Playtime!

Archie's changing every day, but he's still a little baby and there's nothing a little baby likes better than playtime! Moreover, there's no better playmate for a little baby than Mama and Daddy! Thankfully, a little baby doesn't require too many fancy toys and play equipment. He's still discovering the world of wonder everywhere, including rustling under the covers on our bed!

Black and White Photography Favorites

Security

Discovery

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Happiness

While Archie's eyes are daily beholding new variances in color, I'm enjoying capturing some of his precious baby moments in black and white. I've enjoyed reading about his eyesight development and learning that within the next two months, his vision will be nearly fully developed, and he will be able to enjoy the same nuances of color that we do. (Go to http://www.babycenter.com/0_developmental-milestones-sight_6508.bc if you want to learn more about infant eye development.)

Look, Ma! No hands!

Archie celebrated his 6 month birthday March 15, and we celebrated by snapping this photo of him sitting up by himself. (You see me on hand in the background to catch him when he starts to topple over because at this point his independent sitting only lasts a few seconds!)

By the way, happy Saint Patrick's Day!!! Did you remember to wear green?

What Is This Stuff???

It's a bird! It's a plane! Hey, what's coming for a landing into my mouth anyway? Archie had his first taste of carrots this week, followed by his first taste of pumpkin four days later. This brings the total cuisine on his culinary palate up to six items (milk, baby rice cereal, baby barley cereal, baby oat cereal, mashed up carrots and mashed up pumpkin)! I know he's quivering with anticipation at the thought of trying mashed up sweet potatoes and peas next week.






He's also making an attempt at holding and drinking from a cup of water. He loves to help us hold our cups, but he's not too interested in his own sippy cup at this point. I'll post a new picture when that changes :)

Barbecued Squid: A Brazilian Treat?

Is barbecued squid really a Brazilian delicacy? Someone familair with South American cuisine help me out on this one. All I know is that Hunter and I went to a South American barbecue tonight, and we were served barbecued squid, barbecued cow's tongue, some kind of heart and a host of other strange fare that seemed to me a bit more Asian than South American. Anyway, would you like to come to dinner with us next week? (In picture, tongue is the wide thing behind the corn, and the heart is the little thing by the banana on the right side of the plate: the squid isn't pictured but we really ate it - honest!)


To complete our night out on the town, Hunter and I went to a supermarket near the restaurant. While we were there, Archie created quite a stir being the only white baby for miles and miles around. Below are a few of his admirers.

Archie thinks taking the moving sidewalk from the grocery section to the everyday goods section is a blast. (I know you can't see it really well in the picture, but it's flat like a moving sidewalk so you can take your shopping cart except it has the same slope a normal escalator has. There's some kind of magnetic apparatus to keep your buggy's wheels in place.)

Nothing like taking the taxi right to your door.

Why Am I Not a Professional Yet???

I have the world's best subject for photos - a baby (and a super cute one at that). What's more, Hunter and I recently bought a new camera. As if that weren't enough to transform me overnight, I've been looking at all sorts of baby photography websites! Now, only one question remains: Why have I not magically metamorphosed into a professional photographer? I mean, come on, I've read about it. Maybe my problem is that I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night!

While I have gained a whole new level of respect for the pros, I've posted some of my attempts at getting lighting and posing just right for you to enjoy!

From our front porch looking out! (Country music buff's will catch my play of words on the Lonestar title, but everyone else might find "Looking out the window" more accurate.)

Precious feet!


Pretty in yellow!

Wide eyed wonder!

Hunter even joined the photography fun on this one!

7944 miles and counting

Seven thousand nine hundred forty-four miles. That, my friends, is the total of Archie's international traveling miles as of our latest trip to Thailand. He's really quite the fabulous traveler although the first day back can be rough while he decompresses. Our trip was filled with many firsts for Archie, and we were thrilled he got the chance to meet his paternal grandparents and great aunt while he was still only 4.5 months old!

First family portrait:

Aunt Kay, Leslie, Hunters III&IV (Archie), Grandma Brenda and Grandpa Hunter

First time sleeping on Grandpa's chest:

First time eating rice cereal: May I have some more please?

First airplane ride TO Thailand (last time he only rode back!):


First time in the swimming pool:




First time riding/driving elephants: (Archie stayed home with Daddy)

Studio Portraits 2.5 months

Above are a few of my favorite Archie pictures ever. They were done in a local studio when he was 2.5 months.