Morning Playtime

Mama's Little Helper

Last week we put together a new office chair for Mama's new crafting space. Caitlin was right there, observing the whole process so closely that I almost think she'll be able to do it herself next time!gotta make sure we don't miss any of the safety features!

smiling on cue!

Snow Bunny

"it's hard to stand up in all these layers!"

little footprints

"oh look, my shadow!"

Playtime

Gearing Up

Here's the first installment of pictures from our adventure outside in the snow today! I've been gathering the necessary gear over the last few weeks and today we had our first attempt to use it all together. Caitlin sat very still as I put on each layer and believe it or not she could walk (albeit not well, think of the little brother from the movie, "A Christmas Story"). Stay tuned for pictures of the fun in the snow! (and note that Caitlin's cute smiles in these pictures are because I asked her to smile! she's getting the hang of it!)

It Rings So True

We're working on this with Caitlin too...she might get it by the 25th...

(take special note of the grandpa's reaction at the end...classic!)

Oldie but Goodie

A glimpse back to Caitlin a la early September 08! (listen closely to hear who she had planned to vote for...)

Picture Perfect

I don't know that I've ever seen her in such an adorable sleeping position! And how classic that she's using her giant stuffed dog ("Olie") as a pillow to boot. Aww....

Banana Cheerios

It's Always a Good Time for a Book

When Amy came to visit she somehow knew the easiest way to get into Caitlin's favor...books! She even brought two with her as a gift. here they are reading Hooray for Fish!

It Works This Way Too!

Well, the picture isn't the greatest, but it was so cute to see her flip around and sit backwards for a bit. She thinks of everything!

Deer to Daddy's Heart

I promise she's just eating an orange and not about to cry in this picture! I found this adorable shirt on sale at Old Navy and just had to get a snapshot of it (and lunch is a great time cause she sits nice and still!).

So Peaceful

This week it's just happened to work out that we've been out every morning and therefore had to fore go the until-now necessity known as "The Morning Nap." Caitlin has done well adjusting but it's been a common occurrence to find her like this by the time we pull into the garage, usually around noon......she's just so serene I can barely bring myself to wake her to come inside and eat lunch! Although it's been super easy to then put her down for her only nap (which thankfully has been lasting 4+ hours-!).

Rocker Walker

A new kind of "cruisin"!

Sizing Up the Catch

Not Guilty?

While Grady and I finished eating supper last night Caitlin played in the living room. Normally this is no problem, but with the addition of the bowl of Halloween candy within reach it seemed she just couldn't help herself...

Although, after closer inspection it turns out that she DID obey Papa telling her not to touch the candy and instead gnawed on one of the gummy-window-decoration bats that was also within reach-! (and funnily enough we could barely tell which bat it was--those things are majorly bite proof!) She hasn't shown signs of fatal poisoning yet, so I think she might just pull through. I came upon her sitting in front of the tv she had just turned on, with this expression on her face (see picture) and couldn't help but laugh at how cute she was, just hanging out after her little "snack". Needless to say we fed her more supper after this!

Masterpiece

Anytime Caitlin goes past the fridge she stops and admires her work of art. A couple of weeks ago we sat down with a huge piece of paper and some washable markers for her first "art class" and of course posted it on the fridge afterward. She will point and describe the intricacies that only the artist herself would pick up and of course pays herself numerous compliments each time (saying, "wow!" repeatedly). Love it!

How Inventive!

She's recently discovered that she can carry this cat-head-shaped lego block in her mouth, allowing her her normal freedom of movement (ie with both hands)...and as a bonus, it makes a slight whistling sound when she breathes through it! (which ups its "fun" level a ton and also helps Mama track where she is-!)

Lounging ON a Friend

Maybe we should teach her you don't do this on just anybody? (She's laying directly on her stuffed bear, covering his face!)

Frolicking

Caitlin loved trompsing around Opa and Oma's backyard this past summer. I just came across this picture of her and had to post it!

Au Naturale

Sometimes after a nap my hair looks like this, and that's without gel or anything!!

It's not my favorite look, as you can tell by my expression...

Sweet Prayers

Without a doubt, she's learned how to pray! (And she practiced it alot during dinner tonight!) How sweet!

Bathtime Sillies

Sit Down Comedian

Since visiting my family in Canada Caitlin has picked up the art of "telling jokes." The best part is that she laughs at the end of each one (we think she had to have picked that up from my dad, whose jokes are often so dry/bad--I mean sophisticated--that noone laughs unless he starts to...sorry dad!)! See if you can pick out the few she tells in the video. (She usually tells the jokes really quietly and then laughs loud at the end.)

Here are some other videos I've just uploaded as well.
(click on the title to watch)
Lounging on the 4th
On the Move
Virtual Pet Moshi

Storytime with Papa

Anti-Gravity Legs

This picture is from our time at camp...I guess the air pressure was so low (being that we were high up in the mountains..haha) that her legs just floated up for part of her nap!

BFF

Caitlin had a blast on Saturday with her new friend, Maida. Maida visited us with her parents for a couple hours and the two hit it off immediately. How sweet!
thanks Kara for the pics!

