Our little Jack-o-lantern

Happy Halloween!

Alexis had a dress rehearsal yesterday in preparation for her very first Halloween. She joined her baby yoga friends at Gavin's house for some photos and fun. After much deliberation, Alexis (mom) decided she would go as a ladybug, which is her favorite book. She also currently resembles a homemade jack-o-lantern...our poor girl is cutting four top teeth right now. (And that means we are all suffering when it comes to bedtime).

Stay clear of the ghosts, ghouls and goblins today folks, and may your baskets be filled with lots of treats!

Her Uncle John asked if she chased this boy up onto the furniture.

Turns out, she was chasing after his cookie

Alexis, Madison and Olivia - the itsy bitsy yoga girls

(who aren't so little any longer)

Claiming her territory from Mr. Bee

Falling for fall

Fall is a busy season for this family of 3. Alexis's 1st birthday, Vic's birthday, my birthday, our anniversary, not to mention our ladybug's first Halloween, many family birthdays and anniversaries and Vic's favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. Can you tell what season we like best?

But on a beautiful day earlier this week, there was nothing on the agenda, not one single plan. So off we went, Alexis and I. We walked all around the Fairfield University campus. Just the two of us, with no place to be and no schedule to keep. It was a sweet reminder that sometimes the simplest days and moments can be the most special.

Yes Mommy, college is part of the plan,

but can I turn 1 first?

On second thought, this campus is cozy

and very close to home...

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

Lexi had fun on our walk,

but now she's simply focused on dinner -

she even pulled out the chicken for me

The Great Pumpkin

After visiting friends who just moved to the area and have a little girl Lexi's age, we went pumpkin picking on Sunday. It was the perfect fall day to do so, and we think Charlie Brown would agree that we choose the Greatest Pumpkin in the patch:

Bitty Baby, Bells and Bubbles

We're kicking off a busy weekend here at The Land of Lexi. But first, a recap of fun with Daddy and a dear friend.

Ashley took the train from NYC after work Thursday to join Alexis and I for dinner and drinks. We decided on Joe's American Grill since it's somewhat child friendly. With lots of waitresses and nearby diners to flirt with and a grilled cheese to sink her two teeth into, Alexis was a model restaurant goer. Afterwards, we came home to visit just a little longer. Ever the thoughtful friend, Ashley presented Alexis with her very first 1st birthday present....a Bitty Baby!! It also happens to be Lexi's very first baby doll, and I imagine it will start her love affair with the American Girl franchise. Thank you so much Ashley. So far Lexi seems happiest poking Bitty Baby in the eye, but we're working on giving hugs and kisses.

Alexis lays her eyes on her first birthday present

- a baby doll from Ashley

Clearly, she likes what she sees

And to jump start her Saturday, Vic took Alexis to her class at the Little Gym. He said that today she was most excited about the jingle bells and bubbles. This doesn't surprise me as the girl LOVES those bells. While all the other kids are following directions and putting their bells away, Lexi coyly pounces on the basket, seizing her opportunity to take more. I have no doubt my two knuckle heads were the cutest duo in class!

Thank you Vic for taking some cute photos of your morning together

- even if no one else was doing the same

Here she is popping some bubbles. She has begun pointing at everything,

and Vic said she pointed at each bubble as it passed her by.

I guess she just wanted to make sure he was paying attention.

Halloween Inspiration

Should our little girl be an angel for Halloween...

think this is one of my very favorite shots of her

- those eyes can melt hearts

Or a devil? You be the judge...

the wake she leaves in her path

Gym Rat

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree in this family. Vic loves his spin classes, I enjoy my boot camp class, and Alexis gets a big kick out of her weekly class at The Little Gym.

She's one of the youngest and seems fascinated (if not a bit envious) by all the running and jumping that goes on. At the end of the 45 minutes, she always stands on her own - just to show everyone that she can.

She loves those backward rolls - we practice here at home, too

Learning to share

Told ya she loves those jingle bells

Happy 11 Months, Alexis!

11 Months - nearly a year! What a great month it's been with you keeping us on our toes. In fact, your daddy and I were saying recently that this might be our favorite month yet. 

Maybe it's your smile, sometimes it's a shy, sweet little grin, sometimes it's big and toothy/gummy, with your mouth wide open and your tongue sticking out. Sometimes it's accompanied by your laugh and sometimes by your squeals. Either way, it always makes us grin right back at you.

Maybe it's your curiosity, growing by the day. You now point at new objects as you see them, wanting to touch and feel everything in your path (and often taste it all too).  You love to figure out how the world around you works - opening and closing doors, drawers and cabinets, touching your food at each meal, twirling your hair and mommy's too, waving and clapping and playing the "so big" game without any prompting. Turning the telephone on, changing the tv channels, reading your books (10 Little Ladybugs remains your favorite right now) and turning the pages by yourself. Either way, we'll always be by your side for every new discovery. 

Maybe it's your apparent love of music.  You get a big kick out of shaking the maracas or the jar of sprinkles that you found in the pantry. The jingle bells are always your favorite instrument at music class, and you groan when it's time to put them away. You bop when you hear music in the background and sway from side to side. You lift your arm up and wave it to the beat, and when we're riding in the car, you often seem to be humming to yourself. Either way, you make us want to drop everything and dance right along with you. 

Maybe it's your spunk, crawling at lightening fast speeds, climbing any set of stairs you can find, drinking your bath water if we happen to look away, kicking your legs whenever you get excited, patting us on the face to show that you're happy to see us, looking back when you're getting into something you know you probably shouldn't to gauge our reaction, chatting away with us to your heart's content (no, no, no is a new favorite expression of yours - perhaps because you hear us saying it to you more each day).  Either way, you turn even the most mundane day into a fun one. 

Maybe it's your sweetness, when daddy steals early morning snuggles before he heads off to work, or when mommy takes you up to your room for your only bottle of the day - the very last one just before bedtime - and we cuddle and rock in your glider, and I hold the bottle for you - for just a little longer, just a few more days or weeks. Or when you awaken from a nap, standing at your crib, calling out for us and greeting us with such a look of delight. Either way, you warm our hearts without so much as a word. 

Maybe it's all the dreams we have for you - or all the dreams you've answered. Either way, we love you so. 

Happy 11 Months, Alexis Rose. Next stop - first birthday party fun. 

It Had To Be You

October 16 is a big day around here. 

Alexis is 11 months old today! And, her parents are celebrating their 5th Anniversary! 

So, yes, a very big day. 

We'll be posting her eleven month photos and letter later today. In the meantime, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes....   So, here's a shout out to our baby's daddy and my best friend. Victor - "It Had to be You"!

One note about this photo (and yes, all of these are film - not digital. I did say FIVE years ago people!) Vic and I wrote our initials in my parent's curb when we were in high school. Years later, my father had it chiseled out. He kept this piece of concrete, and he kept it a secret, too. He presented it to us during his toast on our wedding night. 

These were his exact words, "...You can't find this at Bloomingdales, and you can't find it at Williams-Sonoma. But if anyone ever asks you about your relationship with your father-in-law, Vic, tell them it's 'rock solid' ".  

We cried and smiled and hugged - it was quite a moment. This curb now sits here in our home, and 

it makes me smile on a regular basis. 

I'm Still Standing

After her inaugural mac n cheese dinner, Alexis was ready to burn some calories. 

She has been standing a little each day for the past few weeks, 

but this was this first time it was long enough to capture on camera. 

Thanks for the Baby Bjorn bibs Ashleigh -

 it caught as much pasta as her mouth did!