Newest skill: chewing on toes.
This pajama outfit says "Pepper Toes" which is perfect for some reason. No? Well then, there's also a wagon on it.
This is what Selah did when Casson told her about how the current financial crisis is similar to the crash of '29.
Hallowe'en blog to follow.
Granny arrived on Friday afternoon, loaded down with new baby outfits, shoes, socks, and bows. We were asked to turn our heads while she gave Selah a "little" present. Little did we know she was crowning Selah "Miss Texas-in-Arizona." The crown: a giant pink bow. The irony: in Texas, this bow is a standard fashion for bald babies. In Arizona, it is a passerby head-turner. Except for Selah, who was unable to turn her head at all. Selah talked to the bow in the rearview baby mirror the whole way home. People went CRAZY about that baby.
We all had a great weekend. Friday night we went to Piccola Cucina, where Andy sang us pop songs but with an opera touch. We also met a 14-month-old girl named Ayla, interestingly named after the main character from Clan of the Cave Bear. Saturday morning we all met up with the Lola's crowd for coffee, and took a pleasant bicycle ride. Saturday evening we went to Cibo, where people crowded around the baby, calling their friends to come see the baby-with-a-big-bow. Sunday morning we all biked to church through the quiet neighborhoods, enjoying the cool morning. Sunday afternoon was reserved for napping and cooking a Greek vegetarian dinner to bring to Doris's. We got to the Wescott's around 6:30, and had a great evening talking, reading, and celebrating Casson's 30th birthday (which occured the following day). Monday morning, Granny babysat while Casson and I went for a long mountain bike ride in Dreamy Draw Park. It had been quite a while for me, but I made it and loved it. Then on Monday night Granny babysat again so that Casson and I could go out to dinner to celebrate his birthday (or is that the other way around?). We went to the Coronado Cafe, which had a great atmosphere, and nobody around on a Monday night. In our excitement, we ended up drinking a whole bottle of wine, but thankfully we were both designated bikers that evening. Finally, on Tuesday morning, Selah and Granny got some last minute time to hang out, while I attended the Women's Bible study brunch. Sad day when we dropped Avara off at the airport this afternoon. We watched Granny until her red sweater disappeared down the terminal. We'll see you at Christmas Granny and Grandpa!
Ready
for this? No, didn't think so! Selah is going to be Pegasus for Halloween. We'll be at the Fall Festival at Open Door on Friday night.
One last picture of Selah's old cradle. She's just too big for it now that she's four months old. I won't part with it on Craigslist for anything less than a small fortune. It's the best crib.
I got her to laugh a little bit on camera. She's been improving her sense of humor lately. She finds "boo" hilarious, as well as "woof" and "gobble gobble gobble."
Baby spots man on new bike. Man believed to be Daddy. 
Rachel comments on Selah's first sweater. Sweater-weather arrived recently.
Hanging out with my old roommate Mandy and her son Ethan. We met in the children's section at Border's of all places.
Selah tries on her first vintage baby dress, from Aunt Miss Nadine.
It fits. She likes it. Heidi came to hang out on Thursday after work and hair appointment... thought I'd point that out 'cause just look at that great cut.
Selah has really gotten adept at grabbing things, holding them for a long time, and chewing on them. I leave things on her chest for her to discover, as in this video.
but my brother and sister have inspired me to give it a shot. Plus it is a very no-hassles form of exercise with baby.
After jogging, we went for fresh-squeezed lemonade with the sugar on the rim at the Lux. The teenagers were just getting out of school down the road. Each student looked so unique, and yet I think about 85% of them were wearing mostly black. They all just looked depressed and bored, despite their flippant laughter. Have skinny jeans taken over the mid-west too?
Tuesday morning was women's Bible study at Open Door. Did I already mention it's a study by Beth Moore? Thought I was going to have to gag my way through it, but finding that I really like it... even laugh at her jokes. Favorite way-off-topic quote from her video yesterday - "Tanned fat looks better than white fat." She was referring to the time she got a spray-on tan and then went swimming too soon afterwards. It had something to do with being washed "whiter than snow."
Sunday morning was chilly, even at 9:00 when we were leaving for church. Robin was volunteering at Race for the Cure, and was up at 3:00 am. She didn't take her beanie off until 10:00, that's how cold it was. As we were biking home from our attempt to get to church (Casson got a flat tire at Glendale), we found ourselves pedalling next to a goofy old gentleman who talked a little like Eeyore and little like a drunken Bugs Bunny. He was sort of muttering to himself about the design of our bike trailer. I believe he mentioned that he was some kind of engineer. It was hard to hear him, as he had his coat collar up to protect his neck and face from the wind. He was riding a nine year-old Schwinn cruiser modelled after the 1955 Phantom. His eyes were shaded with bifocal sunglasses, and gripping the handlebars were two large hands sheathed with workman's gloves. 
Nadine had Tuesday off, so we went over for an afternoon of Japanese cherry blossom tea, and some Indian desserts that look like baklava but melt like cotton candy.
Uncle Mister 
David and Doris Wescott with Selah at Lola's. 
Selah is an expert contortionist. 
Pretending to be a year old.
Selah must have jump-flipped in the night. I got up to feed her around 4 o'clock, and she was on her back giggling. But she was perfectly centered in her little crib. And I put her on her tummy again to sleep. This morning when I heard her talking herself awake, I went in and she was perfectly centered again on her back. Anyways, I might have to change the crib situation pretty soon so she'll have more room.
Check out the awesome trailer I found on Craigslist. Selah sits in her carseat, which is fastened into the trailer. She rode happily to church, and fell asleep on the way home.
The high's were in the low 80s today, perfect timing to begin bike rides again. After five months of not riding, I got pretty worn out, especially hauling this cargo. 
Selah being held by Aunt Miss Nadine, and talking to Darice and Sara.
The happy baby being kidnapped from the nursery by Stacey.
Crazy that Casson's been at his job almost a year already. Each day, when he gets home, he sings songs to the baby, AKA Selah "Mobile" Mathis. Classics like "You're a Little Baby," "I've Got De Baby, Ha Ha Ha," and "Why You Cryin'?" The lyrics just come to him naturally.
And finally being outside at night isn't so bad. We haven't been to La Piccola Cucina in a few weeks. Glad to see that the place was packed. It had been very slow through the summer.
