Modeling

Last week Park Avenue Photography photographed you modeling hair accessories for Peyton's Place Boutique.

This shot is one of the play shots taken after the 'real work' was done. You had a BLAST being photographed, and just plain being the center of attention (not surprising). I had equally as much fun being a 'stage mom' and encouraging/egging you on. Watching you so giddy was a riot!

The dress you're wearing here was a birthday gift from your friend Chloe and her mom Robyn. Before they moved out of town, Robyn and her husband Steve both photographed you many a time, and often encouraged me to get you into baby modeling. So it's fitting their dress was used for some of the shots!

For your first time modeling, I'm amazed at how well you cooperated and knew to look at the camera and smile. Actually, the photographer was amazed at your 'natural talent', too.

This is what Holly, the photographer said about your shoot:

I just photographed a natural supermodel! Miss T is only 15 months, never been in a professional shoot before, but OMG, she knew exactly what to do! One minute she was oo-ing and awe-ing over the bubbles mom was blowing, and then she'd look right into my camera lense, pause, do a little head tilt, and smile. Amazing! It was such a pleasure photographing her and hanging out with her cool mama! Luv ya Diva T!

Here is a link to a few of my favorites from the shoot:

Modeling Peyton's Place

You're Seriously the Coolest

Today rocked. You are SO awesome. We left this morning at 10:30 and were on the go alllll daaay. You didn't go to bed until 9:30 - and not one meltdown, fit, or too-tired cranky complaint.

Today is Halloween, and you celebrated like a champ! We started off this morning with a Spookluck at the park for 2 hours playing and snacking on fruit and treats with our playgroup. 95 degrees out, so we were modified (and matching) witches.

After the park we had lunch with our friends Amber & Mia, and Emily & Abby. From there we picked up Chase, and all went home for precisely 45 minutes for your nap, then got right back in the car. We dropped Chase off on our way to a Halloween party at MyGym...where you immediately started dancing as soon as we walked in and you heard the music. Had a great time there with some friends we met recently, then we were off to the grocery store to pick up a couple items for dinner (and smile coquettishly at many of your costume admirers).

One more stop (to what I call Price Club but is actually Costco), where we happened to run into your friend Abby and her family, and we were on our way home...but not for long. My mom came over and we ate dinner, then got you de-costumed and re-costumed. I stayed a witch, and you became my black cat. Then we hit the streets for your very first trick or treating. Umm, I guess it wasn't your first-first time (we went last year too, but you pretty much slept through most of it), but this was your first time actually walking up to the door.

In addition to your obsession with shoes, (mine, yours, your friends', my friends') you are now obsessed with purses. I got you an old-school style plastic pumpkin jack-o-lantern for you to play with, and decided to tell you it was a purse so you'd hold it while trick or treating. Uh, no problem-o there, kid.

Your very first house I carried you up the driveway then set you down on the walkway to the door. I handed you your pumpkin and said "hold your purse" which you did proudly, then said "hold my hand" and with your other hand you grabbed on to mine and we walked up to the door to ring the bell. They must have heard us outside because they came out before we got a chance to ring, and you were a little nervous about that at first. I said "trick or treat" for you, and told you to give them your purse. You held it out, they dropped a candy inside, and you looked amazed. You don't even know what candy is, all you knew was you now had something to put inside your purse and carry around! As I thanked them for the candy and said bye, you waved and said 'bye-bye' and we were off to try the next house!

Now a seasoned professional at trick or treating, you were yet again amazed when we got to a house that did not drop a candy inside your pumpkin purse, but instead offered a large bowl of candy for you to choose, and put it in your pumpkin yourself. Amazed...but not stumped. This seemed like a cool idea to you, so you chose a candy...twice. You were so cute, they let you have both :)

You had a great time meeting our neighbors, seeing other big kids, not being scared at the haunted house (and wanting to go see it again!) and of course carrying around your increasingly heavy pumpkin purse so we ended up staying out for over an hour and a half - and a lil past your normal bedtime.

