Babytime

Rainah LOVES books! She will sit on the floor with me for 30 minutes at a time going from book to book. She especially likes the "touch and feel" and flap books. We go to the local library in downtown Rockford on Mondays for their Babytime... little ones up to 18 months have a time of singing songs and rhymes, we read a book out loud, and then they get to spend some time playing with toys. We started attending last spring and Rainah has a great time. When we first started going she wasn't even sitting up on her own yet, so I would hold her or lay her on the floor while we sang and read. Cut to a few months later and she is running around the room, pulling out the toys she wants, and interacting with the other kids. It's so fun to watch (and take some photos of, of course)!

Bath time

Just some cute photos of bathtime...notice the knot on her forehead?? she took a big tumble into the corner of our boot bench :(

First Haircut

Today is the day we finally decided to have Aunt Jessica give Rainah her first "haircut" (really it was just a bang trim). Her hair is always in her eyes; I've tried to remedy it using barretts, hairbands, and hats, none of which stay in for more than about 3 seconds. So our personal hairstylist saved the day! She only trimmed the very front, so I guess it wasn't an official haircut, but I still saved a lock. Earlier in the day, Grandma and Grandpa babysat for a little while and Rainah drifted off to sleep in Grandma's arms (she hasn't done that since she was about 5 months old!) Don't let the photos fool you, though! She loves to get into things and is walking like a pro - even trying to run! She has so much energy it just amazes me.
Another first happened this past week - her first real word(s). We've heard lots of dadadada's, and other gibberish, but after dinner one night this week she said, "All Done". I thought it was a fluke at first, but she's been doing it ever since! She said it tonight after dinner about 498 times - literally! She cracks us up.


Asleep in Grandma's lap (and smiling too!)


Notice the pacifier in her hand... she doesn't use them in the traditional way: she has to have one to hold in each hand before she goes to sleep, and that's all she does with them... just holds them


Playing at Grandma and Grandpa's




The trim begins


Keeping busy playing with the cell phone




Looking good!


The finishing touches


Mom keeping a close eye (and collecting all the pieces of hair I could)


Thank you Aunt Jessica! I can see again!

Gymboree

Once a week we go to Gymboree Play & Music- we have been doing so since she was just a few months old. She loves the singing and all the activities. Today, she was the official greeter, hugging everyone who came in... kids and parents alike! She's becoming quite the lovey girl. Her favorite part of Gymboree is when the teacher blows bubbles, and when "Gymbo" the clown (a puppet) comes out at the end. Here's some shots from today's class:

Grand Rapids Children's Museum

We went back to the Children's Museum today since it was a "MOPS Monday" (meaning it was cheaper to get in and there were only MOPS and Bright Beginnings groups there). Rainah had lots of fun playing and kept very busy. She was pretty determined to walk everywhere on her own and did a great job. We tried to color a snowflake in the activity room, but she still hasn't gotten the concept that writing utensils don't go in the mouth. The lady who happened to be in charge of the room seemed familiar to me and when I saw her name tag it hit me that I worked as an intern under her at the Children's Resource Network my last year of college. So it was nice to see her!
As always, here are a few shots of the fun: