Merry Christmas - Dancing with Baby Einstein Table

Charlotte LOVES her jumper now

... it only took a few months :) But now at 9.5 months, she is a pro.

Laughing with daddy

Walking (assisted)

She's growing up

Charlotte can now pull herself to standing in her crib... I guess it's time to get some crib rail guards.

And she's on the go...

After 2 weeks of only crawling backwards, Charlotte is on the go... forwards!!

Yes... it IS time to lower the crib

I put Charlotte down for a nap around 7 or so on Sunday night... and went in a few minutes later to check on her. I found her sitting straight up in the crib playing with her mobile... time to lower the crib!

Here are some pictures of the process...

"Hee hee mommy... I'm making you move the crib down by yourself"

... and afterwards

"Now how do I get out of here?"

Time to lower the crib?

I'm not sure... but I think it may be time for us to lower Charlotte's mattress to the lowest level...

"Hello mommy...."

Notice the hand on the top of the rail...

"Why am I in here mommy?"

Giggling Charlotte with her new favorite toy

Mom and Dad got Charlotte these balls from gymboree for her Baptism (well, as one gift)... and she LOVES them!

"Wake Daddy Up" video

Play Dates - 09/23

Charlotte has quite the active social life. Here is a video from our latest playdate:

Drinking from a straw

Charlotte drank from a straw last night for the first time. Actually, it was my straw from my orange Clemson souvenir cup (it was water). I don't think they typically do this until later.

Side note - A bunch of new pictures are posted here.

Babbling Baby

Just in the past few days, maybe a week, Charlotte has started babbling nonstop. The following video is an example of this: (By the way, I think we have a messy baby on our hands)

My Little Tiger

Charlotte's First Clemson football season has started off with a bang!!


Clemson vs Middle Tennessee

On labor day we drove up to GA to spend some time at my parents house on the lake. Then on Friday, Eric and I headed over to Clemson for the first friday parade and to go out downtown Clemson. Charlotte stayed with mom and dad in Georgia.

Saturday mom and dad drove to Clemson with Charlotte for the tailgate and to hang out for a few hours. Charlotte met Annabel, a fellow baby tiger, and the rest of the gang. I was hoping she would take a nap, but no... she was wide awake the ENTIRE time!

Clemson vs. Georgia Tech

For Charlotte's second Clemson game we were with the Clemson Alumni Club over at Bostons Gourmet Pizza place. She was great! She stayed awake until the 3rd quarter - it was so loud in there I don't see how she fell asleep, but it WAS late.

6 months old!!!

As of yesterday, I have been a mom for 6 months! It is crazy to think about.

Here is an update on Charlotte's accomplishments:
1. Rolling over both ways - 4 mo & a wk or so
2. First airplane flight (to NJ, then 2 weeks later to IL) - 4.5 mo
3. Solid food - 5 mo
And so far Charlotte has tried:

• Rice Cereal
• Oatmeal Cereal
• Peas (homemade - recipe)
• Mixed Vegetables (homemade)
• Sweet Potatoes (homemade)

Next up on our list is:

• Bananas
• Avocado

4. Swimming - 5 mo

5. Sitting up unassisted - 5.5 mo (with the occasional fall)
6. 1st time to the park - 6 mo (and 1st time on the swing)

1st Game of catch with Daddy

Eric is already pushing sports on our little darling... last Saturday was Charlotte and his first game of catch. It's quite cute, take a look!

Babies are so flexible

Charlotte has officially found her feet... and now sticks them in her mouth at all times (especially when she's on the changing table).

Peek-a-Boo Baby

We have a new game with Charlotte... I put her somewhere (exersaucer, jumperoo, floor) and I hide behind the couch or the kitchen and then I jump out and say "peek a boo". Charlotte loves it, she just busts out laughing at this. It is the cutest thing ever (of course I may be a bit biased):

Charlotte's First Vegetable

On Saturday, August 8th we introduced Charlotte to her first vegetable... homemade peas... and she liked them. She was messy... but she liked them (although it doesn't look like it from the second picture).

It was a very simple recipe:

Baby Food Peas

1 frozen bag peas prepared as directed on package (usually add 2 T of water in microwave and cook for 7 minutes or so)

Put peas and pea water in food processor.

Process until smooth.

Add more water as necessary.

Freeze in ice cube trays and once frozen dump into gallon freezer bags.

I'm sure it's true for all babies, but Charlotte absolutely loves all types of cups, mugs, wine glasses, etc... and she get this look like "why are you taking my cup?" when you take a drink of it. The following are just a few of the cuter cup pictures we've caught on camera:

Charlotte enjoying some coke in a mug at Great Grandma's

Charlotte drinking Grandpa's soda at a restaurant in Tarpon Springs...

