Amelia - 11 months

Amelia is 11 months old. I'm sure there are big changes that have occurred this month but there's a lot going on around here so I might not have noticed some of them...? What I'm finding is as I see her do things, for example, taking something out of a box and then putting it back IN that box, I recall how definitely with Jacob and probably with Owen I knew that that was some sort of milestone, to put something back IN, and I must have read ahead in a baby book about how that would be something to notice. So, as I see her crawl up the stairs, point at things purposefully, play peek-a-boo, turn the page of a book, eat food without much fanfare (the pincer grip!), hand me things on purpose, try to make me laugh, hug her baby doll, put her pacifier back in her crib when I ask her to, among many other things, I think oh wow, look at how she taught herself to do that. I'm real glad she's so proactive.

 Waiting for daddy to come home from work.

 Lunch date with her buddy Abby.

 This is very troublesome behavior.

 First trip to the zoo!

Brrr, thanks for the hand knitted hat Nana.

The Shermans Visit and then...

Though there's no picture of all of us together (and apparently not a sign of Wendy in any picture anywhere?!?), the New York Shermans, Wendy, Dave, Avery and Drew, came to visit! 

These two crack me up.

And this guy cracks himself (and Amelia) up.

We visited the Udvar Hazy museum to see a variety of historic aircraft one of the days. Then walked along the National Mall for a couple miles the next. Sadly, Avery wasn't feeling great on day 2, so she and Wendy skipped the Mall. Just means she'll have to come back to visit soon.

Love this picture.

photo credit: Dave Sherman

I know we're making the same face, but I think Owen and I are obviously related.

Such a great weekend with Uncle Dave, Aunt Wendy, Avery and Drew. Avery and Owen are both in kindergarten and spent a lot of time together comparing notes, doing artwork, and joking around. With all these kids it was nonstop, but so good to have the five of them together for a whole weekend.

And then, a few short days later...THIS...

Happened.
That's a lot of signage on my front lawn.
Thanks so much for that...Nancy, Steve, Sam and Anderson!

Oh Happy Day!
I will admit the number (40) is a little daunting when I think too much about it, but since I'm quite sensible, I can appreciate how fortunate it is to keep getting older, so I hope to keep doing that for a very very long long time!

Also, a few days later Sarah, Stacey and I went to Palm Beach, FL to bask in the sun and drink our cares away. Only kidding. We are MOTHERS, people!

 Oh wait.

 But there was also tea.

Cheers to the forties!!!!

Halloween, again and again

Halloween started last weekend with our neighborhood parade and candy scavenging...

Presenting: (L to R) Michael Sherman as Mike Sherman, Ladybug, Harry Potter, Skeleton. In case you're wondering why Owen's on the ground - he's pretending he's one of those skeleton decorations that has bones coming up from the ground.

AND...back in character for school parties.

AND again, back in character for the big night!

The boys were done trick or treating by about 7:30, with two bags full of candy, and only half our street completed.  

 

Amelia 10.5 months, Jacob 14 months