A talker! Mercy me!

LITTLE CHARLIE CHIPMUNK

Little Charlie Chipmunk was a talker. Mercy me!
He chattered after breakfast and he chattered after tea!
He chattered to his father and he chattered to his mother!
He chattered to his sister and he chattered to his brother!
He chattered till his family was almost driven wild
Oh, little Charlie Chipmunk was a very tiresome child!

Helen Cowles Lecron

6-month pictures

We had Allison's 6-month pictures taken on Sunday. Here's a link to all of them (only the good and the bad because there are no ugly ones). She is too friggin' cute for words!

6-month pictures on Flickr

Solid Foods

After doing a lot of reading about transitioning breastfed babies to solid food, we decided to skip the rice cereal/oatmeal phase and go right into food. So, this afternoon, Allie got her first taste of bananas and I think she liked it! She has been so interested in our food for a while now and she knew just what to do with that spoon.

It's a little bittersweet for me because she's never had anything else. My baby is growing up too fast for me!

First swim class with Allison

I originally posted this message in my own blog, but I thought it appropriate to post a copy here as well.
- Kevin

* * * * *

Allison and I went to our first swim class together this evening. We signed up for a 12-week class on Thursday evenings at Schoolcraft College, where Tiffany and I took dance lessons with both sets of (grand)parents before our wedding. Wow, it's hard to believe, but that was over two and a half years ago!

I'm excited about this swim class, not only because I think it's important to teach her water safety at an early age but also because it's a chance for some daddy-daughter bonding. Tiffany came with me for the first class -- she just had to, because she's curious like that -- and I think she now wants to come every time. I think she's a little jealous, so I may even let her swim with Allison one week (only one parent is allowed in the water per child)!

Allie has really been enjoying bath time lately, not only kicking and splashing but also playing with foam letters and numbers. Tiffany even gave her a bubble bath this past week as a treat, and she loved it! I think that has been good preparation for her. She didn't cry at all when we first got in, although she did have a five-minute cry session later into the class. The instructor, a kindly woman in her mid- to late-forties, offered a few colorful toys that eventually distracted and enthralled Allison enough to calm her down so we could rejoin the group.

As we were waiting on the pool deck before class time, I was surprised to see a face from the past -- Bill Serlin, a former coworker of mine back in my consulting days at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, is taking the class with his daughter, Julianna. It's probably been about eight years since we last worked together, and now we're both married with new children! His wife, Danielle, was also there, so we were able to say our hellos all around.

All in all, it was a pleasant time and a great way to start off swim lessons. Aside from her brief crying episode, Allie was adorable as ever and took to the water quite well. I'm looking forward to our Thursday evenings together.

Look who's sitting up (and drooling!)

I took this video of Allison last Saturday while she was just playing on her mat. She can't get herself to a sitting position yet, but she can sit and play with no problems for a long time once you put her there. She's growing up so fast!

Next Sunday will be her first foray into the world of solid foods. Wish us luck!