14 Months

Here were are at our 14 month portrait- smiling and cracking herself up, as usual. Linden has started realizing what is funny and how to just smile as BIG as her face- it's fun to watch. She is on the cusp of walking fully on her own- she has taken a few feet here and there, but now she wants to do it on her own.
We are enjoying music class every week and having fun at the park sliding down the slide- on her own. She's going to be a very independant one- I wonder who she gets that from??????
(MOM!)

The Oakland Zoo

Linden and Avery in a giant spider-web! Linden sure likes to climb!
Here's Linden telling everyone who she is- as you can see all the other kids were checking her out!
Here's Linden checking out the Elephants- WOW! She's never seen anything that BIG!


Having a blast at the zoo!
Linden and Mommy on a giant ladybug....
"The girls" on the Merry-Go-Round.
Linden hanging on for dear life; "You mean this thing is going to move, too???"

We went up to Oakland to the zoo, with the Casey's on Saturday. Had a really great time and the girls got to see animals and ride Linden's first merry-go-round! It was a beautiful day and what great company we had! Thanks Avery!

Muir Woods

We went up to Muir Woods on Friday- Brett took the day off and we had a great, but wet, walk through the most beautiful redwwod forest up in Marin County- truely a beautiful sight!

Airplane rides in the living room

Heather and I were talking the other day about a time in my life when we did not have any toys- let alone scattered throughout our entire house! And yet ANOTHER toy..... paying homage to Grandpa Salerno- I found this beautiful wooden "red- baron" style riding toy- it was really ugly- primary colors, etc.... Anyway, I saved it and painted it a very chic brown and pink- perfect for our little dive bomber! It even makes an airplane noise when she rocks on it- who could resist (right, Heather!)

Linden gets her own personal SWING!

We noticed how much Linden likes to swing at the park, and now she can swing in her own back yard! She could swing for hours and hours......
Also here are some pics of her groovy new headband- it's really Mommy's!

Linden playing in the car

Don't get any ideas Linden!

Half Moon Bay 10K

Laura and Kara ran the Half Moon Bay 10K this morning. Tira and Eva ran the 5K behind us. It was a beautiful route along the coast- it was really foggy, but the sound of the waves crashing in was beautiful. Brett and Linden cheered Mommy onto the finish!
We went to the world famous Pumpkin Fest after- the largest pumpkin weighed in at about 1400 pounds! Pretty amazing stuff!

Linden's First Pony Ride

We went to a Day of the Horse Festivel in Woodside. Linden loves makeing Horsie sounds so we thought she would LOVE it- and she did after warming up to the horses. We tried to get her picture taken on a pony, and she cried in sheer fright. She warmed up to the ponies at the pony ride stand though- she did not want to get off! It was fun and good to see her get over her initial fear.

Happy Halloween!

We were taking care of some things around the yard and I found this spiderweb near my ( still in season!!!!) tomato plant. I had to take a picture of this GIANT spider- a little to big for my taste- I had Brett smash it dead once I captured it- SQUISH!

Willows Neighborhood BBQ

All our friends in Chicago will get a BIG kick out of this- seeing as we live in the suburbs- HA! Our neighborhood had a BBQ get together where we all meet in the street and there were a BOAT LOAD of kids running around- it's definitely kid-central! We do really love it here and it's so family friendly and a ideal place to raise our beautiful Linden. The city was good to us, but I cannot imagine being anywhere else right now. Anyway- here are the pics from the day....

Bubble Baby

We went to Sonoma this weekend for a little W&R;
Wine and Relaxation!
I forgot the camera- what can I say, too many things to remember...HA!
Anyway it was really fun and when we got home Linden was a little bubbley from all the champange!

Lemo's Farm

We went to Lemo's Farm today for a birthday party for Allison and Brenden Yeh. Lemo's is in Half Moon Bay- near the coast. It was really fun- we got to go in the petting zoo- Linden does not care for goats, by the way... we went on a train ride around the farm, we even got to hop around in the hopper together! Linden loves to jump and bounce when she can. She picked out the cutest pumpkin and a big one for the house. It was perfect weather and Brett and I made a comment that a few October's ago we were in sweaters and scarves back in Chicago! It's beautiful here in the Fall.

13 months today