annie's current favorite songs

mabel is 6 months old!

Actually, she's almost six months old, but she had her doctor's appointment today. She did great! In fact, she never cried once, and up until now she has screamed through every single doctor's examination. Annie did the same thing til she was two, so I thought Mabes would be same. But no, she giggled and chattered through the whole appointment. Until the shots, that is. But she didn't even cry that long after them, either. :) The doctor said Mabel is beautiful and awesome and all wonderful things! She said she has a very strong core, and is the youngest baby to ever sit up straight and rock in their little scale-chair thing where they weigh her. Annie was an inquisitive little doctor's helper throughout the whole appointment, too. She totally adores Mabel and cares so much about what other people do to her. It's sweet. Mabel's greatest enjoyment the whole day was the crinkly wonderment of the paper on the doctor's exam table. She ripped and (tried to) chew on that lovely stuff the whole time.

Anyway, here are the stats:

weight: 15 lbs. 12 oz  (43rd percentile)
height: 25 1/2" (47th percentile)

woo-hoo! Here's to another fantastic six months! I can't believe she's growing so fast! She is a little mover and a shaker, that's for sure. And a total lovable, huggable, cuddly sweetie.

sisters

standing all by herself and the beautiful fall day

 Mabel's been loving the two-feet life lately!

I love this picture . . . Annie chewing mischievously on Mabesy's hand and Mabel with the perfect innocent and trusting expression.

Mabel hugging her ottoman . . .

This is Annie's "I refuse to look at the camera and smile" pose, and Mabel is totally hammin' it up:

We just got home from a lovely early-November trip to the Masonic Village farm market just down the road from us. It's my new favorite place to take the girls, especially on a beautiful day like today. 

We parked at the market and bought some apples, which they grow there on the orchard, and some carrots, broccoli, and the most beautiful onion I've ever seen.

Then we decided to go exploring and drove all around the premises. It's an expansive village--and so pretty in the fall!

When we got back into our neighborhood, the girls and I took a walk down to a secret swingset we found behind a church that's around the block from our house. I took some more pictures; as it turns out, it's beautiful right in our own town, too! :)

And here's some pictures from my friend Ashley's blog of Annie's preschool going to the Masonic Village orchard a few weeks ago for a field trip!

Happy fall, everybody!

a video of life in a snowy October weekend

another first for Mabel

Snow!

(That is, assuming she doesn't remember all the snow we shoveled together last winter, when I was five and six months pregnant.)

We're having a freak, early snowstorm today, predicted to get 6-10". Wow! We'll see . . . But it sure is strange to see snow coming down on colorful leaves on trees and still-blooming mums!

We're staying warm inside today!

I'm still new at this . . .

Annie and I were having a little discussion about Jesus' death and resurrection this afternoon. You know, really light, easy-to-talk-about stuff. A little ways into the conversation, I realize Annie might not be quite ready to talk about death, even if I'm focusing more on the joyful, resurrection part. But there was much more to it than just that. Here's a part of it . . .

Annie: (becoming sad and little upset) I don't like dying, Mommy.
Me: (trying to steer us into a better place) It's okay. It won't happen for a long time, not til you're much older and your body will be tired. You'll be excited to see Heavenly Father and live with Him again!
Annie: (sadder still) I don't want to live with Heavenly Father! I want to live with you!
Me: But you can! We'll all be there together with Heavenly Father! Daddy, me, Mabel, and you!
Annie: (convinced now) Okay. That sounds good. After my nap, we'll go see Heavenly Father. Can I wear this shirt to see him?

She's now keeping that shirt in a special place in her dresser and reminded me tonight as I was cleaning up her clothes just what it is for. :)