Trick or Treat. Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat. If you don't, I dont care. I'll pull daddy's underwear.

I tried my best this evening to teach Baby Boris how to best utilize his (inherited) stinky feet to get what he wants... or, should I say, get what I want; Candy. We were unsuccessful.

Yes, plenty of people offered the little pumpkin candy. But I couldn't, in good faith, allow my 9 month old to accept. I don't want to be that kind of candy-feeding mama, even if I was going to be the one to eat it.

So, we walked Woodsdale without result, checking out all the neighbors candy & costumes. I'm sure Zander will have wonderful dreams of hookers, robots & lady bugs.

Before we left for our evening stroll we decided to remind all of the swine flu piglets about the wonders of an apple a day...

Alexander, of course, needed no reminding.

As I was preparing our decorations/treats, A spotted the apples, charged & took little nibbles out of three before I could put the camera down to stop him.

And even after I gave the little monkey a clean one, he insisted on bobbing for a new one. Nibbling. And throwing it aside to pull out yet another.

The little pumpkin eaters first campfire @ Shawnee

We planned to go with the neighbors to their church Halloween party, but the swine flu wiggled it's curly tail, and we all stayed home instead.

But we couldn't hide Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater in a shell all weekend, so we bundled up & headed to Shawnee State Park.

We brought Zander's new Radio Flyer & hiked all over the campground with Grandma, Aunt Amy & Aunt Connie. Z pointed out all the colorful trees and particularly loved it when Grandma pulled him under the bright yellow barriers blocking the path!

We even spotted a walking stick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phasmatodea) climbing up the side of Grandma's trailer!

On the way back to the campsite to listen to the Steeler game Alexander caught a quick nap bouncing around in the back of the Radio Flyer. It was adorable!

After a quick nap, Z was ready to drink a cold one and route for dem Stillers with Grandpa by the fire.

What about that East Dennis Oyster Farm? Oh, yeah, they got a new web site; http://www.dennisoysters.com/.

It was a wonderful day! Z slept the whole way home, we all smelled like camp fire and Aunt Amy sent all her leftover pasta salad home with us. How can you top that?

I can think of only one way, doing it again next summer!

My Honey Do Loves That Honeydew

I can't imagine Zander finding any fruit he loves more than Honeydew! Of course, I said that in July when he discovered the wonders of watermelon. But this time, I feel confident... because I cant think of too many more fruits to introduce!

Although Z loves fresh fruit, he puckers, cringes & strains out store-bought fruit puree? So, I started mixing the few jars we have left with instant oatmeal that D never finished.

Zander uses his 6ish teeth to scrape the flesh off the rind; and he does a pretty awesome job of getting all of that fruit off! Then he adds a little to his hair, and he is stylin' & profilin!

And when he's bored with his lunch, he throws the rind on the floor, spits out his last bite (over the side of the chair, of course) and screams to get down. Delightful.

Indian Summer & an early Christmas

Just like his daddy. Alexander LOVES every fruit we've offered him. Last week it was plums, this week cantaloupe. Unfortunately, (or maybe this is how it's supposed to go?), the little bugger's eating so much fruit, he's lost his appetite for milk... He's still sleeping through the night, so I guess I wont worry about it.

You can't tell from this pictures/video, but Z uses his bottom teeth to scrape the fruit off the rind. He had a hard time getting the fruit off the middle of the slice, but had a good first effort! Of course this morning when I sliced another cantaloupe, I turned my back a little too long, and he ate the rind also:).

Despite the vast quantity of plums, homemade applesauce, watermelon, apple slices, peaches, fruity baby food & fiber-packed farina (thanks Nemka!), Zander still isn't back to his old routine.

Since I'm not too adventurous food-wise, I'm trying to introduce Alexander to a variety of spices and flavors now. I've been sprinkling garlic powder on his baby food & he even tried (and seemingly liked) one of our spicy oven potatoes this week.

Our very inaccurate thermometer read 80* today in the sun. So Zander & I spent our day mowing the lawn, replanting our container gardens in the backyard for the winter, and walking around the yard in our bare feet!

And of course the little monkey found the smallest place in the backyard to crawl into!

Grandma gave Alexander his Christmas present this week... but of course, I'm not one to wait on these things... So we've been parading around the neighborhood in our brand spanking new Radio Flyer. He LOVES it! & the three-point harness makes mama happy too!

And today we got a package loaded with Louisiana satsumas (yum) and a pretty blue potty for Zander to practice on. Thanks Nemka!

Lacking Evidence

I've got no pictures, BUT...

Today Zander pushed the baby wipe box over to the basement door, balanced on the box with one big toe (If you've seen those Flinstone feet, you'll understand), and used his opposite hand to tug on the door knob. I have no idea why he'd want to go to that dungeon. Dirt, laundry & peanut. Uck.

And yesterday, after a full serving of plums, watermelon & peaches, I was working for a few extra minutes of highchair confinement with Cheerio therapy. Zander wasn't very hungry, so he was just launching the flying saucers across the kitchen. But then he made up a new, superfund game. Zander would grab a Cheerio. I would open my mouth. He would plunge his whole claw, opposable thumb & all, Cheerio included, into my mouth, just like he feeds himself. But he couldn't quite allow himself to drop it in my mouth, because he couldn't taste it that way... so he'd giggle, pull it out & feed himself. So cute.

Oh, and his newest nickname is Shurik. He looks like a little Shurik when he's sporting his crazy little hand-me-down winter cap. Again, so cute.

