Marched along Main Street in Melrose we did. Treats we got as well from the neighbors. Let not my size fool you. A powerful trick-or-treater I am. When hamming it up for the adults there is no try. Try not. Do, or do not. May the force be with you.
Archive for October, 2006
First Halloween
Tuesday, October 31st, 2006Dad’s Birthday Cake
Tuesday, October 31st, 2006
Wednesday, October 25, was Dad’s actual birthday, but we celebrated over the weekend instead. Mom and I made him a delicious chocolate cake, but I didn’t get to taste it (chocolate is one of those allergen things Mom is always talking about). I’ll have a vanilla cake all to myself in January when I turn one!
Talking?
Friday, October 27th, 2006Flora has us guessing whether or not she’s actually talking these days … or if her various sounds are just perfectly timed. Her personal assistant (also known as Katherine) has sworn Flora has said “Yay!” twice while clapping her hands. This morning she saw Marty and said “DaDa” when she had just been saying a totally different string of “YaYaYa” sounds. And while reading the animal sounds book, I asked “Where’s the owl?” Flora replied “OOOOO” (the sound an owl makes). On a few occasions she has said what sounds like “Hi” while waving. And she makes a sound that is close to “Meow” when she hears the words “kitty cat.” We’re not ready to officially declare her first word (maybe I’m waiting for her to say “Mama” for that!) but she’s definitely going to have something to say soon.
In other news, she has been diving onto her tummy, rolling to and fro, and getting on her hands and knees and rocking. Crawling is just over the horizon — yikes!
Vanilla Soft Serve
Sunday, October 22nd, 2006
Amy must be craving sweets because she dressed Flora up like a vanilla soft serve ice cream cone — with rainbow sprinkles on top — for our walk through Breakheart Reservation. Thanks to Grandpa David and Grandma Vicki for sending the cool sweater — it arrived just in time for some chilly, autumnal weather this weekend.
9 Month Stats
Monday, October 16th, 2006
Just as I nearly recovered from my week-long cold, Mom and Dad took me to Dr. G’s office for a flu shot … and a blood test … and a checkup. But I put on a brave face and didn’t even cry when they stuck my thigh or my finger. And just to show them who’s boss, I surprised everyone with a big present in my pants. Today I weighed in at 20 pounds 4 ounces and measured 28 inches long. That puts me in the 90th percentile for height and the 75th percentile for weight. Yah, my head is also 90th percentile, but I have lots of brains in there. Dr. G gave me the thumbs up, and upon inspection, predicts that my two bottom teeth will be coming in first. And when I showed her my pterodactyl-like skills and inquisitve nature, she decided I was quite an intellectual baby.
So what else am I up to these days? I love books — my current favorites are: “Secret Seahorse,” “Autumn Walk,” “I Know A Rhino,” and “Bottoms.” Dad knows them by heart! I can push up really far on my arms and scooch backwards — but what I really want to do is to go forwards — I’ll keep working on that. I can roll back and forth to reach a toy or position myself just so. I can get down on my belly from a seated position if I want to. I can screech, babble, and pant like a dog. I understand a bunch of words and phrases like: up, Where’s your pig?, change, dance, What do you have?, eat (BTW, my new favorite food is yogurt), drink, puff, Turn the page, clap, no, nose, and splash. I can play ball by rolling it back to you. I can bop, dance, and play instruments to songs. And I can imitate sounds — I’m trying really hard to say meow — oh how I love those animal sounds.
By the way, I chose Heinrich Hogafiener Hergert for my pig’s name — thanks for the suggestions! Second runner-up was Chop, but you know with Mom being a Vegetarian and all …
Fall Sweater
Sunday, October 15th, 2006
Shakespeare’s Pizza
Sunday, October 15th, 2006
In his college days at the University of Missouri, my Dad loved going to a pizza joint called Shakespeare’s Pizza on Ninth Street. According to him, the staff are quirky and hip, the ingredients are super fresh, the dough is homemade, and it’s really, really good. Mom agrees — Dad took her there for lunch when she was pregnant with me. I can’t wait to visit Columbia, MO and have a bite for myself. Until then, I’ll just have to dream of what pizza tastes like and show my support by wearing my Shakespeare’s Pizza onesie. Huzzah!
9 Months Old
Saturday, October 14th, 2006
Today I turned nine months old. But because I have a bad cold — and have had it for over a week now — I’m not in the mood for much celebrating. Or playing. Or picture taking. But when I feel better I’ll show you my favorite new past time … reading books … all by myself!
Hiking in The Fells
Saturday, October 7th, 2006
Dad decided to take advantage of the crisp autumn weather and take me and Mom for a hike in the Fells. And we got to try out the new backpack carrier Dobbin and Kate lent me — thanks guys! We walked along the Crystal Springs trail until we reached Greenwood Park across the street from the Stone Zoo. After stopping to watch the big kids play soccer and take a turn on the swings, we headed down another trail back towards the car. Along our travels we saw lots of flora but no fauna, and ended our day at BookEnds in Winchester where I got a few new, tiny board books.
Is That Horse Poop I Smell?
Wednesday, October 4th, 2006
Today a bunch of my friends (Henry, James, Raessler, Mackenzie, Lila, Emma, Bella, and Max!) and I took a field trip to Connors Farm in Danvers, MA. Despite being off my game (Mom isn’t sure if I am feeling sick or just teething) I had lots of fun picnicing next to the pond, picking apples from the grove, picking raspberries from the prickly bushes, and picking out a pumpkin to bring home for Halloween. I was so pooped from all the p-activities that I barely made it through Mom’s photo session, and promptly passed out in the car on the way home.
All By Herself
Wednesday, October 4th, 2006
Flora has expressed interest (i.e. grabs the spoon right out of my hands) in feeding herself. In fact, Miss All By Myself is expressing herself in lots of ways these days. When she doesn’t have what she wants, she throws herself backwards in protest. When she hears a song she likes, she bounces up and down to the beat. When I sing a song, she joins in with long AHHH sounds. And she’s starting to respond to questions like “What do you have?” by showing us what’s in her hands.