In Chatt and Getting Fat

It is so good to be back home with all the helping hands. And we've been able to fatten little Susannah up a bit too.












Susannah had so much fun with this thing - this "excersaucer". We must have one.















Susannah refusing to go to bed and hanging out with Grandma Jill instead - S has been in good hands.

















Aunt Kelly feeding Susannah some avocado - yes we found out that she likes avocado and banana. But only when they are mashed up. Nothing out of a jar for this girl.













The Cranwell grandparents and their two new grandchildren - S and Willow.



















Guess who gained like a pound during the last week.



















Getting to know uncle Matt while munchin on a little banana.

Merry merry everyone

Another failed but humorous attempt at getting Susannah to eat non-breast milk food

Christmas Tree Adventures in NYC

Over the avenues and through the dirty bodegas to find our first Brooklyn Christmas tree. (We used to just wrap our bikes with color lights but now that we've got the kid and all we decided to do things right.) Here's Susannah and Ben wondering how we are going to get this thing home.



















Here's Dad braving the traffic on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope.



















Past the pretty brownstones and up the hill to our apartment. He didn't even complain, much to my surprise.



















We even upgraded to pretty white lights this year!



















Now Susannah's wondering where all the ornaments are. Grandparents, this is where you come in....

On it like a bonnet

Anna took this picture recently-- I think it is so cute.

Winter 1, Aplins 0

Long time no post. We all got sick all at different times with different things, and then I had big deadlines at school and Ben had big deadlines at work and Susannah recently decided she needs all of the attention all of the time. And really, how could you say no to this face?




















Before all that though we had a great Thanksgiving right here in the 'hood with Genevieve, Patrick and baby Benjamin and then we helped the Thomases decorate their huge tree and once again we have no photos to prove that we do actually get out of the apartment. Getting out of the apartment has been harder lately since it's gotten cold. But don't worry all you southerners, we've got a myriad of things to keep little punkin bundled: A bear suit above, a blue snow suit and a bunny suit below. And then there's this fleece pouch that goes over all of that. She always seems to be saying, can we just go already?!






































Now that she's six months old, we have new indoor activities to add to old favorites. Here's watching the rain and snuggling with Dad.




















Pulling Dad's hair -- lots of fun for S but Dad may differ.



















Listening to violin practice. Hey man, she says, when is it my turn?



















Lastly, we went to the pediatrician today, and Susannah is just about 15 pounds and about 26 inches tall. Guess she might be a peewee like her parents after all!

On the Scene with Grandma Moonpie & Friends

Poor Susannah--not a moment alone this weekend.

She had two people helping her eat squash.



















Three people to play with on the floor.















An extra set of hands to capture play time with mommy.















And, in the final hour of Grandma Moonpie's visit, she rolled over! All by herself!! Then she did it again for the camera.



Start on the tummy





















Laugh and ready to roll















Ta-da! It helps if you are nekked.







It's no biggie, she tells Judah.

















Bye GMP! We'll miss you.

First Foods

Yummy organic brown rice cereal with breast milk! What could be better!




Looking cool in the bib that Rachel made me













This spoon tastes funny


















Get that away from me. Seriously.


















What the hell are you trying to do to me?
















Hey can I get some more of that?

Susannah begins to lose the stink eye

We went to Massachusetts this weekend to see some other babies, but no photos of the trip will be posted until the babies sign the photo-release form.

In other news, perhaps it's the inner southerner coming out, or perhaps she just doesn't like summer. Or maybe we (Beth) are just getting quicker with the camera. But we would like to think that Susannah has begun to smile more often. See below for Susannah's latest mugs.



















She is waay into putting things in her mouth - her hand(s) often being the object of convenience.















She thinks dad is HILARIOUS (wonder how long that will last).



















S exhibiting a little 'tude.
















Thank god she loves her crib.



















Anyone familiar with Ben Aplin's childhood knows this face.

More Halloween Pics

Last weekend we had a Halloween warm-up at the Botanic Garden. Little miss mermaid met up with the cutest monkey on the block, aka Benjamin, who lives a few blocks from us and is also a May 28 baby.

Benjamin and Susannah have been spending a lot more time together now that they are sharing the same sitter. (Yes, thanks to Benjamin's mom Genevieve and their great babysitter Dale, we are no longer in nanny crisis.) Benjamin is a really smiley baby--we are hoping that will rub off on Susannah. Unfortunately in these photos it seems that he's adopted her skeptical look.
















































Halloween night Aunt A-Lo came down and we met up with Benjamin and Genevieve at the Halloween parade in Park Slope. Our little mermaid was not too impressed and fell asleep about halfway through it. Oh well, we gathered some candy in her behalf.

Here's a photo of Genevieve and me dressed up like mommies.
















Nightswimming! Yes, those are A-lo's hands, geez.




















Aunt A-lo, can we go home now?

1st Halloween: not with a bang but a whimper

There's either not much to report, or we're just to tired from a crazy week to notice anything noteworthy. With some great weather this weekend we hit upHalloween parade in Park Slope and got out into the park today.


















Prospect Park on the first day of November















Still perfecting head control, now if she'd just work on the rolling over thing.



















A tired little mermaid at the Park Slope Halloween parade.



















Halloweenish outfit #2



















She really likes being held up in the air lately.







Halloweenish outfit #3