Happy Halloween

All aboard!  Tickets Please!  Our little bears were Sir Toppem Hatt and his trusty engineer this Halloween, and let me just say, I am not sure Thomas the Train has ever been cuter.  We enjoyed an early morning parade at our local school, then a THREE hour playdate with Noah in the hopes of wearing everyone out for a sure thing nap....well Little Guy spent half of his nap time in a headstand position before finally falling asleep...this left him less than an hour to rest, but he rallied and after a reasonably small meltdown, he was ready to go trick or treating.  We hit up downtown with Gigi, Auntie, Mark, Peyton, Lizzy Bug, Noah, and Sofia (plus there mommies and Daddies).  Little Guy got a sucker at our first stop and to be honest, he would have been content to be done- he loved his sucker, ended up having three and a few bags of candy before Daddy swooped in to save a potential belly ache.  We came home to see Grandma and Papa and hit up a few neighbors before Little Guy helped up pass out candy to the very few trick or treaters we had.  It was a great Halloween, we just didn't get to see Emme, Caden, and Jack-Jack...it was the first Halloween we haven't seen each other's families since the twins were born.  Happy Halloween 2013!

Music Time Surprise

We had an extra special guest in music class today...PAPA!!!  I have been asking my dad to join us for music class because I knew Little Guy would get such a kick out of it and I had a feeling my dad would think it was pretty awesome as well.  Today Papa surprised Little Guy- it was awesome to see how excited he was when Papa's truck pulled into the parking lot.  All through class Little Guy kept looking over and saying "Hi Papa"...Papa held him in his lap for all the songs and of course Papa was jamming right along in perfect beat.  Miss Justine asked if we could have him back every week, we wish Miss Justine!!  It was costume day at class so Papa got to see his buddies all dressed up and even Lizzy Bug came to this class, talk about an awesome Wednesday!

Playgroup Monsters

We had our annual playgroup dress up day today and of course, it was precious.  It's so funny to see how the costumes have become less and less accessorized as the boys have gotten older.  Mr. Landon refused his glasses, pants, and collared shirt (he was a nerd).  Noah Bear refused his shoe covers, his ears, and his gloves.  Wesley wouldn't wear his hat, but he did tolerate the tie.  The twins were dinosaurs, there mama sewed spikes on sweatshirts...that's the way to go, they wore those no problem.  Then there's the sweet babes that will wear just about anything you put on them, oh those were the good ol' days.  Happy Halloween from Tuesday Playgroup!

My Sweet Wyatt Bear

I just can't get enough of these baby giggles and smiles...it seems like yesterday Little Guy was brand new, and now he's off and running and already Mr. Wyatt Bear is past the newborn stage and a full fledge baby boy...Well, as much as I miss the itty-bittyness that comes with a newborn, the smiles that this baby boy flashes can melt any heart.  Our little babe is quite the social butterfly and just loves to chitchat and be in the action.  He knows how to keep you around too, one smile and you're done for.  His eyes crinkle, his mouth opens, and his whole body curls up when he gets excited.  Sweet baby boy, I hope you are forever this happy, it warms my heart!

STTTRRIIIKKKEEEE!

We wanted to do something fun this Sunday afternoon and since the wind was howling outside Daddy suggested bowling.  We had brought Little Guy bowling one time many months ago, but not since he has been old enough to actually roll the ball himself.  Well, let me just say, we may have a future member of the 300 club on our hands.  Not only did he love carrying around his six pound ball, but after about the fourth frame, he didn't need Mommy or Daddy to help him, he just marched right up, set up the ramp, grabbed his ball and was off.  It was a good lesson in turn taking and cheering for others too...Mr. Wyatt Bear was an awesome spectator, it will be too soon before we're all bowling together (hopefully I'll still be the champion bowler of the house!).

Pumpkins and Popcorn

We went to the Santopadres' second annual Pumpkins and Popcorn movie night.  You wouldn't know it's fall around here, we have had HOT weather as of late and that gave way to the most perfect movie night weather.  Heather always knows how to put on a good party, and this year it was even more fun since Little Guy  was big enough to enjoy the movie and the yummy treats.  Daddy stayed home with Mr. Wyatt Bear since he was fast asleep before we even left for the party- next year he'll be joining in the fun.  It's tough to stay up late when you don't take a nap...Little Guy was passed out in the car before we even got home.  Thanks friends for hosting such a fun movie night, we can't wait for more to come next spring!

Apple Hill

Finally, after 31 years, I made my way to Apple Hill!  It was Gigi's second trip up there so she helped guide us to a great day including yummy apple juice, pie, pumpkins, fish, "neighs", craft booths, and people watching.  Little Guy made friends with all the grandmas, blowing kisses to the little ladies and starting conversations with his sharp "HI!" everywhere we went.  It was perfect weather, almost too hot to put you in the fall mood, and a great way to spend a Friday!  I am hoping this can be an annual outing!

