Trying New Things

On Saturday night we decided that we felt like going out to eat and we were both craving Waffle House. I would say that Waffle House is like a cross between McDonald's and Denny's Restaurants... they are everywhere in this part of the country. The hash browns are delicious and I like mine "smothered and covered". (That's smothered with onions and covered with cheese for all of you who don't know the Waffle House lingo.) This was Jessica's first time at a Waffle House so we had to take pictures.She's looking at the food on the table... she kinda looks grossed out doesn't she? She kept sticking her tongue out at the waitress when we weren't looking and the waitress would come by and tell on her.

Full meal: $11, not too shabby.

The pacifier is a new thing, I call it my "secret weapon". It is hilarious to me when she sucks on it, here's a video:

Last night Jessica was in a terrible mood and was extremely frustrated with me. So I did the only thing I could think to do. Take all her clothes off diaper and all and let her run free, never fails to please her. Then she tried out her Bumbo seat in the buff and you can see that it was quite enjoyable for her.

Pinkerton had to investigate. Curious little feline.

I got Jess a Pack n Play from Target. She will be mobile in no time and I need to be prepared. The cats ran a quality control check on it and it checks out: it will play nicely, Jess.

After the cats broke it in, Jess got her turn and it was worth the wait.

I finally got my little girl to laugh. It seems that everyone else is able to crack her up but me. Finally, something I did amused her. She must not have my sense of humor because I didn't think this was all that funny.

The Squadron Children's Christmas Party

Joe's squadron had a Christmas party for the kids on Saturday. The party was in the main hangar and included hot cocoa, cookies, arts and crafts, two giant bounce castles and Santa flew in on a T1. Here is Santa's plane pulling in.After the crowd mobbed Santa, Jess got her turn on his lap. This Santa was really skinny, he tried to stuff but it just made him look like he had a butt in the front. Jess was a wonderful little angel even though I made her skip her morning nap to see Santa again. I just had to get a picture of her in this adorable outfit.

She waited patiently on my lap for Santa to arrive.

Then she waited patiently on daddy's lap.

Actually the party was a little chaotic, there were a ton of kids there... but Jess was the cutest (of course)... hee hee. Another family shot thanks to my friend Audra.

I like this picture because she is looking out of the hangar in the direction of Santa's incoming plane.

The outfit was loaned to me by one of the mom's in my "Stroller Strut" class at the gym. She has a little girl that is one month older than Jess.

A Christmas Story: The Celebration Begins!

The community center on base had a Santa meet and greet for all us cool people that live on base. Jess was the first kid on Santa's lap that day because all of the other kids were scared and she had to show them how it's done. That's right, Santa can't take his eyes off Jess. (It's the bald head, he's attracted to it like a moth to the flame). I took like ten pictures and he is staring at her in all of them, is that normal? Yes, those are little reindeer faces on her feet.

She loves looking at Christmas decorations. I think next year is going to be really fun for her because is going to be able to experience it more. We'll see if her and Santa are still cool then.

Jess helped me decorate the Christmas tree. And Bunker helped too.

About an hour after this picture was taken one of the cats knocked the tree over; water went everywhere and ornaments shattered. I was at the gym so Joe was home all alone with a screaming baby and that disaster to deal with. He looked a little shell shocked when I got home from the gym as he described the whole ordeal and then he said, "We aren't having any more kids, Lexi!" (We'll see about that.) I understand the reasoning behind the fake Christmas trees and shatter proof ornaments now. This glorious tree is now out on our front porch. I am dreading the task of taking it down after Christmas, pine needles are going to get everywhere.We found a small animal nest of some sort deep in the branches when we unwrapped it... Bunker went crazy sniffing it. Poor little creature.Jess is really getting the hang of eating with a spoon. Lately the easiest method is to put her in her red bouncy chair in the kitchen. It's the most comfortable for her so she can concentrate on eating.

She loves it when I let her run free in "diaper only" attire.

More Christmas to come!

New Friends in Pensacola

We've officially had our first 3-way married couple date today. We met two other couples that just got stationed here at Pensacola at the same time we did and we all have little girls too. We met downtown at the Jordan Valley Cafe for some delicious gyros... and so far I haven't gotten sick.A Santa on a motorcycle drove by while we ate lunch. Tis' the season.Then we walked down Palafox Street which ends at Pensacola Bay.Joe discovered some pelicans that were not afraid of humans, and they take GIANT poops.We got a family photo with the pelican. As you can see, it was a gorgeous day. Jessica was pleased as punch with all the scenery, she didn't make a peep except to blow raspberries and flail her arms and legs with excitement occasionally.

Here's a group photo of the mommies and their little girls. Jenny and her little girl, Ella, are on the left. Audra and her little girl, Allyssa, are in the middle. Ella and Allyssa are only two weeks apart in age.Here are Ella and Allyssa's dads helping them play. Joe probably felt a little left out but he'll be chasing Jess around soon enough. She only sat in her stroller momentarily while I ate my gyro... I must have walked two miles with her strapped to the front of me.

J's newest thing is sucking on the wings of the dragonfly toy that I attached to her car seat... I have to share these cute pics of her caught in the act.

I finally got Jess to take a bottle the other day... she has to hold it herself, so independent already. Here's a video of her holding the bottle.

Here's a video of Jess doing the "salamander dance".

A California Thanksgiving- Part 4

When Mooma and Grandad dropped us of at Grandpa Jim and Grandma Kari's I thought we might have to get the fire dept to bring in the jaws of life to get Jessica out of Mooma's arms. Grandma Kari worked her magic and made Jessica laugh which made us all laugh too. There is a mutual affection between Jess and Grandma Kari that was instantly obvious on this visit.

See: Jess doesn't let anyone else hold her that way... but she was all snuggled up with Grandma Kari.

Jess and Grandma Kari have their own language and whatever Grandma Kari is saying to her must be hilarious.

Friday evening, before our red-eye overnight trip home, we spent some quality time with GGP. Grandma Pat made us lasagna for dinner and we sat around talking and playing with J until it was time to go to the airport.

The lampshade in the upper right corner was a big hit with J. She likes the little fringe of jewels hanging off the bottom (Mooma had shown me this with a lamp with similar fringe at her house). J and GGP played with the jewels together.

Aunt Lindsay and Kasey drove down all the way from Chico to spend a few hours with us, thank you, we really enjoyed spending time with you.

I kept trying to get Jess to take a nap but she would wake up every time I got up. Daddy had to lay down next to J on the floor and pretend he was me so she could get a nap before our long night of plane rides. It worked, sometimes Joe surprises me with his Jessica skills.

Last but definitely not least, here is a video showing Grandpa Jim and Daddy playing with Jessica and making her laugh at Great Grandma Pat's house just as Aunt Lindsay and Kasey were leaving.

That concludes our Thanksgiving trip to California, stayed tuned for some Christmas themed blogs.