December

In December, Jo started going to bed the same time as Teddy. Along with a shared bedtime came a shared bathtime. Some nights this is more successful than others, but one thing is for sure - Jo loves her baths. She slips, slides, crawls and splashes all over that tub with the biggest grin on her face.

We made many unsuccessful attempts at a Family Christmas Card portrait. Here are a couple outtakes: 

Teddy: Aren't I such a good big brother?

Jo: I do not trust him

At the 3rd Annual Rouspil Christmas Brunch at the Fairmont. 

As with Halloween, it was the first year Teddy really grasped the whole concept of Christmas, so we did a bunch of activities that I hope become yearly traditions for us. 

Building a gingerbread house with Mama

Decorating (and eating) Christmas cookies with Audrey and Lila

Putting out Milk and Cookies for Santa, Carrots and Nuts (Teddy's idea) for the reindeer on Christmas Eve. 

November

We moved into our new house on November 1st. 

The first order of business was finding a place for Teddy's cars. 

Grandma, Grandpa, Jessie, Ben and Nate were conveniently in town that week to help watch the kiddos. 

Unwinding after a long day of unpacking

 Jo's two front teeth made an appearance this month. 

Disneyland

At the end of October we went to Disneyland with Grandma and Grandpa. It was a little overwhelming for Teddy, I think, but he ended up loving a few of the rides (Teacups, anyone?) and really enjoying the small things like.... 

Driving Grandpa around

Making a french fry mustache

Talking to Mickey in Toon Town

More teacups

and picking out his Mickey Ears.

Jo got to go on a few rides, too, but spent a lot of time cruising around in the stroller. 

That girl can have fun anywhere. 

We followed 2 days at Disneyland with a train ride down to San Diego and a quiet day chilling at Grandma and Grandpa's house. 

October

 This month, Jo learned to crawl. 

And be even more adorable than last month. 

Teddy is working on being more helpful.

With Jo...

With Reggie...

In the fields...

We went back to Webb Ranch around Halloween and picked some more corn. 

Daddy and Teddy enjoying the fruits of their labor.

 On her first Halloween, SuperJo was ready for daycare.  

Later, we went trick or treating with Kylie and Paige and our little JoBird spent some time hanging out with Uncle Justin. 

 This was the first year Teddy understood the magical phenomenon that is trick-or-treating. By the 2nd house, he had his routine down: Run up to house, knock, say "trick or treat," get candy, say "thank you," run back to Daddy on the sidewalk, yelling "Daddy, I got CANDY!!!" Repeat for 2 blocks. 

Halfway through, his bucket was so heavy that he was having trouble carrying it. We tried to take out some of the candy and put it in our pockets to make more room (I swear!), but he saw straight through that parental ruse and kindly refused our offer at the top of his lungs. 

Here's his haul: 

September

Over Labor Day weekend, we went to a San Jose Giants game with the whole Rouspil clan. It was a scorcher out in the bleachers, but Grandma and Grandpa managed to get us into a VIP area where there was shade. Whew. 

Teddy missed naptime and got suncreen in his eyes, so he wasn't at his cheeriest. 

But he still managed to eat an enormous bag of kettle corn. 

Teddy has started to figure out the merits of the stool Granpda John made him for Christmas. 

It goes a lot of interesting places these days. 

With her half birthday approaching, we introduced Jo to solid foods. She hated the rice cereal I tried to feed her a couple times, but took to the baby food I made her quite happily and messily. 

She loved these black beans. 

Teddy discovered a little bin full of hair clips that were handed down to Jo from Kylie and Paige. He brought them out to me and instructed me to put them in his and Jo's hair. For every one he wanted in Jo's hair, he wanted four in his own. Then he started stealing the one's from her hair, too. 

Aren't they both the prettiest?

Perhaps my favorite Mother-Son moment yet. Teddy helped me make cookie dough and knew instinctively that it had just as much tasty potential as the cookies themselves. 

I couldn't have been any prouder of him. 

We went to a barbecue at Chuck and Michelle's new house and Chuck needed some help assembling his new ping pong table. Teddy, Audrey and Lila got straight to work. 

Daddy wasted time looking busy reading the instructions. Silly Daddy.