Cyanne tests out the cat scratching post...

Cyanne discovers the cat scratching post...
Turns out, it's a really neat, fun place to practice standing.

Sonsie, on the other hand, was extremely dubious about sharing the post.
She jumped up not expecting anyone or anything to be there and surprise!
There was a little person sticking out of the hole!

Yeah! I love this!

Look at me!

Tom, trying to coax Sonsie into hanging out for a little bit...


Look at me - I'm standing!!


Whoa!! Where did you come from? What is this thing on my post?!

All Dressed Up

Tom & I had to get all dressed up for a work function of his: Goleta's Finest at the Bacara.
We had Adrienne come and babysit Cyanne while we went out.
We decided to take a few photos of the occasion - my favorite being my two penguins...
Tom (in his tux) and Cyanne (in her penguin pj's) =)

The two penguins...
My mom lent me her Jean-Charles sheer coat/shawl type thing... Definitely drew attention from people at the event!

Easter 2008

A few shots taken at my parent's house after church Easter Morning.
We had a lovely morning -
Cyanne got to wear her fancy, silk Easter dress, hat, and shoes, courtesy of Grandma Vogel.

All the way from Anchorage... Cyanne meets her Aunt Mart

During Easter weekend, Mart flew down to meet her niece, Cyanne, and spend some quality time with us!
We were THRILLED to have her here.
I think she and Cyanne got along really well... and I know that Cyanne is really looking forward to seeing her again in two months at the Lake.
Mart had a baby-filled visit with various changings, feedings, bouncing, and rocking =).
As an aside - Mart also had a less than fun few hours spent at the pet ER when she & Tom took in our cat, Sonsie, who seemed to be having some major issues (she's since recovered...). That was not the best way to spend a Saturday evening!
We had some nice meals, drinks, walks, and a special Easter Sunday.
Here are some photos of the weekend:

Hanging out on the deck - it was a gorgeous weekend - in the 80's and very sunny.



Tom, shaking his head & therefore, making Cyanne laugh with delight...



Attempting to dye easter eggs...




More deck shots...



I love this... Ah, the life of new parenthood.
After all, everyone needs a beverage during 'happy hour.'





Nice puppy...
Nice puppy teeth...

The Winn's Visit to SB

We were thrilled to have Mara, Rob & Mia visit us mid-March. We were excited to see Rob & Mara, of course, but we were especially excited to meet Ms. Mia!!
Cyanne & Mia had a very fun time with each other - looking at each other, holding hands, Mia trying to show Cyanne how the whole crawling/sitting up/walking stuff is done...
It's funny (as i'm v. delinquent in posting these photos) how much older Cyanne looks now (will post more recent shots soon!) as well as Mia (check out her blog: miawinn.blogspot.com).
Anyway...

We had a wonderful weekend with them - we enjoyed some great meals, walked along the ocean and through eucalyptus groves at Ellwood preserve, and generally had a wonderful time catching up.
We only hope that it's not too long before we see them again - July at the lake here we come! =)






Walking at Ellwood Preserve -
It was a beautiful day.
The boys with their girls... Cyanne in the Bjorn and Mia in the backpack...

Blabey Grandparents Arrive!!!

Yeahhh!!!!!!
We three are all so very happy that Nanna and Grandpa Blabey have arrived in Santa Barbara from Cooperstown, NY!

We are looking forward to many days filled with lots of quality time with Cyanne...
Cyanne is really enjoying getting to know her grandparents and is having a good time checking them out...intently...
=)

Will post photographs soon!

Cyanne's 6 Month Pediatrician Visit

Today, we went to see Dr. Brennan for Cyanne's 6 month check-up.

A brief comment from me and then we'll get to the stats...
6 months!! I am amazed at the fact that she is 6 months old (well now, actually about 6 1/2).
Yes, I know this doesn't sound long in the normal span of things but to us, the fact that we've now had Cyanne with us for that many months - is quite impressive to us. I imagine when we get to the point where she's been with us for longer than I was pregnant with her - that will be even more incredible to wrap our heads around (she'll reach that sooner than most, having been yanked out 4 1/2 weeks early though...).