Independence

Someone has figured out how to do things all by herself...

That Can't Be Comfortable

But yet it's one of her most common in-the-stroller positions!

"The Fuzzy Caterpillar..."

Caitlin LOVES singing and doing the actions to any song we teach her. Her longtime fav has been, "The Fuzzy Caterpillar," and she lets us know she wants to sing that song by wiggling her pointer finger at us("the caterpillar"). During our visit to Canada, Grandma Cindy captured a real caterpillar and Caitlin was amazed to see it wiggle along the bar of her stroller!

Pitching In Around the House

It's never too early to get them started on chores! ;)

So Innovative

Caitlin has some cute little mannerisms and habits I've finally caught on camera. So cute!

She loves to crawl up under the side table in the living room--it's perfect Caitlin-size!









I always get a kick out of her upside-down soother--it's one that's only shaped to "fit" right side up but she doesn't seem to take notice at all!







The other day I couldn't help but laugh as she squeezed herself under her toy to play with it from the "back side"! It must be so much funner that way, she's done it numerous times since-!

If the Shoes Fit...

Caitlin loves sticking her little fingers through the holes of our Crocs to tickle our feet whenever we have them on. Looks like she doesn't mind wearing them herself either!

In the last month she's started crawling everywhere at super speed, she can pull herself up on just about anything (and has had a few big crashes too--good thing this house is mostly carpeted!), she loves seeing her reflection wherever she can (her current fav is the fireplace doors which are right at her height), she knows how to sign, "more" and "please" and waves "Hi" and "Bye-bye" most of the time, a couple of times now without prompting. She loves going on walks and getting the mail at the end of our driveway with Mama or Papa. She laughs every time Papa does his looncall and it's cute to watch her mimic us as we sing action songs or raise our arms or make silly noises. Her favorite song right now is "Fuzzy Caterpillar" and singing it brings me right back to learning it in Germany while helping with the kids class there (and Chris' adorable spinning butterfly hands!). It's so sweet to see her picking up more and more and be able to interact more with her as she grows. She babbles and points will "Look!" when we tell her to. Overall she's a content little girl who loves the excitement of crowds and loves loves LOVES animals and making their sounds (she used to "roar" alot but recently it's more "meowing" and "ppppfppppfppp!!" (elephant)). Gotta love her!

What If My Parents Were From India?

I probably wouldn't have this blond hair and fair skin, that's for sure! (see more face morphing here.)

Caitlin Groovin to Annie

Mini Maestro

It's so fun to watch her "discover" the piano!

Super Swinger

She can't deny how much she loves it!

You've Got Something On Your....Oh Nevermind

Strawberries Taste Goooooood

Her first bites of a strawberry and she loved it!

Goo-boo-wama-vvv...

It's so cute to hear Caitlin "read" her books these days!

I'm So Funny

Yoga

I've always found Yoga to be good for the mind and body and it looks like Caitlin is following suit. Her favorite pose is the downward dog (pictured). :)

Persistance

Even with this many on the tray she still only goes after them one at a time-! It gives Mama and Papa a few minutes (if not almost an hour...haha) to get some extra things done, that's for sure!

Watch Her Grow

Quality Control

Thanks to everyone for sending the cuuuute birthday cards! Caitlin loved them all and made sure to examine them thoroughly!

One Year Old Caitlin!

Surround Sound

Her cheeks even feel the vibrations from the techno bass line with these headphones!

Opa's Hat

...is just so interesting!

What's in a Name, Caitlin-Style

YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Little Matrix (Oma and Opa's cat's name)
YOUR GANGSTA NAME (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): Vanilla Mary Jane
YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Pink Cat
YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Elizabeth Dresden
YOUR STAR WARS NAME (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name): Maaca
SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Purple Water
NASCAR NAME (the first names of your grandfathers): Walter Norton
STRIPPER NAME: we will leave this one out for the sake of innocence!
TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Tanner Turin (not 5th grade, but her first nursery teacher's name)
SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Summer Tulip
CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now): Pear Pjs
HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Peach Oak

That's Where She Gets it From

Anna Nanna came to visit! We had a blast with her last week, especially Caitlin who just fell in love with her songs and cuddles (not to mention the cool toy she bought!). We miss you already, Nat!

Natural Response?

I'm telling ya, kids'll surprise you with the darndest tricks. (We only "discovered" her doing this that day and had to keep testing it to make sure it wasn't a fluke-!)

Sitting Pretty

Caitlin in her new "highchair"...that will grow with her! It has an adjustable seat and footrest so it'll work right up until she's ready for a regular chair. Cool stuff!

Caught on Tape

Here are some of the things Caitlin is up to now that she's ten (!) months old!

Newest Trick

Ok so it's true, most of the water ends up soaking her clothes. But her enthusiasm to hold the cup herself makes up for that, right?! (and she must be swallowing at least a gulp here and there--well at least her tongue gets wet...)

Better Late Than Never

Caitlin hopes you all had a magical day last Thursday!

Monster Face

Caution: Not for the Faint Hearted