Yesterday was such an awesome day. So we went to the beach to take pictures for Christmas cards. I took a ton of pictures. Ariel was great with Cailin and I got some amazing pictures.

This was Cailin's first time at the beach. When I sat her down on the sand, it didn't take long for her to figure out she could pick up the sand. Before I could stop her she had the sand in her mouth. By the time we left the beach she was completely covered in sand!

Look at Cailin play

I bought this exercise gym and Cailin took to it right away. Now she stands up in it, turns in complete circles and chews on the toys.
She loves that the toys make noises.
This seems to be her favorite toy to chew on. Maybe this one tastes better than the rest.

Look at Cailin now!

Cailin says Ma-Ma

Cailin is 5 months old

I can't believe it, but Cailin is 5 months old. I haven't been able to update the blog the way I wanted to because first I was totally overwhelmed when we first came home and for several months after, especially when I finally returned to work. Then Jerry broke the camera. He not only dropped the camera but managed to kick it across the ground before picking it up. Next, the computer broke and I couldn't believe our luck. Okay, so things Cailin is doing now is she babbles a lot and sometimes sounds as if she is saying "Ma-Ma". She also just screams (more like a screech) especially when you are not paying attention to her. She is trying to sit up by herself.
She is so theatrical! She makes lots of different faces. Although, with this picture, she was startled by the flash.
She smiles when you call her name!

Every time you sit her up by propping her against a pillow she always leans forward. She can hold her balance for a little while before she falls over. This was right before she toppled over.

Mommy's Little Butterfly!

When I saw this costume in the store, I loved it! Cailin hated it! I tried to have her pictures taken because she looked so cute. She cried the entire time, she had the costume on. The poor photographer tried for over an hour to take her picture and didn't get one usable shot. I bought pink tights and a pink shirt to go with this costume, so she could have been a little hot. When I took her out of the costume, she was a little sweaty and immediately started to smile and play again. But I was determined to have her pictures taken in this costume, so I waited a few days and tried again. I made sure it was after her nap, she had been fed, and I even took the pink undershirt off. She had the same reaction, she cried and cried, but just as we were about to give up, she gave one little crooked smile and the photographer took the picture. It turned out to be a little off center, but I bought the picture anyway just for all the hard work. So, for Halloween I didn't put the stocking or shirt on and she did just fine. Look at her smiling and sitting up like a big girl.
She was trying to see her Mumsil, but I thought it was funny the way she was cutting her eyes.

Mortecia (from Adam's Family)

Ariel went as Mortecia for Halloween. For the last 3 years, she has been a witch (different costumes). I tried to get her to be something friendly this year, like a cheerleader. She absolutely hated this idea! This year she is claiming her independence from me. This year, she wanted to ride the bus, instead of being driven to school. She insists on picking out her own clothes, when before she never cared. She doesn't want to have her hair in ponytails any longer. She only wants to wear one ponytail and there can be no barrettes in her hair. I look at this picture and wonder were the time went. It seems just yesterday she was just 3 years old. Of course it doesn't help that she looks like a little woman with the boots and lipstick on. Jerry joked whether the dress came in a bigger size!

Trick-or-treating

For the last few years, we have been trick-or-treating at a neighborhood church. They have rides for the children and they have trick-or treating. This year members dressed up there cars with different themes and gave out candy. Ariel got to take a picture with Shrek and Princess Fiona.
She also took pictures with Nemo.

Halloween Party

Ariel & her Mumsil went to one of her gymnast friend's Halloween Party.

There backyard was decorated like a haunted house.