Happy Callaween!

I know it's been a long time since Calla pictures have been updated. A lot has changed since I last posted about Calla! She is now about 5 1/2 months old, weighs about 17 pounds, and is already in a size 3 diaper! She has a lot of personality, knows how to giggle, can sit for maybe 1 minute by herself, and has rolled off her tummy a few more times (still working on this!). She went on an airplane for the first time in September to visit California and all the family there. Mommy had to travel alone with Calla and didn't know what to expect. The Lord showed His kindness on the entire trip, from Calla giggling through the airport security line to the stewardess taking our carry-on and putting it with her suitcase, and the nice older man who sat with us and told us during take-off, "You know, everyone on this plane has been a baby once or had a baby once, so don't worry if she cries." Calla went a long time without needing to nurse, so that didn't have to happen on the plane, and she giggled for half of the return flight. Calla got to meet so much loving family, like her Grandad, her Aunts and Uncles, and many cousins and friends. She was quiet throughout the trip, and started babbling her "ba" sounds the day we got home. She reaches for things quite adeptly, and frustrates herself by pulling her pacifier out of her mouth. She wakes up during the night now, so Mommy is getting to know what it's like to have a "real" baby! Enjoy these pictures!

Calla enjoyed her first Halloween as a precious yellow duckie. She slept in the outfit and it kept her nice and warm. She went to Kroger with Mommy and Daddy so Mommy could do her couponing, and Daddy ran up and down the aisles with her. People oohed and aahed at how cute she looks!

This is Calla and Mommy practicing using the Bjorn a few days before their trip to California. Calla loves facing outward, so she did great.

You might have seen my posting about the Blog giveaways I was entering. I won the one for some hair bows! See the pink one in this photo. If you have a baby girl in your life, check out the bows at Cloudy Day Creations. Calla started showing signs that she was ready to start solids at about 4 1/2 months. This was from the first day we tried. She loved it! We stopped for a few weeks and resumed again a couple weeks ago. She is now up to eating rice cereal, oat cereal, carrots, apples, and bananas.
Calla was given this dress by her cousin Audrey. This was her first day to wear the bonnet and tights, too! Some pics from California. This is Calla meeting her Uncle Danny. He had made a few comments about wanting to see her without the bows, so this is how we dressed her for their first meeting. Calla got to meet her cousin Luc! They are just 3 months apart, but very different little babies. Luc took his first step while we were there - at 7 months old!

This is Calla with all the cousins on the Hughes side. They all took their turns holding and kissing her!

These pictures are of Calla wearing the dress Tim and Isabel bought her. So cute!

Calla dressed up for her Daddy's performance lab performance and his recital. She heard about half of a song before needing to be taken out, because she tried to compete by singing louder!

This is the picture that won Calla the photo competition. Thank you to everyone who voted!

Here she is sitting up well on her changing table for the first time. Nana and Grandpa got to see it, because we were skyping with them. Mommy was surprised at how well she did.

Calla is squealing and happy like she is whenever she is outside or at a store.

Here is Calla all bundled up on one of the more chilly nights.

Wearing my new bib and ready to eat some carrots!

Can you tell that she's covered in carrots? I'm glad we started off naked to begin with, because she had to go straight to the bath after this!

For those of you who made it through to the end of the post, here is a cute video of Calla babbling and demanding to be heard!