scary

All hail Pope Phoebe, or is that aluminum alien cone-head Phoebe? Really, she is supposed to be a Hershey kiss, but she looks a bit scary/creepy in the one close-up of her standing--she definitely looks like someone else entirely. I didn't figure out until that evening that I was supposed to do something else to the hat to make it look more like a Hershey kiss top than a cone head--oh well--it will look better for the actual Halloween pictures. She will have a couple more costume days in the next week--most notably, the pet parade and her classroom Halloween party. On this particular day, we were at BOO at the Zoo (Brookfield). She and Sydney (the little witch) had a great day. We also met some other friends up there briefly, but for some reason, I didn't get their pictures with my camera. I think Grandma Shobe got them.

cold weather

A new hat for a new season. This year she can actually experience and enjoy the changing weather.

exploring

Well, it won't quite work that way, but she has the right idea. Phoebe has a new interest in her potty seat. She has the need to open the lid and sit on it any time anyone goes into the bathroom. At least she is getting comfortable with it :)

so sad

What a pitiful little face. I am sure she will not appreciate these pictures capturing her runny nose and teary eyes, but Brett couldn't help himself. It had to be done. She just needed a little Mommy comfort.

Phoebe, this one's for you

You'll be 15 months old on Friday. You are solely walking now, having given up crawling two weeks ago. You are getting better at it every day--much less teetering and more stability. You prefer to carry something at all times, but it does not matter what you carry. You like your purple fleece coat. You love your shoes. You like the theory and ritual of reading books, but you could do without the actual reading. (You love to pick out a book--say "book"--and bring it to Daddy or me; then you turn yourself around and back up until you are right next to one of our laps and plop yourself down; then you wait patiently for us to open the book and begin to read. You like to turn a page or two, but you often get up as soon as the reading begins. Then you will pick out another book and start the process over again--we do this at least 10 times a day and actually only completely read two or three books.) You also love to jettison your books through the slots of the gate at the top of the stairs. Actually anything that poses as a slot gets items slipped through it. You like to put your legos through the slot created by the lever that lowers the side rail on your crib. You are great at mimicking--you will copy almost any noise we make and you try to say most words that we say--if you can't pronounce the actual word (which is most of the time) you copy the inflection of our voice and the length of the sound. The difference in your pronunciation of "juice" and "shoes" is indistinguishable, but you enjoy saying both words. You smile with four teeth and you laugh hysterically when you think you are getting away with something--like crawling up the bottom steps and waiting for me to notice. You love giving and receiving high 5's and playing peek-a-boo in any variety. Climbing in and out of your hamper is endlessly amusing. You make a kissing face, scrunch up your nose and breath audibly when you are intently working on something. You clap your hands when you accomplish something new. You love to put your hands in my mouth to find my teeth. You love to hug and pet Henry and watch him run around when he gets excited. You are good natured and generally happy--although you have your crabby spells especially when you are tired. You take a while to warm up to new people or people you don't see every day. You don't willingly go to the arms of a stranger. You are curious but cautious. You are beautiful and amazing, and you teach me something everyday. I just thought you should know. I love discovering life with you.

fun at the zoo

It was a gorgeous day, so we headed out to the zoo. Phoebe has gone several times this summer because we bought the membership, but this was probably the best experience for her because she was awake and alert the whole time and she got to walk around and explore on her own a bit. It was great. She really liked watching the gorillas and the dolphins and playing with the goats in the petting zoo.

musically talented--any bands looking for a kazoo player? 

This is Phoebe's school. I was coming to pick her up--she's walking to me :) 

fun at daycare! 

apple picking 

hanging out at the fuzz fest 

first pony ride--hooray! She liked it a lot, but she had some trouble staying on. 

play time 

out for a spin 

Phoebe