No Need to Adjust Your Monitor

Yes, Annabelle's nose is orange. The baby loves her sweet potatoes and squash, so it leaves her skin (especially her nose) with an orange tint. Don't worry! It's harmless.

It's especially noticeable right after she eats sweet potato, as in these photos.

Little orange nose

Little orange nose

"Your baby's body uses the beta-carotene in sweet potatoes to make vitamin A, which is essential for cell growth, good vision and also has an antioxidant effect.

But your baby only converts as much beta-carotene to vitamin A as he needs - the rest is deposited in his skin and is responsible for the orange hue (particularly around the nose) often seen in babies who eat lots of yellow or orange veggies."

From homemade-baby-food-recipes.com

Halloween is coming!

This girl (and her Mom) are both excited about Halloween in our new neighborhood, as most yards are decorated and rumor has it that we get many, many trick-or-treaters!

Decorate!

Most of the houses in our new neighborhood are decorated for Halloween, and Julia is so excited about the decorations.

As we drive through the neighborhood, she points at the various houses and says, "That one is decorate! That one is decorate! Look at that pumpkin! Two pumpkins! That one is decorate!!"

We went out of town one weekend, and Jake stayed at dog camp while we were gone. They gave Jake a bath before we picked him up. Julia went with me to get him, and when he came out at the boarding place, he had a fall-themed bandanna around his neck.

Julia exclaimed, "Mommy, Mommy! Look! JAKE IS DECORATE!!"

Julia Says...

"I like Hello Kitties & princesses."

Upon seeing a security guard riding a Segway:
"I'm gonna ride on one of those things when I get bigger."

Upon receiving a new magic wand: (Available for $1 at Target.)
Julia: "What do you say with a magic wand, Mommy?"
Me: "Abracadabra!"
Julia: "ABER CADABER!!" (Repeat ~100 times)

Passing a church on the way to preschool:
A month ago:
Julia: "Who lives in that castle?"
Me: "No one lives there. That's a church. I know someone who got married there."
Julia: "Who got married in that castle?"
Me: "Miss Jane"

On a daily basis, for weeks:
Julia: "Who got married in that castle?"
Me: "Miss Jane"

This morning:
Julia: "Miss Jane got married in that castle."
Julia: "Did she wear a sparkly dress just like me?"

Annabelle Tooth #3

Annabelle's third tooth broke through in the last week. She's also sitting much better. She still topples over pretty easily, but she can sit on her own. Most mornings when I go to get her, she is up on all fours, rocking back and forth. Usually, she has her head up and is grinning from ear to ear. (Note to self: get a photo of this!)

She WAS sleeping through the night for a while, but she has regressed to waking once per night. The other night it was twice. It could be any combination of the new skills, teething, and the @#$@#$!@#!@# cough/sniffles we can't seem to beat!

Little Sister