Happy Halloween!

Eleanore thoroughly enjoyed her first Halloween -- because she got to spend it with her Nana!  Patrick's mom came into town just in time for Halloween festivities.

Our festivities amounted to dressing Eleanore up in her kitty cat costume and handing out candy.  She looked like her fuzzin Doobie and Pockets's little sister!  She didn't go trick-or-treating, but we did walk to some of the neighbors to say hello.  It was a beautiful night.

Nana was in town from Thursday to Tuesday.  On Friday and Monday Eleanore played hookey from daycare and spent the day playing with Nana.  They took a few walks and enjoyed the unseasonally warm Minnesota weather.

Bubbe's Fall Visit

My mom (aka Bubbe) came for a visit for a week in October.  It was supposed to be a two week trip, but a new clinical trial opened up so she went back to Buffalo on my birthday.

We had a great, very mellow, quiet time.  It was nice to have nothing on the agenda.  We took a few walks around the neighborhood - Eleanore in her stroller and mom on her new mobility scooter (courtesy of Northwest Airlines since they ruined her last one!).  And we hung out a lot at home.  

Eleanore is drooling up a storm and chewing on everything in sight, so I think teeth are on their way.  Other developments are that she can pretty much get into a crawling position, but she isn't mobile yet - unless you count rolling and rolling.  She is a long and skinny girl - still under 13 pounds.  Her hair looks quite red and mom says it is the same color mine was when I was a baby.

Fall in Minnesota

Fall is a great time to live in Minnesota.  The trees are beautiful and the weather has been mostly sunny and crisp.

We took Eleanore on a little outing to the Apple Jack Apple Orchard to experience her first pumpkin patch.  We met up with the Scholl's (Dawn, Rod and Ellie) and had a lovely afternoon.  I'm not sure Eleanore was all that impressed -- she couldn't figure out why I kept taking her picture with the big round orange things -- but it was a good excuse to be outside.  

We bought some cider and apples and I made a big batch of sweet potato apple soup!

Five Months Old!

Eleanore is the big 0-5!

It has been so much fun watching this little person grow and learn. She can now successfully roll all the way over (granted only in one direction) but she is officially mobile. She is reaching for and playing with toys much more. Her favorites are a little orange "bee" and a colorful doggie with crinkly ears. Rings are always a hit too - not the finger wearing kind, the plastic link-together kind.

It is hard to leave her at daycare every day, but most days I still see her twice when I go down to nurse. I can't believe we are a few short weeks away from my six month goal for breast-feeding. I feel very lucky that we have been able to keep it up for this long.

Other than working, nursing, and sleeping not much goes on in the Tarry household! We see friends on weekends, but most weeknight we just collapse. I'm sure we will get into a routine eventually, but we are managing just fine.

Photos above and below are from after a bath this week. She still is a bit hesitant in the tub, but she doesn't fuss, she just looks freaked out. Come to think of it she really doesn't fuss that much at all - she is content most of the time!

School Days

Eleanore is adjusting nicely to "school".  Her teachers are wonderful and take very good care of her.  There is so much activity she sometimes has trouble napping, but she sleeps great at night!

The photo above is of little E with her pal Tyler.  They were born 3 days apart and his mom is another HR person at Medtronic.  This photo was not staged...  Tyler was really holding her hand.  Patrick sent a note to Tyler's dad telling him to watch his son!

The photo below is from the morning before "pajama day" at daycare.  They had all the ages wear pj's and bring in teddy bears.  Then the daycare director gathered everyone together and read the book "Corduroy" in the common area.  Eleanore looked so lovely with her sweet lollipop teddy I couldn't resist having a little photo shoot before leaving the house.