Christmas Tree: Mariella Version

We finally decorated the tree today. Jacob was really excited to help. He's been talking about it for a few days. I was going to take some pictures of him helping, but we were having so much fun that I didn't want to interrupt it. He opened all the ornament boxes for me, and told me where to hang them. He had one branch that he wanted them all on, but luckily he was willing to take suggestions. He liked seeing what all the ornaments were, and tried to tell me about them. After everything was hung, he turned on the lights (his job) and admired a job well done.

The last bit of business was putting a fence between Mariella and the tree. I think it's going to work out nicely. Now we just need some gifts under there!

9 Months Old

I finally had a chance to get some pictures of our 9 month old. She also had her check up this week. She weighed 18 lbs. 10 oz. (50th %ile, starting to slim down a bit with all her movement) and is 28.75 in. (90th %ile). She's hitting all her milestones and is starting to hit some of the 10-12 month ones. She's one healthy, happy girl. Her big thing right now is being on her feet at all times. She'll cruise along anything she can get her hands on, and can take good steps if you hold on to her hands. The one thing we're really working on is food. She isn't very interested in the baby foods anymore, so we're giving her more table food. The textures aren't pleasing her, except for bread. She loooooooves bread, or anything that resembles bread. She will still also eat paper or anything else she finds on the floor, but very little that you put on her tray.

So, on to the pictures (officially 9 months and 6 days)

Jacob's Drawings

Jacob got some window crayons for his birthday. They were a huge hit. He asks to get them out every so often, and our window becomes a work of art. Sometimes he knows exactly what he's drawing, and other times it is just free scribbles and he lets the crayons go where they will. No matter what his style, he makes sure we know they are his drawings. Not pictures. Drawings.

The artist at work

Standing in front of his drawings



"Cheese" face

Lots of other pictures

I also realized I never published a post from a long time ago. Mariella's baby dedication pictures can be found here.

Enjoying some naked time

Get those clothes away from me!

Thanksgiving at the Schoenbauers, pictures with the great-grandparents Schoenbauer

Grandparents and all the grandchildren, except for baby Sammy

Tom holding Sammy

Mariella passed out with Daddy. She knows how to do Thanksgiving!

Fun in the tub

Playing with cousin Benjamin and checking out his new toy

They played so nicely together

Cleaning out her toy box at home

Stopping to look at a book

Mmmmm, book

Big brother Jacob giving a nice hug


My new favorite picture of Mariella: her tribute to "A Christmas Story."
I can't put my arms down!

Very busy!

I have a lot of pictures on backlog again. I hope to get them sorted soon. Between travel, activities, kids not napping at the same time, trying to get Christmas cards ready, and many other things, it's been hard to find time to update.

So, no pictures, but they will come soon. Mariella's 9 month "birthday" was yesterday, and I'm really sad to have missed out on pictures. She came down with some sniffles this week that turned into a pretty nasty cold, and with how miserable she was yesterday it just didn't seem like I was going to get any pictures that really reflect what she's like. So those will have to wait until she's feeling better.

Hopefully in the next week I'll be able to catch up.

Out with the old, in with the new

Mariella: clapping is so last month, but tooth #8 is in as of 11/16/09. I missed which day the cup became trendy, as it was pretty gradual, but in the past couple of weeks she has definitely figured out how to pick up a sippy and actually drink from it instead of just chew on it.

Jacob invented a new game where Mariella is a monster or dinosaur (it varies by the minute) and he runs away from her. Sometimes she crawls after him, other times she gets distracted by a toy or object that does not belong in her mouth. It's pretty funny to see him and Daddy run and hide from the "monster": our sweet little baby girl who is usually screeching with giggles as she "chases" them.

So we don't forget, from Jacob: When you see an "ambalance" it is always going to the "hosibal." When looking at his truck books, do not mix up an "exavator" and a backhoe, or he will correct you with a tone of "you really don't know anything, do you?"

Dr. Mommy

Jacob has been very into playing with his doctor's stuff lately. He always wants to be the patient. Today, he brought his thermometer to me and said, "Dr. Schoenbauer, you need to take my temo-pempsher." It's so cute when he tries to say big words.