Delayed Halowe'en

Much better weather last night, as re-scheduled, than a week ago during the snow storm.

For some reason, the "before" pictures ended up with back views as the clear ones...

Just before heading out to actually beg candy . . . with Will and Henry who invited us over to their neighborhood.

Tired and heading home... still counting the loot.

Sisters (Weekend)

Some shots of the girls...

Crazy great hair (requires a unique angle - or lots of gel?)

Isla's suddenly gotten all roly-poly and likes to spend time on her tummy interacting with things. She's getting really good at pushing up to get a look at the action, and even trying to work her legs into the act as well. It's now quite possible to find that she's not still where you put her down . . .

I'm really psyched with the idea of the girls being able to play together. It's not all there quite yet, but they can now really interact with the same thing or with each other. Margot's always been great with Isla, but we're getting close to some mutuality. I figure I'd better enjoy it now, before they team up and turn on me.

Hard to tell at first, but this is basically Margot dancing in circles to amuse Isla, and Isla eating it up.

Goin' Mobile

Apparently we're entering the frightening age of having two mobile kids. I put Isla down on the floor-gym mat this evening . . . a couple of minutes later - "where's Isla?":

Oh, there she is . . .

... happy as a clam, under the coffee table! Looks like she's learned to back up.

Look What I Can Do

This also is close enough to her "I see someone I like" smile to give you an idea of how cheery it is to be around Isla most days.

Merry Xmas

Isla, Day Five

Isla Pics

A few pics for those waiting patiently...

Sacked out in proper baby-suit and socks:

Candy-cane stripes:

Can you rub your tummy and pat your head?

Isla Has Arrived!

Advanced Bookfacing

I don't want this to become an entirely specialized blog, but I did want to share that Margot's developed her bookfacing technique to a "post-modern" level where the book need not even technically reach the face.

First, I assure you that she's been asleep for some time in this one . . . but the book remains prime should she awake and need it:

Second, keeping a hand on things to make sure that one of her favorites doesn't get away, even when a-slumber:

Next First Post - Making Fingers

So, just in case other methods of communication have failed to reach anyone reading here . . . We can confirm that, as we say in this household, Christi's "making fingers". Which explains why she's been more than usually tired.

Here's the confirming evidence:

This time around we're taking the "making fingers" meme to heart, and calling the little tyke Fingers until they arrive (hopefully sometime in December). We're also not planning to find out if Fingers is a boy or girl, until that time.

Actually, to be quite specific, I think we saw some fingers - or at least hands - although we don't have a printout of such an image. Also (in addition to the head above) arms, legs, feet, spine, chest, and a bunch of internal organs. Everything looked great.

Margot is interested and excited, although I don't think she has any idea when December is.

Book-Face Update (For) Two

Margot has continued to indulge in her book-faced sleeping habits, and has even drawn others into her patterns. Last week, Snuggle Bear succumbed:Actually, not all sleep-ins involve book-facing. A certain monkey came to visit this weekend, and ended up doing as he saw, perhaps:

OK, I posed his arm just a little bit. Still...

Fashion Shoot

Mama wanted some pics to share of Margot STILL fitting in the dress a friend made for her ages ago. This is Margot's best pose-for-a-picture pose, or at least her favorite one on this particular evening.

During the photo shoot we captured spinning...

... dancing ...

... and some form of pondering. Although, it might just be trying to recover from excessive spinning.

Margot's Second Birthday

Margot turned two last Friday, so we had a little party over the weekend.

Naturally, there was cake - with blueberries, Margot's favorite:

... and presents:

(Thanks to Great-Grandpa Bob for Bobby the dog!)

One of those presents was a cool car - strangely, also called Bobby! (Thanks Auntie M and almost-Uncle C!)

Aine thought the car was cool - good enough to follow it and Margot around the yard...

... or even to share a wagon ride with.

Soren and Brady followed Margot (and/or her cookie?).

Danny liked the cookies too.

In case the cake and cookies weren't enough, there were also cupcakes. Soren enjoyed one.

Sam the puppy visited from next door, to play with Elisa among others. She wore him out.

Sigrid just liked sitting on the lawn (or the lawn blanket, even though it prevents her from eating grass).

We hope that everyone had as good a time as we did!

Great-Grandad Smith

Margot's great-grandfather, Robert, came up to visit and spend a little quality time with the small one and the rest of the family. Margot's in a shy, suspicious-of-people-who-aren't-mom-or-dad phase, so we were curious to see how their time together would go. They basically marveled at each other and smiled a bunch. I'd call it a great success!

Now that Robert has returned to Florida, we're all missing him and counting the days until his winter trip back this way.

Here's a shot of Robert, Margot, and Murray for your viewing pleasure.

New Toy

Once again, Margot's friend Soren has generously allowed her to borrow a gently used toy.  Thanks, Soren!

In this case, as we head for the 11-month mark, Margot has been getting more and more interested in spending time standing, and she's pretty good at sidling around the coffee table or around the couch, or recently even "finger walking" holding onto Mom or Dad's hands.  So, we figured it was time for a "walker" toy that she could clomp along behind.  Over the last week, she's gone from rank amateur to being really pretty good with the toy.  Which is OBVIOUSLY how she got herself into this photo-opportunity:

Margot and Pop-Pop, 4/19/2008

Margot's Grammy and Pop-Pop came to visit ten days ago. She's sitting up tremendously, and looking at the world and the people and things in it with a whole new intensity and attention, at least to my eye. I think you can see a bit of it in this photo. I think Christi's working on some posts as well, so I won't spoil some other recent developments yet. Stay tuned!

Margot and Daddy at the Playground, 4/19/2008

Bean Meets Bear

Margot got a very special visit this weekend from her blog-sister Claire Bear.  

It was really great to get these two together ...

... (as well as seeing our old friends her parents).


She even ate my cooking!

... which apparently has Kung Fu Bean Power!


Thanks for visiting, y'all... even Jolly had a great time with a scamperer in the house, even for a short while.