Evidence is forthcoming.

Nothing a little Plum can't clear up...

Who needs prune juice when you've got fresh plums?

It was so cute. I nibbled off the plum skin, and held it up to Z. He took one careful bite, started kicking his legs, shaking and grinning as he grabbed the plum and started chowing down! He got through about 1/2 of the gage, including quite a bit of skin before he got full.

Before I got the store to purchase plums, Zander tried watermelon chunks, apple slices & peach wedges to get things moving. But hoy vey, now that he's discovered the fresh plum, I'm not sure any other fruit, not even bananas will ever compete again!

On a different note, I think I must have forgotten to take these pictures off my camera last time?

Anna was so happy to have a little Irish báibín; well, I guess we're all pretty happy about it! We took this picture to show all of her nurses!

Extreme Closeup!

Communist Invasion & An Arranged Marriage

Nemka, Vasya & Girlfriend Galina spent a very short weekend with us in Wheeling to Celebrate Columbus' good fortune of stumbling upon the Americas. What better better way to celebrate than flying an American flag for Vasya :)

Although our visit was VERY short, we spent Saturday afternoon mushroom hunting (aka hiking) at Oglebay.

Vasya is working in DC until December and Nette is in BR working for a Green Building/Revitalization Nonprofit. Of course, she's also working at LSU Grad School & finishing up her thesis that she started in Holland. And check this out, Galina attends the Green-ified Co-op daycare that Marguerite opened at the old YWCA.

I think Marguerite's little Jules was trying to foil our arranged marriage plans, but once little G caught a glimpse of Zander's square mug, it was love at first sight! Of course!

Zander definitely has a thing for older women! His bestie Norah, and now his girlie G; following in his Papa's footsteps... again :)

After a great weekend following in G's culinary adventuress, we're working though a week of extreme constipation (someone print this to torture him when he's older:). Zaner tried (and loved) Cream of Wheat, Buckwheat with a creamy mushroom & spicey mixed veggie sauce, garlicky guacamole spread on toast, veraniki (perogies), and Im not sure what else???

Unfortunately, he's even less interested in his formula now!

9 months... and always being kissed

My little pumpkin is 9 months old! That is nearly as long as I carried him in my belly; can you believe it?

Today we had his 9 month well visit with doctor Arch, and our little man is just perfect! He weighs 22 pounds & 5.5 ounces and he is 29 inches long! He's growing like a weed!

The little watermelon king also got his seasonal flu shot, minus the mercury today... Now I just have to find someone to give it to me! We've pretty much decided NOT to get Zaney a Swine Flu shot. Of course, that might mean we have to quarantine ourselves from all civilization... but I guess it'll be worth it! The doctor actually said, "This isn't the time to be joining new play groups..." So, I guess I wont!

Unfortunately, our little cuteso caught my cold while we were in Carlisle @ the car show. The night D arrived in Carlisle, the babe tossed & turned all night. Technically, he was sleeping, but he was having trouble breathing through all the snot, so I was very technically NOT sleeping. Poor guy... poor mama!

When my mama made the 5:30am wake up call, we were all three up playing with the babes...

With just a couple hours of sleep after an awesome, busy, sickly & physically demanding week, I was a mess! I can work through most everything, but, as most of you know, when I don't get enough sleep, I'm like a pregnant, hormonal, crying mess. Hoy vey. More on that later...

And then Babushka Anna, DeyDya, Papa Andrei & Irina arrived! Zander has a severe case of "No, no, no, I didn't say you could hold me... Where's my mama?"

So, I don't know what happened when he met Andrei. Zander LOVES him! Almost more than D & I combined! Alexander won't go to his grandparents, but within 5 days of arriving in the country & within 5 minutes of arriving in Carlisle, Andrei was flying the babe around the front yard, and the babe was loving it! Gigga What? (No idea who taught me that phrase... The Advocate... but I looked it up just now, and I'm assuming it is just a song and not offensive. Correct me if I'm wrong. And don't forget, I grew up in a box. :).

Actually, the night before Andrei arrived, Z did start fussing, crawl up to my sister's legs & climb to be held... Is his eyesight so bad that he thinks Jenn & I and D & Andrei look the same? My mama seems to think that D's DNA is so similar to Andrei, that Zander can smell it. I wonder if they're hiring for police dogs... ?

The only thing Carlisle was missing after the Brooklyn'd crew arrived was Slava & his family. Hopefully some day soon we will all get together!

What a motley looking crew?

So, back to my hormonal mess. D wanted Zander to get his first haircut. And I agreed long before the babes & I got sick and sleepless in Carlisle... Cue the waterworks.

My goodness. That was horrible. Equivalent to our time in the hospital laboratory shortly after Z's birth squeezing blood from Z's stone cold little foot. Except, I cried harder this time. And there were more people around to see my misery. Oh, and Alexander didn't like it either.

Ironically, I was holding Zander out by the street shortly before we left, and my pops pulled out his scissors. Clip, clip. Snip, snip. No tears. Straight haircut... Why isn't everything that easy?

But then it was time to bring the whole crew back to Wheeling. So while Mama, Papa & Aunt Jenn crammed into the backseat, attempting to get the "Easy-Install" car seat, you know, installed, Zander took turns teaching his grandmas how to drive the Prius.

What a busy 2 weeks! Now we're getting ready for Nemka & Vasya to arrive with Zander's betrothed, Galina! Well, I guess I'm also waiting for D to get home from work... It's 9:19pm, you'd think he might be home by now...???