trick-or-treat

The cousins are all dressed up for Halloween.

Clearly the cutest witch, duckie, and vampire in the joint!

Happy Halloween!

hmmm . . . maybe that scratch did come from Trixel . . .

happy birthday, trix!

Beatrice is one year old!

She has added some new sounds and words to her repertoire - she likes to "booooo" when talking to the ghost at the top of the haunted house, and she'll tell you the puppy says, "woof."

She has 5 teeth and a few more on the way . . .

So much has happened this year. And, I am sure next year will bring even more.

Happy Birthday, Birthday-buddy Max!

piano player extraordinaire

Now that Beatrice can reach the keys, there is no reason not to start playing.


Happy Birthday, Auntie Megan and Uncle Pfisch!

october snow

6 to 7 inches, really?

This is so wrong, we are ready to crunch in leaves - not slush through snow.

pumpkin patch

It's that time of year again and we took the girls to our favorite pumpkin patch to pick out their pumpkins. In addition to pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, they even had some funky gourds this year.

It was a beautiful, crisp, fall day and the girls had a great time making their selections. We got pumpkins for everyone including Grandma and the cats.

Can't wait to turn them into jack-o-lanterns!

month 11

11 months has really gone by much faster than I could ever have expected. Beatrice continues to be a very happy baby and finally has some more teeth. She now has 4. No, not 2 on the top and bottom but, 1 on the top and 3 on the bottom - making her look like a little jack-o-lantern. [Very befitting of a Halloween baby, don't you think? ]

Trix has also started combining sounds and signs [her version of them, anyway] to ask for things. When she sees/wants a banana she'll say "bababa" and put her 2 pointer fingers together. She'll say "meemeemee" and sign milk, and also more [which is "meemeemee" too - actually, anything she wants she'll point to and say "meememee"

She can't wait to get walking. She pulls up on everything [whether it will support her or not] and will cruise along the furniture.

The big birthday is just around the corner . . .

Happy Birthday, Auntie Linda!

how to push a cart

A training video by Beatrice.


sunflower secrets

Lucy and I grew sunflowers from seed this summer. This one did exceptionally well. And, it has stories to share.

school days

Lucy started preschool today.

She loved it! She was actually fine being dropped off too. [To be honest, I was a little nervous how it would go - I was prepared to leave a screaming child. Happy to report that was not the case.]

As for me, the drop off was okay. It was when I picked her up that I became a little vaklempt. To see her walking in line back from the playground . . . really got to me . . . she looked like such a little girl . . . [sniff.sniff.]

getting ready for school

Lucy starts preschool next week. I've been getting her new school clothes washed and ready. As I was putting them away, Lucy decided she wanted to put some outfits together and try them on. [she especially likes her new tights]

month 10

Another month has flown by and Beatrice is now 10 months old.

Beatrice still continues to be a very happy baby. She loves to babble and sometimes says words. We have heard: "hi", "mamama", and "dadada", among other things. [I would love to understand what she is saying because she really thinks she is telling stories!]

She is a very busy baby, prefers to be on the move to just sitting still. [Which means, we spend a lot more time on the move too.]

Her hair is finally long enough to sustain an upnotch for more than just keeping hair off her face while eating. She still only has the same 2 teeth, but has started cutting a third one.

Can't wait to see what next month will bring . . .

baptism

Finally, after many months of planning, Beatrice was Baptized. In a very unorthodox fashion, Beatrice was able to stand on the altar. [We thought she might be walking down the aisle too, but she's not quite there yet.]

Lucy brought her baby, Grace, to be Baptized too. Grammy bought both of the babies pretty white dresses for the occasion - Thank you Grammy!

It's nice to finally have Beettris Grace, [as the Priest pronounced it] Baptized. [Even though there is no fear of Limbo any more, I am sure her grandparents are pleased.]

By the way, can anyone tell me what white stands for?

and jax



In honor of this auspicious occasion, I got some baby Jax for Beatrice. Like a true member of our family, she thoroughly enjoyed them . . . and really, why wouldn't she?

donkeys, chicks, and bubbles

We went back to visit our old friends at the farm. Of course our day started with a visit with the animals. Lucy was a little shy of the big animals and didn't want to feed them cookies*. Trix, however, got right in there, and even wanted to eat the cookies herself. Lucy preferred to entertain them by blowing bubbles.

Lucy and Beatrice both loved the baby chicks! And liked patting them too. They really are soft and fluffy.

Lucy had a great time with her old friend, Marnie. She held her hand as she took her down to see the llamas; donkey; kittens; turkeys; and of course, Lucy's favorite - the chicks.

