New swim suit and toy

Taya is a very active baby. She loves swimming lessons and is really starting to kick and move her arms in the water. She also loves her excersaucer and feels like such a big girl in it! She is fascinated by our faces and really studies us. She eventually grabs at our lips, noses, ears, hair, and my glasses.



Taya also added rolling over to her talents earlier this week. She has only mastered back to front (going right), but we expect she will be able to roll back soon (no pun intended).



This was Taya's third swim class, and she listens well to her instructor.

Too much help from Mom?

Taya's new toy...her excersaucer, it has already been well used.

And she doesn't need help learning what things do.

Getting her excited by cheering is the most fun for me, she can really rock that excersaucer with her 17 some pounds.

Again, some video from Dad and Grammy who attended Taya's swim class last week from the observation deck. (This video got compressed and is a little pixelated, but you can still make out some faces.)

Laughing baby

One night after her bath, Taya was playing with her frog and laughing a lot. Here is a little clip.

Hanging in there

We made it one more month...Taya is now over 5 months old. She is really developing and, I must say, getting cuter every day. She loves to pull her legs up to her mouth and get her tootsies. She loves to be naked which makes it easier to get those tootsies. She is talking a lot more and the ladies at day care said she is so active during the day. She LOVES the excersaucer; I think we need to get one of those! She was 17 lbs 1 oz on Tuesday (with sleeper and dry diaper).

She has been struggling with a runny nose and goopy eyes. We took her to the clinic two days ago and so far no ear infection or other illnesses but she hasn't been sleeping very well.

We also started some rice cereal a week ago. She doesn't love it, but we'll keep working on it. Those pictures are on another camera so will have to post later.

It has been brutally cold in Omaha so we haven't been doing much except staying cozy in our house. I hope you enjoy the new pictures.

Pictures!!

Taya in her new high chair. It is fancy...it reclines! Also take note of her substantial thighs. We are very proud of them!

A shot of Taya's bright, beautiful smile. She was laughing really hard as we tickled her with her frog rattle. She is the light of our lives!!

WhAt?!

Ethan was really excited to start giving Taya a bath in the sink. We have only done it a few times because it requires both of us, but she really enjoyed biting on the cool, hard sink (I disinfected, of course).

"I'm innocent, I tell you!"

Taya fell asleep in the bouncer we borrowed from Alex Kruse. She falls asleep grabbing the toys.

Her sleeper says "My daddy loves me" and it is SO true.

Hhhhmmmmm...

Aagghh, I am not feeling so well

Taya got this onesie from grammy. It says "PERFECT, because my mommy and daddy are the best". We agree.

What do you think you're looking at?

Nima got some treats from her aunts for Christmas. Unfortunately this one did not want to cooperate. It got stuck on the hair beneath her mouth.

Mommy thinks I'm the best; grammy agrees. This onesie says "Grandma's Little Sweetie".

Just hanging out with dad-o

Christmas

Here are a few pictures from the past week. They are not in order, well, they are in reverse chronological order...

Taya with the huge stuffed giraffe her aunt Erin gave her for Christmas. It does not have a name yet...

My daugher and me on her first Christmas.

First Christmas

Taya in her Christmas dress. She was falling over in the recliner. She did really well at Mass.

The Banks' came over last Sunday.

We purchased a family gift for Christmas...a new treadmill. We (Ethan) enlisted the help of Ryan to get it downstairs. Ethan was kind enough to give Ryan the "heavy" end :)

Taya having a conversation with Abner.

Nima needed some shoes to go outside this week. It has been very cold. Bbbrrrr.

Taya crashed in the recliner while Eli was here.

Taya enjoys bright lights and candles.

Tummy time looking at the Very Hungry Catepillar.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas at Grammy's

We celebrated Christmas early at Grammy's house. We had a fabulous time and we all made out with a carload of gifts. Taya was especially spoiled by her Grammy and Santa Claus.

Below are some pictures and video of our weekend.


Nima was interested in sitting in Taya's carrier while the "big" kids were opening their presents.

Grandpa Bud was exhausted with all the activities...he had been at grammy's for maybe an hour.

Ooohhhh, is this for me? Inside was Taya's first Cabbage Patch Kid (from Santa, aka Grammy).

The Mann Family 2008. We have been very blessed this year beyond our imaginations.

Taya's first Christmas season

Hi! We have had pictures to post for a few weeks but our office has been way too cold to work in (it's upstairs) so we waited a while. It is still cold, but Ethan is braving it and I'm down in the warm living room. Miss Taya is taking a nap and Nima is cuddling with me :). I'm so lucky!

We traveled to Ogallala for Christmas at my mom's, which we celebrated very early since it worked in everyone's schedule. Taya was still not feeling the best and we spotted the top of a tooth on Saturday evening. Our nights have not been restful, but we hope she will start feeling better soon.

Taya was four months old on Dec. 6. She has been doing so many fun and cute things. She likes to laugh, talk, and smile which I hope you can tell from the video. She likes to scoot around on her back and turns circles and pulls her legs up to her chest and throws them over to the side. She has not actually rolled over yet, but we can tell she is thinking about it. She also puts anything her hand come in contact with in her mouth (or toward her mouth). With her teeth coming in she likes to chomp on her toys, fist, pacifier, and even our fingers. She truly is a sweet little baby, even with the interruptions at night.

Reading a book: "The Polar Express".


Looking like a little angel with her hands folded while she sleeps in daddy's arms.

Looking at her Christmas tree.

With mommy

"Hey mom and dad!! Look at me :)"

(I love this picture!!!!!!)

Tummy time...







Playing with dad-o

Meeting Santa for the first time.

We actually went on a wild-goose chase looking for Santa. This was the third place we tried. She didn't know what to think, but really wanted to play with his beard. She didn't cry though.