Chubby Cheeklets

We made it through Thanksgiving! Mom made pies and Dad made stuffing and fresh green bean casserole, which was why we went to the store so early on Thanksgiving morning.

With a car full of food and baby accouterments, we went out to Mike's place, where we played until we were so sleepy we had to take a nap. Then we came down for dinner, and everyone ate until they were fat and happy. Mom and Dad's food was very well received.

After that, we went outside and had some wine on the deck and then a few more drinks around the fire. It was cold but the fire kept us warm and Miss Fuss slept in the Snugli while less sensible people hooted and hollered through the yard. When we came back, we watched the last bit of the football game on the couch before going to bed.

The next day was a sleepy one, too. Our original plan was to bring Wee Goblin to the Stone Mountain Christmas celebration, but it was gray all day. The moment we decided to leave, it started to rain. Phooey! Mom and Dad were very much looking forward to having Little Monster meet Santa Claus, but the weather prevented us. Maybe this coming weekend.... Instead, we risked the mall, which was okay. Miss Fuss was very well behaved, taking in all the Christmas sights and enjoying the stroller ride.

Today Little Monster has taken two naps, and we'll be heading out to run a few errands when she gets up. Zoe the Cat needs some new food for when Wee Goblin visits Texas again. Dad has a lecture to give at Georgia Tech on Monday and Tuesday, so he wants to get all the minor things taken care of before that. So that's the plan!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble, gobble, GOBLIN!

Video, As Promised

Let's get something straight. The problem lies not with a recent Mac update, but in the irascible Windows .AVI media format. Dad had found a shortcut around it in the previous version of iMovie, but after the update, he needs to find a new solution.

In the meantime, our friend Harry Connick, Jr. came by to sing a few songs to Madeleine, and we managed to get one on video. So enjoy!

Oops!

Well, we have a problem. We know we promised a video of Little Monster, but with the new Mac update there are some compatibility issues with the camera. It doesn't mean no videos, ever, but Daddy will have to do some legwork to fix the problem. So sorry!

At any rate, we've had a pretty good week. Miss Fuss has been a little cranky from her shots, but she is still the sweetest baby ever. We also introduced green beans and pears this week. Chicken was also on the menu, but as soon as Mommy opened up that jar and saw what looked like cat food, it was determined that the sweet girl would not be subjected to it. Mommy is now researching homemade meat baby food recipes.

Yesterday we took (yet another!) trip to Target to wander about. Miss Fuss came away with more spoils of war, including a rattle and her very first Sippy Cup. No liquids in it yet, the doctor said to let her play with it for "practice." Amazingly, Madeleine somehow managed to get slobber INSIDE the no-spill cup. Ah, the talents that are just waiting to manifest themselves. Today we took a trip to the office warehouse, where they were having a big sale on board games. Mommy and Daddy shopped, while Goblin charmed, as Goblins do.

Six Month Checkup!

Short post today; Mommy is feeling under the weather and Daddy is at trivia.

Little Monster visited the doctor today for her six month checkup. She clocks in at a whopping 28 inches (90th percentile) and 16 pounds, 15 ounces (75th percentile). Amazingly, she's only in the 50th percentile for her head circumference, which means she apparently didn't inherit her Daddy's gigantic noggin. Poor Miss Fuss also had three shots and one oral vaccine. It didn't seem to faze her too badly, as she was all smiles and giggles before bed. These antics were actually captured on camera, and will be posted tomorrow evening.

The first picture is the first evidence of Wee Goblin sitting on her own. She doesn't sit up straight yet, because her toes are way too enticing. The second picture is of what she had for "dinner." Moo Cow Rump Roast! (Accompanied by green beans, carrots, and banana for dessert.) It is now off to bed!

So Much Going On

We had a busy weekend, even though Dad didn't have to work at the bar on Saturday night. He made up for it by putting the finishing touches on his book and getting it shipped off to the online store -- and he already has a sale!

Friday evening was spent at home quietly, since we had such a busy week. Little Monster had her bath and was in bed before Jeopardy! started, but that was so she could save up for the weekend adventures. Before we went to bed, though, we did get a chance to chomp on a bag of lettuce and play with the gift Nona sent us in the mail.

On Saturday, Little Monster visited the Atlanta Downhill Challenge and watched all the crazy people race their soap box derby cars down the hills at the drive-in at breakneck speeds! We saw Ned and Theron and Melissa there. Wee Goblin saw some very cute puppies and made a few new friends, too. She also saw a band she and Mom liked called Here Come the Mummies, but by the time the Mummies performed their set, Miss Fuss was ready to head home for the day. But she did get to wave at the mummy procession as they made their way, marching-band-style, to the stage. It was cold, and Wee Goblin had been out for hours, so Mom and Dad decided not to argue with her. When we got home Little Monster ate one thousand spoonfuls of squash and applesauce, and even dove headfirst into the jar to gobble up what was left.

