Helena's Crib: October 2006

FIRST PAIR OF SHOES

Check out my first pair of shoes! I'll be walking to a neighborhood near you soon.

SWINGS AND SLIDES

At some point after Helena's birthday, her daddy found the time to put together her toy swing and slide. We all remember how much Helena (and her parents) enjoyed her swing in her early months!

CHICAGO - October, 2006

October was a busy month. Besides celebrating Helena's first birthday, the family also went to Chicago the weekend after for a family wedding. It was Helena's first "real" trip to Chicago (she went while in utero last September).

Helena and cousin Sammy

Aunt Helene, are all of these toys for me?

Sara, Helena, Jeff, and Aunt Eve

Helena loves her stuffed panda.

Sara and Jeff, a night out on the town without Helena!

Helena making her way through O'Hare Airport

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY HELENA

Helena's first birthday is October 16, 2006. We celebrated her birthday early with a party on Saturday, October 14th. Family from near and far came to share in the celebration.

The birthday girl, in her party dress with her "1st Birthday" tiara

The birthday room all decorated for the party.

Helena and Mommy

Mommy, Helena, and Daddy

Bubbe, Helena, and Mommy

Papa, Auntie Danielle, and Cousins Avi and Becca

Grandpa and Helena

Grandma and Helena

The birthday cake, made and designed by Sara (it looks professionally made!). Notice Helena's hand sneaking in at the bottom to get her first lick of icing!

The rest of the desserts (also prepared by Sara). The fruit on the stick is shaped like animals from Noah's Ark (as if there wasn't enough food for dinner, Sara made enough dessert to feed everybody on an ark ten times over).

Let's eat cake!

Helping Mommy open gifts.

Good tasting sweater (must not have had enough birthday cake). The red sweater is from the GAP and was part of their AIDS charity promotion.

Cousin Kobe enjoying Helena's gift and remembering when he was that age and had the same toy!

Helena, wearing bib 'Cuse Cutie from cousin Rose at Syracuse University. She'll wear the bib, but in her heart, Helena is true to the Maize and Blue!

Auntie Amanda and Helena

Auntie Esta, Cousin Robert, and Helena at Harold's Deli for breakfast on October 15th. As if we didn't eat enough at the birthday party the night before, we decided to go to a family-style deli for breakfast (see below picture).

Is that blueberry pancake all for me?!?

Cousins Becca and Avi

Helena doing the "Happy Food" dance. She does this when she enjoys what she is eating, which is most of the time.

Go Blue - Beat Penn State

It's only Wednesday, but Helena is already excited and dressed for the Michigan-Penn State game this weekend (actually, she had sports-outfit day at daycare on Wednesday, and she wanted to show her support for the Wolverines. Her mommy also took these pictures of her at 6:30 am!). Go Blue!