Half a Year; Half a House

Mia is now half years old, or, as most people would say, six months old. She has grown so much these past few months! She sits by herself, she reaches out to be picked up, she flips over both ways (but prefers to flip from tummy to back) and she even has thought about maybe trying to attempt to crawl. She can get up on all fours and budge around a little. When she tries to go forward she usually ends up going backwards. (I guess she is learning life's little lessons early!) She talks up a storm and loves to use her loud voice, which is ironic considering her parents are very quiet and reserved and so well mannered. (At least her Papa is.)

In other news, we drove up to our house in Chatham today to gather our winter clothes and also to check on the progress of our construction project. Benjamin made a few little movies which show the outside and inside of the house. It looks like a tornado hit the house but actually quite a lot of progress has been made. Here is part one which shows the exterior.


Here is part two which shows the interior.

The Windy City

Mia, Papa and Mommy went for a short trip to Chicago this past weekend. We arrived Friday night and went out to dinner. Here are Papa and Mia (asleep) at Kiki's Bistro on North Franklin. The food was so yummy!

Later on, we met up with Uncle Larry for dessert at our hotel. Uncle Larry is playing a fun game with Mia. It is called "How Many Fingers Can I Stick in My Mouth at One Time?" Uncle Larry was very good at it, but Mia was better (smaller fingers). Mommy thought this was hilarious.


On Saturday, Mia, Papa and Mommy met up with Aunt Holly and Uncle Faruk and went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Here are Papa and Mia on our walk to the zoo. Mia is bundled up because the morning started out a little chilly. But the weather turned out beautiful!


We saw lots of animals - zebras, gorillas, wildebeests... Uncle Faruk made lots of funny animal noises.

Here we are all together outside the Conservatory.
This visit was so much fun! The big lesson that Mommy and Papa learned, though, is that Mia ALWAYS needs her naps to stay fresh and happy, like this:

Boo!

Mia, Papa and Mommy went trick-or-treating in the neighborhood last night. Mia and Mommy both dressed up. Mia was a bumblebee and Mommy certainly makes a very scary witch. Who knew witches liked to wear polarfleece vests?

In New York City, and particularly in our neighborhood, trick-or-treating often means raiding all the local merchants for candy. Here is the scene on Duane Street last night - crazy!Lots of merchants really get into the spirit (ha!) of things. Duane Street Bakery had some great carved pumpkins. Inside, Captain Jack Sparrow (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) was giving out freshly baked oatmeal cookies.



Here is Papa emerging triumphant after braving the madhouse of Bouley Bakery, where he scored some coffee and a slice of poundcake. The coffee he had to pay for, but the poundcake he won by elbowing a clown, a ballerina and a chicken out of the way and bumrushing the poor, besieged pastry chef. Sometimes, a papa's got to do what a papa's got to do. (Kidding, just kidding!)



Unfortunately, our little bee didn't last very long - she fell asleep in the middle of it all. We are looking forward to next Halloween already!