Just like Mom

Baby B saw me writing on a piece of paper and must have thought, "I need to do that too." She stood by me, reaching for the pencil and emitting a fairly sweet whine. So I closed the tip and gave it to her. But that wasn't all she wanted, because then she reached for the paper too, so I obliged. She then walked around the living room tapping the pencil on the paper, earnestly trying to write! I swapped those items for another sheet of paper and a crayon, put her on the hard floor, and took a couple pictures. She could hardly make any marks, but she was super intent. By the way, I'm fairly certain she will be right-handed; she often shows a preference.Since writing utensils are not safe objects, I eventually had to take them away. She grabbed a pen off my desk this morning, and this is how she felt about me taking it away (Mr. B comforted her). I will no longer let her grab a pen or pencil!
It's fun to watch her imitate us. She kisses back now, and she makes most sounds that we make. I said "Amen!" with gusto at the end of a prayer one morning, and she said, "Ah-ma!" But, of course, she wouldn't do it again, no matter how many times I burst out with "Amen!"

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in Tallahassee with our friends Robert and Meri, with whom we ate Thanksgiving dinner last year. They moved to Florida last summer, but still invited us to celebrate with them this year! We had a great time checking out their new home and catching up. Yummy food and great company--what a fabulous way to spend the holiday weekend!

Robert, Meri, and Baby B at the new house

Baby B tries turkey--she likes it, but only eats one piece.

That big bruise on Baby B's forehead is from Tuesday, a big fall while running in our living room.

We gave her stuffing, which she ate a bit of, but she mainly ate grapes and cheese.
Baby B running around with a book. She loved the wide open spaces of the house.

Climbing on the fireplace--so many fun things to do here!

A cute picture of Mr. B and the baby a few days before Thanksgiving.

Congratulations Elder Rood!

Yesterday my 19 year old brother Paul called to tell me that he has received his mission call! He will be serving in the California San Jose Mission, reporting to the Missionary Training Center in Provo on January 16th. He will be on his mission for two years, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so proud of my little brother! Of course, before he would tell me this news, he had to tease me that he was leaving on December 23rd in hopes I might panic that Christmas was ruined, as this is the first time in four years that we're heading back to WA for Christmas, but he couldn't fool me this time. He did fool me several months ago when he sent me an email stating he had received his mission call and would be going to Bolivia. He knew how much I had been anticipating his call, plus I bugged him so much about when he was going to finish his papers. But this time it is the truth, and off to California he will go!!

Some silly moments

We think Baby B has her first word: Uh-oh. She says it almost every time she drops something, whether purposefully or accidentally I'm not really sure why she chose that word. I think I've said it to her once. Fun playing with bouncy balls.

Trying to pick up both (doesn't work).

Baby B learned how to climb recently. She loves to get into my M&M box and pull out M&Ms, throwing them on the floor, one by one. Then she gets out of the box and walks around with one pack in each fist, shaking them and having a great time.

She then figured out, I can stand up in this thing(the M&Ms are in boxes, so it's a level surface), and has attempted to climb onto the windowsill and couch. A walking child is not nearly as dangerous as a climbing child.

Baby B loves cheese sticks. She likes to hold it, in the plastic, and she's very responsible with it.
The following video is of some of Baby B's sounds. She cracks Mr. B and me up with her repertoire. First she says, "Doh!" to Mr. B, which means, "Don't do that" or "No." Then she does our favorite sound, "leedle leedle" with her tongue. Next is a spurt of clapping, a burst of raspberry blowing, another leedle leedle, and a loud protest with hands in mouth. She finishes up with a blurble, which she learned from Mr. B and me using our hands to make her mouth blurble. Now she does it on her own.

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday was a fun Halloween. We had playgroup and dressed the kids up in their costumes. Baby B was NOT happy about that. We went to our church party at night, and I put a shirt under Baby B's costume, which seemed to help (the sleeves are itchy). However, she was tired and overwhelmed at the party, so she wasn't super happy there either, but all in all we had a good time.

Baby B in her witch costume (from her cousins--thanks!)

The three of us at the church party.

In her cute Halloween outfit from Aunt Laura.

Her new habit :) And a full length shot of the outfit. It is so cute. The buttons are jack-o-lanterns. The witch's skirt is a flap with orange shorts underneath, and the broom has hanging strings. Very fun!

Mommy and baby

Daddy and baby

At playgroup with four of her friends. Click for a close-up. They are all super cute!

Examining each other's costumes.

What is so terrible?? Obviously, Mom likes Halloween a little more than Baby B this year!