Please Look After This Eight-Month Old Pumpkin, Thank You.

So we made our eight month visit to Jacques Penne. Little Pumpkin was in a fantastic mood and we got some great Halloween shots! I cannot believe that my little baby is really almost a toddler- it is all happening too fast.

Vake loves to be photographed- he's just like his mama!

Oh HEY there- how did you get so high?

Look at me- I am standing up with just a little help from Mama. And while you are checking me out, did you notice my fantastic Halloween smocked outfit. Mom got it for me on Ebay. She keeps on telling Daddy how much money she is saving him. I wonder why he looks a little like he's not feeling good when she is saving money?

This picture is so that everyone can see how much I've grown since last month- it is pretty amazing.

And now we've got out the props. What in the world is this thing?

I don't know, but I think I like it.

I actually KNOW I like it.

Why yes, I actually DID carve it myself. Thanks for noticing.

Seven Months at Jacques Penne!

SuperT took Vake to the Jacques Penne yesterday while Eric and I went to Chuck and Julie's wedding (big congrats C&J and what a nice party...)

I've resisted the naked shots for awhile now, unless of course Vake is in a bathtub with his cousin Domingo and the appropriate accoutrements. But Tarenitup had no such reservations.

Oh hello there, I am feeling a little shy because I am NAKED.

So NOW I've got clothes on again...

But it is MORE FUN to be naked.

A LOT more fun. (NB all the cute fat rolls and the cumulus cloud legs on this baby...)

This is my naked and contemplative pose.

I'm ready for my close up!

And now I am dressed again.

I LOVE the outfit Grandmary made for me.

Oh hello there. Didn't know you were behind me.

I'll do a pushup for you. I am super strong as WELL as being super cheerful.

Happy Sixmonthiversary, Vake!

How fast has this last six months FLOWN by- it is just unbelievable- because when I was pregnant, I never thought the last six months would EVER pass...

Vake is the happiest, sunniest little six month old you could ever hope to meet.

At 6 months, he's off the charts for weight and head circumference and in the 95th percentile for height. He's wearing a size 4 diaper and 12-18 months clothes. He outgrew his infant car seat and is now in a convertible carseat that should get him to 65 pounds.

He's gotten to be quite a pro at sitting and he is fantastic about entertaining himself with toys that are in front of him. He seems to really enjoy reading books (or rather, having them read to him...). He likes to laugh and frequently cracks himself up!

He's starting to recognize people. He's never fussy unless he's starving or really tired. He sleeps about 12-13 hours a night and (usually) takes two excellent naps.

He's eating a good variety of solids now. He enjoys apples, zucchini, peas, peaches, sweet potatoes, carrots and green beans. He does not seem to enjoy avocado.

He's also figured out cold fusion and is working on plans for world peace and universal health care.*

We went to JC Penney after work today for portraits- how funny he is getting to be...

Hi, there, guys! I am ready to play!

My favorite part of this shot was that the JC Penney portrait studio employee included a
"green fairy" embellishment to make it look like Vake was staring at a green fairy. Like father like son I say.

Hmmm. Universal health care and world peace. How do they work hand-in-hand? I know, I will have an figure-skating summit, and we will all sing the song, "I'd like to teach the world to sing/in perfect harmony./I'd like to buy the world a Coke, and keep it company."

Naw, that's a CRAZY idea. It will never work!

So now I am feeling a little shy and embarrassed because no one wanted to sing the song with me.

Little V, Daddy and I are so glad and so happy to have you around. You are super fun and we are having a blast with you!

*Areshini and William, I know this is no match for baby Gabi but Vake's trying to keep up as best he can.

What a day!

Vake and I had a busy busy day. Eric rolled out of here super early but got a chance to say goodbye to little Vake before he hopped a plane to Seattle.

I had a day in Court that actually made me pretty satisfied in terms of the way I am handling more and more difficult clients. I had one who is a "frequent flier" who I've represented a couple of times. The first time I had him was for an assault case and I didn't manage him very well. He wound up not getting any jail time on that but being extremely argumentative with me. Today, I got him on board with my approach to the case and even though he got 60 days of Home Electronic Monitoring, he didn't take out his anger on me! YAY!


So after work was over, it was time for little V and me to go to Jacques Penne for his five month portrait. We roll in to find that little V and Domingo are celebrities- look at who was framed in black and white as part of the display. My favorite part is the "I Love You" that was added at the bottom of the pic. Perhaps my little V will be the next Zoolander- all he needs now is his own Blue Steel pose.
Here are the Month 5 pics- don't you love them? For people who want to order them, you just have to go to https://www.smilesbywire.com/home.asp?AC=LTPP0359102119JCP and my user name is ALISON MONROE. (Don't know if it has to be in all caps but always put it that way...) He's dressed in his Fourth of July outfit.

So Happy!!!!

Yum, my fist is dee-licious.

Ha. I love Taren. (Taren was with us and made little V laugh and laugh.)

Isn't it crazy how big I am, people?

So to top the night off, I ran my first 5K since I found out I was pregnant. Most of you know that Vake really gave me a run for my money most of the time that I was expecting him- I didn't really feel much like myself so it feels like a HUGE accomplishment. My time wasn't all that great- 41 minutes BUT it was really hot and humid. So we will take it.

Here I am with my good friend Hien- she punched it out in like 25 minute and came back and got me. I did run the whole way, though!!!!

Vake and Domingo Visit the JCP Portrait Studio

One of my guilty little pleasures is the JC Penney Portrait Studio. Andrea turned me on to it- in Vake's first month, I went to Kiddie Kandids at Babies 'r' Us and paid the unseemly price of $19.95 a sheet for pictures. After that, I learned better- Jacques Penne will give you a sheet of pics for the bargain rate of $3.99 a sheet and Lindsey the manager at the Regency Square Store is A-W-E-S-O-M-E. She does a GREAT job.

So, Vake, Domingo, Dennis, MS and I trekked out to Regency tonight for a cousin pic. I think Dennis truly believes he has died and gone to h-e-double toothpicks- what a night. Please go to the mall with your mother and sister in law, your infant nephew and your puppy for glamour shots of the nephew and the dog.

We started out with Vake with clothes on, trying to take pics of him in a basket with Domingo but that wasn't going so well- the basket just wasn't big enough and everyone was miserable. So we decided on an "action shot" and the only thing big enough for the two of them was a bathtub.

Here's the first picture: in it, Vake's saying, "Who's this dude in the bathtub with me? Where's the water? What about the music we always play? Seriously people, what are you doing to me?"


Domingo looks similarly nonplussed- all you can see is the little white in his eye.

But they actually got used to each other: see below where Vake is staring at Domingo, petting Domingo, getting kissed by Domingo and finally about to fall out of the tub!

Seriously, too cute. What's next for me, though? A minivan with a stick figure family decal on the back cannot be all that far away.