Photoshoot: 9 Months Old

Baby girl turned 9 months old on Oct. 28. Each month on the 28th I plan to take a photoshoot with Miss Alexa and her owl to mark her growth because, as everyone likes to remind me, "they're only little for a short while."

She's still wearing 6-9 month clothing for the most part. She's outgrown her 3-6 month zipper sleepers, and the 6-9 month zipper sleepers are getting snug. So we go to buy 9-12 month sleepers and ... there are none to be found. Where are they? We need zipper sleepers! And preferably not zipper sleepers that cost $15 a pop!

Sleep has been restless for the past month. We see those teensy little nubs of teeth. They are being stubborn, but I know sometimes they make Alexa uncomfortable. She's still sleeping till 6 a.m. most days, but sometimes she will wake in the middle of the night or at 4 a.m. in discomfort.

She is holding her own milk bottle. This has been the major triumph of the month! I've slowly been transitioning her into eating finger foods, but so far this is not successful. She will eat bits of things when I place them directly into her mouth. I tried to give her a strip of pancake the other morning and she just squished it between her fingers, not once trying to put it in her mouth (which is strange because she will gnaw on wooden blocks).

Crawling is coming up. Every morning I find her in her crib on all fours, rocking back and forth. She won't stay on her back for long (see pics below). She's always rolling over and doing push-ups. Then she gets frustrated with her lack of progress and whimpers. The lunging is getting more intense. She always lunges toward the computer cord and the mouse (it glows pretty colors). Other favorite, dangerous things she is attracted to: hot coffee, glassware.

She gets mad when things get taken from her. Toys, spoons, crumbled-up bits of uneaten pancake. If it is taken from her hand, cries of protest are not far behind.

Alexa was super curious during this photoshoot. She had her foot in her mouth for a good bit of it, but she was pretty blurry because our house is a cave and there is not enough natural light to get great action shots. She kept rolling over onto her belly so she could get a good look at the cat. Every time she sees him she talks to him.

Her nine-month appointment went swimmingly. Doc says she is perfect. She was not shy telling the doc exactly what she thought about ear exams. They're still good friends, though. Doc loves her.

Stats: 20 lbs., 5 oz. (75th percentile); 27.25 inches tall (50th percentile); 44.5 cm head circumference (although doc couldn't get a great measure because she has so much hair the tape measure kept slipping)

1 month  •  2 months  •  3 months  •  4 months
  •  5 months  •  6 months  •  7 months  •  8 months

True Colors

Ten more things you may not (want to) know about me ...


(11) I craved Taco Bell throughout my pregnancy. The teenager who worked the drive-through at 9 p.m. even started to recognize me. It was a little out of control.

(12) I have no physical photos of Alexa. They all live on my computer, cameras and cellphone. I need to remedy this.

(13) When I was 19 I decided it would be a good idea to pierce the upper cartilage of my ear. It was not a good idea because I sleep on that ear every night. I would wake up whimpering, waiting for it to "heal" and stop being so sensitive. It never did. I finally gave up and removed the piercing.

(14) I just got my Los Angeles Public Library card. Not to check out physical books, but to have digital copies sent to my Kindle app. I used to be a book purist. But. It's so much more convenient to read on my cellphone, and I don't want to pay full price for a book I'm going to read in three days and never revisit again!

(15) I'm worried that No. 14 makes me an asshole because I'm an unpublished novelist.

(16) If there were only one pen on the planet, I would want it to be a Sharpie Ultra Fine Point. Any color.

(17) When I was a kid I used to climb a tree in our backyard that looked like it had been hit by lightning. I would sit there for hours in the late afternoon and make up songs and stories.

(18) In junior high a friend dared me to jump over a tennis net. I tried and fell flat on my face.

(19) Also in junior high a different friend dared me to jump over a hurdle when I was on the track team. I tried and fell flat on my face.

(20) This white girl definitely can't jump.


This is the second in a series of confessionals. Mad props to Deanna for starting the link-up.

Steppin' Out

What I'm wearing:

Dress: Thrifted

Gray leggings: Old Navy

Shoes: Thrifted

Headband: Forever 21

Cardi: Won in giveaway last year

Necklace: My mom's

What Alexa's wearing:

White onesie: Gifted

Pumpkin costume: Target

Legwarmers: Knotty Baby Wear

We got baby girl all decked out in her costume today so we could take some photos. Since Halloween falls on a Monday and trick-or-treating is well past her bedtime, we decided it would be bad parenting to keep her up late as a guise for free candy. Oh, how I love free candy, though.

