Mia trying to walk, Bella hogging the spotlight

Ohmygosh, Mia is not crawling, but is trying to walk. Why crawl when you can just skip a step?! And Bella, of course, needs to be in the spotlight... hee hee hee....

Halloween pictures, at last!

November.... so soon?!

The girls had a wonderful Halloween. And don't worry, I AM going to post those adorable pictures of them in their costumes, as soon as I can figure out how to get them off Mom's camera (ours inconveniently died for the photo shoot).

Mia, as you can see, continues to crack us up. I put her in her high chair today, looked away to get her jar of food, and when I came back, she was pawing her way through the sports section of the newspaper. The funniest thing was that it really looked like she was reading it... she stares so intently at things, like they're sooooooooooooooooooooooooo interesting!

Bella had a rough day all day today. We couldn't figure out what was wrong with her all day, since she wouldn't stop crying and whimpering, even in her sleep during her naps. She also couldn't get comfortable, so I spent most of the day just hugging her and stroking her head as she cried. Finally, around 4/5pm, I started rocking her side to side in my lap, which quieted her way down... she was so exhausted by then. It just broke my heart! Around 7:30pm, we noticed some pinkish drainage coming from her ear... seems Dad suspects that her eardrum may have ruptured, poor thing. She was just in his office on Tuesday, and after checking her ears (she pulls on them a lot), he noticed there was fluid in her ears. Ahhhh... she is a daddy's girl after all, it seems! Anyway, she's finally sleeping... for now. Have to run to the pharmacy to pick up her prescription! If you're inclined, she could use a few "get well" prayers (and so could I, so we don't have a repeat day tomorrow! ;o)).

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Happy Halloween everyone! Last night after the girls went to sleep, Mom and I carved pumpkins and baked the seeds (yummy!). We also indulged in testing out the Halloween candy before we give it to the neighborhood kids tomorrow (must make sure it's not poisoned, after all). Later, we're dressing the girls up in their costumes and taking them around the neighborhood for their FIRST HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA! We're dressing them like their crib themes.... Bella is going to be a ladybug, and Mia is going to be a bumble bee. I will add pictures to this post tomorrow, when I have them. This is so exciting!

I can't believe that last year at this time, I had just been put on bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy, and was stuck in a condo in Virginia where there were no kids trick-or-treating for candy. This year will be so much better... it's just nicer to be in a neighborhood for Halloween, since it's really a family event. The holidays this year will be so completely thrilling for me. I always get really excited about the holiday season (Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Years), but this year will be extra-special because of our additional two celebratory participants! They love to tear up paper already, so by Christmas they should positively be ripping into their presents! And they're eating some things, so they can partake in the Thanksgiving feast as well (mmmmm... mashed potatoes and butternut squash.... DELICIOUS!).

Also, am posting a big CONGRATULATIONS to my cousin Mark... he recently became engaged to the lovely Alexa, who is wonderful and beautiful and fun and a fantastic catch for the whole family! Mark and Alexa live in Virginia, as last year they came over to the apartment and spent the whole day cooking a huge Thanksgiving dinner for Johan and I (and the girls, in utero, of course). They are two of our very favorite people, and we love them to pieces!

NYC trip

Had SUCH a great time in New York City a few weekends ago with my friends Shelby (from Idaho) and DeAnne (from Carlsbad, NM)! We stayed at the Windsor Hotel in Times Square, and pretty-much ate our way through New York. We also saw Broadway shows while we were there... we all went to Mary Poppins and The 39 Steps together.

One of the coolest things we did was go to the Museum of Natural History. We saw a show in their planetarium, and also went to a Butterfly conservatory exhibit (where you go into a room with butterflies flying all around you, and they can land on you.... it's AMAZING!!!). Loads of fun!

Ahhhh... the lovely Adirondacks

The year was so gorgeous! I can't believe the pictures Karen got. The hiking was stunning. We were so lucky, because peak weekend happened to fall on Columbus Day weekend, when we were there. The very best part was spending time with the family, as always. We even had MC from Minnesota and Mark and Alexa from DC, both of which were a real treat. And the usual crew was so fun... we played Mexican Train and cards. I'm so sad it's over for this year... it my favorite vacation!

