Pumpkin Patch and Halloween

I am pretty big into celebrating.  I LOVE any reason to dress up in a ridiculous outfit and celebrate something with people and food and fun.  Although the rain is seriously depressing me, October in Oregon means pumpkin patch time which starts the domino of holiday celebrating.

We have gone to Lee Farms in Tualatin the past few years.  It is a great farm with lots of fun activities for the little ones.  Ariy was there pretty much for one thing: the barrel train ride.  I was there for pretty much one other thing: the donuts.  They make pumpkin and apple cider donuts and if you snag fresh warm ones they are pretty much heavenly although I am not sure they beat out Gooddale (or whatever its called now).

For Halloween this year I was able to snag/borrow two free cow costumes.  They kind of fell into my lap so that is how I chose what they would be.  I liked the idea and I realize this may be my last year choosing for Ariy.  He might have a stronger opinion next year.  Rick and I dressed up as farmers to go with them.  Newberg does a great trick or treating along the downtown strip where all the small businesses are.  It is really the thing to do.  The streets are packed and different business, churches and other organizations hand out candy, glow bracelets, and put on fun games for kids.  I loved walking around and seeing all the costumes.  Ariy was more into it than last year but still didn't quite catch on.  We let him get candy at the first few businesses and then we just walked and passed right by the candy.  We let him pick out one piece of candy from his pail and then the rest went to Rick's work.  He never even asked about it again.  I am guessing this will not work the same next year.

Ava 9 months

Ava is almost 10 months old.  We had her 9 month appointment a little late (just past 9.5 months) but she still seems to measure very average.  Our little miss these days:

• 2 bottom middle teeth but is work on the rest.  We have had some late nights with this little teething monster lately.  
• 19 lbs.  Her weight and head are right around 50th percentile but her height is slowly creeping down.  I don't remember her height off the top of my head.
• She is still a full on red head and the blue eyes look like they are staying.
• She is has a lot of personality.  I call her sassy pants.  She can laugh on minute and scream the next.  She can be really loud.  She is a screamer.  Sometimes I think she must be in serious pain but then I realize she is doing it just to get our attention, hence the sassy pants.  
• She is very social but also more unsure of strangers and men than Ariy was as a baby.
• She loves her pacifier and sleeps with 4 or 5 of them every night.  She also sleeps with her bunny from Auntie Lala.
• She loves her dada.  She has even started to say dada and mama.  It's pretty cute...she just lights up when she sees him and I think she has started to wrap him around her little finger too.
• She eats everything. I was a lot more structured and slow with Ariy's food but Ava has had most food at this point.  She basically just eats whatever we are eating.  We don't do much dairy so she hasn't had much past yogurt but she loves pretty much anything else.  
• She is moving so fast these days.  She can make it to the top of the stairs in no time.  She can open up cabinets, get out all of the toilet paper and climb from the couch up onto her high chair.  This is a new experience for us as Ariy was a "late bloomer" and still is a bit when it comes to motor skills and coordination.  This little miss is going to be doing flips of the bookshelves in no time. 
• She sleeps pretty good although teething has interrupted that some.  She takes 2 naps at 9 and 2ish. 
• She gets a lot of attention because of the red hair but just because people may gush over her at first doesn't mean she will immediately give someone a smile
• Like I said, she loves to move so things like the carseat are not her favorite.  She would prefer to jump on the bed and do flips and rolls or simply climb up and down the stairs.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

8 month old Ava

Our little one is getting so big! A couple things to remember:

• She stood free standing without holding onto anything yesterday!! What?!  too early.
• She is starting to jabber again.  She had a "quiet" couple months and is back at it
• She is sleeping 2 naps a day and all night!  Much more predictable now and mama loves it
• She LOVES food.  She eats pretty much anything but always prefers "real food" over baby food
• She still has no teeth
• She weighs somewhere between 16.8 lbs and 17 lbs.

Lately...

I am always thinking about blogging and needing to blog but actually getting around to doing it is a big step.  Thanks Shana for the reminder and push.  I am going to try for at least a picture blog once a week with what's been going on around here.  

This one...she is our little "diva" as Rick would call her.  

Playing the "saxophone"

He is pretty much potty trained these days but still gets a reward for pooping.  "Popsicle for Poop."  This day I told him the juice (that I had to give Ava for constipation) will help him go poop so here he is trying to get his Popsicle. 

Ava's best buddy Brynn - they were born within a few weeks of each other and having matching outfits!

twinsies

hammock time

Really into food these days.  The list includes: broccoli, squash, beans, bananas, avocado, carrots, potatoes, meat, pancakes, oatmeal and more.  She loves food!

on the move

This past weekend we spent time with one of Rick's best buds Mindy, from college.  She and her husband just had baby #1 in July.  Meet Leander Roy...such a sweety and likes to make lots of noises too!

I just love this one. 

He is so curious already at 6 weeks!  

Loves to lay down and play and observe.  He is going to be a fun one!  Thanks for letting us spend time with him.  

Ava Noelle: 6 Month Update

I can't believe our little lady is 6 months old.  Time is flying by and as much as I hate that, I love seeing this little one grow!  She has brought pure joy with her.  She is our little firecracker and just loves to smile and play and be in on any and all action going on.  Things to remember:

• Ava is the poster child for "averages."  (on July 22) You are 16 lbs 8 oz and 26.5 inches long.  You fit exactly in 6 month clothing.  Right on track.  I believe your head size is also average.
• You are our little owl eyed baby.  Many people comment on your eyes.  You pretty much always look stunned and wide eyed.  We love it because we love your pretty blue eyes.
• You love your paci.  You have figured out how to put it back in which is great for sleep time; you can do it on your own!
• On that note, you just recently started sleeping through the night which everyone is excited about!!  You aren't perfect by no means and you don't sleep in late like your brother but in generally we are thankful for the nice long stretch!
• You have been sitting up great for a while now.  You generally prefer to sit up now to play and often get mad when you fall over.
• You are getting close to crawling.  You can push up on all fours once and a while but you manage to spin and shimmy any direction you want.  A new round of baby proofing is on the horizon.
• You are starting to get mad when people take things away from you.  You have a tight grip but when we take it away it is often a loud yell and cry.
• You generally take 3 naps but that often turns into 2 naps and 2 cat naps because we like to get out a lot in the nice weather and go to parks or friends houses.  You love being outside. So far you have most enjoyed the sand at Discovery park in McMinnville. 
• You want everything your brother has. Its's already starting.  You have your own "buddy" the giraffe because you often want to steal your brothers.
• We mostly are doing baby led weaning in terms of food (fancy name for solid foods from the start instead of purely purees).  The purees I have tried so far didn't go over well and you just seem to like to play and munch on actual food so that's what we are doing. You have had broccoli, avocado, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and zucchini, banana, pear and plain yogurt. 
• Your hair is without a doubt red and continues to grow especially on the top and front.  We love it!
• Although we contemplating changing your name (gasp!) before the 6 month mark we decided not to.  We love your pretty name that fits such a pretty little lady.  We love you Ava Noelle!

Celebrating 5 years: Portland's 4T Trail

The 4T stands for trail, trolley, train and (arial) tram.  It's a fun and different way to explore Portland.  We also ate at the Old Spaghetti Factory for the first time and took a short break exploring parts of the zoo.