Little Swimmer

Gwen went swimming for the first time last Sunday at Steve Payne's Birthday Party!  She was so interested in the water and her floaty that it was hard to have her even look at the camera.  She figured out how to kick her feet, splash, and take a drink when needed!  I hope we can go swimming again soon!

Gram and Gwen hanging out by the pool!  Gwenie was having a blast!

Daddy and Gwen love to play on the floor together!  She is still working on the crawling thing; this week she is more like an inchworm--toosh up in the air with her legs straight and then she moves forward about an inch.  Tons of fun to watch!  We are really working hard on getting that trick because Gammy and Gampy are coming to visit us this Sunday and we want to show off for them!  Not that they won't love just looking at Gwen, she is eye catching, but it is so cool to see her doing things now!  Oh, and I almost forgot...she had baby food peaches last night!  The verdict is still out as to whether she liked them or not, but she tried them.  Every bite and she would grimace, stick her fingers in her mouth, and then look at you as if saying "What was that!"  And then we would do it all again with the next bite.  We'll see how tonight goes.  Happy Labor Day to all and enjoy the day off!  I know we will!!!!!

Everyone can now comment!

I have changed the settings on the blog to allow anyone to comment on a posting! I would love to hear what you think, so comment away. There will be a button at the bottom of every post that says "comments" and all you need to do is click on it and follow the directions. Can't wait to hear what you have to say about little Miss Gwen's adventures!

What new?

What's new here?  A lot!  I have been relocated for work closer to home for 2 days of the week.  I will now be dropping Gwen off at her Gram's house and driving 7 minutes to Tennyson Elementary School!  So much better than the hour I have been doing; which I will still get to do 3 days a week.  But it is a bit better.
Gwen now has 2 teeth coming in!  The other lower front decided it wanted in on the fun and came popping through on sometime Thursday night because it was there Friday morning.  According to Gram she was a bit fussy Thursday for her, she was her happy self with us Thursday night) and Friday was a ray of sunshine again...that would bit her typical self.  I hope that she continues to just get a bit fussy while teething, instead of everything else she could be doing that I have heard about!  Gwen is so close to crawling...she will probably get it any second!  She has her legs, but her arms haven't quite figured out that they need to move too.  Watch and you'll see:

She is also enjoying her cereal dinners that she has started this week--I think she will be moving right into the self feeding by the way she is acting now.  She is determined to do it herself!

Gwen can't wait for Gammy and Gampy (aka Dude) to visit during Labor Day and is planning her other trips out now that I have my schedule.  So, we hope to see some of you soon!

I feel this desperate need to chew and I don't know why!

Hahahaha! I went sledding in the laundry basket!  Let's do it again!

Go Purdue!!!!

Over the weekend...
We dropped Uncle Joey off for his first year at Purdue...I will miss playing with you lots!
And then we met up with Auntie Erin and Gammy!  We went for a walk (I found my foot again)
Daddy took a nap... What?  You thought I should take one too?
I love Auntie Erin, Gammy, Monkey...EVERYONE!

It was a great trip and we should do it again very soon!

A Tooth!!!!!!!!!

Yes, believe it or not.... Miss Gwen has her first tooth!  It wasn't there Wednesday, but by the time I came to pick her up from work yesterday it was there.  You can't see anything yet, not that she will move her tongue out of the way and let you anyway, but you can feel it.  When it was discovered, she had grabbed my hand and put my finger in her mouth (a normal occurrence these days) and so I started to rub her lower gums and I felt something very tiny and sharp!  I was very surprised!  I consulted her dentist (Dr. Casey) and her hygienist (Laura) about the matter and they felt that it was on the early side to be getting teeth already but not abnormal.  Dr. Casey also said that based on my description of the location, it is tooth P (the lower right front tooth).  All in all... everyone is super excited!!!!!!!!!!  

And to top the tooth thing off, if she can, Gwen has even decided that she is ready to sit unsupported this week.  She has started sitting "like a frog" as Brad says with her hands on the floor in front of herself.  So cute!  I do have a picture of this on the camera, so I will upload it soon.  Just wanted to keep you all posted! 

