Octoblur

October has flown by...the blur has been mostly self imposed with several trips to Utah.  Here are a few  random pics of you know who throughout her 6th month of life.

Yanking the elephants off her mobile (it isn't really a mobile)--a favorite pastime.

A true NYer--knawing her first bagel.

She had to stay somewhere while I got ready for all those trips.

Here comes trouble.  We now have a little climber on our hands. 

 Stella's first BYU game. 

A few sheets of tissue paper provide about 30 minutes of entertainment. 

Raindrops on Roses, and Whiskers on Kittens

This week, in an effort to express gratitude (and instead of obsessing over a boot purchase), I'm posting a few of my favorite things. 

Favorite Things About Fall
- roasting pumpkins and making delicious treats (muffins and soup)
- accessorizing with scarves
- watching the colorful leaves outside our apartment shaking in the wind
- hot chocolate
- campaign signs posted in yards
- merging into holiday mode but no holiday craziness
- watching movies on rainy days (we've had lots of those)
- apple picking (mostly apple eating)

HAPPY FALL!

Snow Puff

Last May a package arrived from [aunt] Noelle and Uncle Matt.  Stella was a few weeks old but Noelle had snagged some great deals (she's good at that).  There was a ruffled summer one-piece, a darling corduroy dress, and this...

snow puff.

 Generally I try not to rush the seasons.  I don't spend Thanksgiving dinner thinking about Christmas, but I was dying to see Stella in this.  The extreme fluff, the balls for feet, how tiny her hands look peeking out of the sleeves....it lived up to all of my expectations.

Bring it, Old Man Winter.  Stella's ready.

back in the big apple

at 6 months, stella has made 6 cross country flights.  1/2 of which we've done alone.  i no longer dread getting on the plane.  it seems pretty routine (knock on wood).  as soon as we settle in, she starts making friends with nearby passengers...smiling, laughing and craning to make eye contact.  as we take off, she drinks her 6 oz. and then takes a 2.5-3 hour nap.  she wakes up "singing" (which most people, including me, find adorable) and then wiggles around until it's time for her landing bottle.

i left my camera in utah so sadly i can't post pictures of stella's first byu game or our other adventures (did i even take pictures).   but there is some good news.  we came home with 380+ images to sort through (a wonderful birthday gift from GG).  here is a sneak peak at stella's 6 month pics...

for the record, her calf is NOT as large as it looks in the 3rd picture.  her thighs are chubby but her calf is definitely not. 

Summer Lovin'

We rounded out our summer in Lake George with my family.  It was liesurely and somewhat gluttonous, as our vacations often are.   We all did a little falling in love.

Stella with her Sassy Seat (aka Jolly Jumper).  She now turns it at will, frees up her arms as needed and walks forward (until being yanked back).  She also mastered what we call her RiverDance--kicking one leg in and out while bouncing on the other.  If I let her, she'd spend hours dangling from the doorway. 

Stella also fell for Noelle's song and dance routines.  I have a hunch Matt fell for Stella.

Like many great affairs, we didn't see this coming.  Jason and I fell in love with the race track--the big hats, impressive horses, tiny jockeys, program stats, maybe a little betting.  I was in heaven.  

My uncle's horse, Quiet on the Tee, getting ready in the paddock.  He didn't win but he ran a hell of a race, pulling from behind to tie for second. 

Belmont, anyone?

IT'S BACK!

my computer is finally fixed.  new battery, outer casing/keys, and logic board.  so stay tuned.  pictures are coming.