Happy Halloween!

Fiona celebrated her 2nd Halloween by truly celebrating it for the first time. She partied it up at day care, where she brought non-chocolate, non-dairy, egg-free treats to share (read: pure sugar!). She dressed up as a pink, glittery Minnie Mouse. The pretty dress was fine, but she was not convinced that she needed her mouse ears!

She was quite tired by the time she came home, but managed to enjoy her wagon ride trick-or-treating around the neighborhood with Yogi. We ditched the dress for the neighborhood adventure but wore the ears over our hat. She thought the experience was interesting if nothing else. And it was a beautiful fall evening, so we all enjoyed the fresh air!

She also had fun greeting all our trick-or-treaters with "hi" while introducing them to her "puppy" and showing off her "pumpkins." She even said "boo" a few times. What a funny little Minnie! (and didn't Mike carve beautiful ... I mean scary ... pumpkins!?!)

She was just not going to cooperate for a picture

Trick or Treat!

Silly Saturday: Pebbles and Personality

Fiona and her buddy T at day care have graduated to "toddler" status. That means they are now roommates during naptime. Miss F was not happy about this arrangement and was especially displeased that T's musical preferences were the naptime entertainment du jour. [He listens to Enya. She prefers classical.]

Fiona and Miss A have reached a compromise over the last couple weeks of this experiment. She will thinly veil her displeasure and she and T will listen to classical music. We're quickly learning that flexibility and dealing with change may not be some of Fiona's strongest qualities. However, perseverance to get her own way. Perfect score! She cracks us up!

And finally, to liven up a Saturday, I "styled" Fiona's hair after a famous redheaded baby. I present Fiona Flintstone ;-)

Holy Molars!

We are not big fans of teeth these days. Fiona's teeth especially. They are just plain mean, man!

She cut two teeth last spring and that was it ... until now. She's cut four in the last two months and is working on somewhere between six and sixty right now. I got a glimpse at her top gums and can see the top two molars poking through up there. Sigh ... On top of that, she's developed a sinus cold. So the little sleep her teeth will allow is interrupted by coughing. Our day care provider told us that she was an emotional wreck today. Poor Little Bug!!

Mike braved the teething child as a single parent earlier this week. I was in Nashville from Sunday-Wednesday for work, so it was Dad/Bug time. Her teeth kept her a little on edge, but overall, they had a really fun time together. I even got to video chat with them while I was gone! We are all glad that I'm home. Couple weeks to enjoy ... and then I'm off to the Philippines. I will be glad when both these trips are over - and the teeth are in.

But things are not all traveling and teething around here. We are still sneaking in fun and fall festivities. In fact, here are the promised pumpkin patch pictures. Big thanks to Ellie's parents for taking them!

Wordless Wednesday: So Many Leaves!

Family Adventure Across State Lines

Last month, we excitedly and fearfully watched the calendar as the dates approached for our family trip to Colorado Springs. We were ready for a vacation away from the responsibilities of home, but terrified at flying with a 1-year-old. The trip was a definite success! Fiona was a champ on the flights, was mostly well-mannered and accommodating, and transitioned back into her routine when we got home fairly easily.

Sleeping on the plane ride. So sweet.

We traveled in style - complete with Gma and Gpa J and Auntie Emmy (we needed extra people to help wrangle all our crap!). We rented a house, which worked very well for 7 adults and a toddler. The kitchen was invaluable and the three bathrooms were always in demand. Mike and I even got a few minutes to enjoy the hot tub on the deck one night after bedtime. Yogi also vacationed in northern Wisconsin with Gma and Gpa N. HUGE thanks to them for watching our sweet guy!

He couldn't get over all the 7-Elevens in Colorado.
Had to get a Big Gulp!

Our main reason for the trip was to watch my cousin (our roommate) get married at the Air Force Academy. The wedding was beautiful and his new wife is wonderful. It was special to be there for it!

Amazing, beautiful chapel

And an amazing organ

She was captivated by the bridesmaids
and their sparkly shoes

Family picture at the AF Academy

We also met my college roommate Nancy, who lives in Denver, and went hiking with her at Garden of the Gods. A gorgeous place! Fiona hiked in style with our borrowed backpack carrier. Daddy and Auntie did the hard work of toting her around.

Hiking buddies

Garden of the Gods

A pretty scenic overlook

Chilling out while waiting for a ride

Nancy and me

And we took Fiona to the zoo ... where she fed a giraffe and was terrified by a monkey. We got so lucky with beautiful weather for the whole trip. Low 80s every day (and sunny) and nice cool fall evenings!

