Happy Halloween

Carving Pumpkins

Checking it all out

Two of the same!

Trick or Treating with Mickey & Minnie (aka Carson & Caitlyn)

Heading off to Trick or treat

Enjoying my first sucker

Need a little sunshine

So I have about decided that we moved to Seattle....the rain is starting to get on my last nerve. Everyone keeps saying, "Oct is normally our driest month, don't know what's going on this year..."

Well, the sun FINALLY showed it's face yesterday and today, but it's quite gloomy inside our house. Claire started to get sick on Tuesday afternoon and after spending 2 hours in the peds office yesterday, she did have a negative flu test, but was put on a round of antibiotics. So of course, the sun decides to come out and we are home bound....what luck. I must say I am thankful that she doesn't have that nasty flu, but she has been very pitiful; full of sneezes, a horrible cough, runny nose, very sleepy (of course except for at 11 pm last night when she was up playing in her playroom after a dose of Motrin had a reverse effect).

All she wants to do is cuddle in our laps and sleep, with her "baba" of course, and that we can't complain about, the snuggle time is wonderful. It's just hard to feel helpless when they feel so bad.

So we'll weather this storm and hope that she is feeling better in a few days to celebrate Halloween, but of course it's supposed to rain, so we'll see what wins! Say a little prayer that our pumpkin feels better soon, and a little one for me that I don't go completely stir crazy!! Ha!

19 months

So here is my broken record yet again...."how did we get here already?!"

Once more, we have moved on to another month older and Claire is well on her way to becoming a 2 year old. She is such a little person, complete with her own thoughts, feelings, likes & dislikes.

I know I probably sound like every other mother, but I'm sure we have the smartest 19 month old in the world! She surprises us everyday with new words, milestones and developments. She pointed in a book this morning at story hour and said, heart. And yes, it was a shape book and she was looking at a heart. Then I asked her what color is was and she said, purple. Right again I said! (I realize she was probably just guessing, but hey I can still brag!)

She is very much a little adventurer with a great imagination. She loves to explore, is fascinated at the concept of in and out & open and close. Her new favorite thing is to sit on the bathroom counter while I do my makeup and hair and follow closely to everything I do.

I was, I guess for lack of a better word, complaining to Chris the other day about him being able to shower, dress, and get ready alone everyday. He quickly reminded me that one day I will want her to sit and be with me and she wont want to. So I decided he was exactly right and no more "complaining" about little ones hovering in the bathroom while I do my "getting ready" routine! I will soak up every opportunity for her to experience those things with me and cherish every sweet memory!

She still loves the park, playing outside, swinging on the big swings, dancing, running, jumping, stomping, skipping (that one is quite funny), reading, playing mommy, singing, and doing any new adventure we take on.

She talks nonstop and has learned not only what words are and mean, but how to use them correctly. She told me to "hush mama" the other day when Chris and I were having an argument. Let's just say that lightened the mood pretty fast!

She definitely loves her family, enjoys seeing them, spending time with them and loves looking at pictures where she can name everyone. She is such a love bug and will give out hugs and kisses all the time....so sweet and can melt any heart!

We're looking forward to Halloween this weekend and all the fun pictures that will come! We carved our pumpkin last night and that was an adventure in and of itself!

Oakes Farm Pumpkin Patch

Driving the tractor

Waiting for the hayride

Looking for a good pumpkin

Found it!

Snack break, this is hard work!

Just Claire & the "punkins"

Coming through the tunnels in the corn maze

Tired little girl, what a fun afternoon!

Birthday Party fun

We had another birthday party this weekend and grandma got to join in on the fun.

Daddy's day off

Daddy got the day off so we had a fun filled day of Little Gym class in the morning and then spent the afternoon at the Children's Museum.

Playing in the big doll house
Cooking in the kitchen

Checking out the big train

Taking a little rest

Enjoying my day with daddy

Busy Day

After story hour with Jackson, we headed downtown to the the Farmers Market in Market Square. We shopped, played, ran around, and then finished up by having lunch with daddy!

One sleepy girl on the way home

My pumpkin and "crow"

We decorated my pumpkin with painted polka dots and a "C" and finished it off with some spooky stickers!
Love the scarecrow too! She tells it hello, good bye and holds its hand.

All Aboard!

We took a "Pumpkin Express" train ride aboard the Three Rivers Rambler this afternoon and it was so much fun! It was an hour and a half excursion ride along the Tennessee River, full with costumes, trick or treating, and picking a pumpkin! Claire loved it and we plan on boarding again for the Christmas Express, along with Santa!
The whole time she was saying, "train, ride, choo-choo!"

Taking it all in

She even WANTED to wear "pig" (let's hope its still this exciting on Halloween!)