Things we've learned

As I'm sure many of you have noticed, there haven't been many blog entries in the last couple weeks. This, of course, is due to the fact that dad had to go back to work and Grandma Russler is no longer in South Carolina to give dad extra time to do blog entries at night. I guess the moral of the story is, folks, if you want more blog entries, mom and dad need some volunteer baby sitters.

So much has happened since the last entry, so I'll just try and hit the highlights.

Diana is getting so big and is learning so much. Here are some of the things we have learned in the last few weeks.

Our daughter has already learned the Wildcat Claw!

Have we learned that maybe baths aren't quite so bad?

Oh no folks! Miss Diana still screams like a banshee when she hits the water. She may grow up to be the "Smelly Kid" judging by how much we hate to take baths!

The future Kiddie Jeopardy champ is already having Deep Thoughts.

Diana has also learned how to be an excellent traveller. We flew to Chicago for a family wedding and her baptism, and Daddy was never so nervous in his life! He was terrified that we would be "those people" who let their child scream on an airplane. Fortunately, Miss Diana was a star the entire weekend. She didn't make a peep the whole plane ride. I think she heard her daddy promise that if she behaved on the plane, he would buy her a pony...stand by for pictures from horse shows in a few years!

Oma and Grandpa Benninghoff are now card-carrying members of the Diana fan club as well. They even got to experience "happy hour" for their first meeting and are still big fans.

Diana is now a "real girl!" During our Chicago vacation, her last tie to Mommy fell off and she became a big girl. Daddy had been threatening to pull it off, since it took 4 weeks (and Mommy still thinks he might have done it). Now we get to wear big-girl diapers and take real baths! Oh no! Not the B-word!

Great grandmas still have the touch!

Of course, so do great grandpas...even if the great grandmas don't believe it! :)

Date Night

On Thursday night, Daddy and Diana had their first ever Daddy-Daughter date night. Mom earned a well deserved night out, and she used it to attend the Beaufort High vs Battery Creek High volleyball game.
The prospect of the only food source leaving for more than 10 minutes frightened Daddy more than it did Diana. Mom was very nice to Daddy by topping off his little doodle just before leaving, which made Diana rather sleepy and the perfect napping date for Daddy. However, the napping only lasted long enough for Daddy to scarf down some dinner. Then his date woke up.

For the last few nights, Miss Diana has made it customary to have a large fit in the middle of the evening. She would just fuss and cry as loud as she possibly could, and nothing Daddy would do could console her. The only way to soothe our crying little turtle (oh, you all just wait to see this one -- all those "little angel" stories from Labor Day will quickly be overridden when you see this little one's neck extend out from her shoulders and let out the most ear shattering cries) would be to give her back to Mom for an extended feeding.

So, here Dad finds himself, all alone with a quite ornery, turtle baby. What on earth will he do? Well, Mom, trying to be nice, cracked open a pacifier for the first time just in case this type of situation arose. Unfortunately for Dad, Miss Diana would have none of that. She just said, "Go, Go Gadget Neck!" and let out an even louder cry. After a few more minutes passed, Dad was just about to walk over to the phone to call Mom for some take out, when he thought to try something the nurses had used in the hospital. Dad offered his pinky finger to his little girl, and SHE LOVED IT. Dad and Diana sat in his chair for 65 minutes until Mom came home to find Diana just going to town on his finger.

Diana is now her perfectly happy self after a good feeding from Mommy. Dad will be spending his night praying that this little trick is not a one time use novelty.

Back to Work

No funny caption...just an interesting way to sleep. The bottom of her left foot is definitely flat on the bed.
After two weeks of family time at the tax payers' expense, Dad had to go back to work today. He spent most of the day counting the minutes until he could rush home and see his beautiful baby girl. It is clearly obvious that Diana was not as excited about Daddy's return. (And for those who were wondering, Diana is not in her car seat because she came to visit Daddy at work...she's just still in there because Mommy didn't want to disturb the perfectly comfortable, sleeping baby when she got back from Bluffton.)

Go Pack Go!!

As if you didn't see this picture coming after yesterday's photos, here is Momma and her littlest Packer fan. (Of course, Diana is really a Colts fan, but since she can't speak for herself yet, Dad lets Mom dress her up all cute for opening day Sunday.)While posing with Mom and Grandma, Diana thinks to herself..."If I look right at the camera, will you stop taking pictures of me and let me sleep?"
Just before kickoff of the Packer game, Dad arrived home with Mom's new glider for Diana's room.
Looks like it didn't take long for Diana to figure out what this chair is for. "Hey, Mom, how about we lose the Packer jersey and get down to business?"

College Football GameDay

Diana had her two week check-up Friday morning. The doctor said she is doing great. However, Diana did gain 13 whole ounces since last Friday, so Daddy decided that she needed some exercise. This is a picture of Mommy, who is looking fantastic (lost 37 lbs in 2 weeks), taking Diana for some exercise.
Diana looks exhausted after her PT.
Following her morning exercises, Daddy got her ready for College Football GameDay. Go Cats!!
Yes, we have become one of those parents who start pressuring their kids early to get on the road to their alma mater. Of course, if she wants to go to Duke, Stanford, or one of those snooty Ivy League schools, she can do that, too. (Michigan would have been okay before they lost to App St.)

By the 4th quarter of the exciting 'Cats game, our littlest Northwestern fan was all tuckered out...aw, who am I kidding? She slept through the entire game. Still pretty cute though.

Northwestern 36 - Nevada 31

Diana must have been studying Auntie Liz's imitation of Uncle John sleeping. I think she's got it down pretty well.

The First Weekend

Shortly after arriving home in Beaufort, Diana posed for a beautiful picture in her new bassinet.

After her first trip to church, Diana showed everyone our favorite face.

After a couple days of crying during each diaper change, Grandpa Jimbo decided to put on a clinic for the new parents on diaper changing.

The grandmas and aunties watch in amazement as Grandpa Jimbo actually succeeds in changing Diana without making her cry.

The finished, quite content looking, product following the diaper change.

Dad's favorite time of the day is nap time. He now has a napping partner who enjoys it as much as he does.

Diana's first "bath."Even just getting washed with a washcloth does not make Diana happy...

...but the finished product sure is cute.

Dad enjoys hugging mom again without having to bend over the pregnant belly.

Diana Meets the Family

Daddy's Little Girl.

Diana with Grandma Russler.

Diana with Grandpa Russler.

"Diana, can you say, 'Jimbo?'"

Diana with Grandma Benninghoff

Diana snuggles with Auntie Wendy.

Diana with Uncle John.

Diana with Auntie Liz.