February ...

February has not been kind to us Porters. Oh it started out fine but quickly descended into absent husbands and snotty noses. First Della caught a cold. We're blaming it on her second swimming lesson where the pool was just a tad too cool. For a solid week Della was miserable with a constant low grade fever, sad little cough, and snot running everywhere. Of course this coincided with Daddy's busy season at work so he was gone every day until late in the night. Nana and mommy had to step up their game!After a week of no visible improvement we took Della to the doctor who patiently informed us that we were doing everything right and simply needed to wait out the storm. And wouldn't you know it, she improved the very next day! Figures. It also figures that I caught the cold the following day! I pushed to crank out some work assignments then headed home early on Friday hoping to ward off the incoming cold with some sleep ... it didn't work. I spent the entire week of our planned staycation sick, sick, sick. So did poor Nana although miraculously Daddy managed to avoid the worst of it.
Anyway ... somewhere in the midst of all this coughing and snot Della and I managed a short visit to our neighborhood park. She'd been such a good girl while I was super sick so a little play time was well deserved. Man was she pissed when we had to head home cause mommy had run out of tissue and her nose was leaking everywhere ... but she had fun while it lasted.

My 14mo baby!  She's looking more and more like a toddler every day.

Very First Swimming Lesson ... Beyond the Tub

So the first lesson of mommy hood,  and the currently trending message on mommy blogs, is that mommies with cameras need to GET IN THE PICTURE. 

Our children need to see that we were there with them, not simply behind the lens. They need to see that we smiled when they smiled, were their caution when they had none, did things and went places solely for their benefit, because that's what mommies do ...

and that we LOVED THEM ALWAYS.

As uncomfortable as it may be for me to be in pictures I'm going to push my boundaries by not only being present in these pictures but by being present in a bathing suit! I dare you to try that ... really, I dare you. Push your own boundaries.

Della's very first swimming lesson ... beyond the bathtub.

Caution when she has none ... she was ready to walk off into deep water.

Eyes wide shut ... classic me picture. But Della's smile is so ... Della ... I had to post it.

Group lesson ... we are on the far left

She LOVED it. So far there isn't much that this girl doesn't LOVE. She was the loudest, most active, most enthusiastic baby in the bunch. She also managed to get her mommy in trouble by insisting she be allowed to play in the shallow pool prior to the lesson which is apparently off limits. How was I supposed to know ... there are no signs ... and it's a shallow pool made for baby play. Oh well ... it was worth it ... but we won't be showing up early to class again so Della doesn't have time to pressure me into such unauthorized activities.

Weekend Walks

Stircrazy Sundays and balmy 48 degree weather are perfect for walks in our cul-de-sac neighborhood.

Warning ~ picture overload ~ because she's super cute and it's my blog and stuff

Years and years ago when I was living life as an underappreciating highschooler, I loved photography and I even had my very own darkroom for developing film and photographs. I'm slowly, very slowly, remembering how to take pictures while learning to use our snazzy camera. Upon review of these recent captures it seems that the first lesson I need to recall is do not cut the picture short as Della is missing the top of her head in several of whatcouldhavebeen my favorite shots. Still ... I think I captured her enthusiasm for fresh air and her curiosity for the world around her. Love you babe ...

Feeding Herself ...

This is Della learning to feed herself ...

This is Della attempting to insert spoon full of food into mouth ...

This is Della with her shirt off as she is a really, really, messy self-feeder and it's easier to clean a naked baby ...

This is Della blowing razzberries with a mouthful of food which is apparently her newest way of telling us she's full ...

I love you babe but I truly hope you outgrow the mouth-full-of-food-blowing-razzberries stage. I had to clean myself, the floor, and the camera lens after this shot.

Rain, Rain, Go Away ...

Rain, Rain, Go Away ... We Want to Go Outside to Play!!

Today I made my daily lunchtime visit to Nana's. After lunch the rain paused for a moment to let the sun sneak a peek through the clouds. We quickly put on Della's coat and boots then burst out the door to make use of this rare break in the weather. I was able to capture a few pictures of my happy little girl before heading back to work.

  

Thanks Nana for taking such good care of my baby!

Things Della is doing lately ...

poofing out her cheeks as she blows razzberries non-stop

spending her bathtime playing under the shower spray ... while blowing razzberries

eating non-stop

pulls her (typically dirty) hands down her face and shakes her head when she's done eating

still sleeping thru the night ... mostly

although going to bed nearly an hour later ... 9pm!!!

sings and dances along to music ... anything with a heavy beat

tries to unlock any and everything with her keys

just started crinkling her nose and barring her teeth in a somewhat scary smile

gives me a hug when I come home from work ... LOVE