Happy Halloween {The Return of Pablo and Milestones}

Happy Halloween! Although everyone in the house is sick (except Little J so far) we had a pretty good Halloween! Little J did most of his celebrating on Thursday. He got to dress up for school and they took them trick-or-treating at the school district offices. They had a cool little party with cupcakes. He had a great time and was taking a nap within 20 minutes of coming home! :D

We went shopping for a new costume for Little J, but were unsuccessful. Since Little J still really doesn't understand the concept of Halloween, I try to make it fun for him by dressing him up in a character that he'll recognize. Pablo was his favorite last year, and still is today. since I couldn't find his other favorite Curious George in time, I pulled out Pablo (for those of you unfamiliar with cartoons geared to pre-schoolers, Pablo is a character on The Backyardigans) and Little J was beyond ecstatic, so call it going green, call in recycling, Pablo made his return! Yay Pablo!

Princess J still doesn't totally get the concept of Halloween, but she is well on her way. We started out the morning after dropping Little J off at school by going by G's office to drop off some cupcakes and let Princess J show off her pumpkin costume. Here again we went green or recycled a costume. Last year, I was totally looking for this costume for her very first Halloween, but Gymboree was totally out within 2 days of putting it out in their stores. My friend Erin passed down her daughter Mari's costume! Thanks Erin! Since it was cold, we added a black turtle neck and picked up the tights that Gymboree came out with for the costume this year. So cute! I was shocked that Princess J was willing to keep the headband on, since lately she hasn't been a fan of hats or headbands. She was not willing to keep the pumpkin shoes on that came with the costume, so we let her wear her sparkly silver ones.

We went to a couple of neighbors houses, but mostly stayed home to answer our own trick-or treaters. Princess J loved opening the door to all the fun little ones in their costumes. She was a little cranky until the doorbell started ringing. Then whenever she'd see other kiddos all dressed up she was all smiles. She's quick to close the door when she's done checking them out though!

She did a little reading before the trick-or-treaters started showing up too. She loves to sit and look at books and turn the pages! Maybe she'll be a reader like Mommy!

At one of the neighbors, Princess J picked up a Hershey Bar. When we came home to wait for more trick-or-treaters, I put her in her play pen and forgot about the candy bar. G asked me what she was eating, I figured she was chewing on a piece of her costume. This photo is what we walked into. The Hershey bar was everywhere. All over her hands, face, costume and playpen! Now, you might ask how she got the candy out of the wrapper? She just stuck the whole thing, wrapper and all in her mouth and let it melt melt melt! What a smart little cookie!

I think Halloween is going to be a time to reflect on milestones for Princess J. October 31, 2006 was the first time we saw Princess J on our ultrasound. It's also the first time we knew she was a princess! Last year was her very first Halloween and looking at the photos, she was so itty bitty, with barely any hair and needed help standing up. This year, she is a little whirlwind! Always on the move and always looking for something to demolish! She wants to be on the move all the time as opposed to being in Mommy's arms being carried. She's got tons of hair now and is just a little drama queen, that I can't get enough of!

Auey Santos!

A week or so ago, Princess J and I headed out to a "playdate" with our meetup group. It was a mini photo session with another mommy in the group Auey Santos! G promised me a family photo session for my birthday, but we have yet to do it. We've had trouble finding a photographer that is available and that understands some of Little J's needs. After meeting Auey and chatting with her, we are going to book a full session with her! I am so excited! She shared some of the photos she took at the mini session on her blog HERE! Go check out Princess J! Just scroll down a little. She took more that are adorable and I hope to be able to share those with you soon! Off to place my order!

I WANT THIS NOW!!!

I'll probably have to wait until Christmas, but this looks awesome! It was featured on Oprah today as well. I must have this!!!

CF Card Please!!!

Ugh! We had a beautiful day at the Pumpkin Patch today. I snapped lots of photos and could not wait to upload them......only problem is there was no CF card in the camera while I was snapping photos! Ugh!

Diapers Only!

It's official, Princess J does not want to wear her clothes anymore. I am constantly finding her in only her diaper. While I have a few cute photos of the craziness, I won't be sharing them on the ol' blog. I'd like to keep my blog public, so only appropriate photos! :D

For the Love of Nilla Wafers {and some other random stuff}

What a busy day....don't I start every post with that sentence or some form of it? Yikes! Today, we dropped Little J off at school and then Princess J and I headed out to meet Auntie Verna (one of my sorority sisters from Alpha Phi) for an early lunch. Yummy! Good times! We also did a little window shopping. I've been looking for what Little J is going to wear to see Santa, but haven't found it yet. Princess J is all set though. Then we headed back to pick up Little J from school.