When we arrived back home, we could not buck tradition and quickly dumped the loot from your pumpkin onto the living room floor to inspect. You thought this was a great idea and sorted, un-sorted, and re-sorted for so long KittyX came over and stole a lollypop to play with. Luckily, candy holds no value to you (yet!) and you were not offended. Quite the opposite in fact - you offered him another candy, that's how much you love that cat!

It wasn't until Grandma started eating a mini chocolate bar that you even realized these tiny packages contained anything edible. I thought you would start to insist I open one for you (no way, kid!), but instead you just held up a candy to your mouth and pretend-ate it over and over. I love the way you fake-chew, its so cute.

By now it's WAY past your bedtime, so Grandma goes home and we get ready for bed. You're so tired I think you were happy to lay down. As we lay down you put your head on my belly, and I realized since my feet were feeling sore from such a long day (11 hours) that your little tootsies might be beat as well. You snuggled-in, and as I rubbed your flat little feets you were asleep in less than a minute. Just so you know, that NEVER happens that quickly. Maybe I should try baby foot massaging more often?

As I'm writing this to you I'm having a glass of water and eating (your) dry-roasted edamame snacks. What an I thinking? You've got a stash of 30+ candies, and you aren't allowed to eat it! Dad and I made a deal: I get any chocolate, he gets the candies. Well, we have to do something with your loot!

Happy Halloween kid, you're the absolute coolest and so much fun!

Playing Chase's Guitar

 
 
 

Dress Up

She's only 14-month old and already playing dress up with Mum's high-heels.
 
 
 
 

What Does The Kitty Say?

Tristyn, everyday you show me how smart you are, and it reminds me that I underestimate your brilliance. Tonight we were playing with your MagnaDoodle. We were scribbling together, then back and forth, then together. Next you handed me the stylus and looked up at me, so I figured you wanted me to draw something myself. The first thing that came to my mind was a kitty - your favorite. You love our cat SO MUCH. You know that the words cat/kitty are interchangeable, and that Budz is his name (well, nickname). You even know the neighbor's "Orange Kitty" is named Rio. Kitty was the 3rd word you learned to say.

So I drew this crude sketch of a cat very quickly (OK no critique please - I know its ridiculous but its on a MagnaDoodle board and I was rushing - you like things done FAST!), then I showed it to you without saying a word. You studied the drawing for a bit, then said simply "mAOW", meaning "hey, that's a cat!".



Yes, you meow. Our cat does a lot of speaking, especially when he is being pet. I call it feedback. I think he just wants to root us on in encouragement while we are petting him. Anyway, you noticed his boisterous language very early on, and mimic/taught yourself how to meow. One day he meowed, then so did you! The thing is, KittyX (aka Budz) meows a little differently than most cats, so you don't say meeeoooow like most people would. You say it just like The Budz does: mAOW, and you quit saying the word kitty and prefer to meow in its place. If you see Budz or Rio through the window, you meow. If The Budz meows at you, you meow. If I say "What does the kitty say?, you meow. You might be a lil kooky, now that I really think about it :)

Tristyn helps Dada make her favorite zucchini oven fries

SUPER-CUTE THINGS YOU'VE DONE OVER THE LAST WEEK

Dad and I had some wine glasses on the coffee table. You noticed they were empty, picked up Dad's soda bottle (luckily the cap was on tight) and 'refilled' each of our cups. I wish I had it on video, so cute and super genius of you.

You and I were in our playroom and you just stood up and walked out of the room. You turned the corner and popped you head back in and with a smile, said something incoherent. You were playing Hide and Seek with me (which took me a few seconds to realize). You also like to play keep-away, and you made it up all on your own!

Since you have really gotten good at walking you now declare at random times throughout the day that you'd like to practice NOW and grab my hand (sometimes peeling my fingers off whatever I'm holding) asking to practice walking. Your Auntie M recently taught you to climb a step, so you like to practice this too.

