Pumpkins and Ghosts

Russ and I love the tradition of having carved pumpkins out on our porch for the trick-or-treaters.  But we both agreed that this might be our last year of doing the fancy carved pumpkins.  The amount of work and times it takes is getting out of hand.  Last night Russ spent a good portion of the evening carving out the pumpkins.  He carved everyone's except mine and Lily's.  Lily worked quite diligently on her cat.   Russ showed her what to do and she went at it.  We were quite impressed that she was able to get the details done with messing it up.  We put jelly on the pumpkins so they would last overnight.  Then tonight Russ set them out and lit them.  We got a lot of comments from trick-or-treaters and their parents about our "cool pumpkins".  Also, I was surprised with how many comments we also got on our ghost luminarios as well.  I caught quite a few people taking pictures by both our pumpkins and our ghosts.  It was exciting to know that we had a "cool" Halloween house. :)

Russ's moaning ghost and my cute owl

My owl and Lily's cat

Allie's dog{aka wolf} and Char's cute skeleton.

Char's cute skeleton and Bree's cute smiley pumpkin.

Our ghost pumpkin luminaries.

Costumes & Trick or Treating

Note to self...don't ever have a baby so close to a holiday ever again!  Whew, this year was a bit stressful pulling costumes together.  After last years disaster with me sewing Lily into her purchased costume I vowed to sew one this year.  That was bit difficult with a newborn to care for as well! {eeks!}  But I took the task on anyway.  I asked Lily what she wanted to be and she replied Jessie from Toy Story.  I said okay and dived in.  I under estimated the time it would take to make her costume mostly because I thought I had found a pattern to follow and it turned out that it wasn't a pattern and I kinda just winged my own pattern.   Turns out that I did okay winging it, even if I was sewing all the up to trick or treating time.   I'm proud of the whole outfit but I particularly love the hat!

Allie's costume was a bit more manageable.  She asked to be Izzy from Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  We were going to use an old pirate costume we had, but Allie insisted that it didn't look like Izzy.  So after checking clearance racks we put together an Izzy costume.  Daddy helped out and made a pixie.dust bag for her.  Allie loved that part of the costume.  She's been sprinkling us with pixie dust all day!  I was worried no one would recognize who she was, but quite a few mom's said to her or me that she made a great Izzy.  Phew!

Charlotte didn't get a choice.  I decided she was going to be a lady bug since we had the costume on hand.  I had to buy new wings {thank you Dollar tree!} and make her antennas but that was it.  Easy peasy!  She turned out soo cute too.  The costume was adorable on her.

Bree didn't get a choice either.  She was our little flower this year. 

I made sure to get a sister picture of them all dressed up, and it worked!  The girls were all on their best behavior and smiled!  That could have something to do with Charlotte feeling better...just maybe.

Lily and Allie insisted on taking a picture holding Bree.  I can't believe how much they fight over who gets to hold her.  Oh well, at least I get some cute  sister pictures out of them fighting.

While I was busy taking these pictures Charlotte noticed something was in her bucket and kept herself busy.  I love this series of photos.  You can see Charlotte's little mind working in them.

Puh-eeesss????

We finally got around to trick or treating.  Our neighborhood is awesome and most everyone is out in front of their houses passing out candy.  The girls get loads of candy!  Since Russ wasn't feeling 100% he opted to stay home with Bree and hand out candy.  Here we are walking around our cud-de-sac.

I was going to go out and walk Charlotte around a block or so and bring her back.  Turned Charlotte loved trick or treating.  She managed to walk about 5 or 6 blocks before tuckering out and needing me to carry her home.  Russ and I switched off and he took the girls out for some more.  Charlotte really enjoyed helping me hand out candy.  Everytime the doorbell would ring she would run to it and yell, "HELLOOO!!!"  We were kept quite busy handing out candy.  Eventually we ran out and I had to turn off the light.

Around 7:30 the girls and Russ came home and checked out their haul before going to bed.  It was such a fun night for the girls, I'm glad we could pull everything together for them.

Playing Blocks

I recently pulled the peek-a-boo blocks out for Charlotte to play with.  She has been having a lot of fun stacking with them.  However, she enjoys it so much more when one of us will stack the blocks for her and then she gets to come over and knock them done.  You would not believe how loud she can squeal in delight from this.  Today Allie was happily setting them up for her....

...and Char-Char was knocking them down!

Something is Brewing!

