trick-or-treat 2010

Grant and Parker were adorable in their handmade costumes from Grandma R., hand-me-downs from cousins, as the Scarecrow & Toto! What cutie-pies, though Grant was the only one that made the neighborhood rounds, Parker answered the doorbell with Dad at home!

Of course, the first house of the night had to have a big scary masked Shrek answer the door which totally freaked Grant out but he recovered nicely once he realized he got candy for saying trick-or-treat ;) Poor little guy, the costume truly was appropriate this year!

Rossi, the racecar driver, came to trick-or-treat with us

Dad and Toto manning the door

Grant inspecting his loot and pretty happy with his haul. His favorite treat for the night was a pencil he got from one of our neighbors, he used it as one of his drum sticks (on the pumpkin) when he got home!

Frank and Grant at Family FUN Night at church on Friday night, they both loved the slides!

bittersweet

Little Parker is graduating to his own bedroom tonight...I think. We have managed to squeeze everything into the nursey/guest bedroom today and are confident we have a good setup to keep us all happy. We have no reason to keep him sleeping in our room, he sleeps like a champ through the night and let's me know in the morning, quite abruptly, that he is again hungry and ready to begin the day. I, on the other hand, am mourning the loss of our little one sleeping so handily next to me! It is soooo convenient to fix his swaddle if he breaks loose during the night, or slip his pacifier in if he's making some racket and it's not quite time to get up!

Grant is still in his crib but with a pillow for the first time tonight and without the monitor. Why not change it all up at once?! We need the monitor for Parker's room and Grant just hollars, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy," if he needs anything or is ready to get out of bed in the morning. Our hope is to finally get his racecar bed into his room in the next few days to begin the transition from his crib and then Parker can finally graduate out of the Pack 'n Play.

My prayers remain simple, that the boys may sleep soundly in their respective rooms and new beds. And that I may sleep just as soundly without my baby next to me anymore :( Why does change always seem to be bittersweet?

Sweet dreams everyone!
Abby

this week

Grant enjoyed his last Tumble Tots class this week. We have a few weeks off and then we begin a Christmas Music class, I'm sure he'll love it just as much given his love for music!

This week was the first time he's even attempted the balance beam without holding my hands! Way to go bud!

"Helper, Daddy, helper!"

Taking a break from being "helper!"

What hair looks like after being "helper!" Ha!

Happy 3 months little man!

Happy 3 months old Parker!! I cannot believe you are already 3 months old...and it is almost November, yikes, time flies!

You are a very happy little guy, much like your brother at this age but a little bit more vocal I would say. You are a tremendous sleeper, Yea!!! You typically nap for short little periods during the day and then go down for the night around 9 or 10 and sleep until 7ish!!! You are a boy after my own heart!

Your giggle is absolutely adorable! We try to make you laugh frequently throughout the day by blowing kisses on your chest, cheeks, and thighs. Ohhhh, how I love your rolls and chubby little thighs, it makes you giggle to no end when we squeeze them! Grant enjoys making you smile too and it seems he doesn't have to do much to get a smile from his little brother!

You don't object to being in your carseat, especially when the car is moving ;) So far you have been a trooper when it comes to being mobile and running errands with us.

I'm not sure how much more your cheeks can grow but we LOVE them and they receive many compliments, ha! You are filling out your 6 and 9 month clothes quite nicely, and are a big boy, nursing very well!

You're still not a big fan of tummy time but we are continuing to work on it. You take a pacifier but don't demand it, maybe we can get rid of it earlier than we did with your brother?! It's amazing how much you follow us around the room with your eyes and seem to peer into our souls with those brown beauties. You have also managed to survive two minor colds thus far which I'm guessing is just the beginning since we have a germy two year old in the house with you!

We love you Mr. Parker and can't wait to see what God has in store for you all the days of your life!

Love,
Mommy

It doesn't get much better than this, does it Grandma?

Smiling even though he's partially in dreamland!

air & space museum

It truly pays to have a good friend with a father that volunteers at the Air & Space Museum on the day you visit!

We had our own personal photographer for family photos and he knew where to take the best ones!!


We received a personal transport from the Space Museum over to the Air Musuem in the super cool space shuttle, a highlight for Grant!

Unlimited rides on the Airplane ride (he was even the only one on it)....we drew the line at two times even though there were tears for a third!

Grant figured out how to make it fly in the air and was SOOO excited!

And finally....one just his size ;)

arrival & activities

Last weekend Grant and Parker were surprised to find Grandpa and Grandma O had arrived and later that afternoon Grandpa, Grandma and Great-Grandma R arrived too!


This is Parker taking his first bottle from his Daddy. I've been a bit lazy in the pump dept and just haven't taken the time or made the effort but thankfully he took it without too much of a fuss!

Grant began swimming lessons last weekend and it took a LOT of convincing but he made it through the whole half hour with his Daddy in the water with him!

We made our annual trek to a pumpkin patch near our home and thankfully had a gorgeous day to run around and play there!

Everyone had to ride the little train out to the pumpkins!

Grant ran through a small hay maze...

...and hit a few dead-ends along the way :)

Happy Fall!

congestion

Not much new here, Parker is massively congested so that has been no fun but otherwise the rest of us are all healthy. I am very happy to report that Grandpa and Grandma O will be arriving soon for another visit! I can't wait to see Grant's reaction on Saturday morning when he wakes up to them being here!

A little tummy time for the boys, Parker's not a huge fan but tolerates it for a few minutes each day

Our usual post on the couch

Sleeping under the rainbow!

life when you're 2

We painted pumpkins this week and had a lot of fun with many different friends. Here are just a few photos from our activities and outings.

The second pumpkin he painted purple and yellow...GO PANTHERS & GO HUSKIES!! I'm not kidding, we didn't put him up to it and those are the only two colors he wanted on that one?!!

Hanging with his buddy Rossi tonight, they have so much fun together!

Happy Birthday Rossi!

Thankfully Grant's little fever decided to break just in time for us to wish his best bud Rossi a Happy 1st Birthday today!

Dog-dog also made the trip and Grant thought it was hilarious to put him in the pumpkin pile!

Brave Grant was the only kiddo that would NOT ride the hayrack back to the party from the pumpkin patch, ha! He kept saying, "NO tractor, NO tractor!"