February Flew

Well, it kind of did. I was sick pretty much the whole time (fastest 8 pounds I've ever lost!), and Matt was studying for Tech most of the time. The days felt long, but the month was gone in a blink. In spite of our preoccupation, Mattaya continued to enjoy life and keep us smiling...

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure these were made for me."

"Here I go..."

"Hm...I feel stuck."

Valentine's Day was pretty eventful. First stop was Gramma Julie's.

"It has my name...must be for me."

Grampa Dave and Gramma Julie recorded a card for Mattaya--how entertaining was that?!

Tissue paper is always fun.

More books!

And some shoes!

"These look so big..."

LOOOOOOVE tissue paper!

My old doll cradle is still at Mom's, and Mom has always thought it was a shame that Mattaya didn't have anywhere for her babies to sleep at home. So she and Grampa bought a PackNPlay for the dollies (and Mattaya, apparently).

"What do you mean 'I don't belong in here'?"

The next stop was Grampa Lee & Gramma Cate's.

"See, Gramma? This is how you make the duck play music."

Books are always a hit. :) (AND the only good reason to sit, in Mattaya's opinion.)

"What's that sound you made, Grampa?"

"Well, I just don't think that can be right."

(She is very well-versed in "animal-speak".)

The deadlock.

And when Daddy and Mattaya returned home, there was a bear holding a balloon bouquet! Thanks, Grampa Gary & Gramma Pam!

She enjoyed these balloons for WEEKS.

Yikes. These are the pants Matt "won" at our White Elephant party last Christmas. Our dear friend knit them with her own two hands. And Matt loves them so much...sigh.

THEN it was time for a hair cut! Mommy was hoping that if everything was evened out it would all hang perfectly and neatly and nicely. Alas, it turns out that curly hair is wild hair...but it was a good experience! Our friend Mandi is a stylist and did a good job with Mattaya.

Mattaya was seriously distracted by the "babboo" at the next stall. ("Babboo" is her word for vacuum...and everything that SOUNDS like a vacuum...like hair dryers.)

We couldn't believe how much hair she had...how much we left behind...and how much she still had when we were done!

She sat well for a really long time, then started getting a bit restless.

Such a big girl. :)

"I love wearing these shoes. They make me feel...just...Keene."

"What's this book? It has cute little babies on the front."

"Names? Mommy, what does this mean?"

Never fear, my dear...it's nothing chocolate can't fix!

Mattaya got to taste a little bit of Daddy's chocolate pudding...

...and enjoyed it VERY much. :)

Mattaya with her beloved "babboo".

Daddy picked out a potty chair all by himself. He came back with a princess potty that plays loud triumphant music when you tinkle! Mattaya was all about figuring out the new toy/chair.

"Let me see, Daddy--I can help."

"But, Daddy, this chair has a hole in the bottom."

Easily fixed if you close the lid. Ahhhh--looks comfortable, doesn't it?

"Hm--I would really like if these sparkly things would light up."

Thinking outside the box...or INside the "pot".

"I don't think I like potty training."

Immediately, Mattaya figured out how to disassemble the potty and created new uses for it as well.

And she definitely prefers to sit on it sideways. Strange, but true.

And she figured out how to trigger the music WITHOUT going potty. Great.

"Let's just leave this shut for now."

Daddy scored an awesome deal on a double stroller in the Base paper! It's great!!! It's compatible with our infant carseat, and Mattaya has already made herself at home in it.

She "played" with it for a good long while.

Daddy had gotten out the old carseat to make sure it worked in the new stroller before he bought it. Mattaya was rather intrigued.

She figured out how to sit in it...

...and found it to be quite comfy.

More chocolate pudding. We try not to fill her up with junk, so we had been sharing just the last few bites with her. This particular day, she tried to lick the cup clean.

Mm, mm, good!

Looks like somebody's had enough. ;)