Pumpkin Patch

I took the girls to a pumpkin patch this week. We went with their cousins visiting from Arizona and the cousins who live here, along with Grandma and Grandpa. It was way too hot for me, but Penny seemed to have fun running around with her cousins. She always starts screaming and acting crazy when she gets around other kids.


Penny's totally oblivious that she's smashing baby Ginger's face in these pictures. Her hair makes her look even crazier than she really is.


Ginger hasn't quite figured out how to work both eyes at the same time yet, hence the partial wink. But she has figured out how to eat, check out her chubby cheeks.

How can she tell?

Why is it that I can be swaying Ginger in my arms while standing and she peacefully falls asleep but the second I sit down, she wakes up? How can she tell that I've sat down? Especially when I'm doing the exact same thing with my arms sitting down that I was doing while standing. It seems like all babies are like this. I remember Penny driving us crazy. We'd get her asleep in our arms and then sit down and she'd instantly start stirring and making her annoyed grunts and squirms. Ginger does the same thing and it's driving me crazy. Even our fancy swing with its six speeds and 10 music/nature noise options, including a heartbeat sound, doesn't do the trick.

I know there are already tons of baby contraptions out there but if I could figure out how to imitate a standing parent holding a baby, I could make millions. It could be the next boppy or bumbo or bouncy chair. Everyone who has a baby has these items and my invention could be the next baby must-have that past generations some how survived without. So, keep your eyes open. Maybe one of these days you’ll see the human holder device for sale at Target next to the rainforest bath center and swing combo. I’d have to work on the name of course, no one would buy a “human-like holder.” It sounds freaky.

Despite all these inventions, I must say I'm glad I'm irreplaceable as a mother. And, as much as I may complain about having to stand with Ginger, I'd rather tend to her than some kind of freaky machine. It's humbling being a mother.

Penny pictures

Penny has her moments where she actually likes holding Ginger. Most of the time she doesn't really care what Ginger is doing. Even when she does hold Ginger, it's a hands-free hold, as you can see.


Penny loves feeding Mr. Bear. Apparently he likes goldfish crackers. His snout gets pretty messy after lunch.


Penny's cousin, Chloe, sent her this stool. We've since painted it a fun blue color but even with out paint, it's Penny's favorite thing right now. It's tall enough for her to push up against the kitchen counter and "help" wash dishes or make dinner or whatever she wants, which sometimes gets her in trouble. As you can see in the photo, she also likes to just stand on it in the middle of the room. Thanks, Chloe!


Penny's grandma got her this dress with a matching dress for her doll. Grandma also got her these shiny gold shoes. Penny's really into carrying a purse around. She insists on taking it everywhere with her and here she is all ready for church with her purse and doll. Necklaces are another favorite accessory, this one from her great-grandmother. I never imagined having a girly girl but Penny certainly likes shiny things and jewelry and purses and I have to admit it's pretty cute.

Beach babes

We took the girls to the beach yesterday. We figured Ginger should get acquainted with the sound of the ocean early on in life. Some say crashing waves sound like the inside of the womb so hopefully she liked that. I always wonder how they know what the womb sounds like anyways. We went with some friends who had their baby the day before us, Jeremy and Ditte. Stephan and Jeremy went surfing for a bit while we breastfed the babies. Their son Wyatt and Penny, who happen to have the same birthday but a year apart, played in the sand. The weather was perfect and it reminded me why California is a great place to live.

Welcome, Ginger

Ginger Faye
Friday, 26 September 2008
2:17 p.m.
21 inches long
8 lb. 6 oz.

Penny's first meeting with Ginger. It's hard to tell in the photo, but Penny is waving at the "beebee."