Happy Hallow-BEE-n!

My priceless works of art, all aglow! Of course, currently they sit in the same spot looking more like how we three will appear in about 90 years or so; All shriveled and brown. Never you mind, since this is the first year that we have ever carved and then subsequently LIT pumpkins since we've lived here in Minnesota. It truly, truly did make me feel like a kid again. Plus, I baked pumpkin seeds, so it was the whole shebang as far as I was concerned. Very befitting now that we have a kid in the house to go all "buggy" over. Enter my favorite honeybee:

One word: Yay! She was so cute. Since she is still our little larvae (if we're talking insects), she was too young to go Trick-or-Treating so we ended up going the Mall of America route. Mommy and Daddy had to get some shopping done anyway, so we killed two...ahem...bees with one stone! (Thank you very much.)

None other than Grandma and Grandpa Torres were here to partake in the festivities.

And where there's grandparents, there's COUSINS! Alessandra got to visit with her two cousins Isabella and Alexis who we rarely get to see anymore since they moved out of town a couple of months ago.

And speaking of cousins, a few of Ali's that we MISSED for Halloween but still got adorable pictures of:

Gabriel (Squanto) and Gianna (Belle) with their daycare provider (Witch...but not really!) :)

What if there were 101 Marleys? I think my brother might go crazy!

In toddler news, our daughter has definitely earned her status as such. Her favorite thing to do lately is stand up and jump off the couch onto the floor below. Since most 14-month-olds are not equipped with full landing gear, we've definitely been nursing some crash and burn faceplants thanks to her newfound bravado. Somehow, her recovery is instantaneous and she is back at it immediately after. Most often, she'll afford a quick glance our way to ensure that there are no gasps or terrified screams and when there is no reaction elicited from us, she knows she's unscathed enough to attempt again. And again. And again. And again.

Below is just one example of the wild daredevil I've come to know as my child.

Speaking of again and again (and bumblebeees)...Have I mentioned how I'm tired, so tired of singing "I'm bringing home my baby bumblebee, won't my mommy be so proud of me, I'm brining home my baby bumblebeeeeee..." and also, "Itsy bitsy spider" and any number of songs accompanied with hand gestures that were adorable at first but now are not my favorite. And if I refuse to sing it after she asks me to, say during a midnight waking when it's the first thing she thinks of as soon as I enter her room, this is what happens:

Oh yes, my happy camper has figured out the wonders of manipulation. It is a very handy tool, especially when you have a sucker for a mom. (Dad is a little bit better, but not by much.) I am happy to report that she is, however, going through a "Mommy Phase" which means she doesn't like to leave my side. Maybe my "softness" is paying off. Mommy loves cuddles from her baby!!!!

On a productivity note, Alessandra is exhibiting signs of a future in the culinary arts. Another favorite thing to do as of late is "cook" right alongside me. She gets her very own assortment of pots, pans, spoons and spatulas and very methodically (there goes that word again!) stirs each pot, moving from one right to the next and makes sure that each and every one of them is being attended to.

MMMmmmmm....Looks good Ali!

And food, oh food. She is SO our daughter. Ali is a card-holding member of the Clean Plate Club and I am pleased to announce that she is willing to try just about anything I give to her. Unlike someone ELSE I know (rhymes with Schmischmardo.)

That's okay, I am LOVING on Mr. "Schmishschmardo" even more than usual this week since he bought me a VERY generous gift. I have been PINING for a digital SLR camera so that I can take even better pictures of Alessandra. I'm in the process of reading a "Canon Rebel for Dummies" and am currently only sorting out what all the bells and whistles are for. In a few months though, look for some vast improvements in the photography department on this blog. Look out Annie Leibovitz!!

'Til next time!

RAD