Fun in the fall!

We have had a great fall so far. We have been busy, busy, busy, but we have had some great times. Halloween was a blast. We went to my parents' early in the evening, so they could see her and "show her off" to their neighbors. Then we came back home, and Cecilia helped pass out candy and visited with our neighbors. Fortunately, she did great with the time change. It was like she did not even notice; last year, it took her about a month, so it was very nice this year!

The weekend after Halloween, I went to Atlanta for a girl's weekend (really it was just for a night) with my college girls. It was my first trip with them without Cecilia, and my first time leaving Cecilia other than to stay the night at my parents'. It was very nice to have the girl time, even if it was a quick trip. And it was easier to leave Cecilia than I thought.

Christian is now currently gone on his annual deer hunting trip. He left Friday and will be back tomorrow. So Cecilia and I headed up to Dayton with my parents' to visit my brother and his family and to celebrate my niece, Alexandra's birthday. It was another quick trip, but it was a great time as well. We went to an indoor water park/pool, and then spent the rest of the time hanging out around the house visiting. Cecilia did great at the pool; she was fearless. It had a large very shallow end, so she could walk around most of it. She was full speed ahead the whole time. Running through water that was chest deep, falling, and then getting right back up to do it again. It was a full time job to keep up with her! Sunday, Alexandra's birthday, John and Jennie made a wonderful feast to include a special marinated grilled steak, lumpia (Filipino like eggrolls), and homemade ice cream!

Cecilia is doing great. She continues to be such a good, sweet little girl. She is becoming more and more like a little person every day. She frequently cracks me up and makes me smile all the time. Her language skills continue to grow, and she is still using some sign language. She recently made up her own. Instead of fussing when she needs help, we were teaching her to say and sign "help." She picked it up very quickly; however, she made up a completely different sign for it. She has been saying the word using the sign for a few weeks now and still does her made up one. This week, I decided to stop showing her the correct one, mostly because she looks so cute doing her own. She puts her arms up over her head, goes up on her toes, and says "hep" all at the same time. And then gets a big smile on her face!

Having a snack and watching Daddy carve the pumpkin.

At Papa and Bess's house on Halloween

Our little lady bug!


Tuckered out with Chase after a long day!

Playing in the yard with Daddy while Mommy was out of town.

At the water park/pool in Dayton.

I could only get shots in the real shallow end.
It was way too splashy to try to take the camera any deeper.

One of many face plants! But she didn't care!

I forgot a swim diaper, so she had to wear a regular one!
It was about to bust!

Back at John and Jennie's; she spent a good part
of the day "unloading" groceries.

Playing with Papa and Alexandra's
cat that purrs and moves its paws.
Look at those curls!

Alexandra helping Cecilia bounce on Simba.

The kids on Alexandra's birthday.

Cecilia and Alexandra in their matching outfits.

Sitting in her room "reading."