Happy 7500 Blog Hits!

Wow--our blog counter has just hit 7500! Thanks to all of you out there who keep coming back, even when we've been negligent and haven't posted for a couple of weeks. We blame Myla, since she can't defend herself.

Of course, I realize our blog counter can't tell the difference between a new visitor and a refresh, so there's no way there have actually been 7500 unique visits. Let's go to the data (click on the chart if you want to see it bigger):

Breakdown of Blog Hits*

* all calculations are estimates/fabrications

Myla Milestones

In addition to seeing her first Bengals game, Myla has had some other fun firsts lately. The biggest one is that she now rolls from back to front. Unlike a couple of weeks ago when she went the other way, she really seems to have the hang of it and does it immediately just about every time we lay her on her back. Since she still hasn't rolled the other way again, she just stays there until she gets mad and we have to roll her back over. It's pretty cute during the day; less cute in the middle of the night.

Here's a video clip of her in action (sorry for the poor quality, as we said before we have to use our webcam for this):


She's also really using her hands to grab things and put them in her mouth. Her favorites are her star blanket (named Stefan), her giraffe (Harold), and her rattle (Crabby Joe). That is to say, those are her favorite toys. Really her favorite items to put in her mouth are her fists and my hair. Fun!

My First Football Weekend (Part 2)

I know this has been a long time coming, but it's taken me a while to recover from my first Bengals game. Even before I was born, mom and dad were signing and playing the Bengals fight song for me. From everything dad said, I expected the season opener against the Ravens to be the greatest day of my life. Not so much.

Things shaped up to be a great start with the Ravens starting a QB and RB with the same amount of NFL experience as me - none. So we all went to a very stimulating place I like to call BW-3's, and watched the game. The Bengals got a turnover on the very first play, dad started telling me that we were going to the Super Bowl, and mom rolled her eyes at dad. That was pretty much the last time dad was in a good mood that day. In fact, he was so mad that he said we were leaving before halftime so he could do some yard work.

For the rest of the week I had to listen to dad complain to mom, Uncle Jonathan, Uncle Andrew, and especially Grandpa Blaze. I was so upset that I couldn't even sleep for a few nights. For three nights in a row I woke up at 12:00, 1:30, 3:00, 4:00, 6:30 and 7:30. I kept having these dreams that I was a Steelers cheerleader and my mom and dad disowned me and wouldn't feed me anymore. It was awful. I don't think mom and dad enjoyed my bad sleep either.

Mom and dad keep telling me that it's easy to be a Steelers fan or a Cowboys fan because they always win. They say that being a Bengals fan builds character. If being a Bengals fan means that I get to watch more of the magic television box, then dress me in a Carson Palmer onesie!

Mom made me a Carson Palmer onesie for my first Bengals game! Don't look at my bald spot.

Me and dad watching football. One thing is for sure - the Bengals have the best uniforms.

My First Football Weekend (Part 1)

I know this is a bit overdue, but I haven't been able to bring myself to tell you about my first football weekend. After what I witnessed last weekend, I haven't felt normal and have been in quite the mood. These were all such new feelings after watching Notre Dame and the Bengals.

The day started with mom and dad dressing me in some new green onesie that has a little leprechaun on it. I got the feeling that they weren't happy about it as they both mumbled something about "I guess we should since they pay the bills." When mom wasn't looking, dad slipped me a chocolate chip cookie if I would "do some damage" to the onesie. Seeing as how that's the thing I'm best at these days, I quickly managed to create a mess in my diaper that spilled over on to my outfit. Oops. Guess that means you have to take me out of this hideous thing. Dad smiled and looked proud.

So mom and dad loaded up my stroller and we went to Notre Dame's campus on Saturday. I've been around campus a lot in the last few months, but I've never seen so many people and so much noise. We went and listened to the band play and dad had the nerve to change my diaper right there on the grass in front of everybody!!! Don't get me wrong, I needed a new diaper, but geez. He could have done it in a more private area.

Then we walked over to the tailgating area. I didn't know what that meant, but I loved it once I got there. All the flags, food, drinks, and footballs being thrown around looked like lots of fun. Dad was especially proud when some college punk, who was either really tired or really happy or both, gave us props for turning the basket on my stroller into a storage area for his adult beverages. That's how I roll!!

