a very scary giraffe

scarrrry giraffampire!

Lil's first Halloween costume revealed: A baby giraffampire! That would be half giraffe, half vampire (the Mama half being giraffe, the Papa half being vampire). Now, if you're wondering where the inspiration for such a get-up came from, you only have to look back a few weeks to when Lil's fangs appeared. She was looking more creature-ish at that point, and her giraffe costume was in doubt. But then her parents got the idea to make her a vampire giraffe, complete with fangs, a cape, and even a victim! But how does a giraffampire come into existence (and a baby one at that)? Enter Mama and Papa. Obviously the giraffampire's parentage is the missing piece of the puzzle.

mama giraffe and her baby giraffampire

the giraffampire family

Lil managed to get quite a bit of use from her giraffampire ensemble. Sunday, our friends Lindsay and Rafi hosted the first ever fall-winter-2010/2011 Baby Halloween Party! Oh. My. Goodness. Cuteness abounded! Imagine a room full of 6-12 month-olds all dressed up in the most adorable and clever Halloween costumes ever. There was Benjamin as the strong man, Leo as Curious George, Georgia as the pumpkin, twins Oscar and Lionel as aliens, Evelyn the egg, as well as several ladybugs, a bumble bee, and an astronaut. There were a bunch more, all cute (Agnes as baby Yoda), and well worth the trouble to wrestle Lil into the giraffe suit, apply my own make-up, and convince Papa to put product in his hair. I think next year we might try something simpler. Like a kitten costume. Or maybe more complicated, like a wolf pack. Who knows!

this was my buddy, but I ate him

i waaaant to drink your miiiiillllk

On Hallows Eve, we went to hang out with our Brooklyn-based cousins for a little trick-or-treating. Carrol Gardens is a great area to trick-or-treat. Everyone hangs out on their stoops and hands out candy, and most of it is pretty good too. I think Lil's cousin got a few full-sized bags of m&m's, chips, pretzels, lots of chocolate, and (mama's favorite) at least a dozen rolls of smarties. Lil is too young for all that candy, but I am certain it went to a good home. Afterward, we relaxed with some soup and conversation and allowed the sugar rush to come to a crashing end. Lil giraffampire arrived home late in the evening, all tuckered out and ready for a long snooze.

lil with her cousin, maddie the murdered

a giraffampire cuddle

I think Lil had a good time, although I wonder whether or not she knew she was in costume.

awesome aunts, nice nieces

so this is not Christmas

Today was supposed to be about carving pumpkins, drinking cider, and eating caramel apples with our friends at Tuffet, but Mother Nature had something to say about that.  After hours of slushy snowfall, the only friends to brave the elements and meet us at our spot was Lil's very own Auntie Em', and The Boy.  Who else would trek through ankle deep slush, unseasonable cold, messy sidewalks, and the weekend L train for some face time with Lil? But that's what aunts do- they dote upon their nieces, taking every opportunity to spend they day with them, and occasionally spoil them with beautiful and frivolous gifts. Speaking as an aunt, nieces are a special treasure, adding a little sweetness and a little sparkle to our lives. You go through your daily routine, and suddenly realize there is a special little person out there who adds a title to your name every time they speak it, who thinks your pretty and cool regardless of how old and dotty you are, and who loves every thing you do for them no matter how small.  The mere existence of that special little girl in turn makes you special. Undoubtedly, having a daughter is the nicest thing your sibling will ever do for you.

Today is also the birthday of one of Mama's aunts and her cousin– another niece– who spent their special day together in warm sunny Phoenix. Aunt Maggie has never been one to disappoint a niece, and along with her sisters, provided Mama with the perfect blueprint to Aunthood. Most importantly, Aunt Maggie's loyalty to her title transcends generations, and although they haven't met in person, she is Lil's biggest admirer. There may be some who dispute this claim, but I'm willing to bet they all share the distinction of Aunt.

After peeling off several warm fuzzy layers, Lil's special pre-Halloween outfit was revealed! Batty BabyLegs and a shimmery embellished tunic (to celebrate Aunt Maggie's birthday) were paired with a great pair of sweater knit leggings, and the poison-and-purple socks kicked a little color into the mix. What was especially lovely was how Lil coordinated with Aunt Em's simple, cozy outfit. Funny, Mama was close to putting Lil in a gray thermal with black leggings. Now that would've been cute!

The Awesome Aunts: Aunt Joni, Aunt Maggie, Grandma Jeanne, GrandMary, Mama (back), and Aunt Annie, 1987