Bella in the mountains

Bella was equally beguiling in the mountains! She loved to play with everyone, and wanted to eat what everyone else was eating and drinking. Also, they both looked adorable in their winter gear, and it was cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooold!

Mia in the mountains

Here are some more pictures of the lovely Mia in the mountains. It was so lovely there this year, and I could actually go hiking as well! Everyone played with the girls, and the ladies had SUCH a great time. As you can see, Mia read books, hung out with everyone, "flapped her wings" (she flaps her arms like wings when she's happy now), and made lots and LOTS of cute faces! These pictures were actually taken by my cousin Karen, who is quite the photographer! I think I'm going to frame the last three!

Mia's sitting up, Bella has a tooth!

Update of the week.... so on Tuesday morning, we had our "9 month" appointment with the pediatrician. As he's asking whether they are sitting up yet, we begrudgingly had to admit that Bella was up and around, but Mia still wouldn't sit up on her own. As I said it, I put Mia on the scale to weigh her. And the doctor's secretary, who was in the room, said, "You mean, like that?" And Mia was sitting up!!! Yesterday morning, she sat up all day and played with toys, and she's at it again this morning. So... guess she proved us wrong! Also, we have an appointment with a world-class eye doctor on Tuesday, which we're very much looking forward to. Dr. Kumar (her pediatrician) seems to think she may need glasses, but we'll see what the verdict is from the
specialist. Little bitty glasses.... wouldn't she just be even cuter than ever (if that's possible)?!

Bella also continues to do everything first. Despite all appearances that Mia would get her tooth first (you can see this big white ball just waiting to push through any second), Bella was biting on my finger yesterday, and *ouch*! She has a real tooth, broken through the bottom gums and everything. It's amazing! I can't get a look at it though, since every time I try to open her mouth, she sticks her tongue in the way. Hee hee! They're both amazing!

Tomorrow, we're off to the Adirondack mountains for our annual Kunz reunion weekend. I think everyone might be coming this year, but for Nina (cousin Dan's partner). There are rumors that Dan and the boys might be flying in from California for it, but no one seems to be able to get a straight answer on that. So we're all hoping, and keeping our fingers crossed! I'm ignoring the weathermen regarding the state of the skies this weekend. What do they know, anyway? Everyone knows meteorology is just a guessing game!

Off to the races.... the girls are up!

Aunt Lu

Just wanted to also make a note to say that we said fond farewells to one of our Kunz family's favorite people (and matriarch), Lucile Kunz (Aunt Lu). She finally passed away a week from last Saturday, at the ripe old age of 96. Considering she's been praying for this for years, her wake and funeral ended up being more of a celebration of her life than a sorrowful event. I actually got to meet family members I haven't ever met before, or seen in years. It was wonderful to see pictures from her life, smile at memories, and just genegally enjoy what a generous, kind, thoughtful and loving person she was. We'll miss you, Aunt Lu!

Bella's standing up!!

Ohmygosh, Bella is on a roll now!!! She's been crawling for a few weeks, but now she's rapidly progressed to trying to stand and walk. She doesn't quite have enough strength to stand on her own, but she's figured out that if she grabs onto things and hauls, she can hoist herself up and use the object for balance. Thus far, she's managed to tip over a laundry basket, spill the vibrating bouncer on top of herself, and climb up the jumperoo. Tonight, she was holding onto my bent leg (I was sitting on the floor with my knees bent, and she was standing next to me holding onto my knee), and she even let go and stood on her own for a few seconds before she fell on her cute little rump! She's so determined....I love it!

He other favorite pastimes: (1) opening every cabinet she can get her hands on, and pulling everything out. And eating it all, of course; (2) crawling over to the family room plant, pulling the leaves off, and trying to eat them (no picture, since every time she does it we're running to get the leaves out of her hands; and (3) grabbing on to the vibrating bouncer when Mia is in it, and shaking it like crazy. Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig smiles all around when she does that (although Mia always looks a bit surprised at first)!

Oh, and one more thing... I put Bella to bed two nights ago, and went downstairs to get Mia. When I got back upstairs two minutes later, she had pulled herself up on the handrails, and was smiling from ear to ear as though to say "Look what I did!!!!" Needless to say, Mom generously lowered the crib setting for us after that...safe again for now!

Apple picking and the lake is going down...

The girls have started playing together... officially. Their favorite game (usually instigated by Bella) is "pull the pacifier out of the other one's mouth." Originally it was just Bella taking Mia's pacifier, but she never seemed to mind and would just giggle, and has now started taking it back. They'll go back and forth, back and forth. It's hysterical!


Saturday morning, the girls and I went on our first apple-picking adventure! Mormor, Mrs. Carol (our family friend) and the girls and I went to Bowman's Orchard, where we picked bags full of Cortland apples, Macintosh apples, Honeycrisp apples, and... raspberries! Pints and pints of fresh red raspberries, which we discovered at the end of the Macintosh apple section. Mia tucked into her first real apple, sucking away on the apple she and I shared, while Bella (as you can see) was busy figuring out where we should go next on the map. We also got fresh apple cider donuts, and yes, we pigged out. And didn't feel the least bit guilty! That means fresh apple pie, fresh raspberries with vanilla ice cream, apple cake, apple crisp, apples dipped in caramel... mmmmmmmmmm.... the world of possibilties!

Saturday afternoon, we went up to Sacandaga Lake, and it was GLORIOUS. Just perfect... the weather has turned, so it has that lovely Autumnal feeling. We were even able to light our first fire of the season in the wood stove. As it turns out, a nice side-effect of having someone in the cabin who gets up every few hours with babies in the middle of the night is that the fire gets stoked/re-lit every few hours, so it never gets overly chilly at night! It smelled just magnificent.... smoky and woodsy and like the mountains. The trees are just starting to turn as well, so the tops had flaming red tips to the leaves, bleeding down into a lovely gold and then the green of summer. The bugs have gone away somewhat as well, and it was fun to walk on the beach amongst the rock foundations left from when the lake was a town.

Eating pickles

Eating pickles...yum!

More pictures (as requested!)

Am getting stick from some friends (Jillian!) that I don't blog enough, which is actually true. The girls are sleeping, so... daily update: Bella sat in a high chair in a restaurant today for the first time! Mom and I went to Chinese, and Bella of course wanted to sit in somebody's lap, but when you put her in your lap, she just grabs onto everything REMOTELY within reach. And a lot that you wouldn't think is in reach, but suddenly becomes within reach when she launches herself left or right toward the desired object. Hee hee hee! So she got her own high chair, and was thrilled beyond belief. Until the point where we refused to share our soda with her (she has decided that everything we eat and drink is actually hers), at which point she started screaming. I think that's the first time she's done that in a restaurant... not a good first! Mormor (grandma Angerosa) gave her the slice of lemon from her soda, and Bella sucked on that lemon like it was candy! Strange sense of taste... she loves lemons and pickles and come to think of it, anything else we give her (except baby food).

Bella has also decided that it is the MOST fun thing to sit on the couch (in the corner or just next to someone else). She'll sit next to you and read a book (look at the pictures and turn the pages), or watch TV (am flooding them with educational stuff, don't worry... thank you makers of Planet Earth!). And yes, we are corrupting her early with politics. Hence, the photos of Bella sitting with Nonno Angerosa, watching politics. She seems to understand the brevity of civic responsibility already... very serious little baby!

And about Mia... she just continues to be the cutest little thing ever. She's such a darling little sweetheart. Everywhere we go, she smiles and laughs at people (and does this deep growl as she smiles sometimes, or a high pitched scream descending into a deep growl (which I call the bomb noise) which makes people laugh hysterically). She's rolling over like crazy now, moving straight across the floor like Bella did a few months ago. And she's still our little cuddle-bunny too. Delightful... that's the word!