Halloween Adventures

It's funny how extensive our Halloween festivities became... especially as I kept mentally declaring that I must not be much of a Halloween girl.  Having Anni makes me put a lot more effort into holidays... who doesn't love creating something just a little bit wondrous and magical for a toddler to gasp and say, "Oh, wow, I yike that!"

We started the day off as all good days should begin... a favorite dinosaur shirt and a mid-morning cookie shaped like a big ole pumpkin.  We decided to skip neighborhood trick-or-treating for a variety of reasons (possibly super scary costumes/decorations in an unfamiliar neighborhood most likely wouldn't be a joy for a little girl who takes after her mommy with a bit of a shy and introverted personality).  She did snag a piece of candy from a neighboring apartment's bucket outside their door, but, don't worry, we had several days of fun ahead.

Miss Anni was St. Kateri Tekakwitha this year.  She was pretty excited about the fringe and how it swayed when she danced in circles.  (I have a feeling she'll have more of an opinion on her costume next year... I can't wait to hear her ideas!)

She was pretty proud of her costume and even more excited to hear she'd get to see other kids in their costumes on Friday (my hubby's office had an All Saints Day party a day late since they close the office for the actual day... how can you not love that).
 

We got all dressed up to show Daddy, spent a little time cuddling pumpkins, dancing on the porch, and taking off whatever got in the way (necklace, headband, you know, things like that).

And at last, Daddy was home!  This is still one of Anni's favorite parts of the day (mine, too)!  She hears the key in the door and immediately runs, headlong, for the door, yelling, "Daddy!"  We got started post haste on the pumpkin carving while our pizza baked (yep, she didn't really get candy, so we obviously made up for those health benefits by buying the "jack o'lantern pizza" of which she pulled off the olive eyes just to figure out what they were).

Anni was mostly interested in painting her little pumpkins, but took a break occasionally to pull out a single pumpkin seed and say, "Ta-da!  I got it!" 

Even the pumpkin painting was pretty epic.  Anni has never, ever, ever willingly touched paint with her fingers, but something about paint on pumpkins was a whole new ballgame!  She was still pretty delicate with it, but it was a lot of fun to see her enjoy the messiness a little. 

Our jack-o-lantern was about as simple as it gets (I'm pretty proud of my mouth carving skills), which works out well as Anni has enjoyed pointing out all of the triangles on the face.  (We didn't know she knew what a triangle was until our pumpkin carving adventure... what a fun surprise!)

We then combined two of Anni's favorite things: candles and pumpkins.  She was in awe.  I love how much this little girl makes me take pause and really notice things.  Maybe I put more effort into holidays with her because she helps me recognize how important it is to stop and take notice and make things special.

Either way, I'm just glad we have her.

While there are no photos (yet), we spent All Saints Day (Nov. 1) hanging out with Daddy!  We made it to Mass and managed to get our family photos taken.  I'm still impressed that the latter happened as we were rushing out the door, into rush hour traffic, my makeup box in my lap, and all still a little unsure as to our outfits, despite the hour of texting pictures to our costuming friend for approval.  Fortunately, we did it... and I'm hopeful we're going to love them, because we couldn't get a sweet photog friend to document our sweet little family.

Whew!  I'm almost too tired to make it through today's explanations.  As I mentioned, Daniel's office had a little All Saints Day party/ trick-or-treating a day late.  We grabbed a photo before the mayhem began; though, the poor kiddos were mostly confused as to why they weren't heading out to the offices for some yumminess.  We tried to make it quick :). 

I'm glad we saved Anni's trick-or-treating for the office.  While she was still pretty quiet, she snuck in a few smiles and "twick or tweats".  It helped that we were in a place she knows well (we visit Daddy pretty often for Mass and lunch dates), with people who are about as sweet and gentle as can be. 

After making the rounds, she was determined to, "work wewwy hawd!" at Daddy's desk, before we managed to tear ourselves away (we really, really like visiting Daddy at work).  She even fell asleep on the way home and only woke up when I put in her bed to demand a band-aid for her knee before passing out for several hours.  Since this little chickadee averages maybe one nap a week, it was obvious that the last few days had worn her out.  Her rather pregnant mama quite enjoyed a little nap as well... keeping up with our schedule this week has worn me out as well!