KittyX jumped up in bed with you and I asking for pets in the middle of the night. He was meowing as I gave him loves (to encourage me I suppose) and from a dead sleep you said "MEOW" in KittyX fashion (which is more like "mEH!!") and continued on sleeping.

Next week I'm going to try to capture on video your killer carseat dance moves.

Split Pea Cat Food

IMG00452.jpg
Originally uploaded by AYeager99

You and I went with Grams to San Diego for 3 days to visit your Aunt Michelle. We did a lot of hanging around her condo, just quality visiting time. Usually when we go down there we are zipping around the zoo or Sea World, shopping, dining out, etc. This time we focused on baby play. You had a grand time.

Some of her friends came over for a champagne breakfast. You liked one of them and put on her high heeled shoe and started walking around the house in it. Just the one shoe.

You also had your first very own cup of froyo...vanilla frozen yogurt with strawberries and blueberries. You ate it with your own spoon for a bit, too. Next door to the froyo place was a cool kids' boutique, where I took this pic of you on my BlackBerry.

Oh, you also have really started using your latest skill: shaking your head 'no'. When we got home tonight I was feeding you split pea and carrot soup, which you kept shaking your head to in favor of my green beans. The cat cruised up and asked for your dinner, so h ended up eating it instead! It's okay - you're always trying to nab his food from him...eeeew!!!

I'd tell you more about the visit, but you are climbing me at the moment and pulling my hair to get my attention and I can't properly type!

Length Chart 0-12 Months

Your weight has really evened out, but my, you are still tall!

Weight Chart 0-12 Months

Mad Tea Party

You had a great birthday party today with your friends. Saturday we are having a combined party for yours and Chase's birthdays, just family will be coming to that one. Today's party was all about your friends, and you had a great time. A GREAT time. Surprisingly, none of the ceramic tea set pieces were broken, and no balloons popped!

I setup a large toddler-height table (made from a hollow-core door atop our coffee table) and set out your colorful polka dot tea sets. You and 8 of your best buddies (Abby, Benjamin, Chloe, Dilen, Mia, Morgan, Roman and Taylor) had a blast playing at the table and being silly. We really wanted to invite all of your friends, but 8 was the perfect amount to keep it manageable.

Your friends' moms, Jessie and I watched you guys share and play for a long time before we sang Happy Birthday to you. You had your first taste of cake! You and I shared a cupcake. We made them yesterday at your friend Mia's house. You gave Mia lots of hugs and big muaaah kisses, and you're learning to say her name.

You also had your first taste of whole milk this morning in your sippy cup. That's right, you made the switch from bottles to sippy cups already, a few weeks ago in fact. You're such a big girl now!

After cake and milk, we went into the living room where you and your friends played with some of your toys, and we had a little game. Each of your friends attempted to throw sugarcubes (aka big styrofoam ball) into a teacup (aka big big huge wooden salad bowl). When they got the 'sugarcube' into the 'teacup' they were awarded a prize - the party favors we wrapped up like teabags. The girls got handmade barrettes and the boys got a wooden block stamp set. You played for a bit more with your friends, then it was time for everyone to go home and nap.

You slept for 5 minutes shy of 2 hours...pretty much a record for you. I did have to get you up an hour early so I could make sure you were bathed and fed before your guests arrived, but you had so much fun I think you'd have slept that long regardless - you were wiped out! This gave me time to clean up and get your presents ready to open.

When you woke up, we did exactly that, and you had a blast doing so. We spent hours playing with your new toys and being silly in the party room. You went down for a second nap, and did not want me to lay you down in your crib, so I just let you sleep in my arms for the entire 45 minutes. I figured it won't be much longer that you will want to do that, so I sat down with you on the couch in my bedroom and pretty much just watched you sleep thinking about the past year and how far you've come.

Your Dad was watching tv while laying in bed, and I turned to him and said "Michael, you know our baby isn't a baby anymore...she's one, she's a toddler now." to which he responded solemnly "She's a big girl now.". That you are...a big girl, but I have a feeling you will always be my baby.

