On the web ...

web
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel isn't much of a costume gal ... unless you think of an orange binky and pink suade boots as a costume. But she does love crafts. We went to Olana - home of Hudson River School painter Frederick Church - on Saturday for its Halloween party. They had a scary little maze ... which she couldn't get out of fast enough ... pumpkin rolling and an arts and crafts tent. We thought she might like to get her face painted, but no. ... she wanted Mama to get her face painted instead.
On Sunday, we walked down to the village park for its Halloween party and parade, which was just a small circle around the ballfield. We think she went as an Austrailian cow girl: She wore mom's old cowboy hat, overalls, a suade coat and her pink uggs. She wasn't much impressed with some of the other costumes, though. Darth Vader was an especially scary sight, but she was happy enough with a cider doughnut and a walk to the toddler park with Ama and Papa.

This is why we can't have nice things ...

This is why we can't have nice things ...
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

I love saying that. ... I just can't help myself. Although, I don't get too attached to THINGS anyway, this is Annabel's first toy that has been destroyed by the resident demolition expert. (To tell you the truth, I am amazed Madeline Dog has shown as much restraint has she has up until now.)
I found the evidence upon arriving home from work and showed the topless pony to Annabel. She looked at it and said "Oh No. Boo, boo."
I explained that Maddy had made a mistake and chewed the horse. Annabel looked at Maddy and then lifted her hands, "OH WELL."
So I am happy to know ittybit doesn't get too attached to things, either.

Kitchen gnome

kitchen gnome
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

There are days when you just can't help but smile, even if you don't want to, you just can't help it. Yesterday was one of those days for me. It was a day that just had one sad piece of news after another. But when you come home to a four-course meal of plastic vegetables, dog hair, Jell-O boxes and spilled "jutz" just waiting for YOU ... how can you not just smile?

The nitty-gritty of the cooking closeness is this: Annabel loves to be where the saute action is, and since she's getting a little too heavy to haul around (even for Daddy) for too long, we've introduced an old stepstool for her preparation pleasure.

Of course, I'd be a little more relaxed about the whole thing if she would stand a little more in the center.

Laundry day

laundry day
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

She is sooo helpful. I had carefully folded each piece of clothing in this basket before she carefully unfolded them (even shaking them out in by way of imatation). It was so interesting to watch, I didn't bother to try and intervene. After a while, Jed and she carried the clothes to her room, and, while she played, I refolded them and put them away ... Two more times.

Now what?

NOW it's time for BED
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel turns 22 months old today. Woo Hoo. To celebrate, last night we gave her a baby doll playset. It includes a 12-inch plastic doll (with cloth body. ... her preference) as well as a diaper bag, magic bottle, sippy cup, jars of food, spoon and fork, a diaper, diaper wipes container, a binkie (with a clip) and a teddy bear for the dolly ... Annabel was like a mother hen. She fed the baby, burped the baby, diapered the baby and then decided ... 'Baby BED!'

Feeding time ...

yogurt facial
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Annabel swears by the restorative and regenerative properties of this ancient cosmetic, the yogurt facial. Sure she's feeding Tigger, her bib friend, but she's still managing to get a healthy serving for herself down, too. You go, girl.

Punkin' preparations

All eyes on daddy ... OK, not exactly. More like: All eyes on daddy's pumpkin. This weekend Annabel had her very first pumpkin carving lesson. And like all good parents, we handed her the knife and let her do some damage. (It was one of those kid-friendly carvers, and yes, she lost the right to handle it once she started pretending she was Arthur Fidler conducting the Boston Pops. It was actually quite a successful endeavor. She helped make a few strands of hair in the back, which make some interesting sqiggly lines on the wall when the pumpkin is lit.

Happy trails

Happy trails to you
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Lori's bathroom rennovation is nearly complete, and so the trips to Elias' house, and the Toy Wonderland that is there, will soon draw to a close. Luckily, I had a chance to document one of her favorite activities there: Horseback riding. I'm hoping that some version of this montage will be Auntie Maureen's Christmas present this year ... Shhhhhh, don't let on you've seen it!

A little too blue ...

blu
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Humor wise, I'm sure this will get me into a little hot water but I just had to write it down for the record. ... Annabel had her first number two in the loo!
We had gone to the farmers' market on this very rainy Saturday and were all frozen to the bone when we got home. So we hustled her off into a warm bath to shake off the cold. After we got her undressed, however, she wanted to sit on the potty. When I asked her if she needed to pee (which she has only done successfully once) she said, "No, poo!" And sure enough, a few minutes later, she was ALL DONE and ready to play in the warm, soapy bubbles.

Good dog, Maggie ... pat head

rank ru, raggy ...
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

It's quite amazing to watch the dogs warm up to the little miss. Annabel is usually very gentle with the animals, however occasionally she can be a little ... shall we say ... trying? Not too long ago, Maggie would never have tolerated being used as a bench, but lately she is willing to let bygones be bygones. Although Madeline still leaves the room at the slightest touch (with big folks, too) I can see the excitement bubble up in my ol' pooch each morning when Annabel starts to stir.

Stainless ...

knob
Originally uploaded by toyfoto.

Well not Annabel, that's fer sure ... but definitely the wedding we attended in Boothbay Harbor, Maine this weekend was sterling. A beautiful wedding, a beautiful setting and beautiful couple; what more could one ask for? ... Oh, apples. That was high on the list. Luckily, they had 'em!