So many choices!

Alena has been trying new food this week. So far she has had butternut squash and peaches (the squash was fine, but the peaches were well received.) Saturday, she will be tasting a new vegetable or fruit. Here is your chance: which food should Alena eat next? Cast your vote on the right side of the screen. The winning food will be eaten!

Aunt Julie's visit

Alena had a fun time with Aunt Julianne, who was visiting from Denver this week. We broke out some new toys to play with, including Learning Town and some big soft blocks. We went for a walk outside, even though the temperature was only in the 30s. But Alena started out the day in a drawer...

Alena hit the scales at 14 pounds, 3 oz.

Alena and Aunt Julie play with the boppy.

Alena had to wake up from a nap to say goodbye to Aunt Julie, so she wasn't willing to give a smile. Or maybe she was sad to see her go!

Hanging out around the house

Alena sitting in her Bumbo and playing with a burp cloth

Reading a book from the library

Playing with a beach ball in the baby aquarium

The weekend in review

After starting the weekend with a bang (eating from a spoon), Alena had a lot more fun things to do. Her friend Maren came over Saturday night to play. Alena learned a lot from her as she is 11 months old. Then, cousin Tillie was baptised on Sunday. There were many people to meet! Alena got so tired that she had to sleep through the brunch following the baptism. Fortunately, she was awake and ready to play when Grandpa Ed and Aunt Kristina came over for a visit. The weather was nice so it was the perfect day for a walk. Aunt Kristina even pushed the stroller.

Alena tried on her new dress to wear to church. Good thing she tried it on early so we could work out the kinks of dressing her--Dad put her bloomers on her head as a hat!

Maren was very good at sharing toys.

Alena remembered her cousin Emily. Here they are picking out a ribbon to weave for a display at church.

Grandpa and Alena had a good time playing.

Alena eats from a spoon

Today was Alena's first time eating food. On the menu was rice cereal, served up with a green spoon. Alena did a good job of swallowing most of her meal and she seemed to have fun doing it. She has been watching people eat for a long time now, and it was about time she got to see what all of the fuss was about! She was insistent on holding the spoon herself, which slowed the process significantly.

Alena is 5 months old today!

Grandma Diane thought it would be fun to dig out Dad's old hats that he wore as a baby for Alena. She does look stunning in hats. This hat makes her look a little like a baby jockey. Grandma, can I have a pony?

Thanks for sharing your hat with me, Dad!

Here is Grandma Diane's Ultrasaucer. It is fun to play in for Alena, plus it really amuses Mom because it is Medieval themed. Alena's favorite toy on it is the king and queen that play music and flash lights. Mom's favorite toy is the spinning rotisserie pig. Very authentic.

Sitting

Alena has been practicing sitting by herself. She is getting better at it, but sometimes still needs a hand.

Spitting

To all of you guys out in Denver, we had a 70 degree day yesterday! Alena and Mom spent a lot of time outside. We went for a walk in the morning, and then in the afternoon Alena sat in her bouncer chair and watched Mom clean out the flowerbed. Later, we laid on a blanket and looked at the sky. A bunny rabbit hopped out from behind the shed but Alena scared it away before we could catch it and make it our pet (everyone knows how much she loves bunnies!)

Alena has really stepped it up a notch with her spitting and razzing. Here is a small clip of her doing just that. You may want to step back from the screen a little.

Big week

It was a big week for Alena. She started out Monday with her 4 month check-up. She weighed 13 lbs, 11 oz and her head circumference was only in the 10th percentile. We lucked out that she got Mom's small head instead of Dad's giant one. Dad teases that the next baby will have his head. Mom shudders to think. Dad had been sick all week and Friday we found out he had strep throat. He is starting to feel a little better, though his voice is out. He has been speaking to Alena with clicks. She doesn't seem to notice the difference. And the biggest news of the week is that Aunt Angela and Uncle Tyler had their baby on Saturday. Against all odds they had a boy! His name is Finn and he is very handsome. Lily is excited to be a big sister! Alena was happy to hear that she had a new cousin, although sad that she won't be able to meet him for a couple of months.

Alena has been up to a lot of new tricks over the past few days. She has started smiling more at Mom and Dad and also has been talking more. She notices everything that is going on around her. She really enjoys watching her parents do laundry. One of her favorite games is to look into the mirror with Mom and watch as Mom sticks out her tongue and makes funny sounds and faces. She is getting good and grabbing things--pretty much whatever she can reach. Sometimes it is a toy, sometimes a necklace, and her favorite, the glasses off your face. After she gets the glasses she sticks them in her mouth. She does not let go easily! But the biggest news is that her hair is coming in. It is not noticeable in pictures, but it really is true! She was thinking it should be long enough to donate to Locks of Love by her first birthday (that might be a bit of an exaggeration.)Baby cousin Finn

Alena love to read and hug her books

Baby track suit

Sticking out her tongue at Dad

Sick Dad, aka Sith Lord in a kitty cat cloak