Adapting to the Animal

It's been a while since Luna went to live with her new family (who now can't keep her in a bizarre turn of events, but that's another story). I thought we had gotten rid of the animal living in our house, but it turns out we've got an 11-month-old animal in angel clothing under our roof! I've been enjoying (for lack of a better word... Sympathetizing?) reading about the destructive challenges my friend Ashley is having with their daughter, Audrey, who is having trouble adapting to the new sibling in the house. Little did I know my own little destructive force is surfacing...a teething baby who is desperate to chew on ANNNNYTHING. I lost one pair of slippers already, and have multiple teeth-marks in my shoulder (no permanent damage done, but MAN it hurts!). (Stephanie- I've adapted the Yo Gabba Gabba song and now sing "Don't Bite Your Mom".)

The last few days, I've gone to retrieve her from her nap, and found all sorts of brown debris around her mouth. Perplexed, I hunted down the culprit: the finish on her crib. She's chewing it to pieces.


So, we've done some "Imagination Movers"-style brainstorming and hopefully have curbed the problem for the time being...unless any of you have a different suggestion?

Trick or Treat

Before the snow, there was Halloween! We used every opportunity to put Kendall in her teddy bear costume. With cheeks that overflowed, she was the most huggable little bear I've ever seen! As a special treat, we had a photo session while Grandma Donna was here (whoops...have I not posted pictures from that visit!? YIKES!). This little Teddy melted the photographer's heart for sure!

On Saturday, we took Kendall to our church carnival. Too young for the bouncy houses or carnival games, it was more of a social outing for Chris and me. Kendall didn't appreciate it so much. In fact, she was pretty mortified by the abundance of hats, hoods and other headgear- items that mysteriously terrify her. She spent most of the time with her little bear face buried in my shoulder.

(This is her "I am not a happy bear" face)

On Halloween night, we met some friends with small children for some neighborhood trick-or-treating (or, in our case, walking). One thing to keep in mind for future Duluth halloweens...it's COLD. The toasty warm bear costume was a good- and practical- choice.

The first trick or treat house!


Kendall and Daddy were excited to get back home and have some "treats".

Welcome, Winter! I'll Enjoy You...For Now.

We had quite a snowstorm yesterday that left it's wintery fingerprint on Minnesota. Half of our apple tree is now lying on the ground...it's branches surrendered to the weight of the snow last night. I suppose it's time to take down the autumn decorations, because they just look wrong against the snowy backdrop. Now it's even MORE tempting to put up the Christmas tree and officially ring in the Christmas season! (The only thing stopping me is the idea of having to keep Kendall away from it for a month and a half.) I brought my camera with me as I ventured to the grocery store this afternoon. Not sure these pictures convey just how WHITE and beautiful it is outside...

(above and below: our backyard)

Our street...

A more artistic interpretation of a street in our neighborhood...

A random set of stairs off the main road...

The pond at the cemetery next door to us...


It's days like this that I wish my California friends could see how beautiful Duluth can be! Pictures just don't do it justice.

Work it, Girl!

I purchased a few adorable hats from a friend of mine who has her own shop (aroundthehook) on Etsy, and thought I'd send her a picture of Kendall in her new hat. Lo and behold, our own little miss chubbycheeks now has her first gig as a hat model! Check out Kendall's mug sellin' hats left and right!

By the way, I waste way too much time perusing all the cuteness on Etsy these days. I may need an intervention soon. But in the meantime, here are a few of my favorite shops:

Around the Hook

Briar.Claire

Booger Bear and Punkin Pooh

Sew Cute Creations

Ivory and Moss

Are you an Etsy seller yourself? Now's the time to pimp your shop! :)