8 Months...Really

After three hearty but futile attempts to get a picture of our smiley girl and her cheesehead, I am admitting defeat and posting these two "best shots". Elsa continues to be a happy little girl, beginning to stand with "no hands" and cruising around furniture with ease. She is an eating machine and loves anything she can put in her mouth. She shows a tough side, handling big brother James's shenigans with little fuss. She is truly a content, wonderful baby.

Trick Or Treat

Our monkey (aka James) happily traded in his bashful chips for candy this Halloween. After he saw how trick or treating worked with his experience at the first house, he was on a mission. Marching up to each house peeking in the window until the magic candy bowl arrived. Usually a "thank you" was offered before turning to Mom & Dad, announcing "more" and pointing to the next house down the street. He was very nice to take candy for Elsa when it was offered and hand it over to Mommy (instead of pilfering it for his own bag). I'm sure that will change next year:) It was a blast to watch him march the through the leaves in his monkey suit to our neighbors homes.

New England Fall

7 Months

Please stop growing up so fast!

The 6 Month Marker

Yes our little Elsa turned six months old! She has really grown out of the "newborn state" in the past four weeks. She ditched the bouncy seat and loves the freedom of playing on the floor. She adeptly maneuvers from her stomach and back into a sitting position and is constanty rocking herself on all fours. She has figured out how to scoot backwards and appears to be very close to crawling (help us!). And we are seeing a little more personality these days as she lets us know what she likes and doesn't like. With her two new front teeth she enjoys munching on Mum Mums and her teething biscuits. And what I suppose is true of most 2nd children, she continues to adore her big brother. Six month check-up is later this week, we'll post the stats then!

End of Summer

August Birthday Month

Our little James turned TWO this month, followed quickly by Elsa's 5 month birthday. James celebrated with an ice cream cake that he still talks about by pointing to the picture you see above and then pointing to his belly and smiling. He uses new words daily but his articulation is a bit lacking. Mom & Dad easily realize when he repeats a word he shouldn't (that he heard us say) but thankfully no one else understands him. He continues to be every bit of two, leaving us in stiches one minute, amazement another and frustrated yet again. His #1 love is still Daddy's tractor but tools, all 4 wheeled cars and bubbles play a close second. He is just shy of 3 feet(85/90 percentile) and weighs around 27lbs (20 percentile) although he wouldn't let go of Mom to sit on the scale. He can be coerced into doing just about anything for sweets (Daddy's sweet tooth for sure!) and thinks that juice boxes hung the moon. If only we could get him to sleep in past 6 in the morning!

Elsa had a big month as well, beginning solids and sitting by herself. She doesn't appear to love cereal as much as her big brother but she is already showing us she is tough little girl, surviving the constant tugging, pulling and bouncing inflicted on her with a gracious smile. As I write every month she continues to be our sweet mellow girl!