... and giving him the "look" when he takes it back

Trying to get the wine glass

Grabbing Grandpa's glass

Charlotte Purrs

My daughter apparently has figured out how to make a new sound and she has been practicing it profusely these past few days. Watch the video below to see Charlotte purring. Also, notice how she flares her nose… I think she gets that from her daddy:

My daughter has got to have the best abs...

I swear, my daughter does not want to lie down on her back anymore (or her stomach for that matter). When ever I lay her down on her back, she keeps her head up like she's doing crunches. I usually have to gently help her head to the ground (in other words, push her head down). She is going to be pulling herself up to sitting before I know it.

I believe I have the first picture of her sitting unassisted... well, I suppose it's considered sitting "tripod" or something (this picture is from July 28, so she's 5 months old). She does great sitting like that until something exciting catches her eye, which usually happens to be my camera, the clicker, or my phone, and then she throws her entire body to the side and face plants on the quilt. Don't yell at me, I usually manage to catch her before she face plants, but sometimes she's too quick.

She does quite well sitting up in the boppy pillow since that gives her a little support around her bum... and it catches her softly when she topples over.

The other thing that I'm using to help her learn to sit is this toy meant for a walker that my Aunt gave her. It's one of those dual-purpose toys that at the younger age they sit in front of and push the triangle through the triangle hole, the square through the square hole, and so on and so forth. Then when they get older, they walk behind it. Anyway, I set her in the boppy and place this toy in front of her and she kind of hangs on to it while I put the triangle in the triangle hole, etc.

I never got one of those Bumbos (which are all the rave now)... I couldn't justify spending $40 on something that she would outgrow way too soon --yes I know that is pretty much the definition of a baby toy and clothes... something they grow out of way too soon -- but the Bumbo was just not on the top of our list. Besides, since I'm home with her during the day, I get to sit with her and play with her and teach her how to sit up myself. I think we're doing pretty well.

In the Good Old Summertime...

In the Good Old Summertime. It was a hit song from 1902 (more info here); then it was the title for a 1949 musical film staring Judy Garland and Van Johnson (which I coincidentally watched a few weeks back while Hubby was away at drill); and lastly, it was a song that I had the pleasure of singing at the second family reunion of the weekend. Yes, I did say second... it was a weekend jam packed of family in Illinois.

I have not been able to get that song out of my head since Sunday afternoon. I must admit that it is a catchy tune, however it is odd that an 80s baby is singing a song from early 1900s, I but I digress.

I spent 5 days at the family farm in Illinois hanging out with my 91 year old Grandma, relaxing, watching movies, taking pictures of Charlotte and Grandma, observing Grandma make a really awesome rag rug on a frame (I think I have my next craft project), playing Farkle... and going to family reunions. It was at the reunion where we did our sing-a-long. It was great, it was the kind of thing that I imagine people used to do back in the day when they got together and had picnics; definitely not something that you see nowadays.

I have so many fond memories of the farm; I used to visit for a few weeks every summer and play in the barn with my brothers and cousins building forts with hay. There's nothing we didn't do from picking watermelon (I was a tad small though), to hanging out at the "Larson Market", helping Grandma in the garden, and watching her make fresh bread and jellies. It was really neat for me to finally be able to bring my own daughter to the place that made me so happy for so long.

Disclaimer - I figure I ought to throw in a disclaimer appologizing for my rambling text... I am still new to this whole blogging thing

Traveling with baby in Tow (part 2)

So before my trip I wrote out this long list of what I thought I'd have to do to get through security by myself with the baby (see here)... well, I was right. Although it wasn't as difficult as I thought it'd be. I think the big difference was that I was flying to and from small airports (Clearwater, FL and Peoria, IL). In fact, I was the only person going through security at the time when I was flying out so that made it REAL easy everyone there was more than willing to help me out.
Charlotte did great on the plane too... she didn't even make a peep. However, I do think I freaked the 20 something guy next to me out when I breastfed Charlotte on the way up (and down). I had a blanket covering us, but I am quite sure he was trying his hardest not to look in my direction. Oh well. See, I was worried about nothing!

Traveling with baby in tow

Tomorrow I am flying with Charlotte up to see my grandma at the farm in Illinois. Just her and I. A few weeks back Hubby and I flew with Charlotte up to New Jersey for Jessica's wedding (see pictures here), so it's not the first time Charlotte has been on a plane... this is just going to be the first time that I fly with her by myself.

