Walkin' Beauty

One of my favorite parts of Libby walking has to be the surprises I find around the house. Open the garbage and there's the magnet frame with a picture of Cousin Ian (sorry, Ian -- she also throws our Liberace magnet in there if it makes you feel better). Open Libby's cupboard in the kitchen, and there is one of Daddy's socks from when Libby helped me fold the laundry. Open Daddy's T-shirt drawer (nicely placed at perfect Libby height), and there's the monkey from Lauren smiling up at me. It certainly makes housekeeping more interesting (not so interesting that it causes me to do it more, of course).

I'm reminded of a story my mom and dad delight in telling about how the freezer stopped working one day. They finally called in a repairman, who discovered a plastic Barbie popsicle somehow jammed into the machinery. What can I say? My Barbie play had to be authentic, man. I couldn't have room-temperature popsicles, could I?

Below is a montage of photos showing Libby "helping" me water our plants out on the deck. Our Brutus just heaves that heavy water jug all around. One day, this game ended tragically when the heavy jug caused Libby to plummet facefirst into the floor and split her lip open. Oh, don't worry -- Brutus hasn't learned her lesson and still continue to enjoy carrying the jug all over the place.

More Good News!

We had our ultrasound for BBPD (Baby Barron Part Deux) a couple of weeks ago, and everything looked great. (S)He was quite a biggie, prompting me to hope, hope, hope that I will deliver early and not spend Christmas in the hospital.

Below is a picture that I can just barely decipher. Let me know if you see anything you recognize.


And here is a picture of the much-walking sister. She's here, there, and everywhere now. Watch out, BBPD. She's on the move and ready to give you lots of love pats and hair pulls.

Good News!

Joanna and Alejandro have crossed another hurdle toward coming home! They're unofficially out of the final Guatemalan adoption court and should be home in another couple of months. Words can't express my happiness, so I'm just going to leave it at that.

Te amo, Alejandro! I can't wait to meet you in person, you adorable little thing.

Walker!

Rachel and Katie were over this afternoon. Libby was standing alone and balancing herself (as she loves to do these days), and Katie, who was a few feet away, held her arms out for her. Little Libby walked right on over, much to our delight. I can't believe my little girl's a walker!

She has repeated the feat a few times over. Alas, I have yet to get any pictures.

I'm so glad that Katie and Rachel were here. I was positive it was going to happen when we were alone, and I'd have no one to share the experience with. Since Daddy's gotten home tonight, she's repeated her trick for Daddy a few times. Hurray!

Friends, life--as we know it--is about to change all over again. What a ride!

The Haps

Sorry for the long silence. Being pregnant while having an almost-walker and a busy freelance schedule doesn't leave me much time. (Oh, that Pogo game site subscription Kim got me for my birthday? Not helping!)

We had an awesome time with Aunt Kandi and Aunt Kimmy. They took Libby out one morning on an adventure and gave her lots of yummy ice cream.

Look carefully for the fountain ponytail 'do!

The fountain ponytail stayed up long after we had taken the elastic out.

We met up with our twin playgroup, which includes Nora and Owen and Evie and Sophie. (Hurry home, Alejandro, so you can be Libby's twin on such outings!) We met up at Indian Boundary Park and enjoyed the playground and the spray fountain. (Libby got her first shiner when she knocked her head against the concrete wall of the fountain. Go, Libby!)

I can't believe we managed to get a picture of the kids all semi-looking at the camera. (If only I'd thought to tell them, "Try not to look like we're torturing you, please.")

We had a great playdate with Rachel and Eliza. Libby pulled the hair of one and all (including Eliza's cat, Nadine), and the kids all danced before we said goodbye. Eliza's moves to the Bee Gees (her fave) might be the cutest thing I've seen in ages. Check out Eliza's blog and scroll down a few posts to see a video of her dancing.

That's Rachel's rump under the Exersaucer, where she was playing "Tunnel" while Eliza and Libby enjoyed the Exersaucer toys.