OCTOBER - Pumpkins!

Molly has taken three trips to the pumkin patch/corn maze this year.  The first was on a gorgeous sunny fall day with Ben, Kathleen, Chris and Owen.  The second was on a cold day with Ben and I.  The third was on a cold, wet, muddy day with Josie and her cousins.   It's no surprise that Molly's favorite part was the animals.

Come on, Molly!  Let's go!

"Hi, Chickens"

Mini Maze

"Hi, pumkin!"

OCTOBER - Rita's Walkstars

Molly's beautiful Grandmother is one of the most amazing women I have ever known.  She is selfless, loving and full of spirit.  Several years ago, she was diagnosed with ALS, and a group of us joined together to walk in support of finding a cure for this horrible disease.  It was a very cold fall morning but turned out to be a beautiful day at City Park.  Molly loved walking!  She was a little girl on a mission and was so cute crossing the finish line.  It was a great day in honor of a great woman.

OCTOBER

Long over-due on the updates on our beautiful, energetic, loving TODDLER!  My goal is to start with October and go backward in time month-by-month to catch up.  Will see how we do.

We have been enjoying a beautiful fall in the Mendoza household!  October has involved a lot of playing in the leaves (one of Molly's favorite activities, just like her Mama!), a walk to support ALS in honor of Molly's beautiful and inspiring Abuelita, a few trips to the Zoo, a fall festival with her cousins, a trip to Keystone with her little buddy, Owen, a few visits to the pumpkin patch, her first visit to taco bell (momentous!), a sleep over with her cousin, Zane, and her first time trick-or-treating. 

Molly is thriving!  She just had her 15 month pediatrician apt and is still just shy of 20 lbs.  She is in the 10th percentile for height (thanks, Grandpa Ben!) and 30th percentile for weight, and 50th for head circumference (thanks, Dada!).  She has 6 teeth and the cutest smile.  She is walking everywhere and it still takes my breath away to see her walk across the room at times.  She can jump on a trampoline, feed herself with a spoon (sort of!), and draw with a pen (we avoid crayons because she likes to eat them whole!).  

Her newest big accomplishment is her talking!  She has so many new words.  Half of the time I don't even know where she learned them!  She says "please" "help, please" "night night" "mama" "dada" "ball" "pup pup" "cheese" (when you take her picture) "Nell" "bye" "eat" "up" "out" "Molly" "baby" and, my personal favorite right now is "cracker."  Something about the way she says it is too cute.  I'm sure there are plenty more words as well. 

She loves doggies and perks straight up and yelps every time she hears a dog bark.   She waves at everyone and says "bye" at random points in conversations.   This month she also started to realize what it means when I put on my green scrubs and get ready for work.  This has been a bit heartbreaking, as I was working night float for a good portion of this month and all of last month.  So glad to have that over with!  She waves at the telephone to say goodbye, waves at the mirror, even waves at her own shadow.  She smiles big when you say "show me your teeth."  She winks (or blinks really).  She loves straws.  She loves dancing, especially the Hot Dog dance from Mickey Mouse club. 

She is definitely becoming more of a toddler and wants to do everything herself.  She can go from being the happiest kid around to all out tantrum in about 18 seconds and has given her cousin Smith a piece of her mind a time or two, but overall she is still our sweet, loving, girl.

Pictures from October to follow....