I just know that I am going to have one doozy of a time trying to get through security; I pity the people behind me. Since Charlotte is still little, we have the car seat snapped into the stroller, and I can bring that whole thing all the way to the plane to get "gate-checked" (which is great so I don't have to pay for another checked bag). This also means that when I get to security, I have to put everything on the belt to be scanned (minus baby of course), and then take everything back off the belt... all while trying to hold onto a squirming baby.

Here is how I figure I will do it:

a. Remove shoes, belts, jackets, etc... and put on scanner

b. Put diaper bag on scanner

c. Put car seat base on the ground

d. Remove car seat from stroller and snap into base on the ground (with Charlotte still in it)

e. Fold up stroller and lug onto scanner belt (notice I say "lug", these things aren't lightweight)

f. Take Charlotte out of car seat

g. Struggle to get car seat onto scanner (and flipped over so it fits, etc) with baby in one arm

h. Walk through security

... THEN reverse the process to get everything put back together again... all this time without annoying the passengers behind me who are late for their own flights. Phew... wish me luck!

I'm sure it won't be too bad; I have faith that some decent soul will help me out.

I'm sure the flight will be good (knock on wood), she was fine last time. This flight is 2.5 hours long so let's hope she is asleep most of the time, or at least in a pleasant mood.

But back to the whole traveling with baby thing... let's talk about packing for them. I swear, I pack 3/4 of my suitcase for Charlotte, leaving the measly 1/4 for myself (ok that is an exaggeration... it's more like 50-50). Oh, and the diapers! I am going to pack like 40 diapers for my 5 day trip so we don't run out... which I have done before. When we went up to New Jersey I only packed like 15 diapers, figuring that we could run to the store to pick some up. I forgot the fact that I was IN the wedding meaning 95% of my time was taken up... so when on the second night Hubby  tells me we are out of diapers, I just about panicked. We had to stop by this ghetto Kmart the next morning on our way out of the hotel so our poor baby wouldn't be hanging out in a dirty diaper much longer. Lesson learned. Bring enough diapers, or remember you have to pick some up once you get there.

Well, it's time to go finish packing - wish us luck and I will let you know how the whole thing works out.

Introducing Rice Cereal

Last week we introduced rice cereal to Charlotte for the first time... and it went pretty well actually. We gave her Gerber Rice Cereal; we haven't tried any other brand yet. The following is a video of our second time giving her rice cereal (she warmed up to the idea).

Honda Odyssey

The Moore's are now proud owners of a navy 2009 Honda Odyssey with leather interior. Yes... at the ripe old age of 26, I have a minivan. (don't worry, my mom has already made fun of me).

Here's our reasoning behind it -- my car was 12 years old and the radiator had just died (boy did I love that explorer). We didn't want to get a new little car because we were planning on expanding the family shortly and it didn't make sense to buy a small car that would be upgraded in a few short years anyway. Secondly, we couldn't justify spending 35K + on a brand new explorer (tear).... SO that lead us to the minivan.

In fact, when we set out that day, we weren't even planning on buying a car... we were just getting all of our ducks in a row for when my car REALLY died, and the cash for clunker went into effect. The Honda dealership was the last one of the day and we got a great deal! This guy was trying to sell 2 more Odysseys by the end of the month so they could get their quota in for some award for their dealer (... or something). So he was motivated. We told him that if we waited a few weeks, we would get at least $3,500 for my explorer for the cash for clunkers. The salesmen said, "what if I give you $3,500 for your old car?" (sure). They we told him that we typically get a military discount from other dealers. He replied that they don't do military discount there at Honda (what?! That is messed up.... but not part of the story) but he would give us the discount. Then we told him to take off a few thousand more, since they REALLY wanted to sell the car... and he did.

After he "went to the back to talk", in other words... make us sweat a little bit, we got it... and we drove home in our new minivan.

I love it. I really do.

It seats 7, has in-floor storage, the stow-and-go seats in the back so they fold straight down, cup holders galore, dual sliding doors, .... and I could go on.

All I need to do now is figure out when the front and the back of the car are so I don't end up hitting something (side note - almost hit the barrier leaving the airport because I didn't know where the front right corner of the car was... woops).

It was bound to happen...

Well hello, I knew that one of these days I would start blogging. Now that I am a stay-at-home mom with nothing else to take my time... wait a minute, nothing else to take my time? That's a lie! I have PLENTY to take my time, I have a 5 month old.Anyway, here we are -- we have a place for you all to keep track of The Moore's.

Side Note: The title of the blog is "Moore Babies", even though we only have Charlotte right now... Hubby is optimistic in filling up the mini van we just bought!