Dad - that giraffe took my lettuce!

Grandma got her a ride on the carousel

The zoo is exhausting!

All in all, we had a great time there - but were happy to be back in our lower MN altitude with our very own beds!

Cruising into Fall

Every time. It happens every time. And yet, we are always surprised.

Fiona is officially cruising. Up and down the couch. Around the coffee table. Between the couch and coffee table. Her courage increases daily and her abilities with and without braces amaze us. We are so proud of the progress she is making. BUT ... as happened with rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling to knees, and pulling to standing (seriously ... have we not learned!!!), bedtime and naptimes are taking a serious hit. WHY would we sleep when we can cruise around our crib? Last night, I put her down at 8:30. I didn't hear a peep for 30 minutes and when I checked on her at 9:00, I saw a speed demon rounding the corner of the crib. Sigh ... She was up again at 6:20 this morning to continue her practice.

Other than toddler-related sleep issues, we've all been enjoying the changing season. The past two weeks have been just gorgeous. We visited the pumpkin patch on Saturday with Fiona's friend Ellie and Ellie's parents (I will have to share pictures later. Forgot our camera ... thank goodness for Ellie's parents' memories!). Fiona and Ellie had a blast exploring the pumpkins and smelling the fall flowers. We also had Fiona outside this weekend in her new red wagon while Mike trimmed trees and I cut down my garden. Give the girl a sippy and a snack cup and she was as happy as could be. Next up ... raking. We have A LOT of trees, so will continue to depend on the power of the red wagon!

Fall also marks the return of hockey to our lives. Both in the form of Mike playing on his own team and pro and college games monopolizing the TV (except for Dancing with the Stars night). My Gophers look promising and Mike has his defending national champion Bulldogs ... so the rivalry for Fiona's allegiance is renewed!

First Twins Game

It was only fitting that Fiona attended her first Twins game with her Grandpa J. Grandpa took us, Auntie, and Grandma to the game the day after Fiona's birthday party. So we squeaked in our goal of catching her first game before her birthday with TWO days to spare ... whew!

Grandpa got us sweet seats in the Legends Club (the rest of the crew sat in the upper deck) so that the Little Bug was out of the sprinkles and could stay a bit warmer. She thought the game was so fun! And by the way, Mom, almost 1-year-olds do NOT nap during baseball games. How had I not known that rule?!!? She flirted with the surrounding fans, oohed, aahed, and clapped, and fell sound asleep before we got out of the parking garage when we left!

Great day! Thank you, Grandpa!

Legends Club

The bullpen is blowing the game, Mom

The awesome usher gave us a 1st Game Certificate for her

Wordless Wednesday: Sloppy Joes

12 Months

I'm a little late on this - but wanted to finish up the year of monthly posts on the Little Bug. 

She had her 1 year well check last week and measured in at 29 inches long and 19lbs 6oz (up 8.5" and 10lbs 5oz since birth). The only surprising thing at her well check was that her pediatrician told us to feed her MORE. For anyone who has seen her eat, that will not be easy! She eats like a horse already. She's not "under"weight, but apparently could afford to gain a little more.

I thought her well check was done and then Dr. H came back in with one of their rounding residents. She asked if she could show him Fiona because "we don't often get to see these spina bifida kiddos when we are residents ... and especially atypical ones like Fiona." Brag up my baby ... fine by me, doc! So we spent about 10 minutes discussing Fiona, her many accomplishments, her obstacles, my pregnancy, etc. It was very interesting to hear his questions. Our main thought was that the residents right now are going to be the ones caring for Fiona and other wonderful kids like her in the future. We want them to get the exposure they need to understand and love these kids. We'll continue to assist with opportunities when they come up ... until such day that she decides she doesn't want to. But hopefully between us and her amazing Uncle Joshy, she will be inspired to be an advocate for herself and others.

She is quite the little person these days. An incessant chatterbox and climber. And very funny. Last night, I was talking to my dad on speakerphone so she could say "hi" to him. She was playing next to me and suddenly climbed into my lap, put her mouth right next to the phone, and said "ba ba ba ba ba BA BA BA ... AAAH!" Then started laughing and crawled back to her toys. She clearly told Grandpa a joke. Too bad he didn't understand it. Judging by her laughter, it was a funny one!

**photos courtesy of Auntie Emmy