Music Time with the Bell Family

Piper learned how to play the harmonica about a month ago. This girl loves music. Mike occasionally gets out his mandolin to practice (he's teaching himself). Piper loves it and gets to accompany him on harmonica. Sometimes even the dogs join in on the fun. The following video was taken on Thanksgiving morning. The other voice besides my own is my grandma. Enjoy!

Piper's Mom is a Slacker

No new posts in over 2 months. What kind of mom am I? The same kind that thought she was going to keep up on a baby book, too, I suppose. Let's do some Piper catch-up.

September - Piper had 2 sets of grandparents visit. The first visit was with NaNa and PaPa Bell from Forest Grove, OR. They had lots of fun playing with you, especially since it has been a year since they had seen you. I took advantage of this weekend to go out of town. It was our first weekend apart and I am happy to say (I think) that neither of us missed the other. The second visit was with Grandma and Grandpa Freeding from Vancouver, WA. This Grandma loves to spoil you because you're so cute and she never had a little girl of her own to spoil - she had to wait for you. You started gabbing A LOT this month. You started saying please and thank you quite clearly when Grandma and Grandpa Freeding were here.

She somehow managed to do this to herself.

October - One day when I tried to take Piper to the Bozeman Library for Books & Babies, we got there and found out it was cancelled. I told her as we pulled into the parking lot that we were at the library to sing songs and play with the kids (other than board books on the floor for the babies and being located at the library, books don't really have much to do with Books & Babies). She kicked her feet and grinned (probably an understatement) as she repeated "kids". We got all of the way into the building before I saw the room was full of adults (clearly not Books & Babies). I told Piper that I was sorry, but the kids weren't there that day and turned around and left the building. As we were walking back to the Jeep, Piper's lower lip pushed out and she started saying "go. kids." over and over in teh sweetest yet saddest little voice I have ever heard. It was hard not to cry myself. Needless to say, she was cranky up until aftenoon naptime. She made up for her crankiness by finally initiating a kiss on her mom's lips. I kissed her all the time on her forehead as a baby. Whenever I asked for a kiss from her, she would lean her forehead into me. A real kiss from my little girl was a big (and sweet) milestone.

Piper excelled at spinning circles. She started doing this whenever she saw me exercising. Now she just does it for fun.



I cut Piper's hair so that she now has bangs and no longer looks like a baby. Piper is officially a little girl.

Mike gave up trying to finish that book because Piper always wanted it.

Piper missed out on Halloween this year because you woke up early that morning sick with the same bug I had had all that week. She didn't like having the black kitty costume on anyway when we tried it on and I didn't get any pictures because it was just the try-on. This was actually the second costume I had purchased for her. The first was a hound dog and I didn't try it on her because if anything, things run a little big on our little Pip-squeak. I try it on the Monday before Halloween and it's only about 3" too short. It was too late to go shopping that day. I had left buying one until the week before Halloween last year and the selection was horrible (fortunately she looks cute in anything). I ended up ordering the black kitty online with 2-day shipping for a total of $36. The costume had to be postmarked by the 31st for a return, but $17 of that $34 was for shipping and it was going to cost me another $5 to mail back not to mention I have a sick kid. Needless to say, we now have a brand-new and only tried on Hound Dog and Black Kitty costume (maybe I can eBay them next year).

November - This Piper's gabbiest month yet - both intelligible and unintelligible. She such a little parrot and can often repeat what you say. She can now say Sam's name very clearly, but Gypsy's name is a bit harder to pronounce.





Did I mention she loves to spin in circles now? She taught herself to do this watching me exercise. Now we have to steer her to the center of the room to prevent injuries. She's only suffered from a faint shiner from hitting the TV stand.

Piper got her first kiss from a boy on the 18th. A little boy at a playgroup thought he had hurt her so he tried to kiss her better. Aidan, a cute little 2-year old boy, had to try a few times before she let him. She kept turning her head with a really funny look on her face. He finally managed to get one in on the top of her head. Let's just hope this disinterest in boys last a LONG, LONG, time.

I think the mostly catches us up with the goings-on of Pip. I'm sure there is plenty I left out, but this is so much better than nothing.

Things I love about Piper right now...