Here's the link to the pictures

Happy Birthday Baby Love

You're officially no longer a baby. Welcome to toddlerhood!

You're Walking!

Hi Baby. I'm so excited to tell you, last night you walked on your own - no holding on to my fingers. I'm going to try to post the video today.

Just like when we got you to crawl, you were tempted with a cell phone. Nothing holds your interest more then electronic gadgets, and phones are the perfect size for your little hands.

Your brother Chase came over for dinner. His birthday (20th) is today. Jessie is here visiting too. Since you've been walking holding on to my hands or the furniture for some time now, I said you were just waiting for Chase to come home so he could be here for the big event. I'm so glad our whole family of 5 was in the room to witness your milestone. You are very loved, baby.

I am so proud of you. I really wanted you to be walking for your birthday, and you did it!

Drawing

Here you are drawing with a crayon for the second time. Remember Amber showed you how a couple of weeks ago.

Kissing Booth

We made a Kissing Booth from a cardboard box

Tristyn and Emily

Earlier this week we went to your friend Abby's house to play. Here you are with her mommy Emily.

Tristyn Sports a Ponytail

Jessie gave Tristyn a ponytail

Shaving the Alphabet

Today while you were taking a bath you were playing with your foam alphabet letters. You really love these letters. Not that you know what the letters are yet, but I'm just hoping you get used to the shapes. I have your name spelled out on the shower wall so you can work on those letters first.

So today you picked up the letter T and very deliberately used the top part of it go up and down my leg. It took me a second to realize that you used the T to "shave" my leg!

Baby Talk

You've turned in to a hugging and kissing fool. You may recall a previous post about when we went to San Diego for the US Open, and Aunt Michelle taught you to blow a kiss. So you added the 'muuaah' sound you learned from blowing kisses to your regular kisses.

You now stalk me with big muuuaaah kisses repeatedly. The Budz, too. When Kitty X walks in, you say "Hi" then lean in and rest your head on his belly as you say 'awww' and then give him a muaah kiss. IDK what he thinks is going on, but he lets you do it. You love him!

I got an email this morning from What To Expect about what you are most likely doing at this age. The focus of today's email was about talking, and how you should soon say your first word. Babe, you've been talking for months. Technically you even make a sentence because you say "Hi Kitty" or "Hi Daddad". And you said 'thank you' the other day on your own.

Oh today I noticed you know what the word 'teeth' means. When I say it, you put your finger in your mouth.

Your new favorite activity is putting on shoes. Your shoes, my shoes (my flip-flops I should say, that's all I wear these days). You love em. Typical girl!

Just a note to the present tense you: please stop trying to eat the cat food, and feel free to let go of my hand when you're walking because you can totally do it without me!

Sunglasses

Target has women's sunglasses in their bargain-bin section.

I picked these up for T for $2.50.


Blowing a kiss to her fans.


Trying to shake the paparazzi.


Trying to put her glasses away in my purse.

Guitar Tank

This pink and black guitar tank rocks. Wish they had a matching Mama sized version.

4th of July

Mini-Kitchen Chef

Ready for a Swim

Amber Teaches T to Draw

Amber was teaching you how to draw.

You wanted your foot to draw.

This is just moments before you barfed formula all over Mia's rug.

Mad Tea Birthday Party Invitation

Independence Day

Hi Tristyn. Yesterday was our country's birthday, which we call Independence Day. Traditionally this means American's do things like have a family bbq and go to a local park to watch the fireworks displays at 9pm. Where we live it's 3000 degrees at 9pm still, so we had an indoor bbq. Instead of trying to find a parking spot and a place to sit at the park with everyone else we drove up to Desert Willow Golf Course to watch the fireworks by ourselves in the back of my truck. It sits on a bit of a plateau providing views of the desert cities, so we were able to see the Palm Desert fireworks show very well, as well as the Palm Springs show to our right, and the Indio show to our left.

