Carving Pumpkins!

A week ago or so we decided to carve pumpkins.  Tyler wanted to help (a big change from last year when he showed zero interest).  He was in charge of scooping.  Jeff and I then waited until the boys went to bed to carve.  I carved a Mizzou Tiger symbol in my pumpkin and Jeff carved the Cardinal STL logo.  They have been outside and are now rotting...lovely.  I suppose we were a bit eager this year.  :( 

 

 

Tyler started out with a spoon. 

The spoon wasn't very helpful and Daddy told him to just use his hands.  I thought Tyler might have thought it was gross...I was wrong.  "Cool, mom!  Cool, dad!  It's slimy!" were his exact words.  He is all boy. 

Tyler dumped the goo into a big pot and then wanted to play with the goo.  Seriously!?!  Needless to say, I did not roast the pumkin seeds this year. 



Nathan's walking progress

Nathan took his first two steps last night.  I didn't get those on video but I did take a video of him cruising around the playroom with the walker. 

 

Nathan is our little bundle of muscle.  I cannot believe he is trying to walk at only 7 months old!  He is really getting more comfortable letting go once he has pulled himself up.  He will stand there and wobble for a few moments.  Last night he took two steps before falling down.  He is getting more and more brave each day. 



Pumpkin Patch Visit

Last weekend was beautiful and we were fortunate enough to have the Saturday afternoon free (very rare).  We combined a quick shopping trip and, the highlight, a stop at Rombach Farms.   

 

It was a bit bright for my little man who refuses to wear sunglasses or a ball cap. 

(Nathan was napping.)

Tyler gave me unprompted kisses which I will take any day!

 

Tyler was excited to ride the "train."  He of course picked the black and gold barrel - such a smart kid. :)

Nathan woke up while Tyler was riding the train. 

Poor kid was checking it out because it is often that he falls asleep and wakes up in a different spot. 

Tyler said after the train ride that he was a good driver - our little Rain Man. 

A family pic - very rare for us. 

 

Similar smirks.

Sweet boy.  I think this is my favorite pic of the whole day. 

 

I love that Jeff can just pick up both boys (a total of 60 lbs) and move them like it is no big deal. 

 

Climbing on huge pumpkins.  Tyler really wanted to take one of these home but I was not spending $50-$60 for one of these.   Call me cheap...

 

I love this little pumpkin.  Nathan wanted to climb on everything too...and eat the pumpkins. 

 

A successful day at the pumpkin patch.  We also enjoyed some kettle corn - probably the best I have ever had (or I was just really hungry).  Tyler LOVES popcorn so we have become quite the connoisseurs.

 



Dang!

 

 

Jeff bought Nathan a new Cardinal hat this weekend.  It would have been nice for Nathan to sport it with our team in the World Series but I am sure Nathan will still wear it proudly. 

T-ball

While it appears the Cardinals season will come to a close probably as I type and upload photos to this blog, I thought it was appropriate to post about the start of Tyler's baseball career. :)

 

Tyler got a real t-ball set for his birthday and we hadn't broken it out yet.  The Cardinal playoffs have Tyler talking baseball all the time.  He loves Yadi, Double D, Carp, Skippy and the rest of the gang.  He sits with Jeff and asks "who's up, Daddy?"  When the "bad guys" are batting he will yell "strike 'em out!"  We love it! 

I promise it was cold last week.  You wouldn't know it after the 80+ degree weather we had today.  

Can I play too, mom?

Dad came home in the middle of our batting practice.  I will give Jeff a little break here...he usually doesn't wear socks and sandals together.  He had taken off his boots and then realized we were outside so he just grabbed a pair of sandals to come out and play too. 

Isn't this the perfect father/son moment?

Watch out mom!

We got out his glove too but Tyler wasn't too interested in putting it on. 

Jeff and I got out our gloves and played catch for a while thinking it would get him interested...not so much. 

I can do it by myself.

Cheering section. 

 

 

 

 

 



Go CARDS!

I was fortunate enough to see Game 3 (at least most of it) of the NLCS last night.  We waited about 2 hours and 45 minutes of the 3 hour 30 minute rain delay before we decided to head for home.  I will post a few pics later. 

 

Tonight...

 

Let's make this happen tomorrow boys! 

 

I love it when the Cardinals play late into October.  :) 

7 months!

 

Nathan turned 7 months old today!

 

So handsome!

Love that smile!

Talking up a storm and really wanted me to hear him.

Brothers!

Nathan was really into the Presidential debate tonight.

 

 

Updates:

Clothing size: 12 months although the jammies are getting too short so the 18 month bin is not far behind - at least for PJs. 

Diaper size: 3

Eating habits: Nathan is still nursing and getting breast milk bottles.  He LOVES to eat sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, zucchini, squash, bananas, yogurt and flavored cereal.  I have made pears and applesauce but those are either too sweet and/or sour so we now mix those with other things.  The face Nathan makes when we feed him just pears, for example, is pretty funny.  (I have a video I will try to post soon.)

