Coats with legs

So I bought Gianna this winter coat. Doesn't she look like a coat with legs? I just had to take a picture even though I returned it! Unfortunately, it wasn't quite roomy enough to guarantee that it would last all winter long. So I bought her the pink one. It's a great coat! Multiple layers, room for her to grow, super cute...it has it all! I just think she looks so hilarious and cute in it...especially with the hat.

We've had our first couple of really cold days so we had to break out the winter wear. Today there were some snow flurries, which were quite fascinating to little Geebs. She just couldn't catch them like she wanted to!

This last one is of GB doing her latest favorite activity: jumping and flopping on the bed. She loves it when Doug knocks her over!

P.S. I'm not sure why the above text is being treated as a hyperlink...I don't know how it happened and I can't make it go away.

Don't mess with Texas

Last weekend our friend Kelly from HBS visited us from Dallas. She is a dear friend and I think Gianna definitely remembered her...and if she didn't, she was won over by her presents. This is where the pink cowboy hat came from. And here's another of her with the box her toy purse came in.

We had a lovely weekend. On Saturday we went to the zoo and Gianna just loved it. We made a point of visiting the bird house because she seems really into birds these days. She loved them and even gave the ducks numerous applause! The highlight for me however was seeing a hippo out of the water and really close up. This was followed by the hippo pooping and using it's little tail to spray the poop at it's admirers. Luckily, Gianna and I got away just in time...I don't think everyone was so lucky!

On Sunday we went to Great Falls. It was the perfect fall day! Gianna loved the leaves and the dogs the most. Here are a few of Gianna enjoying the leaves and a video of her REALLY enjoying the leaves!

Thanks for a great visit, Kelly! And for your photography...especially at Great Falls! We loved getting to see you!

Since I haven't posted in a while I should give an update on what Gianna is doing these days. Napping has become very unpredictable. I won't bore you with the details...let's just say it's a work in progress. That's the only negative though! In the past few weeks, Gianna has begun to sign like crazy. She signs eat, more, change, and drink and she tries to do all the others I show her. "more" is her favorite though...and the only one she does unprompted. She is starting to talk a bit more too. She says nothing very consistently, but she can say mama, dada, balloon, ball, duck, hi, and I think she said cracker yesterday. And yesterday she also added monkey and lion noises to her repertoire. She also loves to dance and "jump" though both feet have yet to leave the ground! It's so much fun to see her learning so much and so fast. We're loving every minute!

Halloween...piggy style

Our little piggy loved Halloween...even if she only tolerated her costume! She did not like wearing the hat, but we managed to get a few pictures with her wearing it. She really enjoyed being out and about with all the other kids at Nonna and Pop-pop's house. Their neighborhood was crawling with trick-or-treaters! Mostly she loved walking and "running" up and down the street. I think she would have walked right out of town if we let her!

Thank goodness things got better after this piggy trial on Halloween morning!

Piggy with Mommy and Nonna

E-i-e-i-o

This is Gianna's latest trick. She loves to say e-i-e-i...she can't say the "o." Sorry about my singing! She loves to mimic us, which on the weekends involves a lot of arms up in the air (touchdown) and clapping. Hilarious!

Monday Funnies

Here are some funny pictures I've taken over the last few days.

Mom, it's too early, and that light before the flash is too much!

Um...this may make switching to sippy cups difficult.

A Halloween preview...I'm trying to assure that she will keep this hat on for Halloween...otherwise she's just a girl in pink jammies.

Our Punkin at the Pumpkin Patch

Today, Gianna and I went with Grandma and Grandpa to Cox Farms in Centreville (way more than a pumpkin patch...actually not a pumpkin patch at all, but that's beside the point).

Anyhoo, it was a ridiculously hot day (for October anyway), so you will note Gianna's outfit change. Gianna would have gone hog wild if she was a bit older, but I think she still had a great time. She loved looking at the animals and was especially interested in the chickens.

Mostly she loved walking around and picking up wood chips and hay.

All in all, a fun day!

Patience and pasta salad

Way back in July Gianna had multiple pasta salads that she could not get enough of: namely, her Aunt Elizabeth's and La Madeleine's (a restaurant). Since then I have tried to make a pasta salad that she would enjoy. After at least three tries, I was ready to give up. Apparently, though, today I have happened upon the right combination of correct pasta type, correct dressing, and correct amount of cheese on top. My the princess is hard to please! I'm glad my efforts have not been totally wasted!

Also, meant to mention yesterday that over the weekend Gianna seems to have said her first words: "hi" on Friday, and "mama" on Saturday. She says neither with consistency and not always at appropriate times. But she does say them correctly often enough to know that she's really saying them!