Gwen is 5 months old!

Here I am at 5 months!

Big week this week...I turned 5 months old, I ate milk from a spoon, I am learning new tricks, and I am teething like crazy (but no teeth yet)! I even went to my very first Sock Hop (Daddy's family was having a reunion) and I got my very own Poodle Skirt! I think I look NEAT-O!

It has taken Mommy awhile to post this one for me....so now I have even more exciting news! Mommy's first day of work was yesterday (Aug. 11th) and it went better that she thought it would. No tears were actually shed, but she said her eyes filled up a couple times during the day--that just means she loves me! There is still a possibility that she will be moved to a school closer to home, but we won't know anything for a month or two. While Mommy was at work I was busy running around with Gram and practicing my tricks. I am so close to crawling I can feel it! I get my tush in the air, my arms pushed straight, but I can seem to keep my head up to look where I am going. Daddy says I look like a triangle! I will get it and then watch out Daddy--I will be everywhere! I did however sit all by myself yesterday (with the help of my hands in the front-kinda like a frog position) but it was without Mommy holding me none the less. So that is exciting! Tomorrow (Aug. 12th) is Mommy and Daddy's 2 year anniversary, so if you were there think of the zoo and their beautiful wedding--I have heard about it and it sounded pretty nice!

Here is another new trick I have learned--grabbing my toes at the same time!
The polls are in and the winner is....DADDY (surprisingly)! 66% of you voted that I look most like him right now, and I think you are right! Some days we think I look a bit like Mommy, but I am definitely a Tempel. Thanks for participating--I hope it was fun! And now we know that at least 15 people look at the blog! That is very cool!


YUM! Although the same great stuff, somehow milk is so interesting when it comes from that spoon! More please!

For those of you who do not have the pleasure of seeing me in the morning, Mommy thought she would share a clip with you of what it is like.

Who do I look like most?

So Mommy and Daddy have been having a discussion with a big question...Who do I look like more?  Some days it is all Daddy's looks and other days there are traces of Mommy.  Now it is your turn to vote!  Partly for fun, but also to see who is actually reading my blog and my exciting thoughts, I would like to hear your opinion.  Voting will be open until 9 pm on Aug. 10th and then we will have the results! Below I have included some pictures for you to help in your voting.  Please only vote once, and have fun!
Daddy at 5 months

Me at almost 5 months (and to be totally neutral I even went nakie!)

Mommy at 5 months

Strawberries, peaches, and cherries... OH MY!

Mommy let me lick a strawberry last night and WOW!!!!!!!  IT'S SO YUMMY!  I kept licking my lips to taste it again!  Then Daddy let me lick a peach and WOW!  IT'S SO YUMMY TOO!  Mommy says it is the best kind because it came straight from the orchard.  These top the cherry Mommy let me look at a couple weeks back--maybe now she would let me lick it!  I think I am going to like this food thing!  A LOT!

Hello again!  I am doing great and just wanted to say hello!  I have been busy growing, chewing, drooling (no teeth yet though), smiling, and hanging out with my family.  I really want to go swimming, so we might head to the pool this weekend--we don't have one super close, but 15 minutes away isn't too bad.  Mommy just found out that there was another pool nearby besides Holiday World's water park.  Don't get me wrong the theme park would have a great baby pool, but since I don't crawl yet, and the wave pool would be a bit scary, a regular pool will be just fine.  I have also started reaching for people and toys which everyone around here seems pretty excited about.  Mommy is being quite a homemaker in the kitchen...she is getting all sorts of veggies from Gram's garden and freezing them for later and making all sorts of yummy smelling stuff.  I just hope she continues once work starts again so I can try some of the things she puts on Daddy's plate!  I know he'll share with me!  I haven't started eating any foods yet, I get a taste here and there, but Mommy is getting better.  I had a photo shoot recently, so here are some of my best/favorite pics (Aunt Kelley will be so proud!  I am becoming a great model!).  Love you all!  MUAH!

I'm a cabbage patch kid!

Who could resist a smile like this?  That's what I thought!

Modeling just like Aunt Kelley

My family--I love 'em