*cookies = dog biscuits

beach trip

We went to the beach for a few days. Both Lucy and Beatrice loved it!

Lucy is a regular beach bum and liked playing in the sand and water. She made lots of new friends and built all kinds of sand sculptures. She much preferred building crocodiles and water dragons to plain old castles.

Beatrice mostly enjoyed the people-watching.

month 9

This month has been a very busy one for Beatrice . . .

She has started to wave her arm to say “hi” or “bye.” And, she has started clapping and playing peek-a-boo.

Beatrice now crawls very well and nothing can stop her once she's got her eye on something [which usually ends up in her mouth].

Now, she is pulling up on everything - she can’t wait to get walking.

A quick Lucy update - She has taken off the side bars on her bed.

getting her dance on

Beatrice just can't contain herself when she hears Neil Sedaka's "Dinosaur Pet"



She did have a little help from Mommy to stand up.

open. shut them.

Lucy is singing a favorite song to Beatrice. As you can see, Beatrice is fully engaged in it.



Thanks to Auntie Linda for teaching us this song!

This movie was filmed from the iPhone so the image is a little stretched [I am still trying to figure out how to fix that . . . ]

another shout out

Everyone should know by now, how I feel about good customer service [or lack-there-of]. I have another story of phenomenal customer service that I need to share.

Grammy had bought Lucy an Oval Animal Bag [Stuffed Animal Storage and Soft Seat] for Christmas. I just thought this was a great idea and made quick use of it! We even incorporated the bag into Lucy's bed-time routine. Every night, she has an animal swap where she trades in last night's animals and gets new ones to sleep with that night.

Let me back up . . . Shortly after originally stuffing the bag, I noticed that one of the mesh windows was pulling away from the zipper. It started as a very small tear but over time, became larger and I feared that it would become something that Beatrice could get her head stuck in [not to mention, the animals would spill out of]

Anyhoo, I sent an email to the manufacturer, Boon, Inc., to tell them of the tear.

Hello customer service rep!

I received an oval animal bag as a gift for my daughter. After owning it for about a week or so, I noticed that the mesh panel on one of the "doors" is pulling away from the zipper.

I am concerned that my 7 month-old daughter will get her head caught in it. I have tried to think of ways I could repair it, but have come up with nothing. [Unfortunately, with an infant, tape is out of the question]

I would hate to think I need to take it away - it is such a great thing to have! We like to sit on it while reading stories, then my older daughter [3] likes to trade in stuffed-animals every night before bed and chooses a new sleeping buddy.

I do own and LOVE many of your products. And, they are always on the top of my gift-giving list.

Thank you for you help in this matter.

best,
kristin

To this, they responded:

Kristin,

Thank you so much for your email. I am so sorry to hear about your recent experience with the Animal Bag. That is definitely not the experience we want you to have when using Boon products.

I would like to replace this immediately so your child's stuffed animals have a home. At your convenience, please send me back the damaged portion of the zipper, as well as the Boon logo tag on the side of the Animal Bag. (There is no need to send back the entire bag). Please make sure a portion of the colored fur is showing so we make sure to send the correct replacement Animal Bag. Please also include your mailing address. These items can be returned to my attention at the address listed below in my name tag. Upon receiving the items mentioned, above, we will immediately send a new Animal Bag out in the mail for you.

Again, I am very sorry for your experience. Thank you so much for taking the time to contact us and allowing us the opportunity to remedy this situation. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Katrina

I must say that cutting out the panel was a real leap of faith - what if they did not replace the bag? I would not just have a small hole but a large gaping one . . . and, we [I] really love this bag!

True to their word, a few days after sending back the panel, I did receive a whole new bag!!

[I honestly do own a bunch of their products and do give them regularly as gifts.]


Oval Animal Bag
Stuffed Animal Storage and Soft Seat
This oversized, plush bag is covered with large, zippered windows made out of transparent, durable mesh. Children can fill the bag with stuffed animals of all sizes, and then use the Animal Bag as a soft seat. Made from high quality, breathable fabrics, the Animal Bag is machine washable, or it can be dry-cleaned.

Boon, Inc

Hopefully, Auntie Janice can make something cool, on her quits, out of the fabric from the old bag - it's much to nice to just throw in the trash . . .

new cousin

Lucy and Beatrice met their new cousin, Freddie, today [Frederick Paul; 07.01.09; 7lb 15oz].

He is super cute and they just couldn't get enough of him.

Just think of the fun they'll have with him when he gets a little bigger and more interactive!

8 months

Beatrice has gotten 2 teeth and sleeps through the night.

She has moved into the vacant crib in Lucy's room - Lucy loves having her as a roommate!