Pull-ups

Downtown Phoenix on a Sunday morning.

A great shot that accents that flowing golden hair.

Whether she's being tickled or watching you do sit-ups, that girl can laugh.

I came in from the kitchen and FOUND her like this. Of course I helped her down when she let go. On Tuesday I asked someone at the church nursery if you're just supposed to let them fall down and they said yes. So, to demonstrate, she fell down from some play table in the nursery, hit her head, and screamed. Another lady picked her up, but I asked if I could hold her for my own sake. Is it a coincidence that starting that day she now follows me around the house everywhere I go and often cries when I leave the room?

Winter Weather

Our friends James and Julia came over for dinner on Wednesday evening. Julia is 3 months pregnant..woohoo! "Selah, now could you tilt your head just slightly to your left. That's it sweety. Now if you could just rest your left hand on James' shoulder... perfect." No, it doesn't fly... but it is fast. Check out that spoiler. A visit to the Heard Museum.

Selah's first experience with winter grass.

Some crawling and scooting mixed together.

I came into the living room and found the baby completely wrapped up in a blanket like a baby burrito.

Inauguration Day - Seven Month Update

We visited Thunderbird Mountain Park in Glendale. See if you can figure out what's wrong with this scene. Selah started babbling on the 17th. Kind of a textbook baby. I'm referring to my textbooks on speech and language development. She mostly does her babbling during lunch and dinner times, which causes great bubbles of carrots, peaches, and oatmeal to pop and splatter everywhere. It's the BEST.

She also started actual crawling for about 3 feet, but I haven't caught it on video yet...so don't believe me.

http://www.nbc.com/news/watch-the-inauguration-live-online/

Last Sunday we went on a new exploration and found this wonderland playground with tons of rocky caves. Casson wished he were three feet shorter for a day.

On Saturday we tested out the new hiking backpack on Pinnacle Peak. Selah loved it. She was even able to fall asleep comfortably in it.

Leap Frog

I'll get you Hey Camera, if it's the last thing I doooooo!

Scenic Drive

No wonder it took us twelve hours to drive from El Paso to Phoenix... but it's usually worth taking the back roads. Plus it was our 6th anniversary...so this was a celebration drive. It turned out to be rather gorgeous and breathtaking.

Looking west into Arizona from Mule Creek Pass, Highway 78.

Border of NM and AZ.

Driving north on 180 in New Mexico...the Gila Wilderness. We visited Silver City, NM... the "city built to last" is about to fade away since the price of copper dropped and a rumored 70% of the town's work force will be outta work.

Another dirt lot emergency diaper change...dirt lot with a view. Now, ya can't find those on yer freeway systems.

More Christmas Friends at Granny's

Great-Aunt Lela. Selah was jealous of Lela's cool red hair, so she asked if she could wear her red bow. Now who's jealous, eh?

Mimmie teaching Selah how to have fun without getting caught.

Sweet Grandpa Mike with one tired little girl.

Mimmie in recovery from emergency surgery at Trinity Mother Francis Hospital. Mimmie got that babydoll through a series of events involving motorcyclists...Selah laughed hysterically when she saw her new plastic friend.

Selah's cousin Zachary met us for coffee in Arlington early Saturday.

Russ (Casson's cousin), Marlette and Zach

As a monster baby.

As Twinkle-toes.

as Uncle Eddie.

The Six Month Sit-Alone and Belly-Laugh

That baby with Uncle Matt and Aunt Andie.

Aunt Melissa put that baby to sleep WITHOUT a pacifier TWICE. It's the Melissa Method. It's awesome.

Selah and Cousin Chapman.

New 6 month skill: Sitting up all by herself. Still not quite crawling, but she did start scooting forward today.

Her cuzuncles from Dallas are Chase (13), Chandler (10), and Chapman (6). The boys' parents are Blair and Melissa Dillard. They're awesome. They love baby girls.

This was the greatest moment of my life since Selah was born. I could watch it a million times and it wouldn't get old. It makes me want to be a better person.

Got another one for good measure.

El Paso - Spanish for... the Paso.

We got to El Paso at 2:30am early Saturday morning...painfully late. Then we woke up at 6:00am to keep going. However, we didn't get out of El Paso town until 8:45. We took our favorite back roads between El Paso and Odessa. It cuts off about 100 miles, and the speed limit is the same. Plus you get to drive through some very scenic Texas country. Here is Selah in front of Guadalupe Peak (to the left).

Here is Selah as a white trashy diaper gal, in a dirt lot, in Orla, TX. She needed a diaper change severely, and Casson kept suggesting that we wait til we got to Orla. In Orla there is a dirt lot perfect for the job, and not a lot else. By the way, there is no working gas station between El Paso and Kermit, so FILL UP.

Selah got sick for the first time on Friday night, about one-half hour before I did. Somehow she got over it right away, whereas I was sick all night and next day with the stomach flu and fever. So we missed the Shmidt Shneck Christmas party last night. I'm disinfecting the house all day today.

The Green Belt

My Rad Self

Sunday morning we went to Chandler to watch Jose Yanez do a backflip on a BMX bike. For those of you who forget or didn't know (like me), Jose was the stunt man in the 1986 classic Rad. He was the first guy to do a backflip on a BMX bike, and now is the oldest man to do it, it being his 50th birthday this week.