I'd like to report that I hand-stitched this costume with fiber obtained from my silkworm farm, but alas. It's from Target.

You'll notice our pumpkins aren't carved! Our pumpkin-carving party never got off the ground because we were having too much fun chatting. Then we were a few beers in and suddenly no one wanted to wield a sharp object. Strange how that happens. Very few children ever knock on our door on Halloween, anyway, so it's not like a porch decorated with pumpkins is necessary. I think we'll hack them open, roast their seeds and bake their innards instead. Maybe make some muffins out of them.

My outfit is uninspired today. In fact, I think I wore it when I was pregnant. Check me out in all my Alexa-in-the-oven glory. I miss my old haircut. There's only so much more headband-wearing I can do before I crack and run crying to my stylist. But I'm trying to be strong. I've been saying I'd grow out my hair for a long time.

H did not want to be featured today because, in his words, "I'm not wearing anything different."

Good thing our little pumpkin is stealing the spotlight, anyway.

Photo of the Day: 10.27.11

I think it's time to lower the crib mattress.

Photo of the Day: 10.26.11

On a typical night, H will retire to bed around 10 p.m. because he has to be out the door at 6 a.m. I usually retire at midnight after working on the blog and zoning out on Pinterest. I read approximately three pages in whatever book I'm reading and promptly pass out.

But there's always one night per week in which H and I are both up ridiculously late and we can't wind down. It's always dangerous if I'm the one checking the clock and saying, "Umm, aren't you going to bed, honey?"

What happens next is we laugh about how we need to sleep. Then we tuck ourselves in and whisper like two teens in sleepaway camp for the next 45 minutes. Then one of us says: "OK, I'll stop talking now so you can sleep." Then there's 10 seconds of silence. Then the other person will start talking. Repeat until we both look at the clock and come to harsh conclusions about the state of our insomnia.

Finally we fall asleep less than four hours before Alexa wakes up.

10 Dollar Bill

You have a $10 bill in your pocket. Why don't you ...

Put some sweet hairpins in your 'do today? These bows by Freena would be cute holding back those bangs you're growing out (heh, maybe that's just me). They would be great as an accent to your super fancy style on date night. Really, you can't go wrong with prettified bobby pins.

Photo of the Day: 10.25.11

Pumpkins awaiting their fate. How will they turn out? Will they be happy, toothless fools or angry, narrow-eyed monsters? We shall see after our upcoming pumpkin-carving party.

Photo of the Day: 10.24.11

Determined to "pet" Mr. Q

Alexa has such an interesting relationship with Q. She reaches for him when she sees him across the room, barking at him to come hither. Her face lights up to see him. He usually ignores her or backs up a few notches. Sometimes he looks a little frightened to see her.

When I feel like playing referee I allow Alexa to "pet" him, although her idea of petting is more like grabbing and yanking. I police this activity very closely because even though Q is oddly accommodating (he has calmed down A LOT since baby girl was born), he's still a cat with claws and fangs and what I'm sure is a limited patience and pain threshold.

Alexa has pulled my hair before. I know how ruthless she can be.

Photo of the Day: 10.23.11

I was immediately drawn to this afghan at the thrift because it reminded me so much of one my family had when I was growing up. The colors, the chevron pattern. Everything. Whatever became of that childhood afghan, I wonder.

Of course this new afghan came home with me for the very low price of $3.99. Yay, thrift!

It's getting to be that time of year when the windows fog up at night and the air gets chilly inside our apartment. The perfect time for an autumnal-colored throw, wouldn't you say?

Fashion Forward: Fall Bags

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Thought I'd share with you a little roundup of bags I've had my eye on. There are certain things that just go with fall: curling up to watch a horror movie, drinking apple cider, eating the leftover Halloween candy. And new handbags. It's this time of year that I always get an itch to buy a new bag, even though it's not in my budget right now. It never hurts to window shop, right?

Photo of the Day: 10.22.11

One of my favorite surfer pics from the day. You can see others here.

