Boogie Monster

Poor Vi. Due to TWO clogged tear ducts, she's had to deal with some pretty annoying eye boogs over the past 5 months. Happy to report that one has cleared! One down, one to go. She has also had to endure multiple nick-names during this trying time. Booger, sugar booger, shug, boogs, boogie monster...

Doesn't Violet have loving, caring, and unbelievably supportive parents?

Breakfast of Champions

Vi's first tournie

We enjoyed a beautiful day at the Irondequoit CC yesterday watching PGA players compete for the title of the Xerox Classic champion. Violet had a great time sleeping in her stroller. She woke up just as one of the golfers was beginning his putting ritual and the volunteers raised their 'Quiet Please' signs. Luckily I pushed her stroller a few yards down the path before she started commenting (loudly) about his technique.

Um, Mom...

I think it's time to spring for some new pj's.

5 Months Old

Violet is 5 months old today. I know EVERYONE says that time goes quickly when they are this little. Well, I'm not so sure it's the time that goes quickly - I think it's the fact that babies change so fast! When I look at pictures of Vi when she was only a few days old - it's hard to believe that she is now this happy, chubby, little girl! Over the past few weeks she has really developed a sense of humor. She laughs now if you just look at her funny. I find myself doing some pretty insane things to make her smile. The other day we were shopping at Wegmans and a woman came up to me and said, "You were just making such goofy faces, I had to come over and see the baby". I didn't even realize I was making faces...

Happy 5 month birthday Violet! We love you!

E.A.S.Y.

During the first few weeks of Violet's life, I read the book 'The Baby Whisperer'. Members of my online message board raved about it and a few friends highy recommended it - so how could I possiby enter motherhood without reading it?! To be honest, the only valuable take-away was the author's recommendation to put your infant on an E.A.S.Y. program/schedule. This means that throughout the day your baby should Eat, be At play, Sleep, repeat. The Y stands for 'your time' - meaning mom should have time for herself to nap, read, relax (hmmm...). Here is our interpretation of the E.A.S.Y. program:

Eat - Often

Bathe - Less often

(considered 'At play' - go figure) Play - Frequently
Sleep - Barely

This is Violet during her nap time yesterday.
My time - working ;)

And Repeat...

Life is good

Violet Trailers

Here is a glimpse of a day in the life of V Downie.

Skiing lessons...

Playing with Ted (her pink bear that Grandma gave her)...

Talking to Ted...

Weekend of Firsts

First time she wore this hat. I put it on her and ran to get something, came back and she was talking to herself - like this.

First time she liked her bumbo
First time I made her a bowl of cereal

She loved it.

A new toy

Wow - look at all of this new stuff!

Look at me, mommy!
Holding up a big noggin like this takes it outta ya! Relaxing with Daddy.

Violet can sit in her exer-saucer unassisted now. It's so strange. I remember looking at it when she was first born thinking she would NEVER be big enough to play in it! Now everyday it seems she's doing something new! She also started making raspberries with her lips today. Cutie-patootie (as Abel says).

Fun Weekend!

Violet had fun at Grandma and Grandpa's Anniversary Party in Cazenovia. She spent most of the time sleeping, eating and playing with her cousins, as well as Pop-pop and Grandma G who came up for the occasion. Happy Anniversary to Grandma and Grandpa D on their 40th year and Pop-pop and Grandma G on their 35th year, both on July 15th.

Happy Belated 4th of July!

You mess with me - you get the horns

My grandparent's good friend gave us this outfit. Shawnie, Tracey and I used to go boating with them when we were little. So cute. ;)

Photomontage -- Part Duex

Sleepy Violet, hugging her moose
Hanging out with Maytal, her newest cuz-buz

Taking a walk on a sunny afternoon

Waking up from a nap

Chillin' with Charlie

Watching Dora with her scuz

Playing with her favorite stuffed animal

My purple plaid dress

Poor Violet. I think I put her in this cute, little dress my friend bought her at least once a week (please excuse the oversized bib covering 60% of it. V has what you would call a major drooling problem). I just think she looks so cute in it, I can't help myself. I fear she won't fit in it much longer though!

Violet is getting so big. It's hard to believe the doctor once described her as 'long and lean'. Now we are convinced she must be big boned. ;)

Violet has experienced many milestones in the past few weeks; first batting at and now playing with her toys, pulling with all of her might on her rings hanging from the big stuffed giraffe on her play mat , rolling from her belly to her back and trying so hard to do it in reverse, and belly laughing when we tickle her sides. It's amazing to watch her become more baby like.

Now if we could just get the little booger to go to sleep at night...

Tummy Time

Violet just started enjoying tummy time and she's also started carrying on extended conversations with herself and those around her.

Tummy time and chat with Daddy...

A little bubble...

Father's Day

From the moment she was born, I could see that Rich and Violet had a special bond. It's strange, sometimes throughout the day Violet will look at me and then look over my shoulder as if to say, "'Where's Daddy?" She won't sit quietly and play with me like she does with Daddy. They love watching hours of golf together (shhh..don't tell Dr. Spears), working on their laptop together and dancing across the kitchen counter (well, that's when Daddy's makes Violet's little legs skip along the counter and makes her smile). ;)

Unfortunately, Rich had to travel on Father's Day, but Violet was sure to give him a load of smiles before he left.

We love you daddy. Thanks for being a protector, provider, funny guy and best bud.

Violet's first 'camping' trip!

Okay, we stayed in our own little cabin (shown above) that had electricity, a baby monitor and it's own bathroom...can you consider that camping? One of my college roomates asked us to come up and enjoy her family's camp near Alex Bay. We had a wonderful time boating, fishing, sitting on the dock, eating s'mores and belly laughing about old times. Oh, Violet had fun too, between her 6 naps and almost 10 straight hours of sleep Saturday night! Must be all that fresh air. I think we need to move to the mountains.

There is nothing like returning home though. Here she is resting for a spell in her second favorite spot (yes, the changing table has been replaced by her furry, pepdo-bismol hued boucy seat).

Our Little Lady

Violet is 12 weeks old today. Every day I look at her and think of what a blessing she is and can't imagine my life without her. Last week she laughed for the first time. It is truly a magical thing when you hear your baby laugh for the first time! Luckily, she laughed for Rich a few days later - so he actually believed that it had happened. ;)

Violet is very smiley lately. I love to come in and get her in the morning - she always gives me a big, bright smile and wiggles her legs to greet me. Her continuous smiling throughout the day only confirms what I've know my whole life - I am the funniest woman alive! ;)

She's gained 4 lbs and grown 2 inches since she was born and her elbows and knuckles are beginning to sport the quintessential baby dimples!

I can't wait for the next 12 weeks to see how much she grows and learns.

Photomontage :)

Acting in her future? Look at the range!

Mother's Day & Violet's first Lilac Festival