Changin' Fast

I feel like we've been in a bit of a twilight zone for the past couple of weeks.  I mean, has it really been two weeks since our day at the corn maze?!  My brain can't seem to wrap itself around that fact.

Two weeks ago it was warm, fall-ey, and can I just mention that I think my husband is super handsome?

Mentioned.

Following Anni's little, erm, overflow on the way home from the corn maze, we didn't leave the house for nearly a week. 

And then, just as she stopped waking up in the middle of the night to share whatever we had attempted to satiate her "hungee" tummy with, I joined the club.

Pregnancy and stomach bugs are a strange, unhappy combination.  I would get sick if I didn't eat (pregnancy) and would definitely get sick if I did (stomach bug).  Luckily, a couple days of Anni getting to watch way more of the PBS app than she ever has, Daddy coming home early when he could, and me lying as still as I could, and we were kind of back in business.

Because, you know, two days after picking up the bug, I had my last wedding to shoot and an engagement the next.  I think I'm still recovering from that weekend... luckily my clients are amazing and I'm ever so grateful I get these chances to document their lives.

The following days were full of editing, mommying and more editing and then some extra toddler cuddles to make up for all of the working.  Knowing that this season of being able to concentrate so fully on our sweet, quirky, happy, little two-year-old is quickly coming to an end, I've been trying to take more time to breathe in those happy little moments of right now.

Recently, our "little" Nugget's personality is shining through loud and clear.  She spends nap time singing, usually her own made-up songs.  She loves to sit and read not only her own books, but mommy and daddy's as well (it works well for her that we just leave piles of our books on our nightstands). 

She gets me moving more than anything else could during this pregnancy.  As much as my mind does a little tired yelp when she so sweetly requests, "Mommy, dance wif me?" I know there isn't anything, anything at all, else that I should be doing at that moment.

Just shy of two weeks after that warm fall day in the corn stalks... we had our first big snow!  It actually started the evening I had safe environment training and I felt like a little kid who didn't listen to their mama when I walked out into several inches of snow and had to brush off my car in short sleeves.

Luckily, oatmeal cookies and homemade hot chocolate were on the menu when I reached home, so it all balanced out.  

I am definitely a fall/spring girl, but the cold is worth it to see Anni's pure excitement at the snow (especially that it was "in the twees").  When we first peeked outside to look at it yesterday morning, she informed me, "It's so booo-tiful mommy."  I've heard "I wuff the snow," more than once in the last two days... I think it's going to be a good winter (though I will quite, quite happily welcome fall and it's more temperate beauty back for a few more weeks with our warm spell next week).

One downside to our little winter storm has been that the moon is hidden by clouds in the evenings.  In the past week, Anni has added to our nighttime routine by requesting to go out on the porch after prayers.  She'll point out all that she sees (cars, trees, clouds, moon and lights) and then tell each of them good night before we head back in to bed.  The last night we could see the moon, she informed Daniel, "I want to hold the moon, Daddy."

 I am continually amazed, and humbled, by this sweet girl growing up before my eyes.  I am so grateful to have the chance to grow and learn with her.    

Have a beautiful weekend, my friends! 

The post where things got a little rough...

I realized that in the excitement of the pumpkin patch photos, I didn't share the bad part of that day... which really, probably means that the good outweighed the bad that day.  See?  Optimism.

We ran some food out to some friends and upon returning to our car... it wouldn't start.  Nary a blink, twitter or urp for a few minutes.  So, of course, our friend, newly returned from the hospital, helps Anni and I jump the car.  While it's charging up... it dies.  Apparently this is a bad sign, an expensive sign.  We call dearest hubby as his name is on the AAA... 45 minutes later, we've moved the car seat, overstayed our welcome with some very sweet friends whom we owe a much better dinner now and are on our way back home. 

Luckily, after dealing with an auto shop that attempted to gouge our wallets and therefore overpaying for a battery (thank goodness, right?!  The battery was just more than dead!), we still have a few things we'd like checked out with a mechanic we trust, but the car is running smoother than it has in a little while, and we're hoping for no more dead cars half an hour from home.

Welp, just a day after getting our beloved Max back (yep, we name our cars, we're those people), we decided to brave a corn maze/ pumpkin patch with Daddy and a few friends.  (I promise photos... just in a happier post!)  Anni was a bit quiet, but seemed to enjoy all the activity (and yes, soon to be regretted junk food).  We hopped in the car a little sooner than we were ready, as I had a shoot that afternoon and we had an hour drive to get me there.  20 minutes into our drive...

well...

puke.