I really need to write these things down before I forget when they happened or that they happened at all.

- I love that Piper naturally wants milk after having a cookie. Last night her dad gave her half of a chocolate chip cookie. I was in the kitchen and didn't know that she had just had a cookie. She comes in whining to me acting like she is thirsty. She didn't want anything to do with water. I happened to open the fridge at the moment because I was cleaning up after dinner and she saw her sippy cup of milk in the fridge. The whining nearly reached ear-piercing volume. Fortunately, I got the sippy cup in her hands before a full-on meltdown took place.

- I love that Piper tilts her head back to howl like a dog. She learned this from watching Gypsy. She just started it the other day and Gypsy doesn't really howl much so it was funny that Piper learned to mimic that. We are thinking about catching it on video to submit to Funniest Home Videos. This isn't the only thing she has learned from the dogs. We joke that they are her older siblings.

- I love that Piper now loves to pretend to eat pictures of food she sees - yet another thing she came up with on her own because we didn't show her. She first did it with a cookbook I gave her because I doubted even the thrift shop would want it (1968 Better Home & Gardens Casserole CookBook). She's just lucky I won't try and feed her the real food from that cookbook.

Piper loves peas!

If you ask Piper if she wants to go out to the garden and pick some peas, she gives you a big smile, usually a squeal, and then starts going for the door. She has always liked peas and when she refuses to eat what I have fixed for dinner or lunch, frozen peas are a great standby. This is her first summer of fresh peas and I think she only likes fresh ones more because of the adventure out to the garden and getting to pull them out of the pod. My pea crop isn't that great this year, but it's plenty for little Piper to snack on.

One little monkey...

jumping on the couch.

The livingroom was really quiet recently while I was sitting at the kitchen counter checking my email. She had just been in the middle of the floor, but I couldn't see her or hear her from where I was sitting. I walked into the livingroom to see where she went and there she was just watching TV.

She just learned to climb up on the couch (I know, I am lucky for her being nearly 17 months old). Once she knew she had an audience, she decided to put on a little show.

She loves to sit on the couch now to watch TV or look at books. We plan on getting her a Piper-size chair real soon.

Fun in the Sun

All little kids need a swimming pool. I still remember the green turtle pool with a built-in slide that I had when I was 5. Most of the pools just seemed too big for little Pip and a little too inviting to our water-loving dogs. I found this cute little blow-up frog pool that was the perfect size for her and I hoped that the fact that it's partially covered would deter the dogs. Needless to say she loved it and the dogs just view it as a giant water bowl. I had the bright idea to use an aquarium fish net to skim all of the bugs that inevitably end up in the pool out so that speeds the whole process of getting her into the pool up.

She continues to crack us up more and more every day. She's not talking a lot yet, has a few words we can decipher, but she is so full of emotion. She found her little girl squeal recently and uses it to express her excitement and happiness. Ask her if she wants to go for a walk and you receive a squeal or complete and total delight. She also just does it when she is playing with her toys alone. My neighbor said you can here her across the street. She will also tilt her bead back sometimes when she laughs. Yet another thing she picked up from me, making me realize more and more how much I am her role model. I know that I am, it's just crazy to see her mimic me so much.

Loving her more by the day....

Like so many other things in life, people can tell you how it is but you can't fully appreciate it until you go through it yourself. Most of these types of things have been parenting related. Some have been good experiences, some not so much. The current one I am experiencing is loving Piper more and more by the day. Just when you think you can't, she opens your heart up a bit wider.

She had her 15-month shots last Thursday and came down with a temperature of 102 on Saturday. She handled it so well and was fully-recovered by this morning. She has never been a cuddly baby, but this weekend if she wasn't laying on her "soft pillow" in the middle of the living room floor, she wanted to be held. She even started expressing preference for her dad over me. Fine by me for a change and I really enjoy seeing her gruff and slightly crusty dad melt with her.

The one downside to the weekend, besides the obvious fever, was that she refused to be put in her crib to go to sleep. We let her sleep wherever she wanted to this weekend because she was sick and that was just the easiest thing to do. She has never been this way and has been known to squeal, grin, and start walking towards her room when you ask if she wants a nap. The last couple of naps and bedtime last night came with much protest. I really hope this is just a phase and the happy little napper will be back in our midst soon.