Awesome, eh? Despite being called "little feller," by a few folks, Selah really loved the show and the crowd. It was a chilly 52 degrees, but she stayed warm in the blanket that Michael had given her for Christmas.

Here is Selah with her new friend, Mandy. Mandy and her husband, Billy, own a house with Dave. They are pretty much the coolest couple around. I had a great time getting to know Mandy better.

First table food: Oatmeal

Reaching out

There are no shortcuts... I can't find a lazy at-home jobs.

Monday night at Rachel's.

Watch one video per day to make them last... I don't know why I took so much video this week.

Monday night we had dinner at Rachel's to celebrate Sara Ashurst's visit. She was in town for this Thanksgiving week. She's been working as a kind of governess for a family in New York, and hasn't visited since June. Tuesday night Sara and Doris threw a surprise bridal shower for Rachel, which I nearly spoiled at least three times...going even as far as showing up at Rachel's house with a present in hand, only to find Rachel and Dave hanging out, and no invitees within three miles, for they were all at the party's intended site, Doris's house. Thankfully Rachel just thought that I'd been stood up by Sara. She actually felt badly for me! I arrived at the correct place only moments before Rachel and Dave showed up. When everyone shouted Surprise!, Selah began crying. She got over it soon enough, and we had a very sweet time telling Rachel how awesome she is and how great her and Dave's marriage will be.

At about 5:00am this morning, Casson's phone started ringing. After ignoring it a few times, he finally looked and saw that it was Tom calling. He and William had been in Tucson for Thanksgiving. They were on there way to the airport in Phoenix, for Will to catch a 7:00am flight, and they decided to make a visit. So, not long after Casson hung up the phone, our favorite twins were at the door. Will had never seen Selah, but she was fast asleep. No problem! We used Tom's night goggles to take a peek at her.

Thanks for Giving! Super long video update...

We had a great time this past week. Got to see a little of all our Minnesota/Kansas family members. The Thanksgiving meal was delish! And though Uncle Jay was without his fun-loving cohort, Aunt Teri, he still managed to set the bar high for a good time. He took all the willing Browns family members to a matinee on Thursday afternoon...a Thanksgiving tradition that goes back many years. Friday day was spent Christmas shopping (I'd never been out on Black Friday before), which wasn't the absolute worst way to spend a Friday (remember: work, illness, cleaning a toilet). Dinner that night at the Blonigan's, with conversations revolving around the Corn Huskers, timeshare, babies, jello shots, adoption, dog races, and many other things that my ears didn't pick up.

Saturday Selah and I spent the day with two of my oldest and best friends, Monica and Laura. By the end of the day I was all but signed up for Philosophy Camp thanks to Laura, and had learned how to put a baby to sleep within 5 seconds thanks to Monka. Casson and I met up with them and their husbands for a 10:00 showing of AUSTRALIA at the Heights Theater (movie not recommended; theater, yes). Pamela, Jody, and Jeremy hosted dinner that night. I ate more than two Thanksgiving dinners combined.

Sunday morning the immediate family had a Christmas celebration (limited to the present-opening part), in anticipation of not being together this year. We the Mathi will be in Texas, and Vanessa will be in Scotland. Basically the present-giving was heavily weighted towards Selah, and then too much to me and Casson. More thoughtful gifts couldn't be thought of. Then we all had a gourmet lunch at Hoolihan's before leaving for the airport. Papa and Grandma came inside to see Selah off. Can't wait for February?!?! Selah relished the plane ride, even though a scary flight attendant lady held her for part of the flight.

This is Maria and Miguel's wittoist beebee, Cristian Miguel Cisneros, being held by his daddy. He was born September 9th.

Cristian being held by my cousin Maria, and featured with Grandma Jody and Grandpa Jerry.

Plane ride went well. We got picked up at the airport and headed directly up to the cabin with Grandma and Papa. We met Mike, Kate, and Vanessa up there. It was cold and a bit snowy through the weekend. We came home on Monday and celebrated Papa's 55th birthday over at Michael's uptown apartment. On Tuesday afternoon Grandma watched Selah, and Casson and I went to walk around Minneapolis for a while. Tuesday night my mom hosted dessert at their house for the Peterzen side. Selah met her great-grandparents Lois and DeWayne and all her great aunts and uncles and first cousins-once-removed. I'll add more pictures of that later on.

5 Months Old

Casson is pretty sick this week. So far the baby hasn't been sick at all, but we'll probably soon find out what it's all about. I just hope she's not sick during her first week in Minnesota. Anyways, as you see, Selah started the first stage of crawling... tucking her knee. Granny (Avara) leaves for Indonesia on Saturday, so we'll be praying for her. It's a two-week trip, and Grandpa (Mike) will be alone (even Matt and Andrea will be in Phoenix), so we'll be praying for him, too. We're leaving tomorrow for Minnesota. It's going to be cold and fun. At the moment, Selah is busy freaking herself out by repeatedly pulling the blanket over her face. That is how she puts herself to sleep lately. I have to barricade her onto her back, or she'll roll onto her tummy and keep playing.