Pumpkin Patch

 A few weeks before Halloween, we went to a pumpkin patch.  We went to the same one last year where I wore Little Bear the whole time.  Now, he was able to run around the pumpkin patch and help pick out the pumpkins.  We brought the double stroller, but I ended up wearing Little Cub and Little Bear ran around.  So, the stroller was used to carry the pumpkins.  Little Bear had a blast running through the fields and picking up pumpkins.  It was so fun to watch him.

Almost 3 feet tall

The first pumpkin he picked.  I like the color.

"I really want this one Daddy. You carry it"

Following Daddy to the next pumpkin

Temporarily distracted by the airplane he heard and saw flying overhead

Strong boy

My handsome boys!!

Giving Daddy his approval on the big family pumpkin

Enjoying the ride on the wagon being pulled by the tractor - "vroom vroom"

Grandpa and the kiddos in their pumpkin hats knitted by Uncle Antwon

3 Months Old

My Little Cub is growing up.  What a cutie she is.  I tried hard to get a picture of her and her smiley self, but somehow she knows when the camera is out and refuses to smile.  She really is smiling a lot now.  She's even grabbing at things and is so close to rolling over.  She talks more and more too.  Little Cub usually goes to sleep around 9pm and sleeps around 5 hours straight.  She's had a few 6-7 hour stretches for which I'm thankful.  After her first long stretch, she then wakes after 3 hrs, then 2 hours.  Between 4 and 6 in the morning she is the most restless which translates to me waking up at 4 and never really going back to sleep.  I often still take a nap when the kiddos do.  Little Cub continues to be mellow and is a quick eater.  Sometimes my feelings are hurt because she'd rather pacify with a binky than with me.  Since I'm back to work, she's been at CC's for 10 hour days.  She stopped doing so well with the bottle a few weeks before I went back to work.  So I was rather nervous as to how she'd do.  Well, Little Cub does take the bottle for CC, but CC often has to work hard at it with Little Cub.  I know she won't starve, but I don't want her to be uncomfortably hungry and for CC to have to work so hard while I'm at work.  Hopefully she'll get better at the bottle soon.  I posted a picture of Little Bear when he was 3 months old.  I can definitely see the resemblance.  Little Bear I think is longer.   What do you guys think of the resemblance?

Little Bear @ 3 months

Little Cub @ 3 months

Halloween

Now I'm starting to get caught up on some blog posts.  Halloween was a blast this year.  We moved into a new neighborhood this summer.  We LOVE where we live.  There is tons of space, lots of trees, and hardly any traffic.  Our neighborhood does a lot of different activities together throughout the year.  Every Halloween everyone gathers together at the community pond for hot dogs and hot chocolate.  Then we all load up on several different hayrack rides.  Each hay ride goes around the whole neighborhood and lets the kids off to go to a few houses, then takes the kids to the next cul-de-sac.  I wasn't sure how Little Bear would do with this.  But, like he does every day, he amazed me.  He had so much fun and really got into carrying his little pumpkin and going up to the door to get the candy.  I tried to teach him to say trick or treat, but it didn't work.  Oh well, he probably will next year.  Little Cub didn't get candy, but she came along for the ride.  I had so many layers on her, she probably got too warm.  The hayrides got started at 6:30.  I wasn't sure how long Little Bear would last, but he did great.  We didn't get to make it to all the houses because he got rather tired and Little Cub started fussing because it was time for her to eat.  I'm looking forward to doing this again next year!

I wasn't sure for a while what I was even going to do for halloween costumes.  Then, I went on a walk one day with the kids.  One of our neighbors stopped me to meet Little Cub.  When I was telling him their names, I said, "I hadn't planned on the M and M thing for names."  That's when it hit me.  M&Ms were going to be the kids' costumes.  I called my mom right away and asked her if she would be willing to make the costumes for the kids.  She kindly agreed.  Unbeknownst to me she made costumes for Papa Bear and myself.  It was fun.  Papa Bear and I didn't have any white leggings or white gloves.  But, I figured we came close enough.

