Showalter
Originally uploaded by dandeelines.