Teeth: Five are in and two more are making their way in this week.  I am not sure about Nathan but I could use a break from the teething process.  The poor kid's mouth was bleeding when he woke up this morning. :(

Sleeping habits: Nathan is usually an excellent sleeper going to bed around 8:30-9p and sleeping until 6:45-7a.  We have had a few nights in recent weeks when he has woken up once too early due to teething pain, got to rock with mommy and then was back to bed.  As for napping, Nathan usually takes and hour to an hour and a half nap in the morning and the same in the afternoon.  He may take a small catnap around dinner just depending on his day.   

Activity:  He is crawling EVERYWHERE!  Nathan is pulling himself up on everything and really, really wants to walk but his balance just isn't quite ready.  If Tyler is doing it, Nathan wants to do it.  He looks at his big brother with big eyes of wonder and admiration.    Nathan loves to play peek-a-boo and Tyler loves playing it with him too.  Both of them will just laugh and it melts my heart. 

Talking: Nathan has been doing a lot of babbling.  He will say hey, A, mmmmmaa,  ba ba, duh duh duh, and hi.  His vocabulary seems to expand daily.  It is so fun to have a conversation with him.  :)

Favorite toys: Anything Tyler is playing with...let the brotherly battles begin!

 

 

 

 

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day

Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. 

 

Hug your babies and say a prayer for those babies that were lost too soon. 

 

 

 

This isn't a day that is circled on a lot of people's calendars but unfortunately Jeff and I are part of this "club."  While I don't want an increase in membership, there will inevitably be more.  It is not a topic that is fun or popular to talk about, but it is important.  It is important, if nothing else, to be thankful...thankful for each other and for those innocent ones that have no idea how much they mean to us. 

 

We have three little ones we never got the chance to meet.  The first two losses, before Tyler was born, were tough and scary as we weren't sure if we would be able to have kids.  The third miscarriage probably hurt the worst because we knew what we were missing out on.  We were also further along and had heard and seen a heartbeat so we were feeling secure. 

 

  I want to clarify, I don't write this post for sympathy.  I write it to bring the often taboo topic to light.  I don't have any direction on how to act or what to say to someone you care about if they experience a loss.  Everybody is differnt.  My only advice to help someone going through any kind of loss is to just be there - I promise the people going through it will remember.  A text, a phone call, a card sure go a long way to let a person know you care.  Jeff and I had a whole lot of people who were there and continue to be there with two very lively boys.  I guess this post is a way of saying "thanks" too for everyone helping us become stronger and, hopefully, better parents to Tyler and Nathan. 

 

I will be hugging these two just a little tighter tonight. :)

 

 

 

Toga, Toga!

Let me start off with a little background information on this next photo.  Jeff and I made the resolution to have a date night (no kiddos allowed) at least once a month!  Well, it was September 30 (yes, we realized last minute we had't had our date night for the month) and so we put in a call to mom to watch the boys for a few hours while we enjoyed dinner at the Hawthorne.  I didn't pack PJs for the boys because I knew at least Tyler would need a bath when we got home.  Well, mom said they played soccer outside and she thought it was a good idea for him to have a bath. 

 

This is what he was wearing when I arrived to pick him up...

 

Mom put him in one of Kyle's old Student Council t-shirts and with it being obviously too big, one of his arms was out through the head hole. 

 

He had no problem with the "dress" he was wearing at ALL.  He loved that Grandma and I could not stop laughing at him. 

 

I had picked the boys up on my own because I had dropped Jeff off to pick up one of our cars that was serviced earlier that week.  When I carried Tyler in the house (he didn't have any shoes on), Jeff started laughing too and then immediately taught Tyler to run around yelling "Toga, Toga!"  I wish I would have taken a video as it was one of those moments that would have been fun to share 18 years from now. 

 

Crazy kid...

 



Bath Time with Two!

We have transitioned to bath time with two.  Nathan is sitting up great.  I still use the little seat for him in the tub though since he is bathing with a crazy older brother. 

 



This was the most cooperative photo I was able to get of the two of them in the tub.   Maybe next time...

Band Parade

Washington High School hosts a band festival each year.  My mom and her siblings were ALL in band and I am pretty sure can and have played every instrument in the band.  Last weekend was the festival and it starts with a parade.  Tyler has always loved music and has recently taken an interest in all of the instruments. 

My boys!  Can you tell it was a chilly morning?  I love that Tyler's lips have powdered sugar on them from his donut holes.  Don't judge - the parade started at 8:30 so for us to have all our gear ready and out the door...we just didn't have time for breakfast. 

Part of the crew all bundled up.

Tyler loves his hat and mittens.

My cousin, Zach, is in the junior high band.  While they didn't play in the parade, he did have to carry a sign for one of the bands.  Congrats, Zach, on the new braces!

Tyler was dancing to the drums.  He has told me he either wants to play the drums or the tuba!  Could he pick any larger, louder instruments?  Ahhhh! 

I know I have said this before but Tyler LOVES Zach.  Tyler was trying to sit with Zach on the lawn chair.  There just really wasn't enough room for both of them.

Yep, drums and all - Nathan took his morning nap on Grandma's lap. 

Here comes WHS!

I love music and as much as I want my kids to learn how to play an instrument and read music...I am not too sure about the drums or a tuba at my house.  :)