look at her grow... 9 month check-up

The grandmothers have gotten plenty of turns, so we decided to invite a Pops to come with us to a check-up.

Just waitin on the nurse...Here we go!You know you are a big girl now when you get to sit up on the scale rather than lay down!

After all was said and done, and weighed and measured...

Height - 26 1/4 inches (10th %ile)
Weight - 17lbs 5.5oz (25th %ile)
Head - darn near 18 inches (90th %ile)

Kevin thought is was a bad sign that her head circumference and her height were so close. But the Dr. said no worries! She is no longer just a punkin head.... but an official pumpkin head! Yes, I feel I have the right to say this since I am her mother, and I was a basketball-head myself. She'll grow into it. There's no need to worry about our no-neck-ed-susie-short-leg-ged-pumpkin-head! In fact, we expect her legs and a neck to be arriving in her stocking this Christmas!

Once Dr. D checked the girl out... he passed her... and then gave her a stick to play with so that (as my grandma used to say) she could put her eye out!

"OooOOOOoooooh finger prick... that sounds nice!" -Elf

She got her very first fingerstick. And she didn't mind it one bit!

This is while the nurse is milking the blood from her finger.

Flu shot # 2 was a different story. What sadness! But at least just one shot this time!

"Would you look at that... A bandaid for my fingerstick!"

As long as she has her Pops, she's ok!

**I can't believe I forgot to add the important developmental milestones we've reached!

• Repeats sounds again and again (and again and again)
• Scrutinizes toys and other objects (and everyone and everything and every situation and every movement and every time the wind blows!!)
• May resist diapering (I assume that her resistance to any sort of physical manipulation or attempt to control her in ANY way, falls into this category as well... she is SOOOOO her daddy's child!) Funny because this was a favorite past-time for her first 9 months of life, but NO MORE!
• Continues to resist doing what he/she does not want to do (oh wait, that must be what I was just describing)
• May try to crawl up stairs (...up the back of the couch... up the dog... up mom)
• May cry when parent leaves the room (with REAL tears... growing up is hard!)

Kevin and I agree - this has been our favorite 9 months ever!

buuuuuurrrrrrrr.......

Good morning mom!

Is there a draft in here?

Or is this just what happens when daddy puts my pajamas on?

Raggedy Ann & Friends

Leah had two days of Halloween activities which included:

• Wearing her very first costume (complete with yarn wig which she NEVER ONCE tried to remove!)
• Seeing lots of friends and family
• Seeing zillions of kids in their costumes
• Tasting her first candy (cherry dum-dum)

Leah has a new favorite holiday!

I did unwrap it for her and let her have a little taste... :)

The Curley Combo

If you need a reminder of last year's pumpkin carvin' event, you can refresh your memory by clicking here!

And you couldn't forget the aftermath of the after-party with Andy the ragdoll cat... but in case you missed it completely you can click here to read about it!

'

Let's begin with how much can change in one year! Last year... This year!

Ella was born less than 3 weeks before Leah - So energetic and adorable... and so many teeth!

Ok, now let's back up... Last weekend my Saturday morning started out by getting into last of the deeply frozen venison Kevin killed for me last winter...

So that I could make a giant burger....

To take to the pumpkin carvin' contest/party/out-of-control-event-where-people-will-now-do-any-shameless-thing-to-win-a-prize!

Our entry this year... The Curley Combo...

Although I felt the large scale of our burger was impressive, we were "out whataburger-ed" by the TWO burgers on their very own grill!

Some other entries...

This one was so cute.... but, of course became somewhat "pornographied" by the end of the night. (That version will not be pictured on this blog... ) Super Cute!

Brandon still working hard on the Jones family entry...

There it is completed on the left...

Michael Jackson...

The food, entertainment and prizes never disappoint!

Should have brought some mittens, but socks that look like shoes will do.

Remember how I mentioned "people will do any shameless thing"... well this was the grand prize winner! And I applaud him. It was cold! And he GOT IN A PUMPKIN... naked! Kevin, of course, didn't think this entry was grand prize worthy because "all he did was get in a pumpkin!" And to that I say "All you did last year was put some candy that looked like poop underneath a pumpkin and you won!" So let the naked pumpkin pants man have his glory too! That's funny stuff. I love that he's wearing shoes and a hat!

Dolly Pumpkin

Huh? What's going on here?

Kevin! Quit eating the candy deer corn!

Thanks Matt and Sarah for a great party! We had such a wonderful time! And we can't wait to meet baby Mo when he or she arrives in January! :)