Some recent developments that I need to write down:

Mallory is a talking machine. She’s been saying “mamamamama” and her version of “Cooper/puppy” for a couple of weeks, but just last week, she picked up “Uh-oh” from her cousin Lauren. She says it whenever something drops, and even helped me not lose my grocery list today. Out of the blue she said “Uh-oh” so I looked to see what she dropped. Turns out my list was on the floor. Good girl Mals!! She also is a big fan of “hhhiiiiiiiiiiiii” and “ball” and has some version of “thank you” that sounds …

Read More→

Finally my pumpkinhead got to dress up as pumpkin! Since I was due on Halloween last year, Mallory has been my pumpkinhead even before she was born.
Mallory had a little parade at school yesterday – all of the kids dressed up in their costumes and the bigger kids went on a tour of the other rooms. But after that parade, all of the kids got to go outside and play. It was the first time Mallory & her friend Allison got to play on the big kid playground – mostly they spent the time walking and picking up hay.
But then last night, …

Read More→

I just got my next to last Baby Weekly email. The title was “Week 51 in your baby’s development”. I remember getting my week 30 Baby Weekly email and thinking “holy cow, we’re more than halfway through Mallory’s first year”. And here it is already, the anniversary of my original due date, and one week until Mallory’s birthday. I cried at Mallory’s friend’s first birthday party on Sunday. Interesting to see how I do at my pumpkinhead’s party this weekend.
Speaking of pumpkinheads, my pumpkinhead is a Pumpkin for Halloween this year. They are having a little parade at school on …

Read More→

So. Not sure if anyone read the comment on the Pumpkin Patch pictures, referring to the “Hook ’em Horns” sign Mallory is making with her right hand, like she’s changing the play under center.
Here are the pictures to show you what that is referring to and why it’s so funny. If you don’t think it’s funny, please disregard this post. Or go drink some Blue Moon Belguim Whites with lemon and get back to me.

Go Blue.

Obviously my kid isn’t starving so it’s not like we had to find ways to finish her meal, but I keep trying new things and see if it works to help her develop new skilz so Mallory got a new prop this weekend: a bowl that suction cups to her highchair tray. The gadget worked – she ate her ENTIRE bowl of shells & cheese, even trying to eat some with her fork. A couple of notes: top middle picture – her bowl is empty and she is looking for a refill; bottom left – …

Read More→

We took the obligatory trip to the pumpkin farm with our pumpkinhead this weekend.  The place had some farm animals and a pick-your-own-pumpkin patch. Little Miss Independent insisted on walking by herself through all the pumpkins – she still isn’t super-sure on her feet, but she doesn’t want me to help her so it was a long walk. Luckily we only got one little pumpkin for Mallory and one for mom & dad to share…Rick was dying trying to balance it on his shoulder!

Mallory was calling all of the animals “buh-bheee”, which is what she calls Cooper. We were trying …

Read More→

I’m sure people look at my kid, all dressed in her Michigan gear every Friday & Saturday, and wonder if her parents are freaks. But that’s OK, because I am a freak. I will refrain from posting my 9th grade school picture, where I wore my yellow & blue striped sweater and “M” earrings. For my school picture. Freak.
Even with that acknowledgement, how can I resist dressing my kid in maize & blue when she looks this stinking cute? What was almost cuter was when I picked her up from daycare, and she had her blue leggings on under the skirt. A-dor-able.
I’m working on …

Read More→

As you can see…Mallory has passed my SPATULA TEST! Yeah!! We got home from daycare today and I showed her the plastic spatula and off she went. She impressed the orthopedist this morning too; they are fairly certain it was that “transient synovitis” with no lasting concerns. Thank you everyone for your emails about our pumpkinhead over the past week. We are so grateful to have such great and caring friends.
Ok, enough sappy stuff.
For the most part Mallory has been beyond happy and chatty. She even “talked” to my mom on the phone for a few minutes Wednesday night, saying …

Read More→