One Year Later...

5 Months Old

I couldn't pick just one.  Look at that adorable face!!!!!  

Halloween continued...

We really did have a great Halloween this year, and I felt like we did a good job of maximizing the holiday by spreading it out over several weekends / events.  This is what we did:

First - went to the pumpkin patch at a nearby church in the 80 degree fall weather.  Most of the pumpkins were either really giant (like waaayyyy to big for carving) or really small.  So we let B pick out a couple small ones - one for her and one for her bro - then went to Walmart to get a more realistically sized carving pumpkin.  It was quite the experience.  I waited in the car with the kids while K picked it out.  But the patch - it was really fun.

The following week we busted out the painting supplies and B got crafty with the pumpkins she chose from the patch.  C cheered her on from the sidelines.

Next was a trip to the Arboretum for pictures at the pumpkin patch.  We were able to walk approximately 20 feet from the entrance and frantically snap 10 or so photos before the skies opened up and a torrential downpour began.  At that time there was no point in staying since everything was wet, so we left.  Note C's exceptional hairstyle on this particular day.

Fast forward to the next weekend.  Our neighborhood block party.  LOVE it.  

Before we went I showed B this picture along with a few others from last year, and asked if she was going to ride the pony again this year.

She told me that she was, and when I asked her if she was going to cry she shook her head and said, "no cry, no cry."  The girl indeed did the exact opposite from her prior pony ride - she smiled the entire time.  I was so proud of her!

The night before Halloween we carved our aforementioned WM pumpkin out on the back porch.

And last of course was actual trick-or-treating.  We practiced saying, "trick or treat!" beforehand.  B was a little shy at first as usual, but had it down by the time we finished making the neighborhood rounds.

Happy Halloween!

P.S. This is totally not Halloween related, but K sent me this article earlier this week and I thought it was really amazing / inspiring...

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween from our Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and football!

4 Months Old

What better time to document our son's 4th month than the day after his 5th month birthday?  Still behind, the new norm for us.  This has been a month of great growth and change and new awareness for C.  Watching him learn (how to use his hands and grasp for things, for example) is one of the most heart-melting observations I've ever made as a Mom (and watching B learn too - just the whole learning thing, it's amazing!).  Knowing that we're likely done in the baby-making department makes me want to hold on to every tiny miracle and milestone and coo that he makes.

The other God-inspired awareness that caught me off guard this month is watching the bond develop between B & C as brother and sister.  For some reason I never thought of this as baby #2 was growing in my tummy, but it's been so sweet to see him watch her and her always be concerned with his whereabouts.  I love my bro so much and am hopeful that these 2 will wind up close despite the likely arguments and "he / she did it!" spats that are to come.  Also - check out B's awesome new "smile."

The boy has 2 teeth and is a chunk - 17 lbs. 6.5 oz at his 4 month appt, 27 inches long (90th and 97th percentile, respectively).  This is his first tooth, and literally a day (maybe 2?) later, the other bottom one popped through.

And now you can see them both when he smiles!!

Getting used to tummy time:

He was baptized on his 4 month birthday - such a special day for him and for our family:

We're trying to get away from naps in the car seat and get on a more regular schedule that includes sleeping in his crib, but sometimes he still crashes on the road.  Who wouldn't love the safety of being strapped into a device that somewhat resembles a giant plastic swaddle blanket?

Sitting on the porch waiting for Daddy to come home in his bouncy seat:

He's been putting weight on his legs since at least 2 months old which is insane.  Something tells me it's not going to take him 15 1/2 months to start walking like it did his sister:

Sweet smiles from his crib:

Sweet smiles from his chair:

And his new trick - rolling over on his tummy in his crib:

Love this precious little boy!!

State Fair!

Can you tell my family loves corny dogs?  Yep.  With mustard.  We made our annual trip to the State Fair the first week it opened.  Happy sigh.  I love this tradition!!!!

Also love the kids' market.  This is B's 2nd year to partake.  I have no idea what it's called, but basically they go through step by step and water peach trees, feed animals, plant a seed, etc.  At the end they "sell" the goods they've collected and get to "buy" animal crackers, trail mix, cookies.  B was super skeptical at first, but was all about it once we made it through.  

Proudly displaying her purchase - animal crackers - with Pop at the auto show:

C also had a blast and took it all in from the stroller, napping here and there.  This is pre-diaper-blowout:

Post diaper blowout wearing B's sunglasses - thanks, Dad:

Teaching B how to love corny dogs at a young age:

Smiling with Dad:

Big Tex before he sadly and shockingly burned down:

Miss you already butter sculpture, Chevy test track, and all the above.  See you next year. :-)