What’s New: Imaginary Friends and Autumn Leaves

Sadly, we said “see you later,” to Annabelle and Elliot’s Grammie on Sunday, and we have been taking it pretty easy ever since. We’ve done a few special things to welcome fall, but have mostly been sticking to the usual routine. I’ve been noticing some small, but not insignificant changes in Annabelle, who seems to be coming into her own in the world. One of the first outings we made a regular thing when we moved here was “Rise and Rhyme,” a weekly music and storytelling series at my favorite local restaurant. Each week, a musician comes in and offers a program for the children. Depending on the performer, this can look like anything from an extended preschool circle time to a rock concert. Annabelle loves it, but is always hesitant about participating. In fact, she likes to sit just inside the room where the event takes place and observe while eating her breakfast. To my surprise, last week she wanted to sit much nearer the stage, and this week she actually went up front, danced, and participated for the last few minutes of the program. I could have watched her get her groove on all day!

She continues to pretend that she’s someone or something else for most of the day and to give me corresponding roles. Yesterday, she even put out two mats to use with her play dough and told me that she was a little boy playing with dough and, motioning to the empty space in front of the other mat, “That’s a little girl right there playing with dough also.”

Elliot still spends most of the day asleep in a wrap, but is getting much more comfortable with the idea of hanging out on the floor next to me some of the time, too. His coos and smiles are pretty much the sweetest thing on the planet. He has a super intense startle reflex and gets really upset if you move him, or yourself while holding him, too quickly. He’s a laid back dude and prefers a slow-paced existence, I guess.

There’s not much else to report this week, really, so I’ll leave you with the rest of our daily mamatography photos. Don’t forget to link up if you have an update post of your own!