Another aside: a weather report.
Today (and supposedly the rest of the weekend to follow) is incredibly gorgeous.
It is in the low 80's, with bright sunshine, clear blue skies, a light breeze. The ocean is a dark blue which mirrors the sky, the mountains are green.
These are the kinds of days that provide people with a very good reason to live here. It's amazing.

But - on to the important information:
Height: 25 3/4" (50%)
Weight: 16 lb, 15 oz. (75%) (she would've made it to 17 if we'd had time to give her the bottle she started when we go to the pedi's office. =)...
Head Circumference: 43 1/2 cm (75%).

So - he was very pleased with how she was doing. Said she looked great.
She was a trooper getting the shots and only cried when the last one came which supposedly "stings." She recovered right away... and was smiling by the time we left.

She has a little red spot where she got one shot but hopefully that'll go away soon.

Hope all is well - will post a multitude of photos shortly. We have many event (visits from friends & family, solid food, punk rocker wigs, and other fun events) to post.

Happy 6 Months Cyanne!

Here we are at 6 months.
A few things about Cyanne's life at 6 months:

• rolling from front to back
• smiling, laughing (a lot)
• "talking" - she's getting to be quite a talker!
• grabbing her feet
• sucking on all parts of her hands
• grabbing for most everything in front of her (bottles, blankets, toys, mommy's hair/necklace/glasses/wine glass...)
• looking when we say her name or following us as we move about a room
• fascination with the cats and dog (this appears not to be reciprocated by the cats (yet) but Lucky seems to like her... =))
  
• a love of the outdoors (the surefire way to calm her down is to take a stroll outside...)
• great curiosity looking at other babies
• moving around when we lay her down - she's almost always in a position 90-180 degrees different from where we put her down
• seems to really enjoys the music we play for her
• tries to eat board books when we read to her
• appears very interested in our food... eating cereal is looking like one our weekend activities!
• not yet a fan of orange juice on daddy's finger... =)
  

Here are some shots from this morning:



The size shot in the rocking chair for comparison



Daddy's so funny...





And then...
Cyanne decided that turning 6 months was hard work.
A nap sounded pretty good.
Quite the little angel we've got here...

A Cacophony of Cries

Ah... the sounds spreading throughout the car and spilling out the windows.
I had to laugh to myself as I drove to and from the vet this afternoon.

On the way there, the car was filled with the plaintive sounds of meowing. Sad, sorrowful cries by Max and Sonsie.
Saying - why, oh why, do you have us in these carriers? We haven't been in these since we moved here!
Cyanne hung out in her chair in the backseat on the way there...
And in the vet's office. (Nothing like holding a baby, trying to feed her the bottle, and carrying on a conversation with the vet about rabies vaccines or something possibly lodged in Sonsie's abdomen. But I digress from the noises.)

On the way home - oh my!

Max, Sonsie, and Cyanne all chimed in. It was a vocal orchestra.
There were high pitched cries, meows, and bursts of noise from Cyanne who is exploring her vocal range...

I had the radio on but frankly, you couldn't really hear it.

I laughed out loud as they all just sounded so funny - especially together.
I thought to myself as I drove down Cathedral Oaks towards our driveway - now, who do I take out first? Who gets to get out of the car and into the house before the rest?
(the cats won out on that...)

It was quite a cacophony of sounds.

Happy Anniversary

Four years ago today, Tom & I were married here in Santa Barbara.
It has been a wonderful four years.

We have traveled a lot, experienced a lot, learned a lot, and of course, loved a lot.
Each year has been unique and special in its own way.
However, the last was arguably the most amazing.
Amazing in that it is no longer just the two of us.
We are now three.

Here are a few recent photographs of our amazing, beautiful baby girl.
I feel so blessed to have such an incredible, loving, and caring husband and now added to that, a sweet, entertaining, and adorable daughter.

Each day is truly a gift.
I couldn't ask for anything more.