Canus friendus

I keep meeting people that Mommy claims I already know-- this is quite confusing. Sometimes they're scary, but sometimes I really like them.... this is Beth, my new/old friend who actually lives in San Antonio with us! She brought along her doggie on a visit. It was very exciting, although confusing, because the doggie ran in so many circles I could not keep up!!

You're my little Schmutzy-Face

You're my little Schmutzy-Face. This is actually an older picture (from January), but it was overlooked. It looks like she is incredibly excited to be sitting in her high-chair, eating solid foods. Well, let me assure you, folks, she is not terribly keen on solid foods. Really, it is a guessing game with Isabel. You have to guess the correct "food of the day" within so many tries or else she refuses to eat anything but graham crackers and animal cookies.

Otherwise, anything on mommy or daddy's plate will do, as long as they are actually trying to eat it at the moment.

Helping daddy play with his toys

Apparently, I don't quite have my toys figured out, but thankfully, Isabel is helping me learn how to use them. "Watch me daddy; put it in your mouth, like this." She is very helpful.

But the real reason I put this picture up is to remind everyone that the last bastion of reliable communication with the family of the Chubbles is going to change soon. On March 7th (the day our bill comes out), we are changing our cell phone number to be a local San Antonio number. We are planning to send out a card that has all of our updated contact information, but if you find yourself wondering with an as-of-yet empty mailbox, please click on my profile and email us (I think T's and I's emails aren't their primaries). My email is up to date, and I will send you our contact info. Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Comin' right at ya!!!

Comin' to get ya. I'm just showing off my flashy photography (haha, get it). I put the camera on the floor, pointed it towards Isabel, and took a picture. It turned out pretty well. Don't you just feel the horror of being the fingernail clippers about to be snatched up by those mobile Chubbles. It's like the viewer becomes the schmutzes. You can empathize with their plight, grabbed by the grubby fists, lifted towards the mouth and those toothies, drenched in the slobbery, drooly...

Okay, I'll stop.

smilincrawlin

I got ahold of the computer, and found a few pictures I liked of Isabel crawling that didn't get put up. Look how happy those chubbles are. Now, the funny thing is that the morning after her little post-bedtime shmutz-crawl, those Chubbles had all but forgotten how to crawl. It is like every morning she has to re-learn that she is mobile now, and can go get the things she wants. She still has moments when she just sits down and whines and whines that her toy is out of reach. Aren't you just sympathetic reading about it?

Look what I can do!!

You know, I've been thinking. These 'parents' of mine have it WAY too easy around here. It's time I got into some more mischief. It's time I started going where I want to go, seeing what I want to see, tasting what I want to taste. It's time I started CRAWLING.

Pausing to glance at my followers.

Mom and Dad keep putting things in front of me and then pushing them away just before I reach my prize. You'd almost think they *liked* seeing me crawl around!

Sittin' pretty

I'm helping Daddy with the dishes.

I'm ready to join the cast of the Highlander in my cheeky wee outfit. You'd almost think I had at least a drop of Scots blood in me.

Down and out in San Anton'

Oh, misery of miseries. I thought I was home free with this tooth business. But just as I start getting complacent, here comes ANOTHER ONE. It is exhausting work, let me tell you. I'll let you know when the job is complete.

Daddy is reading one of my all-time favorite books: The Ten Little Ladybugs. It has everything: suspense, adventure, romance-- and pretty pictures.

I'm really starting to get around these days. I have just discovered that getting underneath things is much more fun than just going around them.

This was much better. I had fun playing on the jungle gym. It was like the kitchen table, only much better!

Quack? What do you mean "quack?"

The weather was sunny and warm today, so my parents and I went out to find a park. I was excited to play on some swings or watch other babies or something, but Mommy took me right over to a very large bathtub looking place. It was SURROUNDED by these very scary looking things (bottom left) with webbed feet and huge arms and sharp mouths! Needless to say, I was *terrified.* What IS that thing?

Hide and Seek

As you know, Isabel has become increasingly mobile. Although she is not yet able to walk autonomously, she will walk around chairs and boxes and such using the chair for support. This hiking chair of mine is particularly good, because it has Isabel-hand-sized legs. It is with much relief for our backs that Isabel has discovered this new skill. She now only will use our fingers to walk her as far as the next chair or box. Hurray for increased autonomy.

Even though it looks like it, Isabel is not really playing hide and seek in this picture, although she does sometimes. It is still a really cute picture:).

And now, a brief photo-journal of the many faces of Isabel.

Smiley

Chubbly

Distracted

Pirate Face