We came home and relaxed for about 45 minutes, before we had to head back out to take Little J to the pediatrician's office for his flu shot....well, actually his flu mist. Then, instead of going back out later, we just headed straight for the grocery store. It's always a big adventure with both little ones in tow. Little J was busy trying to grab anything he could reach....and since his arms are longer than the I-5 freeway...that's A LOT of stuff! Princess J was busy saying Mama and Baba over and over again....sometimes at the top of her lungs! :D As we strolled down the cookie aisle, and I was trying to decide what kind of cookies to get for the lil' ones, Princess J reached out and pointed towards the Nilla Wafers. She's never had these before, but apparently something about this big yellow box caught her eye. I picked up another box of cookies and showed them both to her, but she grabbed the Nilla Wafers and would not let go. So, we got the lil' ones Nilla Wafers. She carried them all the way out to the car and even held onto them in the car on the way home. Hope she likes them when the come her way after dinner.

Little J got himself a cookie as well....he was a little more devious though. Sadly, I have no photos to show for this little display of 3 year old behavior. They had these halloween decorated cookies at the checkout counter. Little J swiped for them and I caught him and put it back. A couple of minutes later, he grabbed the cookie again and put it right in his mouth. While he didn't get the bite he was looking for, he did break a chunk off of the cookie.....so we own it now. I really wish they wouldn't put those cookies there. It's a pain in the bootay, it's one thing to fight the kids off the candy shelves at the checkout stands, but to have things on the counters past the register is just mean! ;P

This week we also celebrated G's birthday!

Also, just in case you were wondering when the Christmas stuff would start appearing....Coca Cola has decided that it's the Holiday Season with the introduction of their holiday cans!

And....if you are a Kenny Chesney fan....the new album is out and it does not disappoint! :D You didn't think I would miss it did you? Sigh.....

Music and Spills

Princess J loves to make noise! This morning was no exception! This morning though, she had the help of a metal bowl and 2 wooden spoons....she LOVED it!

Last Friday, I didn't post any photos, because well....I couldn't. Unfortunately, I still can't post the photos from that day, but I'm working on it. We've been actively looking for a photographer to do some family photos for us, but it's been next to impossible to set anything up with our crazy busy schedule. Also, I worry about getting good photos of Little J since he doesn't follow direction well and the patience level of our photographer. Anyway, a moms' play group I belong to did a little mini photo shoot playdate with Auey Santos. When I looked at her website, I really liked the photos I saw and thought this would be a good opportunity to get some cute lil' photos of Princess J and talk to her about our situation with Little J. I love the photos she took of Princess J, and can't wait till I can share some or maybe she will share them on her blog eventually. It was a mini session, so we only got about 15 photos, but it will be hard for me to choose just a few. We will definately be setting up a family photo session with her. She was so nice and I think that she will have the patience and I know she has the understanding we will need with Little J! :D I am so excited about it!

This afternoon, I went to pick up Little J at school....he took a little spill. I swear, this kid can tip over things that I didn't think was possible! They were working with him using a walker (something he is getting pretty darn good at) and giving him some freedom to go where he wants to go. Currently, since he's just starting out, they have the wheels set so they only go backwards and forwards....well Little J wanted to go left or right! He was so determined, that he finally tipped over the walker. He got a little bit of road rash on his face, but his teacher said that he was up and ready to go again just a few minutes later. It's hard to see in the photos, but in person it looks worse upon first sight than it really is. It's very minor. He got a good workout at school and then later it was off to his PT Sheri, for another workout. This kid works so hard, sometimes I get tired just watching him work. It's hard to watch sometimes, just how hard he has to work to do things that many of us take for granted. I am in awe of his determination and just how he keeps going and going and going with all the work he does.

Last, but not least, I have a little vent. We have this neighbor...well he/she lives around the corner about 3 or 4 house up. They have been doing A LOT of construction on their property which unlucky for us has included incessent Jackhammering (not ideal for a napping toddler). Ugh! This has been going on for weeks and weeks. I want to say they really started doing this about 4 to 6 weeks ago and it just goes on and on and on. How long do you think neighbors should have "loud" construction going on for before it becomes just inconsiderate to the neighbors? Honestly, I don't mind when people are doing work on their homes etc, as long as it ends at some point within a reasonable time and it doesn't go until 7pm at night....UGH!

Second Week in the Life.......

Today the main event was Princess J's 18 month check-up. She is doing so well! She was seriously in rare form showing off her skills in the doctors office. As always, she had to have the trains from the waiting room with her in the exam room. Too funny! Doctor says she is doing well! She's ahead in her gross motor skills, showed that she can follow 2 step commands and has a few words. She's still not very interested in using them often though. She falls in the 50th percentile in height and weight. She's still a little peanut and only fits in 12-18 month clothing...sometimes 9 to 12 month clothing as well. This is good though, since the doctor says the average baby is weighing in heavier than the 50th percentile now. Clothing is made for the average baby which is generally larger. With girls, they say that you can predict their final height based on their height at 18 mos. Princess J will probably turn out short like mommy and come in at about 5ft. 3in. or 5ft. 4in. Funny how that works out, that she's going to be my little peanut and Little J is slated to be over 6ft. tall! WOW! When the nurse came in to giver her shots, she rushed passed her out the door pushing it open and brushing aside the nurse. Good thing she's only 18 mos, because if she was 13 it would not have been as cute! LOL! She headed off to another doctors private office to make sure he knew she was there. This little girl is always causing a commotion. She had her flu shot and her tetnus shot today and suprisingly didn't shed a tear. She was sort of mad that I was holding her down, but got over it when the nurse gave her some stickers. I'm so used to taking her to the doctor every 3 months, it will be strange waiting for 6 months. Princess J was not being cooperative in getting a photo with her pediatrician, so we'll have to get one at a later date to share. Now the only doctor appointments we have left this year (as far as regular visits) are Little J's neurologist visit in December and our follow-up in San Diego for the research study.