It wouldn't be Halloween without making something totally disgusting looking to eat for dinner right?!  Allie and Charlotte helped me brew up something today.  It was my first time cooking with Charlotte and boy that was an adventure.  She did really well until she starting stirring to fast and wouldn't give the wisk back.  She had to be removed from her helping stool, which she wasn't happy about.  But at least she got help some.  Check out the pictures and see if you can figure out what we concocted.  It still is brewing or else I would show it off!

Watching Allie pour in ingredients left Charlotte in awe.

Time to stir...

...and stir...

...and stir!

Lil' Pumpkin

While mom was visiting she bought Breanne this cute little outfit.  She didn't end up wearing it for her costume, but she did wear it all day today. Mom didn't get to see her in it so I snapped this picture of her and sent it to her.  Doesn't she make the cutest Lil' Pumpkin? {The flower is on there for added insurance that she didn't get called a boy!}

Tummy Time

While at Bree's doctors appointment today Dr. H asked if I had been doing tummy time with her.  I replied no, that she really hadn't been awake enough to do any.  He suggested that I start with her when possible.  So I noticed today that she was awake and happy.  The girls were taking naps so what better time than now to do some tummy time.  I laid out a blanket for her and laid her on it.  She was sooooo happy!  She didn't complain and lifted her head up a ton.  She is so strong for being so young.  Russ says she was doing chin ups with my ribs and that was why she was breech for so long.  I snapped quite a few pictures of her being adorable on her tummy.  This one was my favorite.  She stayed on her belly for about 10 mins before she was too exhausted to lift her head and started "oh-ing" at me to pick her up.  She is such an easy baby, I'm truly blessed to have her!

Milestone's for Breanne

The past two days Bree hit a few milestones that I wanted to be sure and record.  I'm actually amazed at how early she is hitting some of these.  At first I was just being an overly proud mom, but I've noticed she is doing most things earlier than her sisters who I thought were ahead, so I think it isn't just me doting on her.  Anyway, yesterday {Oct. 29} I was talking to Breanne right up in her face.  I don't remember exactly what I was saying to her but I know I asked her a question and she smiled back at me.  Heart melter right there!

Then today I laid Bree down for a bit so I could do something quick.  When I came back I noticed that she was happily babbling away and keeping herself busy.  So I left and did a few more things.  For about 15 minutes Bree happily talked to herself without needing anyone nearby.  Whoa!  Also, while at the doctors office with her today I was talking to her again telling her I loved her and other gushy stuff you say to baby's.  She got very excited and happy and then cooed at me for the first time.  We had a short conversation of cooing.  I loved it!

It is amazing how fast Bree is growing.  I wish I could slow down time.  I eat up all these moments I get with her, and they are never enough!

1 mo Check Up: Breanne

Height:

23 in -- 95%

Weight:

10 lbs 7 oz -- 75%

Head Circumference

 36 cm -- 25%

Today's check up was much the same as any check up.  Bree is doing well, and growing.  I was concerned about how much she was eating, but was relieved to find she is doing well.  The doctor held her up at the end of the checkup to see the strength of her neck.  She gurgled and cooed when he did this.  Dr. H commented that she must like being upright, to which I emphatically replied in the affirmative.  She hates laying on her back and always insists on being more upright.  I asked the doctor about her head and how she keeps it to one side.  He double checked her and said that she just prefers to lay that way.  He suggested that we lay her down opposite what we normally do so that she will be interested in turning her head the opposite way.  So tonight we start that.  I also asked about her eye.  Her right eye looks like she has a bruise around it.  He told me that it could be just her fair skin and the blood vessels showing underneath.  However, because of how dark it was he was leaning more towards it being a "shiner".  A shiner appears in children who have allergies.  They have the shiners when they are younger and get allergies later on in life.  I wasn't surprised by this considering Lily has one of these shiner's as well.  However I was disappointed because Bree's is much more noticeable.  maybe it is because I'm her mom and stare at it all day, but to me her eye looks horrible and I was hoping that it was something that would go away soon.  No such luck.  Other than the doc gave her a clean bill of health.

Carving Pumpkins: Part 1

Carving pumpkins this year is going to be a bit of a process.  We have such limited time at night we know there is no way to get the pumpkins cleaned and carved all in one night.  Why must Halloween fall on a weekday?  Ok enough whining...Anyway, we decided to clean the pumpkins out tonight and carve them tomorrow.  Bree was needing to be rocked so Russ took on the brave job of cleaning out all the pumpkins with the three girls.