We watched the fireworks there a few years ago when Chase & Jessie were younger. We were the only ones there that year, but this year there was 3 other cars parked out there too. Still a great hidden spot.

Since we weren't directly under where they were blasting off the fireworks, the boom didn't scare you and we were able to enjoy the show from afar, although that meant the fireworks appeared a bit smaller than if we were closer to them. You loved the fireworks show, you were giggling at them, so I guess you thought they were funny. This was one night I was glad that you are a total night owl (you've been staying up until 11:30 and waking up at 10am) so you could experience the fireworks with us. Showing you new things makes it more fun for us.

11-Months

Hi T! You're 11 months old today, happy birthday! You spent most of today attempting to properly insert your foot into my flip flop. Sometimes you put them on my feet for me, which you're kind of good at. So today I put your tiny little foot inside my flips, which you thought was just the coolest! The rest of the day was a pretty easy one for me because this kept you busy on and off for quite some time. I'll try to use this new task tomorrow when you get bored in the afternoon.

Speaking of your feet, you now know what the term 'kicky-feet' means. Dad said kicky-feet when we were all in the pool last night and you peddled away with those drumsticks (as your Auntie Michelle calls them). You were in your little baby floaty-boat thingy and with the pool light on we had a great view of those chunky legs kicking away. I wish we had an underwater camera!

Oh, this morning I noticed you were in fact teething and your mouth has broken ground on some prime real estate. The two teeth on either sides of the your top for (of 4) are emerging, and a lower tooth on your right side (I call it 'chomper') has broken through almost fully, about 90%.

You're such a tough girl, I wasn't even certain you were teething. Though there were a few tell-tale signs recently, I only gave you a pain reliever dose once a couple weeks ago. It was the night your Dad invited your Uncle George over to watch the Lakers playoff game. You had been fussy that afternoon. I didn't think anything of it until he got to our house and you were still fussy. That's when I knew you must be agitated because normally you would be investigating a visitor, quietly studying them and their every move. People watching, I suppose. One of your favorite things to do.

Parents mag contest

I entered you in a baby photo contest for Parents magazine. People, here's the link to the gallery. Please click 'recommend' on the photos next to the photo rating.

San Diego Trip

Hi T. Last weekend we took a trip to San Diego where your Aunt Michelle lives. Believe it or not, I FORGOT my camera! I did however remember to bring the extra battery, yes you are right that's useless. Anyway there are no pics from our trip except I took a few from my BlackBerry (but they aren't great shots) and your Aunt busted-out an old-school film camera and took some pictures but we have to wait til they're developed to see those.

When we got into town we picked up your Aunt and drove over the Coronado Bridge to stroll around town, visit the famous Hotel Del, and show you the ocean again (which you still don't care about yet). You were more into visiting with Aunt Michelle than anything else, and that's okay because you could say the same for her.

The next day Daddy went to the US Open with your Grandpa, and you and I went to the zoo with your aunt and grandma. You had a great time. You saw giraffes, elephants, a panda bear, monkeys, a jaguar, a puma that wanted to eat your feet because you kept waving them in the air, flamingos, koalas and tons more animals. I can't even remember all the animals we saw, but we kept telling you they were a kitty, because that's a word you know well and understand. Sometimes they are hard too see when they are in the trees and such so we would point and say 'look at the kitty" and you would look around while we kept pointing and repeating 'kitty' until we heard a squeal of joy and we knew you'd spotted the animal. You love animals so it made it so fun for us to show them to you.

The next day Daddy and Grandpa went to the US Open again while the girls went to Sea World. More animals! This time you saw sharks, penguins, turtles, starfish and other aquamarine creatures. You're not even a year old yet and you've been to Sea World twice already!

You had a great time the whole trip. You only ever got mad a couple times, you're a great traveler! Of all the new things you experienced I think your favorite was just snuggling with your Aunt in her bed while she read to you. I have a feeling you're going to be visiting your Auntie a lot more now.

Shades

Her future's so bright she's gotta wear shades. Ugh how old am I to quote that!?