My first volunteer work

Last week I generously gave my time and talents to help out with the UF Occupational Therapy Masters' students. They needed to practice assessments on real people, so I said, "Sure, you can assess me!"
Mami and I went to this big room with lots of people and mats and toys, and I met two very nice young women who played with me. First, they showed me this green donut. I grabbed at it, and they seemed very impressed - but I mean, for real, what would you do with that swinging in front of your face?

They also showed me blocks, but they were very little and I wasn't as interested in them. That's OK, because that's something that 5-month-olds are supposed to do, and I'm not quite there yet.

Mostly, I did a lot of smiling and cooing, which everyone seemed to enjoy.

Hopefully, this is the beginning of a lifetime of volunteerwork and service projects for me. It sure was fun!
(Oh, and by the way, I aced my assessment. I'm doing just fine!)

Rumble in the Jungle

Mami and Daddy just put this cool new (ok, it's not new, it used to belong to my sister before she became a big girl) exersaucer in the middle of the living room. I prefer to think of it as my own personal jungle, because it has lions and elephants and giraffes and all kinds of cool stuff. It's SO much fun!


I have to say I'm not so sure about some of the animals. Like this green leopard-spotted thing. I think that animal better watch itself or I may have to kick it to the curb.

Welcome to my reading room

Oh, hi there. I'm just relaxing with a good book. You're welcome to join me - there are a couple of really interesting ones over here I haven't made it through yet.


This is great stuff. It's about this brown bear (or oso pardo, as we like to call him) who ... well, I guess I'll let you read it for yourself.


Hey, I'm trying to read here. If you can't settle down and find a book you'll have to move on to the next blog post. It's a little more action-oriented.

Does this picture remind you of anyone?

Who's the kid in the Santa suit?


I think he looks a lot like me ...


Grandma says that's my Daddy, but I know Daddy, and he's a lot bigger than that baby!

Peek-A-Boo!

Bet you can't find me ...


Hey, wait, how do I get out of this thing!


Never mind, I'll just take a little nap here. Promise me you'll wake me up if anything important happens, you know, like if anyone posts a comment on my blog ...

Aunts and Uncles and Priests ...

Oh My!

This past weekend my Aunt Melissa and Uncle Adam and Aunt Liz and Uncle Brian all came to town, and they went to church with me, Resli, Mami, Daddy, Granddaddy and Grandma. Resli and Mami and Daddy and I go to church nearly every Sunday, but I knew something was up when all these other relatives showed up at the same time.

"Hmmm," I said to myself ...


Turns out I was being baptized, which entailed Reverend Loch - a nice lady for whom I've always had high regard - POURING WATER ON MY HEAD. Yes, we were all getting along so nicely and then WHOOSH - water on my head, right there in front of everybody. It turned out ok, once the surprise wore off. I have to credit big sister Resli with helping me keep it all together during this - she leaned over and told me (and everyone else within hearing distance) , "It's ok Lela, don't be scared." When it was all done we took some pictures. For those of you relatively new to the blog, that's Uncle Adam on the left (and I say good for him!), Reverend Loch, Mami, Me, Daddy, Resli and Aunt Liz.


Afterwards the nice people at church had a cake for me and John David Stearns, the little boy who was also baptized Sunday.