I had an interesting observation about Piper recently. Piper looks a lot like my youngest brother because he looks like me and the Phelps genes sure are dominant. Piper also shares his birthday with him. The resemblance has struck me more as I have noticed potential curls developing in her hair. I haven't been expecting them because both mine and Mike's hair are straight as can be. Lane had such beautiful curls as a toddler that my mom refused to cut his hair. It was shoulder length dry, halfway down his back wet before she finally caved into my dad's pestering. My sister recently said "Maybe Piper will have curls like Lane did". When I was 10 years-old, I babysat my baby brother for an entire summer because my dad worked away from home on oil rigs and my mom was running the 2 Snow-Shack businesses my parents owned. He actually called me his mommy-sister when he first started talking. The parallel of babysitting Lane and watching Piper grow finally hit me - he was the exact same age she is now during this time of year in 1986. It's an interesting perspective to have and contrast from the perspective of my 10 year-old self.

Ch-ch-changes...

Piper is in full walking mode now. Funny how once kids figure that out, crawling only happens when they want to hurry. She still falls down a lot, but has only sustained one injury so far - a small cut above her right eye.

Today her diaper-rashed bum is really getting to her because that's what she is falling upon. She has only ever had a couple of diaper rashes, and this is by far the worst. I can only think it was something she ate because I am really good about keeping her dry.

Piper also has about 6 teeth cutting right now, all in the front, maybe even some more molars. She's very picky about what she'll eat now, but who can blame her. She is still quite the trooper and is handling it like a champ.

Piper is also getting more lovable. She's hasn't been a baby that likes to snuggle. While it hasn't been totally a bad thing, some days it would have been nice to have some reassurance from her that she really does need me. She currently gets me up at 5:30AM every morning, no matter what time she goes to bed. It's been nice for her to finally realize that laying next to me on the couch under a blanket is a good thing and not a form of restraint. This little one even hated swaddling as a newborn so snuggling under a blanket just hasn't been her thing.

She can make me laugh...

just by laughing herself. She continues to get cuter and cuter by the day. She makes me laugh and smile everyday even though I am often times cranky due to my own impatience.

We recently walked to the park and she really loved the swing. I am glad I had my camera on me to catch her cute little laugh. Check this out:

Things I am Loving About Piper Right Now...

I love that when you ask her if she needs to go to bed, she waves at herself to say goodbye. When she wants to go to bed, she wants to go to bed.

I love that she has been coping with her teething by sleeping more during the day. It makes up for her restlessness during the night.

I love that she still takes 2, sometimes 3, naps each day.

I love how she sometimes acts like a dog. She put Sam's collar over her head the other day and was woofing. Guess that's what happens when the older "siblings" are dogs.

I love that she is getting closer to walking. I was a late walker so it's not too surprising that she isn't walking yet. She's well on her way, she's just taking her own time. While her walking may add a whole new dimension to our daily lives, I am looking forward to her being less grubby from not being on the floor as much.

I love all of the personal growth that was thrust upon me as a result of her.

I love that I find a new reason to love her more every day.

Fun with Food

Piper quit eating baby food soon after she figured out how to chew. She wanted nothing to do with anything pureed - not even mashed potatoes & gravy could make it past her lips. She's primarily feeding herself now (unless I give her some yogurt or applesauce), but I am beginning to think about the transition to utensils and bowls. I give her a spoon occasionally, but she doesn't know how to use one yet.

The messes that she makes now make me dread the first bowl on the head episode. Getting tomato sauce out of hair with a washcloth isn't exactly an effective method and multiple baths/day is not exactly convenient. A meal does not pass now where Piper's putting her hands in her hair. I have even tried barrettes and a headband to keep her hair pulled back, but those little hands just reach farther. I am not even a clean freak, but I have enough to clean already on a daily basis without having to wash Piper's hair and the whole high chair after each meal. I think I can partially blame this on her dad for teaching her to smack her head like the "I should've had a V8" commercials.


I know this is a temporary phase and I am thankful for my friend Kerri reminding me that any kind of strong reaction from me just encourages her. Like all things, this too shall pass.

