Addie was doing a little table surfing the other day and she wanted to share her skills.

Table Tummy Time from Steve Connor.

Addie had a fun-filled Thanksgiving with her Texas family. Grandma Strong visited from CT and kept Addie busy every day. Here’s a few photos:

Don’t forget to check out all of this month’s photos!

Addie was lounging on the dining room table recently perusing Austin Family Fun Magazine. Who says Mommy and Me classes are just for the mom to enjoy? Looks like Addie wants to start ice skating classes. Maybe next year, little munchkin.

Last night we awoke to the sounds of Addie giggling and generally carrying on in her room. After waiting a few minutes to see if she was going to nod off to sleep, Ellen poked her head in to see what could possibly be so entertaining at 2:30am. Addie was curled up in a ball in her sleeper grabbing her feet. Her new found skills of grasping objects and realizing she has funny appendages at the other end of her have merged into a game of footgrab. She looked up at Ellen grinning away and giving up her secret training regimen.

Apparently, during new learning phases, babies sometimes practice their skills at night. I never thought training a ninja was going to be this easy.

In the past few weeks, Addie has become fascinated by books! Nothing could make her mama happier. Some of her current favorites are Gossie, You Are My I Love You, and The Belly Button Book. She stares at the pictures and sometime even points and squeals.

Her Aunt Emily read her Gossie and Gertie after a walk, and Addie even chimed in at the end. So cute!

Reading with Aunt Em from Ellen Strong on Vimeo.

After Addie’s big splash in PA, she was off to CT to see her Mom’s side of the family. She’s met all of them before but she still hammed it up to get the smiles. She also met a certain little boy that was checking her out and impressing her with his rolling skills. Is it too early for matchmaking?

Thanks to Heather Guilmette for the fall foliage family photos. She’s got a keen eye.

…you’ll be a woman soon. Well, that might be overstating it, but Addie is growing fast. People who meet her often comment on how alert she is and how well she can hold her head up. She chats to herself and smiles all the time. She’s even started sleeping through the night. She seems like such a big girl now that she’s not a newborn anymore!

Last night, we took our big girl out for a family dinner at Zax. Addie took it all in; she is so observant these days. She held up very well for a post-bedtime outing and seemed to enjoy being passed around (and over) the table for quality time with Katie, Megan, Margot, Em, and Aunt Jeanne.

After such an eventful night out, Addie wasn’t quite ready to go to bed when we got home. Instead, she somehow managed to cajole Steve into singing to her. She chimed in at the end. Not sure why she responded to this song so enthusiastically – we’ve never played Neil Diamond for her before – but the smiles and giggles just kept coming.

Daddie and Addie Sing a Duet from Ellen Strong on Vimeo.

Addie headed north last week to meet her extended family. Here’s a collection of photos with her dad’s side of the family in Pennsylvania.

Not wanting to miss out on homecoming, Addie got dressed up in her bison onesie. A fellow Bucknellian, Will Heron, ran a screenprint edition of this onesie for a work friend whose husband went to Bucknell. Since their girls quickly outgrew the outfit, it was passed on to us.

As you can see, Addie isn’t sure of bison or Bucknell yet. I guess she still has some time to figure that out…

Hi Gang Up North,

Addie here (well, me dictating to Dad). Just wanted to let you know I’ll see all of you shortly when I jetset up to your neighborhood. Mom and Dad are going to have to take the Sequoia to the airport just to fit all of my luggage. The diva needs her coordinating bibs and blankets, mmmkay?

I hope you turned on the heat for me and found a comfy place to get changed (I go through most of my wardrobe each day). I like full-length mirrors to check myself out but if the bathroom has Hollywood lights, the vanity will do.

Alright party people. I need to hit baby yoga and a few baby boutiques before we depart. I’ll see you soon! If you need to call me before I get there, just ring Dad. He added a new nursery song ringer for my calls.

Buh bye,

Adz