My school party was super fun! 
We all dressed up in our costumes and had a parade to the playground. 
After the parade, we got back into our Halloween jammies and played on our mat again. 
Tonight Dad is going to sit with me on the porch, greeting the trick or treaters. This could be my favorite holiday so far!
It's Monkey Time! 
Mom and Dad picked this costume for me because they love how I am a cuddly little monkey. 
Now that I am almost 6 months old, I am developing new monkey skills like sitting up (still working on that one) and hugging on to their arms when they hold me. 
Plus, Dad says one day I might grow up to be a woolly mammoth like him, so I will really look like a fuzzy monkey! My friends Maggie and Moxie are going to recycle their costumes from last year: Hula Girl and Jimmy Buffet. 
I've been practicing my sitting, and I must say, my balance is improving every day. 
Reaching for a favorite toy is how I work my core, it's like Baby Pilates. Sometimes Moxie works out with me, but I think he is just trying to steal my toys. 
Maggie is teaching me how to do push ups, she is not a very tough coach. Usually she just gives me a little sniff, then lays down. 
Today we are having a Halloween party at my school. My class is going to be 101 Dalmations. Mom said she would take pictures and post them on my blog soon.
So far I'm not loving this food thing... Mom says rice cereal is an acquired taste, but I'm not so sure. All I know is, every night Mom and Dad get in my face with this mush. 
They smile and clap and cheer with every bite, like it's some big deal. I'll humor them until they give me something better, like cookies.
I mean, really? Can't they put some applesauce in it?
Check out my new ride! We finally broke out the Big Girl Stroller and I LOVE IT! 
I can see everything in front of me when we go for walks (it is especially fun to watch the dogs on either side of me). 
I have also been working on my singing voice in my exersaucer- maybe the pictures caught a bit of my dramatic side. 
I'm thinking maybe American Idol next year...
We went to the park today to celebrate my 5th month! 
Mom said she was amazed at how Dad and I have a hint of red in our hair in this light. 
I like having my picture taken most days... but sometimes The Talent just wants a nap. 
When do I get pearls to go with my argyle? 
This weekend Mom and Dad took me to Boston to see my New England family. We celebrated my Papa and Dad's birthdays. It was a perfect visit- I watched some football with the boys...
had some laughs with the girls... 
and saw my cousin, Kalyn, again. She is "Big K" and I am "little k". I love to hang out with her, she is very funny and smart.
We have the same cute nose and Mom loves it. I hope I grow up to be pretty like her! 
Speaking of yummy noses, I attacked my Nana Mugs! My new hobby is to get everything within reach into my mouth, and noses are very convenient.
My Nana is the best- she got my first Halloween outfit- how cute is this?!
In Boston, I learned about cold weather, something I had not experienced before. The leaves on the trees were pretty up there, a nice change from boring old palm trees. 
I learned about two teams called the Patriots and the Red Sox. Dad promised that I would love them one day, or else I will have to move out. 
I also got to meet Uncle Steve and Nick, they were wicked awesome. We got the party started with an ice cream cake for Papa's birthday.
Nick and Kalyn took turns entertaining me. Mostly I just sat there, watching them roll over each other, competing to see who could make me laugh the hardest. At one point, they were both on the playmat with me, a la Twister. Mom thought it was really funny.
It was all fun to me, but I think my Dad got a little overstimulated... 
We were sad when it was time to head back home, but I have to get back in time for school. I have to tell my friends about my plane ride and how I saved up my dirtiest diaper of the weekend for the moment we took off. And, this week we are making our Halloween costumes. 
Guess what happens when you go to school? You meet lots of germs. Today I had my first fever and had to stay home for some TLC from Mom and Dad. I was just really sad and wanted to be cuddled most of the day. 
Dad stayed home from work with me in the morning while Mom went on her job interview. He took good care of me and helped me feel better. 
My fever only lasted one day, and the next night I was back to my old happy self, smiling and playful again. Mom said I was the toughest kid she's ever met. 
Mom and Dad have been working on the house, and are proud to say it is (finally) feeling like a home. My bathroom is finished and I love it. I am going to take my baths in there soon since I am almost too big for the tub in the kitchen sink now! 
The guest bedroom is ready for visitors, too, sans toilet! Mom and Dad laugh at their "progress", because it typically means that they are just moving junk from one room to another... as in, the Bonus Room. Sure, they still have plenty of work to keep them busy. 
Dad is still on edge about all of the surprises that come with living in this town. For example, termites. This is our neighbor across the street getting tented for termites. They had to move out for 2 days while a toxic gas was sprayed inside. Sounds fun... 
Once you know you have termites, you have to act fast around here because the colony usually has SEVERAL MILLION of these bad boys destroying the wood in your house. Here is an example of what the termites did to our house during their last visit. 
Our neighbors don't get too excited about termites, the same way they shrug off all of the hurricanes. They said they had a "tent party" 8 years ago when several of the houses on our street had to be treated. Then they laughed and told us we could come to the next party since termites hit on average every 7-8 years. Mom and Dad weren't laughing. I wonder if Mom could find me a cute stuffed termite to go with my teddy bear?
