For Daddy

We're Almost There, Guys

Ow, owwww!!!

I couldn't stop wolf-howling at Hazel. She just took SEVEN steps in a row!!!

Iconic September

Hazel found the jackpot: apples from the neighbor's tree. They are the perfect size for her squishy little hands. It is surreal watching her take bites out of an apple. It makes her seem like a little kid instead of a baby.

I couldn't resist grabbing the camera. The moment just screamed "September!" The plaid, the leaves, the apple... Aah.

I love Hazel's winter hat.

Is it so wrong to feel vanity through your child's wardrobe?
I bundled Hazel up for our morning walk and couldn't stop thinking the paparazzi should snap a photo of her adorableness as we strolled through the entire neighborhood. Never you mind that I was still in my pajamas, with frazzled bedtime hair. My kid is a looker! Plus, don't you just want to smooch those huge, soft cheeks?!

A Week of Firsts

This week Hazel had her first hair-do:

I'm not sure if I love it.

And she also took her first step. She was walking from ottoman to couch, holding on to the furniture. Left hand on ottoman, right hand reaching out to the couch. Arm span not quite long enough to breach the distance. Left hand lets go, one foot lifts, she takes a step forward. Balance. Then she kind of fell into the couch as she tried to take the second step to get there. She did it twice in a row. That's my girl!

I really thought mac & cheese would be a hit.

Nope. Of the five or six noodles that actually made it into Hazel's mouth at dinner, only about two did not immediately come squirting back out, accompanied by a wrinkled nose and a "phleh." Mostly she just had a fun time playing with gravity.

Oh, brother...

Todd is growing a post-mobe 'stache. "All the guys are doing it." Please.

Vote on the sidebar to let us know how long you think Todd will keep it.

Travel Advice, Please

So I'm heading to Cali in mid-October to pick up my man. Yay! Taking the chica 'cause it's about time she and her dad saw each other again.
The plan is to play with old friends for a few days until Todd gives me the word that he's headed to Sacramento (we may only have a few hours notice on this - who knows with that darn army). Then go meet up with the sexy demon and do some apartment hunting before we hop a flight back to Utah. All the timing is variable, so I only bought a one-way ticket out. We may be there a week, it may be two or more.

So the question is, how much baby gear do I pack? Todd and I are masters of carry-on only, but I'm pretty sure that went out the window last December first, due to the arrival of the cutest baby on the planet.

Aaw, so sweet!

My biggest quandries with this trip are the stroller and the carseat. Neither were an issue when we went to Italy because Hazel lived in the Baby Bjorn and we took trains everywhere we went. Not the case this time. She's too heavy to keep in the carrier for long periods of time. That is, not if I want to keep my shoulders.

I did not buy Hazel a seat on the plane. She'll be riding on my lap. But do I still bring her carseat (and consequently haul it all over the airport all by my lonesome, while juggling Haz and all our baggage) or do I shell out the $12 a day to get one with our rental car? I can just see me limping through the terminal, dropping things here, there, and everywhere, while Hazel cries and wants to get out and play.

Which brings me to the stroller. In my mind, it's a lifesaver. Hazel's got a spot to be other than my arms, there's a basket to help carry some of our hud. But it's no umbrella stroller. It's a chunky Graco.

This thing is enormous.

Which will take up an inordinate amount of trunk space in our rental car, begging the question - where will all of Todd's stuff go? I could get an umbrella stroller to take, but then it's no help with hauling our baggage in the airport. There goes my third and fourth hands.

But can I really live for two weeks without either of these items? Are they more than worth all the agony of lugging them around? I kind of suspect they are.

So would anyone with airport/baby travel experience please let me know how important these things are, and tell it to me straight: how much of a pain is that carseat in the airport?