Thursday, January 28, 2010

Alexa wears polka dots to yoga

Today we said goodbye to Grandma E and got ready for our second Itsy Bitsy yoga class in Rockville. The class is offered through the county recreation department, so it's pretty cheap. There are about eight moms and babies and we sit in a semi-circle with mats.


We put the babies in poses that help them stretch and digest, like pushing their knees in toward their tummy. We also swing them through our legs and put them on our legs to give them a bouncy ride. It's hard to explain without showing you!


Alexa loves it. But then, we do all these same things at home too, so the class really seems unnecessary. Still, it's nice to get out of the house and see other babies and mom friends!

Here is Alexa on her blanket watching her friend Brandon crawl across the room! She was studying him intently, trying to figure out how he does this crawling thing. I think she figured out how to get up on her knees from watching him at a previous mom's group get-together. So cute!


Back at home, Alexa played on her activity mat while contemplating this new crawling thing.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

A visit from Grandma E!

Grandma E took the train down for the day so she could hang out with baby Alexa! We had a nice afternoon playing with Alexa on her activity mat.


Check out this adorable pink ruffle outfit from Alexa's other grandma. It fits and she looks so cute in it! Thanks, Grandma R!



Grandma R got to see Alexa roll over for the first time when she was here for the holidays. She helped teach Alexa how it's done. Now, Alexa is rolling both ways!

So Alexa showed Grandma E how she rolls over! She also showed Grandma E how she gets up on her knees! And how she does the "down dog" yoga pose!

Click HERE to watch a 25-second video of her getting onto her knees and rolling onto her back!

Click HERE to watch a 70-second video of her rolling back onto her tummy and continuing to practice her crawl. She's getting better and better!



Here is Alexa showing Grandma E how strong her arms are. She can push up to straight arms!



She also showed Grandma E how she sits up!



And how much she loves her Bumbo chair!


And how much she loves her exersaucer!


But most of all, Alexa loves her grandmas!


Later, we all gave her a bath and she stuck her foot out like she was reclining at a spa. Ha!


Then Grandma E read Alexa the personalized Fairy-Tale storybook that she got her for Hanukkah!


After the story, Grandma E gave Alexa a bottle. And Daddy put her down to sleep! What a nice day. Thanks for visiting us, Grandma E!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Alexa's elusive laugh!

Alexa first laughed out loud on New Year's day. Since then, she does it but it's hard to catch. It cracks us up when she gets going. Below, finally, are a couple really short videos of her laugh!


Click HERE and HERE to hear Alexa laugh and laugh!

Look what we got in the mail today!

A card from the White House! No kidding! I sent one of Alexa's birth announcements to the White House Greetings Office about a month ago. And we got a nice note from President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama!


In case you can't read it, this is what it says:

"Congratulations on the birth of your new baby. As parents, we know the profound joy you must feel as you welcome a child into your family. We are delighted for you, and we wish you all the best on this wonderful occasion."

What a wonderful keepsake for Alexa!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Alexa is trying to crawl!

Today was a wonderful day! I started off by taking Alexa to the mall for Stroller Striders. I ate so much over the weekend (caramel popcorn!) that I had to work out! Then Daddy and I took Alexa downtown for lunch and a walk along the Capitol Crescent trail.

Here is adorable Alexa in her stroller with Daddy!


She loves that giraffe!


Thanks Aunt Kelly & Uncle Ben for the cute "Tree Huger" onesie!


When we got home that night, we put Alexa on her mat and she started something new... Getting up on her knees!


First she rolled. Now she's trying to crawl! She's not going anywhere yet, but it's not for lack of trying. Once Alexa rolls onto her tummy, she pushes up to her knees. She even pushes back on her legs like a "down dog" yoga pose! Oh, and she's also rolling from her tummy to her back now. Oh, the progress!

Click HERE to watch a 40-second video of Alexa "swimming" on her tummy, pushing up on her arms and then pushing up on her knees!

Click HERE to watch a 40-second video of Alexa pushing up on her knees, then rolling onto her back and playing with her ball!

Click HERE to watch a 60-second video of Alexa rolling back onto her tummy and then using her knees to scoot forward!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Alexa's first view of the Atlantic Ocean & first trip to the Ocean City Boardwalk!

Sunday was cloudy but not too cold out, so we headed to the Ocean City Boardwalk for a nice stroll. Alexa got her first glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean! She smelled the salty air and looked around at the boardwalk. And then she fell asleep! We can't wait to bring her back this summer so she can enjoy the sand, surf and sun.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Alexa meets more family!

We had a wonderful time in Ocean City this weekend visiting Grandpa, Mema and a whole host of aunts, uncles and big cousins! Alexa warmed up to the crowd quickly and had a blast meeting everyone. She can't wait to go back and play with her cousins again!


Sophie the giraffe = Baby Crack

I caved in. All the moms I know swear by this rubber toy giraffe named "Sophie." One by one, every baby in my mom's group got one. One mom declared that it's now her go-to baby shower gift. Another mom reported that immediately upon receipt, the giraffe went straight into her son's mouth. One mom got FOUR of them as gifts!


Truly, something must be up with this giraffe. Not wanting Alexa to be the ONLY baby without one, I caved in and bought her one. Of course I was not about to pay full retail of $22 for a rubber chew toy! I got it on Amazon for $15. It took her a couple of seconds to warm up to the giraffe...


It actually looks more like a dog chew toy than a baby teether! And it smells like rubber! But "Sophie la garafe" comes in a fancy box from French toy manufacturer VULLI. Enclosed in the box is the story of how this toy came to be.


The little giraffe was born on May 25, 1961... Saint Sophie's day. That's when Monsieur Rampeau came up with the idea of designing a giraffe toy. "Such an exotic wildlife figure would be a first on the market, and its size and shape would be ideal for a baby's small hands to grasp."


According to the manufacturer, the giraffe was an immediate success. "Young mothers straightaway saw that she was a must for their children... When the first signs of teething appear, Sophie the Giraffe helps baby stop crying!"


The giraffe is made in Rumilly in the Haute-Savoie region of France using a "traditional" process that involves more than 14 manual operations. She is made from 100% natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea tree.

According to the box, the toy stimulates each of baby' senses!

SIGHT: The dark and contrasting sopts all over Sophie the Giraffe's body provide visual stimulation and make her easily recognizable to baby.


TASTE: Sophie the Giraffe is very flexible and has lots of parts for baby to chew (ears, horns, legs). She is perfect for soothing baby's sore gums when teething and is completely safe. Made of 100% natural rubber and food paint.


TOUCH: Sophie the Giraffe is perfect for baby's small hands. She is very light and her long legs and neck are easy for baby to grip. She is very soft to the touch, just like baby's mummy, stimulating soothing physiological and emotional responses.


SMELL: The singular scent of natural rubber (from the Hevea tree) makes Sophie the Giraffe very special and easy for your child to identify amid all her other toys.


So, um, it looks like Alexa likes her new toy. Click HERE to see just how much she loves her giraffe!

Want to see more? Click HERE to watch another video of Alexa and her giraffe. This video actually shows a developmental milestone that my book said to watch for this month: Baby will start to protest when a certain toy is taken away.

Oh yes, she doth protest the removal of Sophie!