Lily did great and got right into hers.  She wasn't afraid of the goo, and actually do a relatively good job at cleaning it out.  Russ only had to help her out a little.

Allie was terrified of the goo.  She was content on sitting next to daddy and letting him scoop hers out for her.  It probably was the best since she  has such sensitive skin.  I'm sure she would have broke out in a rash like I do when touching pumpkin.

Charlotte didn't touch the pumpkins either.  She was content on playing with the non dangerous carving tools and making faces at Lily.  Yes, I realize she is playing with a carving knife in this picture.  We realized right after I took the picture what she was doing and removed all the knives from her grasp before any blood was spilt.  PHEW!

Our pumpkins are now hollow and will be waiting for us to carve them tomorrow!

A Sisters Picture

Since we were all dressed up for church today I thought what a great opportunity to take a picture of the girls together!  As of yet we don't have a nice one of all of them together.  Yes, I should have known better.  Charlotte cried, cried, and cried until we finally gave up the idea.  The best we got was this one.  One day I'll get a picture of them!

Mama's Helpers

Everyone was going to church today.  Yes, even Bree and I were going.  Bree isn't supposed to go out in public for two more weeks, but I really wanted to go to church today.  Why?  Because it was the Primary program.  This would be Allie's first program and that I couldn't miss.  I wanted to see Lily too since she would be giving a talk for it.  Oh and lets not forget my Sunbeams!  I just had to see them too!

Russ of course had meetings this morning and was not around to help me get everyone ready.  Eeks, now that is stressful!  I managed to get all the girls ready and had minutes for myself to be ready so we could make it out the door on time.  I laid Bree down in her bed and asked Lily to keep an eye on her.  I rushed back and forth a couple times and I heard Bree complain.  I heard Lily tell Allie, "Just give it to her"  I thought nothing of it, because Bree stopped complaining.  I assumed they had given her a pacifier.  I finished up getting ready and rushed in to get Bree only to find this situation....

Oh yes the girls had given Bree her pacifier to make her happy, but they had given her a baby doll too!  Apparently the girls thought she needed something to look at while in her crib.  What good mama's helpers!

Monster Dash

One of our favorite traditions around Halloween time is the kids fun run called the Monster Dash.  Each year we get up before the sun is even up {6:30 or so} and head over to MacLean park.  This year we signed up all three girls.  We figured we would give Charlotte the opportunity to run, and if she didn't, oh well!  

Allie and Charlotte were in the under six race together.  Russ decided to tag along with Charlotte to help her out.  Allie was super excited that her friend Maeby was there to run with.

Go Allie and Maeby!

Charlotte borugh up the rear of the race since she was the youngest running.  Lily was so excited for Charlotte that she ran out and grabbed her hand and ran with her.  It was beyond cute!  It was one of those moments that melts a mother's heart.  Unfortunately I only got a blurry picture of it, but it still captures the scene quite nicely.

At the end of the race the kids each get a medal.  They are always so exited to receive these.  I'm more excited about them receiving their super cute Monster Dash shirts.

Lily went next and ran a longer race.  Even though she brought up the rear of the group I was quite proud of her.  She was having fun and ran her best.  Unfortunately I lost my pictures of her running.  When Lily finished up we had back home and had hot chocolate and toast for breakfast.  Yes even if Texas it gets cold enough to want hot chocolate!  In fact Monster Dash day is typically the first cold morning of the year.  This year didn't disappoint it was quite chilly, hence the hot chocolate.

Red Ribbon Week: Pajama and Slipper Day

When I saw the newsletter about there being a pajama and slipper day for Red Ribbon Week, I groaned inside.  I knew that Lily didn't have any pajamas that she could where to school.  Hers were all to little and worn out.  I'm completely embarrassed that she was even wearing them around the house.  So of course I had to go shopping for some new ones.  Not the easiest task with a newborn.  But we all made a quick trip to the store last night and found these cute Hello Kitty jammies.  Lily was super excited to wear them today.  We even had to convince her not to wear them last night so they would be clean for today.  It was kinda funny watching her change out of her pajamas into another pair of pajamas this morning!

She has begun to do this tilted head thing every time I take a picture.  It is cute, but sometimes I wish she wouldn't do that.

And a few head shots because she is so beautiful and I love taking pictures of her!