October 2013 Monthly UpdateI

Now on to October. We had a not so work-filled October. The first part of the month doing the whole renovation thing. So the first weekend of the month we jetted off to the Spring Hope Pumpkin festival which featured just about negative amounts of pumpkins. I really expected to see the prize pumpkin and eat pumpkin pie and take pics of the girls with pumpkins... but it was not happening. It was more of a street fair with a parade.

Timeless tractors

Trying to keep the girls occupied in between lunch and the parade.

We got to Spring Hope maybe around 10:30-ish and staked out a good spot on the parade route. Please imagine us walking up the street with two strollers, two girls, one diaper bag, 2 non-folding chairs, 1 insanely pregnant mama and 1 papa asking 'Are you sure you want to do this?'

Webby's slushies are the best. E had to have pink - of the 60 flavors only grapefruit was pink...

R had a taste of everyone's

Waving to the people on the floats and collecting candy

There were kids older than E and younger than E collecting candy... I think watching the bigger kids snap up the candy and then realize they needed to share it totally restored my hope in humanity - well not really - but it was good to see. Even E started passing candy to a little boy sitting next to her.

R was not thrilled about the stroller but did not fight it either

The next weekend it was off a wedding - that's after Lee had been organizing the house the morning part of the day - yeah, he is great. R had an early nap and I was hoping to do a crib to car seat transfer... did not happen. In fact R did not fall back asleep in the 1 hr long car ride but E fell asleep 5 minutes before we got to the wedding... Go figure.

R very much content with food waiting for the reception

They had coloring books for the kids... LIFESAVER. 

E and R both did really well. E had a extra good time because Grammy and Grandpa Joe and Uncle Kevin were there plus there was an added bonus of (cup)cakes. Bribery can bring out the best behavior sometimes...

Cheese!!!!

Last pic as a fam-mee of 4 (3 weeks before M arrived : )

Weekend after that we laid low and Lee used his new bagging mower to clean up the yard.

E started a rock collection - which she brought for show and tell

Lee told me I had better not get rid of her rocks - it is cute to see them bond over rocks.

Don't take my pic!!!

The last weekend of the month the girls had a birthday party to go to. I really did not know if we were going to make it when we got the invitation because it was the day before my due date... But it was not a problem. I let E pick out the present. It was a Melissa and Doug cupcake set and there was only one left at the store and she said she wanted/needed one too. I told her maybe the store had more in the back. What does the girl do when we get up to pay? She asks the cashier "Do y'all have more of those in the back?" I think she was taken aback by the question and said she would check. I told her that was not necessary because the store would have 6 months before E's birthday rolled around - E was okay with that.

R got into a banana and banana got into her hair at lunch one day and I could not resist the photo opt.

From the front

Side profile of banana in hair

Finally we went up the road to a little farm to get pumpkins and check out the animals.

R was skeptical but shouted out the names of the animals after awhile

Concerned about the horses and moo-cows

Happily dragging out the prettiest largest pumpkins... Well one Kibbe is.

R was super excited about something...

Papa proud of his handiwork

I am not a fan of this activity but it sure is cute.

Halloween 2013 - Cow + Ballerina

We had a few more trick-or-treaters than last year. I took some advice I got and used it as an opportunity to meet/catch up with neighbors. It was a good sugar-filled night over all : )

Our Advent-en Activity List

Advent is upon us (Eastern Catholics) so Papa and I finally decided on our six Advent-en activities for the kids.

Week 1 - Operation Christmas Child - The collection period ends this Thursday I think so the timing is perfect

Week 2 - Pray at a graveyard

Week 3 - Gather things to 'give' to St. Nicholas - He won't actually visit our house until Advent week 4, but I want to give the girls times to think about and gather their items

Week 4/ Week 5/ Week 6 - Pray outside an abortion clinic (or pray at another graveyard), Get an ornament (or two) off the tree at the church there in the Mount, Go shopping and drop off food items at the InterFaith Food Shuttle
{We'll probably figure out the order as we see how everything shakes out}

We have also been talking to the girls (more specifically E) about preparing for Christmas - and doing nice things for other people and not focusing on ourselves.

Finally we've been singing (as of yesterday) two verses of O Come Emmanuel after we pray in the morning and one verse before bed. E soaks up songs and singing so I am convinced this is the single best way to get her to learn something about Advent.

I'll be posting random Advent-en activity updates in the off chance you are interested.

7 Quick Takes - Newborn Essentials in our house!

Guide to Surviving Life with a newborn - ok not really but here's a few things that have made the transition a bit easier

--- 1 ---

I have raved about the MyBrestFriend before and I'll do it again. Love this nursing pillow so much. My BrestFriend + hospital baby wrapper + kiddopotamus = how we make it through the night 

Touchdown baby!

--- 2 ---

Got Diapers?

J&J Night time cream - the off brands don't smell the same : ) 

Rubbing Alcohol to clean the cord

Powder

Diaper Rash cream

Baby Q-tips 

Pink swaddling sock

All highly practical items to have around...

--- 3 ---

Okay so this is actually the footstool for my rocker but it won't fit so it is on my bedside table... complete with:

Wipes
Paci - which M has not had ANY interest in
Phone charger
Icon? - why not, right?

Also pictured - nightlight - yes I can sleep with it on and a package of 900 wipes...

--- 4 ---

Rocker/glider... It is by far the single best purchase I have made (from Craigslist) that is the most comfortable piece of furniture to rock/nurse a baby. Good glider = worth every dime.

And the cord hanging from the top pic is this little baby contraption. Breastpump = necessary. Pump to comfort = motto of the lactation consultant who happens to be insanely well versed in all things baby/nursing.

--- 5 ---

Oh and it is freezing... Well actually not really but it is to me. So it is an excellent excuse to use a spaceheater at night and keep the room nice and toasty for me and M. Plus the carrier has the BundleMe insert which has been a lifesaver on these cold preschool drop off mornings : )

--- 6 ---

My sister in law brought me this trail mix when she came up and visited M. She had it portioned out in these little baggies and let me tell you it is awesome. 

Dry roasted peanuts

Craisins

Reeses Pieces 

Chocolate Chips

I finished up what she brought so I had to make my own and in the process got a neighbor and Lee hooked on it. In my mix there is the bittersweet chocolate chips and it adds a twist on the flavor and there's a little less sugar than the regular chocolate chips. 

Pretty sure I'll be living on this stuff for the next few months. 

Mix yourself up a batch and you'll be hooked

--- 7 ---

Well I'll actually need another pack or two of these because everyone has showered M (and our fam-mee) with so much generosity - clothes, diapers, meals, wipes, our favorite Land's End bags and this...

M's NiNi, probably the single most anticipated and special and sentimental item that M will get. It's worthy of its own post because there is kind of a necessary backstory - part of which I'll share. 

                                                  

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

                               

Theme Thursday - Cold

All bundled up for school!

The BundleMe infant carrier insert has proven to be a lifesaver. I had it with E and R but never really needed it. Pretty sure the insert will be living in the carrier for the next three months. 

Its exhausting getting ready for school

Oh and all the meteorologists are talking about is how THIS morning is going to be the coldest of the year - not yesterday... Better get used to this cold weather get-up.