8 Months

First of all, sorry for the belated post.  I've been so involved in the photography world that I've let myself fall behind on the blog.  I'm not beating myself up over it, though-- it's a miracle if I get anything done in a day, much less writing and editing and photoshooting on top of Lua's normal demands.  All things considered, we're actually doing pretty well!

At least I remember to get dressed in the morning.  And usually before noon.

So Lua is eight months old!  (Actually nine, but we're playing catch-up here)

At eight months, she's as easy, sweet, and cheerful as ever.  She's still the most easy-going of her friends, and also still the least motivated.  We're proud to announce, however, that after seven full months of blatant, almost willful, inactivity, Lua is finally teetering at the very edge of mobility.

Her two newest tricks are as follows:

Scooting.  With great, great determination and a lot of upper body strength, she can now pull herself across the floor.  She does this with her hands only, slapping them in front of her and dragging herself forward.  She's still pretty slow, but so proud.  This is a whole new world for her.

Walking (with help).  Somehow, this girl-- this cheerfully lazy bump-on-a-log-- has become a very handy little walker.  She needs help to get "up" and then to keep her balance, but she can toddle along on her little feet just fine, as long as someone is there to balance her.

She's also developed a good pincher grip in the last month, which means that she can feed herself at mealtimes.  Unfortunately, that means that she can also feed herself at non-mealtimes, too.  She seems partial to dead bugs and lint.

Her new-found abilities are so promising and so nerve-wracking at the same time!

So proud!  Happy 8 months, Little One!

First Photo Shoot

Thanks to the encouragement of friends and family, I am venturing into the world of small-scale family photography.  Taking pictures is something that I love to do, and it's something that I can do outside and with my daughter (and with new friends and their babies, too!)  

I've decided to start off small and just take pictures of the moms and babies in my inner circle here in Santa Cruz.  So far, I've done four photo shoots, including one with Lua.  I have five more lined up in the next couple of weeks.  Everything that I'm doing now is free, since I'm still practicing and getting my footing.  I enjoy it so far, but I will have to decide if I'm ready to turn my hobby into "work."

Here are a few pictures of my very first photo session, first with a very accommodating LauraDawn, and then with Dan at the beach.  I like them, and I think that they're a positive start.  

Lua, of course, is an unusually easy baby to work with!

Rice Krispies and Squash

It's been fun watching Lua develop an interest in solid food.  She eats everything that we give her, but with varying levels of enthusiasm.  Watch her different responses to the following two meals.  The first video shows her eating Rice Krispies with some mild interest (check out the spinning feet!).  The second shows her lunging at the spoon and wiggling in anticipation (yes, that's her panting).  

In general, we're learning that the greater the mess she makes-- and the more she kicks and spins her arms-- the more she is enjoying her food. 

Egyptian History Museum

The weekend after Dan's birthday, we took a trip to San Jose for a day of hiking.  Unfortunately, it started storming just as we pulled into the county park.  We changed our plans at the last minute, and, on a whim, went to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum instead.  Neither one of us had been there, but we didn't want to waste the afternoon.  

It turned out to be one of the best day trips we've ever taken.  

The museum houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in western North America, including several sarcophagi and two real mummies.  There are also several animal mummies, along with other burial artifacts, jewelry, and a life-size rough-cut tomb.  Fantastic!

We didn't get to see the whole museum, so we'll have to go back in the future.  

We took very few pictures, but we did take a video.  Here's Lua in one of the museum galleries, getting very talkative on Dan's shoulders.  She was pretty loud, but, at 5 minutes until closing, were were the last people in the museum.  

Listen, and you can hear her say, "Dadada!" for the first time on film.

Baby Swimming

Last Friday, Dan and I took Lua to the pool for her first-ever swimming session.  

It.  Was.  Adorable.  

She absolutely loved it.  She smiled and smiled and smiled and smiled and laughed and laughed and laughed.  It was the cutest thing ever.  I don't know if I've ever seen her so happy.  She was just so gleeful and excited!

Dan dunked her twice, and she did a good job holding her breath.  She really enjoyed getting tossed and puttering around like a motorboat, although when we put her down face-first, she did try to lick the water. 

Here are some pictures of Lua's first day at the pool (with some of her other baby friends).  So cute!  

Mateo (4 months) and his mom.  Look at his hair!  

Sequoia (4 months) and her mom

Emma (6 months) and her mom

Lua in the pool!

Lua's best bud, Gwen (also 7 months) and her dad

Lua with her mom

Lua with her dad

Laughing and laughing!

Watching Dad play in the water

Getting tossed in the air

Heidi and her girl, Sequoia

Sequoia's little wrinkled feet

It was such a great family outing.  It was fun to watch Lua get so excited about the water.

We bought a multiple entry pass, so we can go back often in the future!