Check Out My Kicks!

Bella got her first "official" pair of shoes. She told us that they help her to run faster and jump higher. They must help her do something because she is all over the place!










The good thing about that, though, is at the end of the day, she looks like this :

9 Month Photo Shoot

It takes hard work to look this good. Okay, not really.

Bella's First Long Trip...and Beach Excursion

We went the 13th to Clayton, NC (just outside of Raleigh) to visit Bella's Grandma & Grandpa (Mark's dad & step-mom). Even though it was a 10 hour car ride, she did very well. Bella loved playing with her Grandpa's beard & petting the dogs.

On Sunday, we took another car ride to Kill Devil Hills in the NC Outer Banks area. (No, we didn't get the "OBX" sticker for our car like every other person that visits the area) Bella wasn't too fond of the ocean; she liked the beach pretty well, but the ocean was another story. She hadn't had a good nap that day, so it probably wasn't the best day to try something new. By the time we had to leave the beach, she was getting used to it.


On Monday, we visited Kitty Hawk and the NC Aquarium.


Even though most of the trip looked like this for Bella...

She still had a great time!

Eight Months Old and Counting. . .

Bella loves to show off her sandals. She thinks she is "big stuff."

Bella thinks,"Are shoes really supposed to hurt a girl's feet this bad? I'd grimace if I knew how!"

Bella also loves her naps, especially the times where she wakes up and plays around until she tires out again. She likes to spend that time practicing all of her lastest tricks. She has now mastered going from laying to sitting--but then she remembers she is supposed to be sleeping and doesn't want to get "caught" playing around.

"Quick! Back to sleep! Mommy's coming!"

Palin' Around

Here are a few shots of Bella just hanging out. In one shot, she is showing off her latest dramatic trick--the fake cough. Last week, she went to visit her good friend Caroline in Athens (Alabama, that is), and she taught Bella how to pull up to a standing position. Thanks a lot, Caroline!

Do I look like my Daddy or what?!?!?

Lions and Tigers and Bears! Oh! My!

Over Memorial Day weekend Bella braved the sun and heat to visit the Memphis Zoo. She absolutely loved it. She thought it was funny to mock the monkeys. She also enjoyed shopping and visiting with her Nonna, Grandmother, and Granddaddy.

Sitting Up & Spitting Up

Since our last update, Bella has decided that she loves foods with lots of flavor...okay, to her that just means squash & carrots. However, she definitely loves it more than that bland rice cereal.

She's also sitting up on her own now. That should make for some more interesting photos than just her laying in different places with different outfits.

We also learned that Benadryl + an off schedule photo session don't mix well.

Cereal!

As of Saturday, Bella's eatting cereal. She took a while to get used to it, but she's a fan now. Actually, she ate 2 bowls of it tonight!