Our Saturday started off early, going to the beach for a stroll. We drank our coffee and watched the surfers in the fog. We were home by lunchtime. When Alexa went down for her afternoon nap, I passed out on the couch. I slept for two hours. TWO HOURS. I had to note this for the record books because it also meant that Alexa took a two-hour nap. Do you hear that? That's the sound of a choir of angels singing in celebration ... and astonishment.

Photo of the Day: 10.21.11

Alexa and I went to her nine-month appointment first thing in the morning. She had to have a few more shots, which of course she did not like. She handled them like the brave girl she is, though, and to reward her for her toughness I took her to a park we've never been to before. I saw the swings from the road. Swings, our kryptonite. Alexa enjoyed flying higher and higher, giggling with each push. When she started to get drowsy I packed her up in the stroller and we went for a walk on a dirt trail that took us by an enormous dog run. We also crossed paths with a man who carried a parrot on his shoulder. As he approached, I pointed out the bird to Alexa, saying, "Look, pretty bird!" The man stopped and told his parrot to say hi. The parrot lifted his leg and waved at us.

Polly want a cracker, indeed.

The It List

Five things I'm lovin' right now ...

Colorful signs that evoke The Mary Tyler Moore Show. [photo by]


Modcloth's coat patterns. [via Mooreaseal]


Mother-and-daughter Raggedy Ann costumes. Next Halloween? [DIY via A Beautiful Mess]


This adorable free printable alphabet by The Handmade Home.


Collages made from bits of maps by Matthew Cusick. [via]

As always, you can follow me on Pinterest to see more things I'm lovin' ...

Q&A with Sweets and Shutterclicks

This month I'm introducing my sponsors through individual posts, some in which I grill them with brain teasers (I KID) so we can get to know them better. Today we're going to get to know Jodi, who blogs over at Sweets and Shutterclicks about her adventures in photography and homemaking. She also sells her crafty wares at Crafty Cake Girl. Please take a moment to click over and give her a bear hug. Or just say hi, if you're shy or something.


Star Trek or Star Wars?
Can i answer both?? If I had to choose one it would be Star Trek. I love Star Trek. I fell into being a Trekkie by watching all of the movies growing up. And once TNG started I was a goner. I guess I'm technically a Trekker (someone who became a Trek fan because of the movies) ... but psh, I'll call myself a Trekkie. :D

Crocheting or knitting?
Crocheting all the way. It's mainly what i am focusing on in my shop at the moment. My mom taught me when I was a teenager. :) Who knew I would build a business around it?

Cupcake Wars or Ultimate Cake Off?
Cupcake Wars. The Ultimate Cake Off is just OK ... I'm kinda falling out of like with Cupcake Wars as well, but i still watch it every week lol. I loved the pilot because one of my fave bloggers was a judge ... Natalie from bakeanddestroy.com. She rawks!

Latte or Frappuccino?
Double blended Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with extra whip. Can you TELL i go to Starbucks too much? I just found out they make the pumpkin spice into frapps. Oh yes, I will be going there this week. :) And if you get a frapp, you gotta ask for "double blended" because otherwise there are huge chunks left in it (one of my friends is a former barista, I got the hookup LOL).

Spring or fall?
Fall. I love spice scents, pumpkin patch trips, changing colors of leaves, the way the cornfields look as they are being harvested. I love the cooler weather (before it gets sucky with snow and ice lol). I'm going to the apple orchard this week for three words only: Apple Cider Doughnuts ... so win! :)

Photoshoot: Foggy Pier

When we went to the pier on Saturday there was a magical thick mist casting a gray haze over everything. I love taking photos in this kind of lighting. Blues seem bluer. Greens seem greener. Everything takes on a vibrancy.







Even the ocean takes on a new personality. The waves are more noticeable, like a blanket slowly creeping up on the surfers.





Bundled up in her sweater and leggings, Alexa only felt the cool morning breeze on her face. She has been to the pier before, but this was the first time she was really AT the pier. She looked around, watched the surfers, noticed the birds, clung tight to her Daddy.







A seagull posed for me, people. Unheard of! I was less than an arm's length away, and he was totally cool with it. The mist, it really chills people -- and birds -- out.





I love some of these images so much I might offer them in the store. What do you think? Do you have a favorite?