Yep, that's enough explanation on that.  Let's just say we ended up on the side of the rode with a naked baby, a shirtless husband and a gagging pregnant me. 

Oh, and me calling my client and frantically trying to decide if this shoot was going to happen.

An hour later, sickie and shirtless husband were home and I did manage to make it to my shoot (albeit a bit late).  Poor hubby had to spend the evening scrubbing the carseat, car, bags from the backseat, and Anni's bed when she lost her crackers (literally, she had had a few crackers before bed) in the middle of the night.  Let me take this opportunity to thank him... dearest, you are amazing.  Seriously.  I felt awful I couldn't help... but adding easily nauseated pregnant lady vomit would not have been all that helpful.

So... here we are.  We've spent the last couple of days attempting recovery, feeling a little bit stir crazy in our little apartment.  We set ourselves back with another middle of the night episode after we tried just a little too much for dinner last night, but we're hopeful that another few days of applesauce, 7-up and rice, if we're brave, will get us back on the right track. 

The beautiful thing is, that's the worst of it.  And if the worst of our problems is a sick toddler and a wonky car, well, our lives kind of rock. 

The end. 

Pumpkin Patch 2012

Yesterday was a day that you can't really say was good or bad because there were so many little bits of the best day ever and the worst day ever all rolled up into one giant burrito of a day.  The good part?  Well, that's easy.  Once a sweet friend had saved me from my garmin's inability to find the pumpkin patch... we were on our way to celebrate fall!

I love watching Anni and her little friends.  They have such distinct personalities but are so similar that sometimes I have to double check when I hear one of them talking.  We had the hardest time getting them to hop in the car for the short drives to the patch and then back out to the front because they worried so much about leaving each other.

And, while I wish I could tell you there's an adorable picture of Anni and I... it would be a lie.  I did try, but she was sure I was trying to keep her from her pumpkins and she is mostly screaming in the few shots we attempted.  

At least I know she loved pumpkin huntin'!

It was good, these little hours of fall fun.  I love that we've done this for three years running... that we've formed our own little traditions.  I love that there's always room for more sweet traditions and that with the coming of our Lil' Bit, Anni gets to be a part of teaching them to her baby sister.  What are your favorite traditions with your family?  We've always done the pumpkin patch with our mom's group, but I think we're going to add an extra trip this year so Daddy can join in the fun.

Happy Fall, my friends!

20 weeks!

Today we had our 20 week ultrasound - it was exciting on so many levels!  Anni absolutely loved seeing Lil' Bit on the big screen and we did get to find out our little one's gender!  (We took the above picture as fast as physically possible... it was super cold and windy out today!)  I decided to do just a fun little "pregnancy questionnaire" to mark our halfway point!

How far along: 20.5 weeks

Sleep: Sleeping much better now that Hubby's home again!  It was hard falling asleep without him.

Maternity Clothes: Definitely on the pants... I've found I feel much better in non-maternity shirts right now; though!

Food cravings: fresh fruit and dark, dark chocolate with dried raspberries in it.

Food aversions: anything with a strange texture, smell or served at the wrong part of the day.

Symptoms I have: nothing crazy!  In fact, although my recent cold brought a little more gagging and nausea back, I have been feeling remarkably good the last couple of weeks!  I am so very grateful that nausea decided not to be a full-time friend like it was with my first pregnancy.

Doctor’s Appointment: we had our sonogram today and get to see our wonderful doctor on Monday!  We have a few questions about some (hopefully very, very small) issues on our sonogram, so I'll be glad for it to come!  I love how good he is at explaining all that's going on. 

Movement: Lots of kicks and wiggles!  Anni and Daddy have gotten to feel our little girl's movement a couple of times, too, which is always really fun!  (Anni likes to ask if Lil' Bit is awake!)

Belly Button: Still an an innie :).  It never did the "pregnancy pop" with Anni, but I'm kind of hoping for it this time... maybe people will figure out that I'm pregnant ;-).

Gender: sweet baby girl.

Best moment of the week: Our sonogram!  Not only was it wonderful to get to see that wiggly little one on the screen (as a family!), but we're excited to start deciding on names and getting to refer to the baby as "her". 

What I’m looking forward to: Her being here!