Halloween Festivities

I grew up wearing a pillowcase with a character on it (think carebear) and blush for a costume, and subsequently never really caught the whole Halloween spirit.  But Lucy's passionate insistence on being an alligator cracked my Halloween grinchness and we all dressed up for the parade of parties this weekend. Not aiding Halloween's case was the fact that no one knew who I was (even though I clearly stole the idea of Rosie the Riveter from a popular show on just the week previous).  But it turns out cute kids outweigh any awkwardness that Halloween requires. 

In the end, we stayed at a party too long and missed the trunk or treat at the church, leaving a very disappointed Lucy. But her cute dad came to the rescue by creating a trick-or-treating experience in our house and handing Lucy candy at each door.  She kept saying "trick-or-treating" but still got her candy and was tickled by the whole adventure.

Youth verses Age

I turned 31 this past week, and while it did produce an hour in front of the mirror looking for signs of aging skin, I feel very lucky to be where I am, even if it means getting older. 

“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Illusion of stillness

Baby pictures seem a tad redundant - the little ones are not doing much more than lying or reclining and maybe making a funny face here and there - but I simply can't get enough.  I love looking at this cute boys little mug.  Like I seriously can't get enough.  Sometimes I even look forward to getting up in the middle of the night to have him all to myself. But maybe I like these simple portraits not just because I can't get enough but because in real life there is a lot more commotion and this allows me a moment to slow everything to stop and just look at the cute kids that inhabit my life. They fill every corner of my life with energy and intensity and wonder and it drains me.  But also simultaneously fills me. 

Lucy Samantha {33 months}

* Loves her brother. She asks other people when we are out in public if they agree that he is cute and if they want to hold him 

* Loves her little tricycle more than any other tangible object.

* Still gets excited when she goes to the bathroom by herself.  

* Says the funniest things. When Mike thanked Heavenly Father for the rain in a prayer she immediately shouted, "Don't bless the rain!" * When she comes into our room at night she says that she was scared because the owl "hooted and it made her frustrated." * She frequently asks when Jesus is coming over and when I tell her that's not how it works she insists that he can take her to the children's museum then. * She calls flashlights "torches" just like the British. *She tried on my bra while I was folding laundry and informed me that it should really be used as a purse. * Her use of conjunctive adverbs and other adverby words always amazes me: actually, although, anyway, very, quite, really 

Reid Aaron {2 Months Old}

* Loves his bath

* Falls asleep just looking around - no tears! 

* Starts his day at 5:00 AM 

* Patiently endures endless hugs and growls (yes, she growls at him so he won't fall sleep, because clearly sleep is boring and she wants him awake)

* Sleeps most of the time when we are out and about (in the car seat or in the baby carrier)

Aunt Britt

Visiting from D.C., Britt was a little bit confused why I didn't know more of the cool places to eat and hangout downtown.  It turns out that I now know more about the different prices at the local grocery stores than I know about different restaurant reviews.  But lack of downtown glamour tourism aside, we had fun just hanging out with Britt over the weekend, eating at chain restaurants and going to bed before ten.  She has always been so helpful with the kids - always the first to offer to change diapers and give baths.  What a dream guest! 

     

The Cold

I'm not 100% sure what to say about the cold.  I'm trying to stay positive and it helps that Lucy loves it. She wakes up and the first thing she does is check the windows to see if there is snow.  She also thinks it will be her birthday any day now because we told her it was during the snow season.  January will be a long time to wait for that girl (she also thinks that she is getting a dog, so disappointment seems to be the tune of her third birthday).  So it looks like bundling up is in order for the next several months although it seems to have doubled our already exaggerated time frame of getting out the door! 

First Snow

Baby Blues

This is the first shot I have gotten in which you can really see his sweet blue eyes.  I love Lucy's big brown eyes that are so reminiscent of her dad's, but I would love a child with something of my own genetic markings.  

And it should be said that my children really don't spend all their day in the crib as my blog pictures would indicate.  I just keep the "fancy camera" upstairs and the crib is the only place they are corralled long enough for me to go and grab it.  In fact, Reid is rarely in the crib.  It is interesting how a second round of mothering alters what was once important. With Lucy I was so concerned about her schedule and her expectations.  I made it clear that the crib was a calm place for sleep.  But Reid, he doesn't know what a sleep schedule looks like and he probably thinks a crib is more for fun than for sleep.  He can now fall asleep anywhere.  On the kitchen floor. Check.  In the stroller. Check. On a changing table. Check. I don't know which is better.  I think predictability was good for Lucy but I also think mixing in a little sense of how fleeting babyhood is and holding my kids longer as they fall asleep is also doing us good.   

                             

Sidewalk Chalk

Lucy loves to play outside and the weather has been wonderful.  She has been testing her confidence these days with a mom who is sometimes stationary holding a baby and has started venturing farther and farther away from the house.  Her tricycle can take her pretty far pretty fast and while I am glad she feels safe and independent I would really like to limit the number of times I have to run down the street and around the corner barefoot, with a interrupted baby, yelling her name. Oh, that girl!