We were supposed to have lunch with my sorority sister Verna today, but things didn't work out, so next week for sure! I love that I've reconnected with many of my college friends and sorority sisters. What would we all do without Facebook?

Some of the other photos from Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday, G got a haircut, but wouldn't let me embarass him with the camera in the barbershop. Princess J got her morning cookie snack...this doesn't happen often, but she loves those cookies! Princess J and I headed to the Post Office. She's so good at being a good helper.....until she decides she's done and throws the packages on the floor. Tuesday, we were mailing some books for Paperback Swap. If you are interested in it, click on the banner on my sidebar! :D

Wednesday is always a busy day. Little J goes off to school and then after we pick him up, it's off to therapy. Today the photos include some good mail for G...a birthday card and birthday present (which he hasn't opened yet, since his bday is next week) and his weekly USA Today Sports paper....gotta be ready for Fantasy Football Sunday! We headed off to therapy (why when you are in a hurry, does the train always stop you in your tracks) and you see his rockstar OT Wendy! After his appointment we headed over to Target for a few odds and ends. Too bad they wouldn't both look at the camera...they were getting a little grumpy....well maybe all three of us were! LOL! I still had to document how we roll when a cart is involved. Usually, I put both kids in like they are and then use one of the handheld baskets on the bottom. Sadly, this Target has gone to baskets that won't fit underneath the cart.....DRAT! I think I'm going to have to try the toddler carrier cart soon. They are never near the parking lot though, so it's sometimes hard to carry both kids on each hip to get to one.....someday. After a long busy day, there had to be a stop at Starbucks. Mommy's little cup of sanity.

Had to get a photo of Little J with his Backyardigan quilt...handmade and designed with genious by Grandma Libbi! :D He loves loves loves this thing sooooo much. He is just full of smiles and giggles whenever it's in sight. He won't let go of it for anything....believe me I've tried to steal it a few times....:D

Looking forward to tomorrow, which I can't say much about, but Princess J and I will be working on a suprise for G's birthday coming up. I hope it turns out well! :D

Second Week in the Life.......

Sorry, no new photos today. We really didn't do much today. We took Little J to school, G got a haircut, Princess J and I went to the post office and walked around a little. We took a few photos, but I'll post them with tomorrows, because there are probably only 2 or 3. Picked up Little J, who had a great day at school, came home and just hung out.

We did watch the movie Perfect Stranger with Halle Berry and Bruce Willis. If you like suspense films with unexpected endings, this one was pretty good.

We also watched the Presidential debate. Lots to think about, but I believe that Obama won this round.

Second Week in the Life.......

So, this morning we all got ourselves together and since G was off today we dropped Little J off at school and were going to go out for breakfast. Well, on the way to school I noticed this little beauty on the pasenger side of my windshield. UGH! So not in the mood to go out for breakfast anymore. OY! So, we headed to Starbucks to get what always cheers me up! LOL!



As we were driving home, I said to G, that maybe we should take Princess J to the park today. So, instead of heading home, we just turned to go to the park. I am so glad that we did! I love all the photos we got of Princess J having so much fun!

She totally loves the swing! I also love the photo of her checking out the park rules. It was nice and quiet at the park, there were maybe 4 other kids there. She got to run around and explore without worrying about other big kids running into her.

I also love the photo of her walking along next to G. They looks so stinkin' cute! She had a great time going through the tunnel back and forth and driving the play structure.

She was not happy at all when it was time to go home. She played non-stop for about 45 minutes! She was just go! go! go!




Since she wasn't too happy about leaving, G thought he would take her for a walk home. The park is only about 4 blocks from our house.

At noon, I picked up Little J and we headed to Safeway to pick up a few things.....like hummingbird food. He's too big to ride in the front of the cart now, so he lounges in the cart part. It's quite a sight shopping with Little J, he loves the grocery store! I have to take one of those handheld baskets and put it on the bottom to collect all of our purchases, because if they are within arms reach Little J will try to eat it right then and there!

Always be careful at the checkout stand, because he has quick hands!!! Today he picked out some Ritz cracker bites with cheese I think.

After school on Monday's Little J has a date with Sheri! Sheri is his awesome physical therapist! Of course since I had the camera, I couldn't get the usual grin he has when he and Sheri are together.....I think she is one of his crushes!

We think he's getting close to walking....so keep your fingers crossed. He works so hard for Sheri and she keeps him progressing! We are so thankful for all of her work and support for Little J! She rocks!

More fun tomorrow!!!

Originally, this was supposed to be a one week project, but because of all the extra craziness last week, we wanted to make sure to get some other important stuff in, so I've got 6 more days of this! :D