our daughter has personal space issues.

I think everyone knows that I have a personal bubble that's about 3 feet around...people don't often feel the urge to hug me and, really, I'm cool with that. However, even I need affection on occasion and Molly the Anti-Social Cat and Mike the Anti-Social Husband don't exactly deliver very often. So, when I found out we were having a baby, I prayed for a snuggly baby. Yeah. I got it. Now, I'm not complaining because she is really sweet and I'd rather have super-snuggles the baby rather than the alternative but Autumn's "I LOVE THE WORLD!"-ness can be a little disconcerting to others.

Poor Sophia. I really think she spent the week trying to avoid Autumn's clutches. Autumn kept trying to suck her own thumb while holding Sophia's ear. Sophia kinda didn't like it.


And again:


The day I took Autumn to the doctor, she was very pitiful. And snuggly.


We were just sitting there when Autumn sat up, turned around, and waddled over to Andi and Sophia (look how appalled Sophia is! I love it!).


And then she plopped herself down and snuggled right up. Hahaha.


Autumn did find a kindred spirit (I've been rereading Anne of Green Gables) in Kit the dog. Kit loves everyone. LOVES EVERYONE. She's the happiest, friendliest dog ever. Ha. The only bad thing about kit being so friendly and letting Autumn pet her and stuff is that Autumn wants to pet Molly now. Which really can't go anywhere but bad. Anyway, Kit sat in Autumn's lap and Autumn was all, "yay!"


Slightly related: I call Autumn nosy baby because she has to be where the action is. In front of the car seat:


Watching the news:


Playing video games:


And so on. She's pretty entertaining if nothing else. :P

A public service announcement

Don't know if any of you guys have heard, but Kroger is offering this deal where if you buy a Kroger gift card worth either $300, $600, or $1200 they will add another 10% extra money onto it for free. The idea is that folks will bring their economic stimulus money to Kroger and this is just a way to entice folks to do that. The good news for us direct deposit folks is that you don't even have to show the paper check. Just go to customer service and ask for this offer. You're limited to a max amount of $1200. Here's a couple of links with info on it. Feel free to pass it on if you like.

fivecentnickel.com


thekrogerco.com

Mountain Monkey

Well, we're in Colorado! Actually, we're only here a couple more days, it's just that I'm a slacker and haven't been posting. But! All is not lost. I have photos from Sunday...

After arriving in Denver (btw, Autumn was AWESOME on the plane), we had lunch and headed out to Rocky Mountain National Park. These photos were taken at Many Parks Curve really way up high. The whole cliff thing kind of freaked me out. I don't do so hot looking out over a 5000+ foot drop.


Yeah, so, Mike and Autumn appeared to be much more physically equipped to handle the cold than I am. T_T I was freezing and these crazies were all, oh, what? Cold? No! It is refreshing!


Grandparents, don't freak out. Haha. This isn't as high up and scary as it looks. Well, it's pretty high up...but it's a lookout so Mike isn't just being a terrible father.


Wow, I was looking rough. haha. Planes will do that to you. Andi just got over pneumonia so I can't believe she's been up to doing so much this week.


Again, not as dangerous as it looks. :P I still didn't watch him do this, though.


This one is a little random, really. On the way back to Boulder from the Park, we stopped and looked around the Stanley Hotel. That's the place that Stephen King based The Shining on. It was pretty cool and seriously beautiful. We didn't see any ghosts and, for this I am quite grateful, there aren't any ghosts in any of our photos. Ha!


I have more to post later! We've had a busy week full of snowboarding, yoga-ing, shopping, sight-seeing and, yes, a trip to the doctor. Poor Miss Autumn has a sore throat and a teeeeeny ear infection. She's fine though. Just a little snugglier than usual and we're giving her tylenol and, occasionally, some benadryl. I am just hoping Miss Sophia doesn't catch anything--the girls are adorable together and have been trading pacifiers all week. Ha!

Surreal?

Bizarre? Kinda wrong?

Not really sure how to describe this one but it's Finnish rock band The Leningrad Cowboys featuring the Red Army Choir, performing “Sweet Home Alabama.” Yeah...

Photo Dump, Part 7000

Over the weekend we went to Tuscaloosa to go to one of Lindsay's wedding showers. Autumn got to hang out with all of her aunts and uncles and her cousin Tyler. That part mainly consisted of poking, pulling, and giggling at each other. fun stuff!


The home where the shower was held was gorgeous and had these beautiful azaleas. We each took a turn taking spring photos.

Lindsay:


Lauren, accompanied by some large, scary-looking-but-very-docile dogs. Autumn was mesmerized by them.


She's staring at the dogs in this photo.


And, me. :) I need to get a pastel-y dress. lol.


Autumn did great although she occasionally got clingy and pitiful. As seen here:


Four generations of Colley ladies. Very cool.


Mr. Tyler snoozed through the noise.


Back home on Monday, it was cold so Autumn got to wear her cool top from France. My neighbor Angela gave that to her.


Oh, this one isn't "pretty" but it is "funny." I meant to post it last week. Autumn modeled her new hat and sunglasses for my mom. She wouldn't stop making what I call her "muppet face" long enough for me to get a good pic!

Modeling Time

Andi, of Baby Yogi fame, sent Autumn some early birthday gifts! Autumn is now the proud owner of volume one of Signing Time (Mike thinks the lady is scary--I told him that she is what is known as "happy"), a pair of Baby Legs (the real ones, not the fakey ones I make out of knee socks), and a pink Bum Genius! I'm not sure I've really mentioned this, but we are partially cloth diapering. I would have thought that we'd cloth diaper in the day and disposable diaper at night but, you know, it's the other way around. These Bum Geniuses are amazing! Anyway, have a pic! Thanks Andi, Brian, and Sophia, we love them!

Oh, yeah, note the haircut. We finally broke down and chopped off her rat's nest in hopes that it would grow back (non-nappily!) before Lindsay's wedding. It was a sad day for the mama. T_T



Can you believe this is the same baby? This was...last June, I think.


Autumn explored the depths of our new laundry sorter last week. She seemed to enjoy it.


I swear she's part cat.


In preparation for summer time, we had some swimsuit modeling. Here's one from Lindsay:


And one from my mom, complete with cover-up. Haha. This was the best one of the series:


Mike's parents got her some cute sunglasses that strap on. I keep meaning to take a photo and forgetting. Yay for cute baby stuff!

It has finally begun.

So yeah for a while now Autumn's been able to sorta pull herself up on stuff if it's got some grips for her. She also rolls and squirms to move herself a little bit.

But now things have changed. Yesterday for the first time ever she finally figured out how to put it all together....



Sounds silly but man it was so cool to watch! The little girl is growing up!

And I like how she shrugged off the knock to the head at the end. I forsee a lot of that in her future... :P