Hurts So Good

Little Guy got his second haircut today....and no, it did not go as smoothly as the first.  In fact, it was the exact opposite experience.  He screamed, shrieked, cried, jerked, jumped, squirmed, and yelled "ouchie" for 20 straight minutes.  The stylist suggested I step away from him so he couldn't grab on to me, but that made me nervous since she was the only one close enough to catch him and she was holding scissors....well, good thing Gigi was with us to wrangle Mr. Wyatt Bear so I could focus on the not so cooperative client.  The final cut isn't half bad considering the subject, but it is a lot shorter than planned- that's what happens when you keep moving and every snip has to be corrected.  When she pulled out the electric razor I waved the white flag- Little Guy had had enough and there was no way she was going to be able to get that razor around his ears.  I just envisioned a jerk of the head and a shaved line through his whole scalp.  We'll wait to see if haircut #3 is any better....

The hardest 60 minutes ever....

I recently joined the local gym with the hopes of dropping the last bit of this baby weight I have hanging around....well, truth be told, I am not super motivated by myself, but I am a sucker for a great class...and if I am going to miss putting Little Guy to bed, it best be a class that leaves me feeling sweaty and exhausted...not dead.  The 60 minutes I spent in cycling tonight were some of the most grueling gym moments I've had- and the most humbling.  When the teacher asks the class who's riding at 20 or higher and you realize you're only on 9, ya, that's the moment you realize you need to be hitting Zumba before cycling and the power yoga after!  Here's to hoping each class gets a little less painful and maybe hitting level 10 next week.

A Biiiggggg Ouchie!

Ouchie!  Little Guy sustained his first big ouchie today :(  After putting Mr. Wyatt Bear down for a nap, I came downstairs to Daddy holding quite a few bloody tissues and a very sad baby....it turns out that playing with the reclining couches is not a good idea, especially when you get your finger caught in the closing gear.  Needless to say, Little Guy took quite the chunk off the top of his finger and ended with a bruised nail bed.  Auntie Nurse Katie assured me that they rarely stitch little ones since it requires them to be sedated so there was not a whole lot the doctor could do that we weren't doing already.  I can't even look at the injury, it turns my stomach to think what it must feel like for my baby (good thing his Daddy is tough!) Now we'll just wait and see if he loses his nail...

Bishop Pumpkin Patch

We took our annual trip to Bishop Pumpkin Patch with the Santopadre Family today!  We decided to take advantage of the fact that our kiddos aren't in school 5 days a week yet and our hubbies are able to take a little time off and go during the week!  The first score, free parking!  You have to see this place to understand why it matters when you go- they attract thousands of visitors a day on the weekends and with that comes lines, crowds, and chaos!  It was still busy, but much more manageable on a Thursday.  Little Guy was so excited to ride a "neigh"- we read Cowboy Small every night and he couldn't wait to see Cactus.  We hit up the slides, pig races. flower gardens, train, hay rides, petting zoos, corn dogs stands, and pumpkin fields.  Mr. Wyatt Bear slept for most of it in the ring sling, just happy as could be.  We were all a little overdressed in our cutest fall attire since it was a warm 85 degrees...I know this will come back to haunt me, but I am ready for fall weather already!  I reminded Gabe that on this same trip last year we were talking about what to do about baby #2, knowing that we needed to get pregnant that month if we were going to be able to bring the baby to Africa...and little did I know, I was already pregnant!  What a difference a year makes!

Our Family Photo From Last Year

Our Family Photo This Year

We have never been able to get all the kiddos together- we didn't even try to get Mr. Wyatt Bear in there...

90 minutes

We're giving the old 90 minute sleep schedule a try....you go to sleep 90 minutes (or 180 or 360 minutes) after you wake up.  Mr. Wyatt Bear is still on the 90 minute path, maybe next month he'll be able to stay up longer.  It seems silly and really quick to go back to sleep after only being up 90 minutes, but since starting the new plan, Mr. Wyatt Bear has gotten a lot of sleep and what's even better, he's been falling asleep on his own after I lay him down.  I know it's still early in the game, but so far, I am impressed and I think the 90 minutes sleep solution just may be on to something....and because who can resist a sleeping baby, here are some shots of the sweet sleeping Mr. Wyatt Bear.

Everyone Smile and Say.....TEQUILA!

I had been waiting for our family photo shoot for a few months now; I had selected outfits that all coordinated but weren't matchy-matchy AND were not based on a brown/beige or black/white color scheme...it was going to be perfect...I would finally be able to order my insanely large family photo canvas that showcased our little family of four, all smiles and giggles, effortlessly posed together, with the sun setting behind us and everyone looking so carefree and happy...and then family photo day came...and Little Guy decided he wasn't going to nap...and it all went down hill from there...here's a recap:  Little Guy decides he wants nothing to do with Mommy, Daddy, Mr. Wyatt Bear, or all the trains (we picked the train yard for a backdrop, thinking he would love it!) during our family photos. Little Guy decides fruit snacks aren't going to hack it for bribing him to say cheese.  Little Guy refuses to smile, let alone stop screaming, for more than three seconds.  Mommy decides she wants a drink. We continue with the photo shoot, attempting to get some shots with Mr. Wyatt Bear and Little Guy together, in a basket.  We fail at the basket photo.  Photo shoot is finished and the photographer attempts to comfort Mommy with an offer to redo the shoot if there aren't enough good ones to pick from.  Mommy can't imagine a crueler form of torture than to do this again.  Mr. Wyatt Bear falls asleep in Mommy's arms on the way back to the car.  Mr. Wyatt Bear wakes up in the car while we're sitting in the drive thru line at Panda Express.  Mr. Wyatt Bear screams.  He continues to scream.  He screams some more since we are in the WORLD'S LONGEST drive thru line. Little Guy starts screaming.  Mommy still wants a drink.  We get home, put two of the crankiest kiddos to bed, and Mommy eats her cold Chinese food.  And then Mommy and Daddy have a drink.  I think family photos with a toddler are now officially just an annual project....