Since I'm too little to take to the game, we went over to our friends' house to watch the Notre Dame game on TV. I was not impressed. How in the world does Charlie Weis almost get beat in the home opener by a team that lost to a I-AA team the week before? I've seen better football played by the four year-olds in the park at dad's softball games.

I keep telling mom and dad that they will have more fun with me on Saturday than they will at the Michigan game but they aren't listening. I hope there is something else on TV that afternoon. Like a UK football game!!!!

Three months!

Myla turned three months old last Friday, and she's really growing up fast! This series of pictures we took on each birthday really shows that. Her one month pictures looked like mug shots--this is the best one we have!




Myla has developed such a personality--very happy and easy going, but also thoughtful and quiet sometimes. She jabbers all the time, and talks as if she really has something to say. Physically, she's getting so big! I estimate that she's about 13 1/2 pounds. She's very good at holding her head steady, and she even rolled from her belly to her back on Sunday! We got it on video, but unfortunately we've finally determined that our video camera's files can not be converted to files that can be posted on our blog. Oh well, you'll just have to come visit us to be treated to that video and all the other great ones! We'll continue to try to take other videos using our webcam, as we did in the earlier post.

Here are some other photos from recent weeks:

Chillin' at the pool in E'town



More pictures from the trip to E'town--Daddy was tired, so he let Myla drive part of the way!


Four generations of Highbaugh women (we love and miss you, Mamaw Lettie!)


Meeting Papaw Highbaugh


Bath time:



Fun time with Daddy



Myla and her baby sitter, Stephanie


Finally, we have started putting her in her high chair while we eat. She loves to be part of our adult conversations, and just laughs and watches us. It's great for us, since it frees up our hands and gives us a little more time to get through meals! I do think she looks like an astronaut about to blast off in her harness, though. :)


That turned out to be a lot more than I thought! It just goes to show what a busy summer we've had. We love that we've pretty much been able to do whatever we want with her because she's so easy going. Here's hoping that keeps up!

My Turn to Talk

Hello out there! I figured I have sat by long enough and watched my mom and dad write entries on MY blog. Now it's my turn to start having some fun. Besides, can't we all agree we're tired of my dad's weak attempts at humor?

So what's life like for a 3 month-old, you ask? Well, it's sometimes frustrating, sometimes confusing, but mostly fun! Mornings are my favorite time of the day. I usually get to sit on my dad's lap while he eats his breakfast of yogurt, granola, and some kind of fruit. Mom says it looks like baby food. Last time I checked, I am a baby, so how come I'm not getting any of that action? Don't get me wrong - I'm pretty excited about what mom is giving me these days, but I can't wait for another month or two when I start getting a little variety in my diet. All this milk has been going right to my thighs!

After the tall guy goes to work I usually take a two hour nap. Then mom and I play for a while and I try to start working on a good poo for dad because I know he'll be home for lunch. Mom and I think it's funny that dad comes home in his nice Armani suits and has to change a poopy diaper. Sometimes I'll even start kicking my legs while dad is changing me in the hopes that I can make a really big mess. So far I've only managed to ruin my own pants and get some on my elbow. Don't ask.

In the afternoons I get to spend time with my babysitter, Stephanie. She is from Canada! I don't know where that is, but it sounds pretty far away so it must be out past the mall. Anyway, we have lots of fun together. We go on walks, she reads to me, and sometimes I just take a nap.

Then mom and dad come home from work (from the way they talk about work, I still don't understand why they don't just stay home and play with me all day) and we all have dinner. After dinner, we go on a walk in the neighborhood or on Notre Dame's campus. I prefer the walks on campus because it's a much smoother ride on their expensive new sidewalks.

I usually have a late-night snack around 9:30 and then my dad puts me to bed. He tries to wrap me really tight in one of those swaddle things, but I like to stick my arm up so that I can get free in the middle of the night. It's a fun game we play that I think I enjoy more than he does.

Well, I gotta go. Dad thought I was sleeping while he went upstairs so I ran over to the laptop real quick. If dad finds me out of my swing I'm going to be in big trouble. I hope to write later...

Me working on my first blog entry