. . . New Word Alert! . . .

The newly-learned word is "Outside." Claire uses it especially in situations: 1) when she really wants to go out and play--she often says it while bringing her shoes to us, or trying to put her shoes on herself; and 2) when she can tell we are agitated by some doggy misconduct, and the dog is about to get kicked out.

Taken 45 seconds after a pretty big milestone here in Toddlerville: our very first foot stomping tantrum. We have had fists balled up, and head shaking with impressively loud "NONONONONONONO!"'s for quite some time now, but today was the first ever foot involvement, and the fact that she was dressed up like a pretty pretty princess made it much funnier. As you might be able to guess, the offense was diaper related, specifically my unwillingness to put her in a "bird" diaper, when she had a perfectly good Elmo diaper on(as a non TV watcher, she does not know what enormous cache the Elmo diaper holds for the under 3 set. Otherwise she surely would have been thrilled with her fashionable good fortune.).

 

 

Happy fall everyone. I hope you all are enjoying the cooler weather. Man, I am. I was commenting to a friend the other day that I used to like summer, but lately I am not really a huge fan. We decided possibly this has something to do with the fact that I keep gestating largely on the very hottest days. Whatever the reason, we have had a very nice fall. I love sweaters and changing leaves and spiced apple cider, and it's fun to introduce Claire Helen to all these things. Well, sweaters she is only marginally a fan of, and only then if she picks them out. She has recently become extremely opinionated about her clothes, and once she has decided she wants to be wearing an item (generally a red or orange one), she will not be deterred, and will in fact act as though the mama suggested item is made of a poison oak and battery acid polymer if I try to bring it near her. It is very funny, though I am not sure where she got her fashionista tendencies.

Mat's sister got married a few weeks ago, and Claire Helen got her likely one and only shot at flower girl duties. She walked down the aisle with mama and papa (who were both in the wedding as well), and watched the bride walk in very calmly. As soon as the opening prayer started, however, she decided she should go exploring, and so chipperly called out "Me down? Me down?? ME DOWN??" while wriggling and trying to unstick the mama arms which had obviously gone defective, what with their not letting her down and all.

We ended up out in the narthex for the majority of the ceremony, which I am told was quite lovely. It was nice for Claire Helen to get to spend time with all the cousins, and she adored all the attention from the weekend. I think coming home was something of a letdown.

Claire Helen has also started pre-school this fall. Sort of pre-school. Pre-pre-school, if you will. We think she can really use something like this, in our continued efforts to stave off her Boo Radley tendencies, and she is taking to it very well. She is the youngest on in the class (and also the tallest! She is definitely trading on her ability to reach higher up than the other kids, as her nascent sense of possession comes out. She hoards the toys she likes just out of reach of the older kids), and I think she is learning a lot from the super-hero like 2 year olds. I swear her jaw dropped when she saw one of them jump, and besides that it's always nice to see how kids will just live up to your expectations, whatever they are. The teachers often forget how young she is (the height thing, again), and just give her instructions like they do the older kids. Sometimes it's too much, but sometimes she just follows them. It makes me very proud.

The only picture we have from the day of the wedding. Would you like to know what is wrong with this picture? 1) Claire Helen is not allowed to drink juice. Especially not orange juice while wearing a white dress. 2) She is REALLY not allowed to eat ice cream. Especially not when she is supposed to be nice for relatives the rest of the day, instead of riding a sugar high. But despite poor nutritional parenting, she did very well. 

 

We are still working on our "photo smile." 

contemplating stealing grandpa's water bottle 

She blends. 

 

 

Grandma H's pretty garden 

 

Getting ready to start the Walk for Hope breast cancer walk a couple weeks ago. For the second year running, I was the most pregnant person there, a pattern I wish to halt. Despite the lack of enthusiasm from the smaller members of our pack in the photo, we all had a really nice time, and even got little medals. 

Claire Helen soup. She got in there one day and could not be coerced out, even with promises of kitties to play with. The thought did intrigue her, though. 

Wheeeeee!!! The big slide at the pumpkin patch. 

A wheelbarrow full of pumpkins.