Welcome to Microsoft

Lilli experienced the vast world of Microsoft today. We joined Jon for an early lunch at The Commons, the small food and shopping center within the Microsoft campus. Lilli loved crawling on the spotless pavement while we enjoyed an al fresco Indian lunch and riding high on Daddy's shoulders around the campus. We visited Jon's cube and rolled around on the astro turf football (soccer) field. I think this may have to become a regular outing.

In the meantime Lilli has some accomplishments I know she would like me to share. Besides sporting 6 sharp white teeth and weighing in at over 18lbs (18lbs 10 oz as of February 3rd) she is also sleeping through the night! There have been some exceptions, due I believe to yet more teeth possibly moving around, but on the whole we are a better rested and happier trio! However this latest development is even more exciting than 8 hours of blissful uninterrupted sleep. Lilli is starting to get it! She plays with us and can show us that she understands! We play chase around the house, peakaboo now evokes squeals of laughter, she knows exactly want she wants and does not want to do and she can wave, clap, lift her arms up, kiss and wrinkle her nose when prompted with words. We do have a slight confusion with the wave word since she limp-wristedly flaps her hand at the surfing "Wave Sheep" in her book "Where is the Green Sheep?" Kisses are great fun and very sloppy. She dives in for mouth to mouth kisses with lips in a big O and coated with drool! Delicious! She loves swaying to music and strumming Jon's guitar. We're trying to discourage our budding Jimi Hendrix from plucking the strings with her teeth!

Her activity level continues to increase. If there was a speed crawling event at the Olympics I believe she would win Gold. She sprint crawls from one corner of the house with fun off-limit toys, such as the computer, to the opposite corner, with the TV and stereo, to the bathroom where we've always successfully won the race to the toilet brush on which she's impatient to gnaw. If not crawling, then she's climbing up and over boxes or standing with the help of the bars of her corral. Thankfully she has mastered the fine art of gentle descent by slowly bending her knees to return her padded diapered bottom to the ground. However her preferred ground texture is wooden floorboards, concrete, lino or rug. On recent sunny day outings (the weather has been beautiful here) to the park and the beach she refused to venture off the picnic blanket. She instead sat close to the edge warily fingering the grass / sand.

Investigations!

Lilli has been an inquisitive little bean! Her latest exploits include:

1) Studying squirrels (and generally any furry or feathered creature that enters into her field of vision).

2) Moving the tupperware back and forth across her face to compare what the world looks like directly verses through the dull scratched plastic screen.

3) Playing chase with Mummy.

4) Picking up minute specks of dirt from the rug with thumb and forefinger and inspecting them closely before applying the taste test (if Mummy isn't quick enough to intervene).

5) Smiling mischievously over one shoulder at Mummy when about to play with shoes, wires and plugs (Mummy needs to contain her amusement and become more consistent when scolding).

6) Roughly examining faces with her hands, pushing at eyes, poking little fingers up noses, batting cheeks and chins, pulling off spectacles. If you're not careful then she'll try to chew on your ear!

7) Mimicking Uncle Pete, especially when he roars like a lion!

8) Kissing and licking her reflection in the mirror or generally anything smooth and cool. The fridge door, dishwasher door and window panes are also great candidates for the lick test.

9) Turning the pages of the book (far too quickly for Mummy and Daddy to read though).

10) Crawling over and under, swinging at the park, bouncing, standing and climbing.

11) Comparing two objects, one in each hand. She'll first visually inspect them, then explore their taste and texture with her mouth and finally the last test is the sound experiment. What noise do they make when banged together?

12) Taking things out (shape puzzle pieces, pots within pots, toys hidden within pots).

13) Playing peakaboo with a blanket or the laundry or any fabric draped over her head!

According to "The Wonder Weeks," Lilli is starting to categorize the world around her. She is exploring and studying objects, people and animals to discover how they are similar and different. Apparently this novice researcher is beginning to think more like an adult. However these big changes are also impacting her emotional life. Her experiments always require a lab partner! Mummy can't stray far, otherwise there will be tears. Our little wriggly and fiercely independent baby now enjoys cozying up for hugs. There are times when all she wants is to be carried around in my arms, legs astride my tummy and with a fistful of my sweater, watching my every movement with big wary eyes.

What a Week!

Lilli's social world got a whole lot bigger this week! Here are some notes from her diary:

Saturday 30th

Spent the afternoon with Nana and Grandpa who are staying with Auntie Laurie and Uncle Greg. It was so good to see them and all my cousins again!

Sunday 31st

Went back for brunch. I love showing off my crawling and talking to Nana and Grandpa. And they have one of those walking teddy bears, this one though is really fluffy and his bark scares me and makes me cry.

Monday 1st:

Today was boring. I stayed at home with just Mummy for company.

Tuesday 2nd:

Mummy and I played on the swings in the sunshine. In the afternoon Daddy came home early and went spent the afternoon back at the house of the walking teddy (which they call Logan).

Wednesday 3rd:

I had to go to the doctors. Everyone at the doctors was really friendly, but they were fickle. Otherwise why would they poke needles into my legs. Ouch. That hurt. Then Mummy, of all people, turned against me. She left me to cry in my crib during my nap. I didn't want to go to sleep. I wanted to play with her. So she left my by myself in my dark room. I was so upset. I did eventually sleep because I was so tired from trying to climb out of my crib and crying. However that afternoon she made it up to me by taking me to visit Nana and Grandpa again!! I love talking to Grandpa and pulling Nana's laces. I even got to nibble on cousin Max's cast (broken feet are much tastier!). I was so tired that night I didn't really notice that Mummy left me to fall asleep by myself. I did try to protest, but she distracted me by letting me cuddle Floppy Teddy.

Thursday 4th:

We went to the park again! I love the swings and the slide. And Daddy and I hung out with Nana and Grandpa again! If it weren't for the fact that I'm left alone in my room every nap and bedtime, this would be the best week ever!

Friday 5th:

I love swimming! I splash my arms and kick my legs in the pool. It was chilly today. My lips turned blue! But I warmed up in the shower. After swimming I caught up with my friends, Oliver, Harrison and Bennie. They were all born in May, like me. Back at home I hit my head twice. Once when I was helping Mummy load the dishwasher and the second time when I was helping Mummy fold the laundry. I think Mummy needs to be more careful when I'm kneeling up and standing. I'm still very wobbly. The second bump made my head spin.

I tell you, this thing they think I can learn, they call it "self-soothing," is hard. I just want to hang out with Mummy. I hate it when she leaves me alone. I have to keep her in my sights at all times. I cry and cry when she leaves me in my crib, but she ignores me. It doesn't feel soothing at all.

Tomorrow:

They tell me Nana and Grandpa are coming over to visit us tomorrow. Mummy is making them an English breakfast. I hope I get to have some too!!