Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sunday conversation from the McMiller intelligentsia

FADE IN:

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

DR. A is sitting in a chair with ROBIN.  BRIAN walks in.

DR. A
Robin's farting up a storm

ROBIN 
Brrrt. ....  brrt brrrrt.    Brrt...  brrrrt.  brt.

BRIAN
(after pause)
She sounds like a Geiger counter.

DR. A
(to Robin)
Is your butt radioactive?

BRIAN
All this, sadly, is going on the blog.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Big Bike Ride

For her birthday, Erin received a new bike, complete with training wheels.  Today she took it out for a full spin on the open road, a lovely trail meandering through Livermore wineries.  Erin rode 1.5 miles. 1 and 1/2 miles, people.  She's 3.

Videos and pictures:
Speed racer

Lil' Biker and grandparents

Biking from Ms. A on Vimeo.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Fashion Friday



Because the world needs more muscled Princess Firefighters.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Unlawful entropy

Difficult to believe that this:


can turn into this:


in about 3 minutes.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Robin June, 8 months!

OK, so really her 8 month post should have gone up last week and this should be her 36 week post (look for that tomorrow) but we were traveling the past two weeks so I'm playing catch-up here.


This has been a really busy month for our little one.  She grew two teeth.  She's scooting everywhere, can roll like it's nothing, and can pull herself to standing.  She loves to stand and we have to coerce her to sit at times.  She's just a hair shy of crawling.  It's fascinating to watch understanding light her face when she's on her hands and knees... she knows if she can just get that last bit of coordination together, she'll be off and running!

She's babbling and chatters all the time.  Sometimes it does sound like words, like her responses to my questions are spot on. And sometimes she just likes to get into screaming contests with her sister, which, as hard as it is on the ears, it's a pleasure to see them positively interacting and cracking each other up.  But then there's the opposite of that where Robin wants whatever Erin is playing with and vice versa.  Ahhhh sisters!


She's having fun with solids and so far she prefers flavored things.  No avocado for this one, it's guacamole.  Hummus.  Stew. Garlic green beans.  Stir fry tofu with sauce. Butternut squash with sage brown butter.  I can only hope her adventurous culinary nature lasts through the white pasta world of toddlerhood. 

She is a smily, giggly, happy baby.  She's learned to wave "hello" and "goodbye" and gregariously shows her skills to all passersby.  She can sign "more" and can clap.  She's so familiar with "if you're happy and you know it..." she squeals and claps at the right cues. 

In short, it's been a busy, busy month. Brian and I look at her baby body and see the little girl trying to emerge.

8 month stats: 
Weight: 19 lbs, 6 oz (75%)
Height: 27 1/2 inches (75%)
Head circumference: 46 cm (97%)

*Picture credits: Christie Glynn.  Many thanks!!!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

PDX dancing

While visiting PDX last week, Erin had the opportunity to go to a dance class with three of her friends.  She took full advantage of it.  The neat part about this class was the set up: right after preschool and lunch.  The class is 1 hour of running/moving/jumping.  It was so active that most of the kids were flopped on the floor by 45 minutes.  What a great set-up for naps!


Monday, November 1, 2010

Halloween 2010

Cat and Bat


My brother, wife and cutiepie son Cole came over for dinner and Trick-or-Treating.  Brian made a gorgeous crockpot stew and Garreth brought Guinness. Perfect!  After filling our bellies, the kids got suited up and we headed out!

Shark!

Erin was a total pro! Not a hint of shyness, she just went right up to doors, confidently knocked and demanded, "Trick or Treat".  Thankfully, she did not repeat the rhyme about smelling feet thatMom taught her and she found so funny.  Cole was more cautious and was quite interested in the rocks in people's yards.  I can't blame him.

Bat and Clown

A short while later, we caught up with Upper Orinda McFeely cousins.  This cheerful clown took Erin up and down another neighborhood where the candy flowed copiously. And much sampling was had by all.  What a great Halloween.  Oh, and it's this clown's birthday today!!!