11 Months

Oh the things you say you'd never do before becoming parents. I am very much opposed to TV/electronic devices before age 2. The only exception is allowing T to watch videos of herself. We don't own a TV but these days-you really don't need one when you have the internet. GK doesn't seem to share my strong feeling about media as he sent me the picture below while I was at work one day.

I cringe.

But to be fair he showed her something about the alphabet and it was to reportedly calm her down (which may codeword for give GK a break).

Who needs TV when you have these two to entertain you? We took a trip to Napa to celebrate the ever-sassy Lola turning two. That was karaoke, nectarine margaritas and fun was had by all.

T attended her first live theatrical performance starring the very talented G-Ro in "A Trip Down Broadway." I was hesitant to be that parent who brought their baby to a play but Grand-P had already seen the show and promised to leave with her if needed. I have to say that T was an absolute perfect member of the audience-she was enthusiastic, clapped at all the right times, and truly enjoyed the show.

When she's not being entertained by others, she entertains herself and drives me crazy by unloading every cupboard and drawer she can possibly find. Here she is going through her diaper changing table.

GK entertained himself by cutting up this big *box for T to play spaceship. I'm not sure who had more fun with it.

*This box contained our new bed. Ues-we finally upgraded from a full to a queen. The decision to get a new bed came about 10 months too late. I splurged and got a completely organic memory foam, bamboo fiber bed. We are all in heaven.

And October means Halloween-T was a true Mencher and was the best dressed baby wherever she went. A few months ago I came up with the great idea for T to be a Maneki Neko (the good luck ceramic kitties you often see at Japanese or other Asian businesses). I enlisted G-Ro to execute this most adorable plan and the result was success!

Here she is at the Shadelands Pumpkin Patch where GK was mistaken for a professional photographer.

And here she is on Halloween having lunch with me during my break at Soba Ramen in downtown Oakland.

At our local park at Grove Recreation Center on a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

And here she is on November 4th-exactly 11 months. Since my polling location changed this year, GK & T were kind enough to drive me to go vote. I wanted to bring T inside with me but it was chilly out and the parking there was scarce. I voted yes on D to require extra tax on sugary drinks which passed. I rewarded T with my I Voted sticker-as you can see she's enthralled.

To sum up 11 months-still not walking, still not talking (coherently), still not sleeping through the night. But she's got 3 teeth now, she feeds herself, she waves, points sometimes, she's starting to cooperate with getting dressed, she goes to sleep/nap pretty easily for the most part, and she's an absolute riot. Twelve months? Bring. It. On.