Pumpkinhead

Iris in her birthday hat (by Grandma Jo) and suit (her own design).

Dance, Mabel, dance!

When it comes to toys, Iris and the cats are on the same page. Give them a bell, some feathers perhaps, and they're happy. This stick with feathers attached has long been Henry and Mabel's favorite, and Iris likes it too -- as a means of entertaining the cats at some points, and herself at others. (On this and several other counts, she's in some liminal zone between the pets and the humans.)

(Really, Iris does wear pants when it's appropriate. It's not like she's always half-naked.)

A typical night

It starts innocently enough with a book:




But wait, there's a ball and a bag of biscotti:



Of course, oral hygiene is important (but don't forget that biscotti):


And the final escape:

Iris reading

At the request of my father, some pictures of Iris reading:

Dinnertime

Tiny in her highchair.


Mabel in her highchair.

Finally fall!

On our front porch:




(I cut my bangs myself, do you like them?)

Almost birthday!

Iris celebrated her first birthday this week at the home of her prom date Jacob, who is just three days older than Iris. Neither baby is actually one yet, but the party was timed to coincide with Elise and Clay's presence in town. Oh, and it was Chris's birthday also. And just after Canadian Thanksgiving! So clearly a party was in order.

Iris and Jacob romping in the baby prison:



The grown-ups enjoyed an excellent peanut butter chocolate cake, while the babies had to content themselves with cupcakes.

Iris is walking! She took her first unassisted steps on her 11-month birthday. Her newfound mobility is used largely to promote her own agenda, namely books (despite her parents' attempts to distract her with television):





Later, annoyed with the paparazzi's constant monitoring of her movements, she goes for the camera:

August, in Ann Arbor, in a bowl: