Sad chili pepper

Well, Banner experienced her first Halloween. She enjoyed the pumpkins and the fallen leaves. She tolerated the costume and trick or treating. And Jared and I have enjoyed the candy.
She's also got a tooth! Middle, bottom. She seems to be handling it well - a little fussier than usual but still sleeping great. She has added clapping to her portfolio of hand skills which also include waving, face grabbing (ours) and thumb sucking (hers). Some photos:

As you may or may not be able to tell, Banner is a chili pepper. It was actually rather warm here on Halloween and I think the combination of the heat and the heavy costume made her lethargic. She didn't crack a smile the whole time!


Here we are waiting in line for candy at the Munchkin Masquerade in downtown Boulder. All the stores gave out candy and it was a mob scene. I guess we might as well get used to this stuff! However, Jared and I were motivated by Reeses.

Banner enjoying the leaf pile Jared worked very hard to rake. She is very fond of eating leaves. I think she prefers fall leaves for their delicate crunch.


It looked fun, so I joined in.


Another popular fall activity - football! Jared, Banner, Bryon, and I went to see Texas Tech beat the University of Colorado. On homecoming no less. Poor Buffs. Banner did great - she lasted the entire game, which is more than many people can say.


Banner taking on an apple during the game. Very ambitious.

No snow yet, but we'll keep you posted...

Fall things

Banner has had an exciting few weeks! Jared and I went to San Francisco to celebrate our 5th anniversary (it's actually not until the 29th...) and Grandma Matthews came to take care of Banner during our absence. We were gone 4 days and Banner did great! -at least that's what my mom told us :) Grandma and Banner enjoyed their time together, and Jared and I enjoyed our time together - though we were all happy to reunite. Here are some photos of it all, as well as some of Banner helping pick out a pumpkin.

Banner and Grandma had a lot of reading time. Banner loves this peekaboo book!

Best buddies! Banner was a little suspicious of mom at first, but she warmed up and by the end of the trip they were old friends.


Banner is playing with her personal pumpkin. It has a good handle for holding on to. Also a hanger which is, apparently, also very fun. Other favorite toys include the newspaper, boxes, and our cell phones.



Meanwhile...
Me with Alcatraz in the background.


Driving down the Pacific Coast Highway. We had to stop and touch the Pacific Ocean (brrr!). Beautiful though.
Golden Gate Bridge
Jared doing the obligatory trolley photo. We actually loved riding the trolley. It was one of our favorite things. That and the food.

Banner wondering what she is sitting on.
Banner carefully surveying this year's pumpkin crop. We couldn't get her to look up for any of these: too bright.

We would still call this squirming...

Scooting? Crawling? Army crawling?



One of the fortunate aspects of my job is my proximity to home. I happened to come home for lunch with my ladies and BV decided she wanted some turkey sandwich or nectarine enough to scoot over to my plate. This was about a month ago now, but she has continued to scoot enough that I installed a baby gate on Monday. I think that officially makes us baby owners.

More of the act

Zoo!

A week of firsts! Sunday Banner pulled herself up into a standing position while holding onto a chair. Then yesterday she started creeping! Jared was home for lunch and I guess she just really wanted a taste of the peach he was eating because the next thing we knew she was doing a modified army crawl across the floor. She made it about 6 feet, and was duly rewarded with her first taste of peach. Time to start baby proofing!
Banner also took her first trip to the zoo this weekend. I think she was more impressed with the people and the other kids than she was with the animals, but we had a good time.

Here is Banner at the zoo entrance - she was making excited yelps.

Studying the zoo map. When asked what she wanted to see, she slapped the big cat section. It's my favorite too.

Jared, Banner, and giraffes.

Banner petting the Elephant.Lunch break! My necklace is one of Banner's favorite toys.

Banner and dad, taking a break to study the map.


This is just an extra photo illustrating one of Banner's favorite poses these days. She likes to rest here. It's as if she's asking to have her photo taking.

And don't worry, the Elephant was cardboard :)

Creede and first bites

Banner had her first taste of food last week - at 5 3/4 months. She was ready! She was actually very excited for her rice cereal and milk. And who wouldn't be? Yum.

We spent Labor Day Weekend in Creede Colorado, home of Young Life's Wilderness camp. We "helped" close up the camp for winter. And we relaxed, ate good food, and hiked in beautiful country.

Banner is an excellent hiker! She can happily go for several hours. I think she just likes being carried...
Uncompaghre, one of Colorado's 53 14ers (14,000+ foot mountain), can be seen in the background.
Justin, Banner, and Jared atop Snow Mesa, with Baldy Cinco in the background. This was Banner's highest ascent so far, at 12,290 ft. She seemed to handle the altitude well, but didn't like the wind. Here she is settling in for a nap for the way back down.
Another view of Uncompaghre, as well as Wetterhorn.

Tea Party

Banner's friends Bob and Sue Andrews gave Banner a beautiful pink cocktail gown when she was born. We've been waiting for an opportunity for her to wear it, but there have been no weddings, no balls, and no invitations to the governor's. And so we created our own event. A tea party! A party for the dress. So may we present, Lady Banner.
This is Banner's first time in a high chair. What a good sitter-upper! She can actually sit by herself for extended periods now. And when she falls she squirms onto her stomach.
Banner and mom - what a pair!
After some serious tea partying, Banner crashed. We felt that the dress didn't make the best sleeping attire. But she still has her fancy bloomers on!

Also in attendance were Kyla, Carol, Annabelle, Patty, and Ella. A lovely time was had by all.

Folks Fest

Last weekend we all went up to Lyons for the 20th anniversary of the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival. This is the same crew that produces the Telluride Bluegrass festival, so it was an amazing lineup of musicians and just a fantastic atmosphere. If you have not gotten a chance to make it to Telluride...go. However, if you do not want the seven hour drive from Denver/Boulder, a festival at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch is a close second. It is almost like a mini-Telluride with the St. Vrain cutting the canyon to make a natural venue and cooling you off in the heat.

Excited to listen to some live music!

The lovely ladies listening and playing.

BanBan insisting that I should not take a picture from the middle of the river. Maybe she is warning me not to dip her bottom in the water if I hold her. Either way, very intimidating look...and funny.

Seeing Marc Cohn onstage!

Anyway, this was Banner's first time at the festival naturally and she found it a great way to catch up on some sleep as you will see below. Our friends Leslie and Carl were gracious enough to let us bring her to their place for the evening to sleep while we caught a raucously reflective set by The Swell Season. The passion he puts into his performance is riveting. I was just so grateful that we were able to allow Banner to experience live music, if only at five months, which is something I enjoy so immensely. The only music she makes right now is her "singing" and some digitized nursery rhyme from a plastic smiling star pyramid thing. I will find a way to reprogram those with The Kinks, or at least some Gershwin. We always had music playing in my house growing up whether from classical to smooth jazz to piano practice/trumpet/flute to my first cassettes. If she grows up to tour as a member of BanBan's Banana Bunch that would be great, but I would like her to at least appreciate the art and performance of music. Did some say pictures? Okay.

Courtesy of Cesar, this pacifier is now just barely big enough for her to use. We have not really subjected her to it much yet, but thought it was hilarious.

Lounging and taking it all in...reaching for the camera of course too.


Banjo Royalty: I could not help, but get a picture of Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn when they sat right in front of me during Joy Kills Sorrow. The two of them opened the day on Sunday with a gospel set; very moving.

This is Banner and me enjoying the St. Vrain in the afternoon. As you can see in the background, people tube down it during the festival. BV got her feet wet and splashed around, but that was about it.

This is the three of us during one of her naps. Keep in mind, there are still performers and people around, but she was spent.

BV doing her best imitation of Calamity Jane during another nap as Kristen lounges.

BV and me at the river.

BanBan waking up from another long nap with Kristen lovingly looking on. We set up her own cabana with an umbrella and she took advantage.

BV requested that we get a picture with Jenny Lewis. She listens to her enough that she even wanted a diaper signed, but we wanted to be respectful of the artists. Yes, I am rocking a bolo tie.

Banner super-psyched about a gorgeous day and listening to such a great lineup.