Happy Halloween

About three weeks before Halloween, and with the help of a mini package of M&M's, Maggie learned to be very proficient in saying trick-or-treat (it actually sounds like "tick teeee"). I gave her just enough candy corn for the following three weeks for her to learn that tick teeeee is indeed a very good thing to say. With all the excitement, when it came time for actual trick-or-treating on Halloween, she forgot the magic words (or maybe she has just become convinced that tick teeeeeee is something you say when you want your mom to give you candy... she continues to try it). Anyway, it was still fun to plan and make our costumes, and Maggie was still very happy with the loot that she collected. Because I am such a mean mom, Maggie has only eaten a couple pieces of her special candy (and a couple more she has managed to take care of straight through the wrappers), and while she certainly enjoys that, I think she has enjoyed scattering her candy throughout our apartment even more, and I have learned how many places a toddler can find to stash candy as well as what happens when a sucker is placed with your silverware in the dishwasher.

For those of you who are not Simpsons fans, well, we are Homer and Marge Simpson (I hope you were able to figure that out), and Maggie is Maggie Simpson. I know it is totally ridiculous, but I couldn't resist.

A true L.A. girl and a farm

In the spirit of autumn, I took Maggie to a farm harvest festival where she got to explore a pumpkin patch, climb on a haystack, go on a wagon ride, see lots of animals, and her very favorite activity (naturally) . . . watching the animatronic chickens sing and clap their robotic beaks. She was pretty much in love with the chickens and kind of melted down when I dragged her away for the 3rd time.

On our way to the farm Maggie proved that she is a true L.A. girl. When we suddenly came upon a traffic jam, with a very concerned face, she pointed to the traffic and said, "Uh-oh."

"You can say that again," I thought.

Then, later in our drive, she did.

We came upon another traffic jam (we do live in L.A.), and again with a very serious face, she pointed to the traffic.

"Uh-oh," she said. You know you live in L.A. when your 18 month old knows a traffic jam when she sees one.

Also, the farm was nice :)

(And cheering for the chickens, of course)

I forgot to mention

One thing that I love about this girl is that like most babies, she has a special little lovey. It is a very soft and cuddly pink, cream, and tan blanket. However, unlike most babies she has a unique way of gaining comfort from her little lovey. She smells it. And smells it. And smells it. In fact, if she is looking for it, she will put her hands in the air, as if to say "where is?" and then will take a big fake sniff through her nose to tell me that it is indeed her blanky that she is looking for.

Best Fans Ever (or at least the best looking and most loved by me)

One great thing about my job in the ER is that while I am gone, Joe has the opportunity to really be a dad. He has time with Maggie all to himself, without me around to boss him around. Come Saturday afternoon, when I finally wake up after having checked out for two days, I pop back into their lives, catching them mid-activity and this is one of my favorite things; I always wish that I could have been a part of their lives for the last two days, but then again, me being gone is what makes the daddy daughter days so sweet. Well, on my last working Saturday I woke not too long before kick off for the UT football game and I found this:

Yep, Joe had gotten them both ready the big game in full UT fan apparel, complete with matching shirts, jeans, and shoes. Kind of melted my heart. So, naturally I threw on my own UT shirt and then demanded that Joe let me take some pictures.

This picture makes me really happy

Some Things that I like about this cute girl

Hi Little Cutie,

You are 16 months old now, and here are a few things that I LOVE about you.

I love it that I get to kiss your perfect little cheeks everyday.

You have started telling jokes that only you understand. After a few syllables of baby chatter you will force out an uproarious laugh. Then more baby chatter and more laughing. While I don't understand your jokes, you always make me laugh.

You love love LOVE to dance. Currently your favorite song is by Adele, and when it comes on you will break out some crazy cute dance moves or start drumming to the beat.

Sometimes you spin in circles until you fall over.

You love to wave goodbye to people, but always after they are out of sight.

You have started "helping" around the house. You like to empty and load the dishwasher (with non-dish items) and you also have started to understand the idea of "putting it away" which means that I find random things in random places.

You really like monkeys (especially Curious George) which is appropriate because you are a such little monkey.

When your daddy tells you he is going to eat your nose, you stretch it out as far as you can towards his mouth (to help him eat it, of course).

You are still super sweet, super smiley, and love to be outside seeing new places and trying new things.

I love you little cutie! Thanks for making me smile every single day.

I might just be in baby picture taking heaven

Although a friend at work informed me that Maggie is NOT a baby anymore . . .

I finally bought myself an SLR camera, and I am SO happy (imagine that I said so in a voice about 3 octaves higher than my own). I think I might have an addiction. I know that I have a very messy house and I may have already burnt dinner even though it is only 4:54. Maybe I didn't get my baby dressed until noon today (no comment about when I got dressed) and perhaps I will still be sitting here when Joe gets home from work . . . but maybe I'll figure out how to take some freakin' AWESOME pictures!

Obviously, I didn't get Maggie all fussied up for her photo shoot (although she is modeling a pretty nice scab on her forehead) but this was my first shoot with my new camera so I just have to throw a couple pictures out there.

I love how quick the camera is--I won't miss any shots on account of the camera (only on account of the fact that I frequently miss the focus). I feel like my creativity has been unleashed. So fun!