1980 What???

I saw this dress and couldn't resist. I'm sure you can see why.


Nearly 9 months old, and still no teeth. That doesn't seem to diminish this beautiful smile.

BEDBUGS AND BALLYHOO

The week of X-mas has been fuzzy, hectic and full of action.
Hella has survived her first holiday season with poise and charm.
Her grandmother (Oma) has come for a visit from New York, and the
two of them have become fast friends...bonding primarily over breakfast.
Hella's brothers are driving her parents' crazy.
Hella, however, has been her usual silky self.

Yes, that IS a My Little Pony.
Mommy is so excited...

Things left unattended, immediately become
the property of Ms. Hella Katchoo...

This is not a human being...this is a prototype
of the next generation of companion androids...
codename: Athena.

When a day full of activities winds down...
sleep...sleep...sleep.

Tree with trimmings...


But, for how long?

I know she's not smiling in this picture, but I just thought she looked really cute.

To keep warm during the cold days inTexas, tights and booties are a must.


When going outdoors one should always wear a hat.


When all else fails, find a buddy.

Hella vs the bread.


Well... what did you expect?


It wasn't exactly a fair fight. That bread never stood a chance.

Like any good girl, Hella slept peacefully the entire 13 hours it took us to drive to Nashville for a Thanksgiving with the grandparents.

Sure it was a bit cooler, but nothing keeps a girl warm like being in her Daddy's arms.

Sometimes it takes the grownups too long to feed the kids and they have to go looking themselves.

Tofurkey aside, Hella prefers the dessert portion of the meal. She is her Mother's daughter.

I was in the bathroom starting to dye my hair when I hear some loud short bursting screams start to get closer and closer. I look down and of course Hella Katchoo is staring up at me. So...I continue to dye my hair periodically looking down at her beautiful smiling face. She lies down on the rug sucking her thumb. She pulls herself up on the kiddy toilet. She grabs the toilet paper and sits down pulling it towards herself. "That's enough, Hella Katchoo." I say as I slowly grab the wadded up paper from her tiny clenched fists. She just smiles. She crawls over to the door where she just sits down and stares at me. Oh my god, I think. She's amazing. And she doesn't stop staring. Looking straight through me. I'm rendered speechless. By a 7 month old baby girl...speechless. Now that's something.

So, Hella found an abandoned cup of juice within reach...it didn't take her long to discover the joys of sugar...

Then Spike showed up to rescue his cup...we won't show you the next picture in this series...we're sure you can imagine the screaming...

The great and powerful Hella Katchoo...standing at 6 months! Can nothing stop this beautiful behemoth? Is the world doomed? Stay tuned fearful mortals...stay tuned...

Hella is amazing, but unlike her brothers, she is not a superhero(ine).

She is far above such pedestrian labels.

Hella simply is.

HELLA KATCHOO SPEED

the world will never know what hit it...