Need I Say More?

1st Halloween

The penguin costume (with legs) won out over the caterpillar (bunting) costume due to ease of transport. And of course, utter cuteness.
Frozee Josie.
A very tired (and long-legged) penguin. The funny tail was a costume selling point.

Our Big Big Girl + Knits for our Purl

Mmmmm. Delicious chewy giraffe.
I have mentioned before that Josie is a big strong girl for her age. In fact, at almost 5 months she is wearing mostly 12-18 month clothing (in part because the cloth diapers add some junk to her trunk, but mostly because they fit!) Last night we had a visit from Josie's good friend Baby MoMo and her big brother, Ducky. As they sat together on the couch I was once again struck by the disparity in their sizes. (Keep in mind, MoMo is a week older than Josie, and was a pound lighter when she was born.)

Sweet babies.
Pattycake?
–
When Noonie came to visit awhile back, she made a charming hat and thumbless mittens for Josie out of beautiful variegated merino wool yarn. At the time, the weather was still quite sultry, so the lovely knits were displayed, unworn, on the shelf in Josie's room. The time has come, however, to layer up, and the other day I prevailed upon Josie to model them. She was surprisingly obliging. Thanks again, GA Noonie!

Josephine, Queen of the Bumbo.
I love the pointy elf top!
Bonus Picture: Josie wearing the Elizabeth Zimmermann Baby Surprise sweater that Noonie made as a shower gift. What great colors!

(She is) My Sunshine

Then
Every so often (usually in the presence of a new baby) Mom will remark that she remembers when I was so little that she could hold me against her shoulder and my bottom would be above chest level (this is always accompanied by the same cradling hand gestures: See, this small...) Before Josie was born, I really didn't appreciate how fleeting that time of fragility and just plain NEWness actually is. At 4.5 months, it's long gone. Oh, it may linger longer for some people–Baby MoMo, who is a week older than Josie, (or Baby JoJo as Ducky calls her) is a feather of a baby–but with a 5'10" Mama and a 6'5" Papa, I suspect dainty peanutry is not in Josie's genetic cards. What she does seem to have inherited, besides being the first sip of what I suspect will be a long tall drink of water, is a cheery outlook and an easy sense of humor. We joke that she is the poster child for procreation because she's such a smiley baby that she makes our childless friends re-think their lifestyles. As I write this she is hanging out in her exersaucer and cooing and giggling at me.

Last week the weather was lovely, so Josie and I walked over to Minnehaha Falls park, and she got to try out a swing for the first time, which she seemed to enjoy.

Now

Rainy Thursday

Josie the observer.
It would have been really easy to sleep in this morning. It was so gray when we woke up that I had to check the clock to know what time it was. Now, a couple hours later, a chilly rain is falling steadily, stalling any plans I had to run errands or walk around the lake. Josie and I are cuddled in the recliner, cozy in fleece and denim, and through the open window, past the hiss and trickle of water on the roof and in the gutters, I can hear that the neighbor's four year old is melting down again. Possibly he's sad at not being able to play outside, or wanted a cupcake rather than sliced apple for snack? Maybe his baby sister just looked at him wrong. He's a touchy one, that kid. I glance down at Josephine, beatifically nursing, and think to myself that she will, of course, be a laid-back toddler, just as she is an affable baby. And then I think that I'm deluding myself: all kids go through a random-tantrum stage. Wind lifts the roller shade on the window next to our chair–I can smell the dampness outside. It reminds me of England, which, in turn, makes me want a nice hot cup of tea. Guess it's not summer anymore.

Driving Miss Josie–3 Months!

Josie has been making the rounds again, and catching a lot of live music. Highlights of the past few weeks include a Mother Banjo/ Carrie Elkin house concert at Ellen's, cousin Mason's christening, (which included a huge schmeckle-fest with Noona, who visited for several days), Josie's first trip to the Minnesota State Fair and a Mother Banjo/ Jaspar Lepak concert at the Lake Harriet Bandshell. At the fair Josie caught the Brass Kings, Becky Schlegel, and the first three songs of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. I have some video on my phone of Josie kicking her feet in delight at the Brass Kings show, but it's pretty poorly lit, so I don't think it will get posted here. Enjoy, instead, these pix of Josie and her adoring public.

Josie with Mother Banjo and Carrie Elkin.

Operation "Universal Adoration" is go.

Avoiding rickets at Minnehaha Falls.

Admiring Tamar's lovely summer frock at the Lake Harriet bandshell.

9 Weeks

We went to Josie's 2 month check up last Thursday, and everything appears to be going well. At 12 lbs, 15 oz, she is in the 93rd percentile for weight, and her length, 23 1/4", puts her in the 83rd percentile for height. The Doctor also remarked that Josie seems very strong, as she can hold her head up for long periods of time, and likes to "stand". In celebration of her excellent progress, I dressed her in the dragon suit we bought at the ECFE garage sale this spring before she was born (which she will surely outgrow any second now!)

Super cute in the dragon suit.
We have been getting out a lot lately, and on Saturday ventured to Amery, Wisconsin, where Josie met her Great Grandma Renee for the first time, as well as a handful of Great Aunts, three regular Aunts, and a passel of cousins. We had a nice time.

Cuddling with Great Aunt Marcia.

Fast asleep in Aunt Anna's arms.

Then, on Sunday we brunched with friends in St. Paul, and Miss Josephine got to meet M and Zetty, who showered her with loving attention, much to her, their, and our delight.

Zetty and M audition for future babysitting gigs.