The Follow Up.

Once she got the costume off, it was all over with. Oh, enemy, thy name is Target bumble bee costume.

Other, better behaved dogs were out and about showing off their own costumes. Gomez didn't even require cheerios. He is a natural model.

I don't think either one of them was that thrilled with me.

I might be the only person in the house that thought this was a good idea.

I love Halloween. Last year she was a little too small for a real costume, but this year, she's had 3. Although Batman never actually materialized, because Robin tried to eat her own cape. Picky picky.

3 and up? More like 37 and down.

Makes me wonder exactly what goes on.

Please hold your theories. I'm not that curious.

Time for gates.

We'll be installing them momentarily.

Everyone said to me "you are so lucky. Let her be. Don't worry about mobility." But, because I can, I did.

Although she's not fast yet [I had time to retrieve the camera, take the pictures, load them, post them, and put her down for a nap before she got to the next step] I know it's coming.

Scarlett's Uncle Mike and Uncle John stopped by for a visit, and I forgot to take pictures. Which is fine, because they walked into a messy house, with a hyper pug, and a whiny baby. Once we got the baby and pug settled in for a nap, we were able to sit on the couch and catch up on the important stuff. Britney, LiLo, Pax Jolie-Pitt, and all the other news makers of the day.

I found out about Scarlett in Uncle Mike's bathroom. Which makes him think twice every time he pulls a coffee mug out of the cabinet. "is this the one she used? Or is it the Naples beach club mug?" I'll never tell.

Make it One Thousand and One.

I read an article that said there are only about 1000 people in the world that can solve the Rubik's cube in under a minute.

I think we need to widen the parameters of "solve". I mean, who says solving has to mean each side should be one color? What if solving really means "look at the pretty pretty colors boy don't they taste good"?

In which case Alice can solve it too.

Well, we may not be creative, but we know what we like.

Back to Shaw Farm for more pumpkins and fun. The weather was too perfect to stay inside, and orange really is a good color on everyone.

Except the Bengals.

Standing is the new sitting.

And sitting is like, so yesterday.

What are the odds of it happening twice?

Did another girl from Cincinnati meet another boy from San Francisco?

I wonder if she has problems keeping the 49er gear out of her house, too.

Ever have one of those days...

When you take the dog out for a walk, slip in some mud, and end up on your ass?

That's a good day to stay home and play in your pj's.

And maybe make a hat for the dog.

Chicken Fajita Burrito, No Rice, Extra Veggies.

Scarlett said her first word last night.

"Taco".

Actually, it was "Doggie", but when Kevin and I were playing with her this morning, all she would say was "Taco".

We do like Mexican, so I guess it's not a stretch, but "Doggie" was much cuter.

Ok, Hoopers. We can take a hint.

What? Too much?

What Would Coco Chanel do?

I don't even know where to begin with the cuteness.

When you are born in October you better expect a few mummies and ghouls. Until you are old enough to express an opinion, and start talking about Thomas, and Dora, and other such pbs pablum. For now, it's all pumpkins, kiddo.

You should also be floored by the attention, and seem downright honored when you are sung to. Por Moi? You shouldn't have. Really.

She was a first birthday rockstar. It was like she had rehearsed the cute, and nailed it on opening night.

We plan, and God laughs.

The best laid plans, eh? Kevin came home a few minutes early last night so we could give Scarlett a birthday cupcake and get some funny pictures of her covered in icing.

Unfortunately, minutes before this picture was taken, she attempted a fancy gymnastic move, and landed flat on her face.

Many tears ensued. And when I finally got Kevin to stop crying, I had to deal with the baby.

So we were in no mood for cake, a funny bib, and mommy's singing voice.



This morning we are fine, save a Rudolph nose and perhaps a wee bruised baby ego.

And we have another chance at the cake pictures tomorrow at her party.

Gotta love a do-over.

It's someone's birthday today.

But I won't tell you whose.

She opened one of her presents. It was a farm puzzle. My first thought was, "how cute. I guess she won't be a vegetarian." My next was "DEAR GOD, I HOPE THAT'S NOT LEAD PAINT."

Also, I guess one is still a little young for unsupervised cheerios.

It was the most sincere pumpkin patch.

It being prime pumpkin season, we hiked out east to a bona fide farm today. Took a hayride. Saw some chickens. Watched people drink hot apple cider. [No caffeine? No thank you.]

Now we are back home, shy one very important nap, and are just hanging on with a mix of cheerios and prayer.

Oh, and we've learned to taunt Alice. Alice want a cheerio? Psyche.

LOOK! A WORKING COMPUTER!

Now, I know we have the computer all fixed and stuff, but basically we are starting over from scratch. I have no bookmarks, no favorites, and the screen looks weird. But it's home, and we'll get it all figured out.

Thanks for hanging tight through all this. You shall be rewarded. I mean, not by me, but by someone.

I hope your days haven't been too long and lonely without us.

The new hard drive has been ordered. We'll be back in business soon.

I know. I've said that before. But this time I mean it. And if this doesn't fix the problem, I will personally hold up a Circuit City.

I pulled some old pictures that I never used, just to satisfy any baby jones you all might be having.

Meanwhile, does anyone have any suggestions about how to get a camel through the eye of a needle? We have purchased a treadmill, and right now there is a very large box sitting on the other side of a relatively small doorway. It's my Tuesday conundrum.

I know, I know.

But the nice young gentleman who is working on our computer, also has this pesky thing called a full time job, where they actually PAY him to work on computers. Novel idea.

We have started tossing around words like "Toshiba" and "Circuit City", so I really hope we'll be back in laptop world soon. This computer is just not conducive to blogging. It's a work horse; a Clydesdale. It tows flats of Budweiser in its spare time.

To keep you all coming back, I will tell you that I cut all my hair off today into what is known in some circles [not mine, because I have much more important things to do than focus on Brit Celebrity Gossip] as the "Pob". Which is the Posh Bob. As in Posh. Spice. Skinny? Odd looking chest? Married to David Beckham? Bunch of kids she couldn't possibly have given birth to?

Anyway, I only have blurry camera phone shots of the new 'do, so you'll have to keep checking back to see what it looks like. Which is good. Around here, we are loving it.

So again - no news on the computer, but hopefully soon.