Hot Dogs and Chips before "Trick or Treating"

So excited!! 

The M&Ms Family

First Hayride

Where do I go next?

He was so fascinated by this tractor

My sweet M&Ms

Waiting in line for the candy

Sweet Mother-Daughter moment

23 Months Old

 So, I know this post is rather late.  Life here has been busy.  Then, the other reason is, is that blogger wasn't seeing these pictures on iphoto.  But, finally they showed up.  Little Bear continues to amaze me.  He continues to learn so much every single day.  He's great at moving the chair all over the kitchen.  He really likes to move it over to the counter to get any goodies he thinks might be there.  We really have to watch him because he's gotten on the counter before and that freaks me out.  He continues to love trains, farm equipment, and trucks.  He has quite the smile and loves to tease.  He's very friendly and enjoys saying hi to people wherever we go.  A few times lately he's even wanted to sit on his potty chair.  He never goes in it, but I figure I'm going to encourage his curiosity in hopes that potty training won't be so scary for him.  He's really becoming more independent and his curiosity about life and how things work is growing.  I love him so much and am amazed at how he is developing.

Do I really have to wear this sticker mom?

"Mom, since I was good and wore this sticker for pictures, can I have a snack?"  Behind this door is our food pantry and he runs to it all the time saying, "snack, snack."

2013 Fall Fun

We've had a great Fall so far.  We are making a few traditions.  We went back to the Louisburg Cider Fest.  There was a pancake breakfast to start the day off.  Little Bear ate his share of pancakes.  That's actually one of his favorite foods.  We also have been able to spend some enjoyable time outside with the awesome weather we've had.  Another fun activity is the Weston Apple Fest.  It's fun to see how much Little Bear has grown in a year.  I'm bummed I didn't get any really good pictures of Little Cub, but she was all snuggly in the carrier I was wearing.  I've been using the Baby K'tan and have been liking it.  Little Cub is asleep usually when she's in it because of how snuggled to me she is.  We are really having some fun together as a family.  Next year at this time, Little Cub will be mobile and in more of the pictures instead of all snuggled in my carrier.  I'm having so much fun watching my kiddos grow and develop.  It's amazing how much Little Bear is learning every day.  I hope I don't mess him up and teach him to be the man God wants him to be.

Quite the scowl.  Maybe he's mad because he wants more pancakes or juice?

hugging Papa Bear while watching the ponies give rides

I want to ride the ponies Daddy!

Giving Papa Bear some instructions

Supervising

Taking a break from supervising to mow the lawn

Back to check on Papa Bear's work.  "Not quite level yet Daddy"

Just a swingin' at the Apple Fast 

Trying to climb up the slide

"Daddy. Are you coming down too?"

Taking a break for apple dumplings, cider, and water

2 Months Old

 My Little Cub is 2 months old.  She is the sweetest little girl.  I told CC the other day that she's pretty mellow.  I've had a couple other people verify that, so at least I'm not just thinking that.  She's about 11 pounds now.  She'll officially be weighed at her checkup in a couple of days.  Little Cub is consistently sleeping 5 hours at night and then she wakes up again about 5am, and sleeps till almost 9.  This has worked out great because it gives me some quality time with Little Bear who wakes up at 7am.  Little Cub will often not take much of a morning nap, but will then take a 3-4 hour nap in the afternoon. Little Cub smiles a ton now and is doing well with tummy time.  She gets stronger every day.  She holds her head up pretty well, but still is a bit wobbly with it.  She's starting to coo more and more and sometimes it even sounds like she's laughing.  I'm so glad that she is taking the bottle well.  This is something we definitely struggled with, with Little Bear.

Check out those thighs

Her hat was made by her uncle and the outfit is from her Aunt Linda

Such a big girl during tummy time