On Sunday, we got up early for breakfast and to run some errands before friends came to dinner. We went to Target to pick up some photo prints (keep your eyes open, grandparents) and to visit the grocery store so Dad could pick up stuff for stew this evening. Then we made a brief stop at Five Guys, where the hamburgers were bigger than Mom and Dad counted on, and Little Monster hung around in her car seat being cute and doling out the smiles sparingly.

This evening we will see Eric and Nicole and Joddie, but we also have to take a bath after our weekend of fun activities, so we can start our week fresh and clean.

Rainy Fall Day

Well, it poured last night. So the "FALL FUN PHOTOS" Mommy was planning to take today are going to have to be rescheduled. With all the beautiful orange and red leaves on the ground, MJ was going to adventure to the park to pose for the camera. Oh, well. There's always the weekend.
We've also had to put off our daily walk, which we just started yesterday. Because of Miss Madeleine's apparent change of heart about the Snugli, we went for a walk around the block yesterday. It was still a bit chilly, but the hills Mommy climbed with an extra 18 pounds of Goblin sure helped to keep us warm. We're going to attempt a walk every day until it's just too cold to continue, because Mommy feels chubby, and Wee Goblin just loves being outside. Benefits all around!
Little Monster is currently enjoying a nap after consuming two teaspoons of squash and almost half a jar of bananas. Mommy is furiously cleaning house for some odd reason. Tonight we will join Daddy up at the office for dinner. Hopefully Miss Fuss will hang out in one of the office high chairs while we eat. Mommy will try to remember to take more pictures of the Adventures in Video Game Land.

Amongst The Animals

Big day today! Mommy and Miss Fuss accompanied Rachel and Spencer to the zoo. After a bit of a rough night (MJ has started waking in the night again) we were all a little tired, so around ten a.m. Wee Goblin went down for a morning nap. She woke up shortly after Spencer and Rachel arrived, and we were off! With the temperature in the mid 60s a little bundling was necessary, but didn't seem to bother Little Monster too much. She rode in the stroller for a little while, ventured into the petting zoo with some goats and sheep (no touching yet!) and then decided she had had enough of the stroller. We then progressed to the forward-facing Snugli, to which previous attempts were met with screaming. Not this time - as evidenced by Exhibit (Photo) 1, which was taken in the Reptile House. After about an hour of vigorous Moo Cow chewing and animal watching, somebody was getting tired and fussy, so we switched to chest-facing Snugli and within three minutes Slobber Goblin was out cold. As we were wrapping up the park, Madeleine woke up and peered about suspiciously from her burrow in Mommy's coat (Exhibit, or Photo, 2). Quite the character we have here.

Hard Work Is Its Own Reward

Here we are, hard at work in our exersaucer, doing the things that baby girls do when they have the whole day before them.

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

There's been a breakthrough! Since Mommy and Daddy put away the coffee table last weekend to make more room for floor time, Miss Fuss has become quite the accomplished roller. Most of the time it's just from back to tummy and sometimes back again. Usually though, Little Monster gets to her tummy, then gets angry because she's not sure what to do next. This results in fussing until someone rolls her back over again. She also loves to stand up and 'walk' but normally she dives headfirst for whatever toy is in front of her. A few times she has ended up on hands and knees with Mommy supporting her around the stomach, but no movement yet. We're crossing our fingers that Wee Goblin will be crawling in time to terrorize all grandparents at Christmas. Or at least terrorize their pets and fragile objects.
Mommy is working on a special surprise craft project for Miss Fuss for Thanksgiving. Well, it's not a surprise for MJ, but it will be for all of you! We also took video of Tiny Bouncer spinning in her Exersaucer this morning, which Daddy will fix and post later. Right now Madeleine is (unwillingly) down for her morning nap, and after which we will adventure to the grocery store. The rest of the day will most likely be spent doing absolutely nothing, which is just how we like it.

Halloween Festivities

Lobster Goblin was quite the hit, of course. On Friday the whole family trekked on over to Fred and Rachel's house to accompany Spencer trick-or-treating, along with a couple of neighborhood friends. Miss Fuss was quite content to be carried around the block while giggling at the occasional Mommy and Daddy antics. We then stayed to have Indian food with Fred, Rachel, and Spencer and it was home to bed as usual. Saturday and Sunday were spent with the normal errands and family time, with the exception of Auntie Joddie joining us for meatball dinner on Sunday. Little Monster still isn't too sure about Auntie Joddie holding her, but as long as she keeps her distance MJ is a little charmer. She cooed and smiled at Mommy and Auntie Joddie on the couch while she laid on the floor playing with toys and rolling over.

Madeleine does the cutest thing at bed time. We put her in her crib with the mobile going, and as the blanket is pulled over her, she grabs it and rubs (or 'woolies') it all over her face. Mommy has even noticed that if Grumbles is particularly upset at naptime and has kicked the blanket off, Mommy can cover her back up and as soon as she woolies the blanket, she'll calm down. Grandma B.J. first noticed it while Miss Fuss was in Texas, but Mommy just thought it was a fluke. Guess Momma should listen to the experienced Grandmas more, huh?