I know I might be biased

but is she not the cutest little girl ever???

I love parenting stories that make me laugh...

...even when it's about something really crappy happening, so to speak (you'll understand my reference in a second). This isn't directly about Piper, but I wouldn't be reading parenting blogs if I didn't have her. Anything that can make me laugh after a night of little sleep because of a teething baby is a VERY good thing. So check out this dad's experience with Post-Neck-Poop Disorder for a laugh of your own: http://snipurl.com/22hrx .

She's such a little trooper

Piper had her 12 month shots yesterday. 3 shots, 2 of which were administered in her thigh muscle. She cried a lot initially and it really sucks having to restrain your child while someone else inflicts pain on them. The nurse said her leg would probably hurt and she would likely run a fever for up to 4-5 days.

She did fine last night, was actually almost a little wired - jabbering and motoring around long after dinner. I finally put her to bed at 9:30 because I thought she was up late enough. She's normally in bed by 8:30 at the latest.

This morning, her leg really hurt. Fortunately, she had no fever, but she cried every time she tried to move anywhere on her own. I wasn't very excited about what this meant for my day because Piper's really on the move these days. I soon reminded myself that it is so much easier to soothe and have patience with a little one when you actually know what is bothering them. I didn't need to expect the worst.

Piper took her morning nap a little early (mom took one,too) and she woke up good as new. Yay!!! I am still being careful not to grab her there when I hold her, but I am happy she's getting back to her normal cheerful self.

Milk? Hi? Only Piper knows the difference.

Piper and I were out shopping today and it continues to amaze me how much attention she can get. At least 3 or 4 times while we were in Old Navy, I found someone smiling at her because she was waving. She may have also been holding her hand up signing milk because it was time for a bottle, but it looks pretty similar to a wave and she's done it a few other times to strangers. She really loves interacting with other people, and is growing more and more interested in babies and little kids. It's fun to see her want to interact with others.

After Old Navy, we went to Costco. All of the old ladies serving samples always love Piper. As we were going toward the front of the store to checkout, I heard one of these ladies say something like "that's my girl". There was another women getting a sample standing much closer to her than me so I didn't think she was talking to me. I then heard her say it again and I looked at her thinking she was talking to Piper.

Was she? Nope. She wanted to compliment me on my choice in beer - Pabst. Costco now carries it and it's $3/case cheaper than the grocery stores. More like Mike's favorite choice in beer, but if I had a favorite cheap beer, it would be Pabst. I guess in this instance, it wasn't all about Piper.

Freecycle Anyone?

If you haven't heard of Freecycle and you aren't opposed to using something secondhand, you really should find a local chapter. You can check www.freecycle.org to see if there a chapter near you. I have received so many items of clothing for Piper this way and multiple other items like canning jars, my over the toilet shelf, and books. I have never been against secondhand, but free takes on a bigger meaning when you are living on a single income.

It's also a great way to declutter around the house. I got rid of a kitchen size garbage bag full of my old clothes, two grocery bags full of Piper's clothes today without leaving the house, and some baby-related coupons that I wasn't going to use. I get a lot of free magazine subscriptions and feel guilty throwing so many away when I am done with them. I now save a pile up and give them away here and there using Freecycle.

I am also using this as a opportunity to pass along Body Shop catalogs that I ordered way too many of. Who knows, maybe someone will order?

Not the sign language I've been teaching her...

I have been teaching Piper basic sign language and it's actually starting to work. She can sign "milk" which also means "juice" to her, but juice is a little harder to sign for someone just learning to control their little hands.

I was letting her crawl around on the deck recently when it was sunny outside. I didn't notice her flipping the bird until I downloaded the pictures. Pure coincidence and definitely funny.

No sleep for tired moms

It's currently 5:44 AM which is really 6:44 AM with the time change and I have been up for nearly 2 hours. Not the first time this week either. Little Piper is cutting 4 molars and is handling it like a trooper, I must say, but the multiple cries in the middle of the night are taking its toll on me. I truly doubt there is anything else in the world that would have me out of bed at this hour willingly creating a blog of all things. Lack of sleep does lead to moments of insanity.

Anyhow, as the blog is titled, it's all about Piper here because that's how our life operates now.