Jack-O-Lanterns

Myles and I have a tradition of carving pumpkins together. This year I was really thinking about skipping the pumpkin carving thing because it really seemed like one more thing that I just didn't have the energy to do. After Myles started asking about it and was so excited about it I couldn't say no. We did a really basic pumpkin and had a great time. I'm glad we didn't skip it.

Here is the only time he touched the pumpkin. I had to beg him to give it a try. Even though he is smiling he really was not a fan. Ty had NO desire to touch it.

Two of my three pumpkins.

This picture is what we don't want our social worker to see. :-)

Pumpkin Carving 2011

Treats!

When a baby is born people often give flowers. I like flowers just like the next person, but I hate that they are so expensive and they die in a just a couple of days anyway. Nat has found a better way to my heart. "flowers" that the whole family can enjoy....and eat!! After the birth of Natalie, Nat was a sweet husband and got me a card and a bouquet of "flowers" dipped in chocolate. Edible Arrangements are a favorite in our house. I's not even sure at this point who likes them more, the adults or the kids. I am just so lucky Nat knows me as well as he does. Knowing my husband was thinking of me AND getting to share the present with the entire family is my kind of present!!

My crew and my present. Pretty sure Myles' expression says it all!

Here is a different expression I HAD to share. No worries, he made it to the potty just in time. :-)

Daddy's Girl

Nat has always said with each pregnancy that he would like a little girl so he could have a daddy's girl. I always said I was good with my boys. I will say that seeing how different he is with Natalie has made me fall in love with him all over again. This little girl has her daddy wrapped so tightly around her finger I am shocked. It is a bond that I LOVE to watch grow. I am aware that I will have to be the voice of reason when it comes to Natalie and her requests because I am thinking daddy will say yes to everything. She is one lucky little lady to have the daddy she does!!

The best kind of nap.

Pumpkin Patch

Right after Natalie was born Nat decided to take the boys to the pumpkin patch for some fun. They took Nana and had a blast. I was jealous when they got home and I saw all the pictures.

Not sure who is having more fun here!

One Fun Nana

Going on an adventure.

I love that the goat's horns lined up so well on Ty here. :-)

Who doesn't love a donkey?

Ty loved the corn box. His little pockets were FULL of corn when he got home. We may need to fill a baby pool with corn at Papa's farm. SOOOO much easier to clean up after than a sandbox.

Roommates

Myles and Ty are officially roommates. It has been about 3 weeks and I have to laugh because it SEEMS that they have seriously bonded more now that they are sharing a room. They still fight, but I can see them being silly with each other more which has never happened before. We have had many nights already where I hear them giggling and I will go in there and they both drop in their beds and try to act like nothing was going on. Makes me laugh that they even know that that is what they should do. One night I came in to find Myles had turned the lamp on and was reading a book to Ty. LOVE IT!!! 11 pm was the latest they stayed up being silly and I truly didn't mind it a bit. I was happy they were happy together. That is what naps are for right?  Nat and I have also started reading to both of them at the same time and then just having them go to bed at the same time. We had been each taking one and reading to them or trying to put Ty down first and then quietly bring Myles in 15 minutes later. This is so much more fun because it is a family activity AND it takes so much less time and is less stressful. I am hoping tonight goes as well. One issue I was worried about was when Ty gets up he is up and he is ready to get out of bed. Myles on the other hand would sleep until 9 am every day if I let him. I was worried Ty would wake him up too early and he would be a beast. It has actually been the exact opposite. Ty wakes up and yells "Mama" in his gruff old man voice and by the time I go get him Myles is awake and ready to get up too. If I try to wake Myles up there is ALWAYS bribing going on in order for me to get him out of bed. So Ty is now Myles' new alarm clock. This morning Myles actually got up BEFORE Ty did which really has only happened about 4 times. He came out in the kitchen and said, "I even beat Tyler at getting up today". He was so proud of himself. Nothing like a little competition right away in the morning. :-)

Ty is no longer a baby. The best part of this bed that my parents gave us is that it really is a crib just with a twin sized mattress. He hasn't figured out how to climb out yet and I am hoping he never does. :-)

Getting ready for family reading time.

 This is the brotherly love I was talking about. The quality of the pictures is terrible because I was so shocked they were hugging I just fumbled trying to get ONE picture of it. (BTW that adorable hat Myles is wearing was made by my sister-in-law Amanda.  http://amandamitchellphotography.blogspot.com/)

 

I love watching them grow closer and reaching an age when they play together!! Pretty sure we are the luckiest parents EVER!!!

Big Boy!

Ty has been growing by leaps and bounds it seems lately. One big change is that he has he gotten a new big boy haircut that seems to have changed his look all together. He also seems to have gained about 10 lbs, but I think that has more to do with Natalie being so small than him actually gaining any weight. :-)
Right now Ty can count to 10 by himself, sort of sing the entire alphabet (A few letters may be missed here or there), and now sits at the table with the rest of us instead of the high chair. He also LOVES to sing. Loves it. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and The Itsy Bitsy Spider are his two favorites right now.
The biggest change has been his vocabulary over the last 2 weeks. He repeats nearly everything we say, literally, and has learned the word WHY. I love it because when he asks why he says it with a smirk almost like he knows he is being a bit of a stinker :-)He is already making it difficult to be serious by flashing his smile just when Nat and I are trying to tell him to do something. I blame Nat for this because I am pretty sure he did this as a child as well. All Nat and I can do is cover our mouth and then leave the room to laugh. I am pretty sure he knows he has us figured out.

Before

After

1 Week Old

Our sweet Natalie is already a week old! I wish I could say I didn't get all nastalgic about it, but I did. I HATE (Yes I said HATE, and I meant it!) how quickly time flies. I know each stage presents new fun aspects, but if I could slow down the clock I WOULD!! Natalie is one sweet baby and really only cries when she's hungry. I haven't even tried to introduce the pacifier to her because she is just so chill and doesn't need it. She is also eating like a champ and has even given me a couple nights of 4+ hour stretches between feedings. I am still trying to figure out how the nurses and doctors expect a mom of 3 to "take it easy", but whatever. I am cherishing my snuggle time with Natalie more than I allowed myself to with the boys. I've learned all to well that this phase blasts by way too quickly. Seriously...we are SO BLESSED!!