Heads Up

Camila is going to take her first solo steps any minute now...

She can stand up unassisted by props or people and will play standing for extended seconds. She is walking around holding on to furniture (just a little) and from prop to prop (rarely). And walking holding just one of my hands (she prefers two). And I've caught her a few times walking & pushing Liv's baby-doll stroller!!!

I have yet to get any of this on film. But I'm trying to always have the Flip or my camera with me or close by and will hopefully catch her first steps to share with you.

thanks for visiting!
~emily.

Halloween

 We visited the local pumpkin patch and corn maze a couple times, but as I've mentioned before  - even if I do remember the camera I don't always have free hands to take the pictures... :(

It was a great time and there would have been some cute pics of the hay ride, pumpkin patch, pig races, etc sigh.

One of our visits was with the MOMS Club, and one of the other mommies shared these pics with me! Thanks, Kate!

Liv & Lilian visiting with the goats.

 

Seed Corn "sand" Box

 

We painted pumpkins with our neighbors, Liv loved it so much, we did some more painting at home. At one point I looked over and saw her brushing paint on the soles of her feet. LOL

Unfortunately she had way more fun getting paint on her body than getting it off. 

It's the price we pay, honey!

Camila Luna as a little monkey!

We hooked up with our friends, the Coffees

(from our aquarium outing and the above pumpkin patch photos)

Liv trick-or-treating, dressed as a dragon-princess!

Super Daddy rushed home in the midst of an outage to take his kids trick-or-treating! 

Wow! What a good daddy! Thanks, Jeff!

A - B - C

Enjoy!

Fun & Treats

 Liv learning puzzles

 (and wearing piggies in her hair...lol)

 Daddy playing magic wands with Liv

Liv earned a treat!

Playground

 Swings

Wood chips. 

(Camila is finally listening to my urgings not to put everything in her mouth!)

 its raining

Beach Trip

 It was one of those rare days when it gets HOT in Alameda 

I had been watching the weather and saw it coming and planned a trip to the beach.

And as previous trips, its a ton of stuff to pack up to get us all to the beach, but worth it.

 The girls had a great time playing in the sand and wading in the water. I was too busy playing to take many pictures... we had a great time, but don't have much to share here... 

Not Much News

Hello. I haven't posted recently, I know!

Camila and Liv are no longer on the same nap schedule! OH NO! But both are doing very very well! (Each of them actually went down today with NO FUSSING - Holy Crap! --  its a damn good thing, too, as it is really hard to be in two places at once! LOL) And while I miss those couple hours to nap or catch up on chores... I am enjoying the one-on-one time with each of the girls.

Camila is very, very mobile. It keeps me running, but is fun for all of us. Except maybe Liv, who is acting more jealous these days. Camila is in the stages of new achievements every day (signs, teeth, crawling, standing, new sounds & games) that we are all very excited about - and I do my best to include Liv in these things: "Liv, Thank YOU for helping teach Camila a new sign!" But observing her behavior (when she thinks I'm not looking) I am reminded of a dog establishing dominance in the family/pack. She'll take toys away and then determine when/if to give it back or maybe whack the baby on the head with it. AAAGHH!!! Or show off in front of Camila "Can you do THIS?" and then balance on one foot or something, or even take food off her highchair tray! It's a constant challenge to balance their independent development, guide the course of their early friendship, and establish MY dominance as Alpha Momma!

Along these lines. Why am I surprised by the difficulty establishing "The Golden Rule" as part of the normal thought process? It seems like second nature; but, I guess, second nature is still second. Kind of like teaching good toilet habits; maybe? ((me, rolling my eyes - don't get me started.))

We've recently joined a local stay-at-home-mom's club. Which should provide more play activities and other support functions and community involvement opportunities. I'm excited.

We're (Jeff is) winning the battle against the varmint hordes for occupation of our hillside. We're reclaiming our landscaping back from the critter invasion - but now we're looking at a replacement phase. I can't believe we're going to have to buy & plant dozens of flowers, shrubs, and grasses - not to mention the irrigation parts! Damn rodents! Sheesh.

We're trying to get organized for the holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.  It's an interesting exercise to realise that choices we make now will keep/establish (or not) traditions and memories for these special little people in our family now. Cool.