I'm just going to lounge around this weekend

Like this.

I'm already studying to be a doctor

I'm starting with "Inside Your Outside" by Dr. Seuss! DOCTOR Seuss!

I turn mommy and daddy into lollipops

SUUUUUCKERS!

I LOVE to play peek-a-boo! Especially during feedings

I'm just so playful.

Mommy will try anything to get me to try solids

She even tried putting one of my whole grain cheesy poofs in her mouth to see if not being offered to me would make it more interesting to me (it did).

Jingle me, jingle me, jingle while I crawl...

To help me learn about my limbs and their movement in preparation for crawling, mommy and daddy put jingling toys on my wrists and ankles. Every time I move, I hear fun noises! It's fantastic. Except I can't quite get the ankle toys in my mouth... yet. Don't worry - I'll figure out a way. I always do!

I tell funny stories

And I crack myself up!

Just ... a ... little ... further!

Ah, success!

I was telling daddy a story and he interrupted me!

I showed him what I thought about that. Bzzzzzzzt!

Happy Earth Day!

Save the planet. I'm checking to see if this toy is environmentally responsible.

I'm on the verge of crawling

Whoa, that's tiring.

2am? PARTYTIME!

Woohoo!

"She has a strong personality" is a politically correct way of saying I'm a little dictator

Most of you already know that mommy and daddy are stubborn. Rather, they have strong personalities. They know what they want. Whatever the euphamism, we're opinionated; and there is no doubt whose opinion matters most. MINE.

When mommy or daddy do something I don't want to do, I look at them square in the eye, purse my lips, turn my little nose up and shake my head "no." Mommy and daddy can't help but to give in to their little dictator.

Eight months old! Time flies.

2/3 of a year! Look at me, I'm already doing fractions!

The way I love prunes, I will always be regular!

I'm going to make some more nice, big presents for mommy!

Mommy and daddy were worried that I wasn't taking to solids. But now they think I just prefer finger foods that I can play with and feed myself to that runny disaster of rice cereal and oatmeal. Who could blame me?! Given the choice between "table food" and soggy, watery rice cereal, what would YOU want to eat? I'm just a gourmand in training. Please pass the capers!

Oh prune, I'm going to SMOOSH you!

They're smooshy - I like to play with them and squeeze them in my strong little hands. Then I jam one in my mouth and chew on it a few times. Sometimes I even shove one in mommy's mouth! I'm a giver.

Consider me beach-ready

I see sandcastles in my near future! Sandcastles in the sand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgBMFwVeIGI.

Further evidence that I'm going to be a model

Look at me strike a pose!

Oooh, a new toy!

Going in for a closer look...

And a bite!

Happy Easter!

Mommy and daddy tried to take pictures of me on a blanket with my multi-colored eggs, but I kept pulling the blanket over my head and cracking up. They didn't want to post a picture of me with my face covered by a blanket. Besides, they were too busy trying to uncover me to mess with documenting it! What a fun game of peek-a-boo!

You've heard of the Easter Bunny -- I'm the Sweetie Bunny

Mommy and daddy said so.

Mommy loves "naked baby" time

But she leaves my diaper on because she knows I'm precocious!

I saw a squirrel!

He ran up a tree as soon as I came out for my daily walk. I must be very intimidating.

Hee hee!

Sometimes I just like to curl up on daddy's lap and suck my thumb

It's very relaxing. Don't I look relaxed?

Vampire daddy!!

Anyone have some garlic? I need to keep this vampire at bay!

Mommy and daddy took me to Chandon for champagne tasting while we were in Napa!

Domaine Chandon in Napa has two champagne tasting menus: a prestige featuring three varieties of bubbly and classic, featuring four varieties of bubbly. Naturally, we HAD to go.

Actually, mommy and daddy weren't planning to go wine tasting at all because they thought there wouldn't be time for it -- but daddy's work has "team building" exercises for employees who go on experiment. Since the experiment was in Napa this time, they decided they would be remiss if they didn't go wine tasting. Since nobody else had a preference of where to go, mommy got to choose Domaine Chandon. The grounds were lovely and the setting was very relaxing. Mommy said it was the perfect environment to drink a bottle of champagne. Ha ha. I hit the bottle, too. I even made it festive by donning some bunny ears in celebration of Easter.

Everyone was disappointed that etoile restaurant was closed (it's apparently closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays -- who knew?!), and Mustard is closed for renovations and that French Laundry reservations are all but impossible to land, but they all enjoyed dinner at Brix while sporting a buzz from the group tasting.

I have something very important to tell you

Thththththththththththththththth!

We had lunch with mommy and daddy's friends -- and I made a new friend, too!

I was so busy playing and unpacking that I did not get to post this while I was still in Napa.

Daddy's college roommate, Chris, and mommy's RCIA friend, Madeline, live just outside Sacramento with their daughter, Darcy. When mommy and daddy found out that we were coming to Napa, they emailed Madeline and Chris to see if they were available for lunch. Thankfully, they were! Mommy and daddy were very excited to see them again, and to finally meet Darcy (she also has a blog)! Last they saw each other was several years ago at daddy's other college roommate Steve's wedding.

Madeline suggested Taylor's Refresher in St. Helena, saying that they have "the best cheeseburger ever in the history of the world." Mommy knew she had to be right. Whem mommy took the bar exam, she stayed with Madeline (who was in law school at McGeorge then) instead of staying at the hotel with those annoying law students who like to compare answers and discuss the test at the end of each day, and they went out to dinner every night. Mommy was so impressed by Madeline's fantastic taste and ability to find great restaurants that when it came time to choose a place for lunch, mommy knew Madeline wouldn't disappoint. And, as usual, she didn't. We enjoyed a lovely lunch last Saturday.

Darcy is a few months older than me, and as someone older and wiser, she gave me some helpful tips on crawling, standing and eating solids. What a nice girl! I hope to see her again soon.

Wachoo talkin 'bout, Willis?

Many things try to compare...

But there is simply no substitute for my thumb.

I AM THE LORD OF THE RINGS!!

Daaaaaddy, when are you coming home?

I called him all by myself to find out when he was going to come home to play with me. Okay, maybe I had a little help from mommy. But I held the phone all by myself, and I talked to daddy!

I like diamonds

I'm always playing with mommy's rings. Sometimes I try to remove them from her fingers so I can put them on mine!