Dentist

Little Guy braved the dentist today!  We were all set to tackle this trip with the help of Gigi, but she came down with a gnarly cold and was home sick in bed :(  Little Guy wasn't too sure of the mask the assistant was wearing, but after it was thrown in the trash and the cool light was turned on, he was manageable.  I won't go as far as to say he liked it, that would be a blatant lie, but he tolerated it and received a clean bill of health from the dentist!  He did suggest we start flossing his front teeth....riiiiggghhhtttt, clearly he hasn't seen what a struggle it is just to brush his teeth, flossing may put us both over the edge!

We were lucky that Auntie Cari and Brian were game for some company on their Costco shopping trip- Little Guy had fun perusing the aisles of Costco, checking out the light up choo choo and ending his trip with a brand new fire fighter rain jacket from Auntie Cari (talk about well loved!)

Painting Pumpkins

Today we did a little post nap art session with our baby pumpkins.  Little Guy is obsessed with baby "papas" as he calls them- it makes it tricky to follow his stories when you're not sure if he's talking about his grandpas or pumpkins, but nonetheless, he loves all his "papas" and today we painted three of them.  Mr. Wyatt Bear got in on the action too- I think I am in trouble as soon as both of them can hold a paint brush!  Little Guy was in love with painting, he wanted more more more- I finally had to pretend the paint was all gone before the sidewalks and driveway became decorated as well.  Little Guy wasn't a huge fan of his smock, he kept telling me "No smock mommy, no smock", and to be honest, other than keeping his shirt clean, it didn't really do much...we went straight to the bath tub when we were finished!

Playgroup Pumpkin Patch

We hit up Silveyville Pumpkin Patch for our second annual trip with our playgroup buddies.  This year Mr. Wyatt Bear and Miss Sofia joined in on the fun.  It's crazy to think that last year I was pregnant with Mr. Wyatt Bear and didn't even know it yet.  Our boys have all gotten so big, where does the time go?? We enjoyed a train ride (really just flatbed trailers pulled by a tractor, but Little Guy called it a train), feeding the ducks, an ATV train ride, haystack slides, bubbles, pumpkins, and lunch with our buddies.  We can't wait to bring Daddy back, we know he'd love dog that leads the ATV train and opens all the gates as you go :)

Mr. Wyatt Bear was in the spirit the night before with his skeleton pjs!

Little Guy is king of the hay mountain!

All the babes and their mamas taking a ride to the duck pond!

Landon and Little Guy, along with Noah and Mr. Wyatt Bear, had matching shirts...Little Guy was clearly not happy to say "Cheese!"

Our whole gang, minus the two tiniest members :)

Not ones to be forgotten, they posed in the stroller- love the smile Mr. Wyatt Bear!

Family Fun Day

We decided to spend Sunday afternoon hanging out somewhere fun, and what could be more fun that riding the train???  Little Guy LOVES trains, but today when we bought the train tickets, he freaked out and started begging "No all aboard, no choo choo, no all aboard, no tickets please"....we aren't sure why he wanted nothing to do with the train, but after some convincing he loaded up and enjoyed the ride.  He was happiest snuggled close to Daddy and kept reminding us that it was loud- he really hates anything loud.  The merry go round, on the other hand, was a huge success...he wanted to ride a dinosaur, but they didn't have any so he settled for the panda bear.  What a nice way to wind down the weekend!

Love us some baseball and football

Last night we had a tailgate BBQ at Gigi and Papa's to kick off the Oakland A's post season...it was a great tailgate but a sad game...let's hope the A's can rally back in game two!  Keeping up with the sports themed weekend, Daddy went to the Stanford football game with Auntie Heather and Chris today and had a great time at his first trip to the Cardinal's stadium.  I know one day soon enough there will probably be two little boys wanting to tag along on that trip :)

Thumb sucker

Our sweet Little Wyatt Bear may be a thumb sucker...he refuses the paci and don't even have the energy to try a bottle, but he LOVES his thumb, his whole fist in fact.  He's been a sucker since day one so I was sure he would love the paci, but this boy is all about the real deal...he wants a boob 100% of the time but since that's not an option, he's decided his thumb will have to do.  Little Guy never had a paci or thumb, so I am not sure how rough habit breaking can be....but I am going to enjoy this preciousness for now.

            

3 Months Young

Mr. Wyatt Bear is 3 months old today....a quarter of a year old....91 days day old...need I keep going???  My point is he's getting big fast and I am not sure I can handle it!  I remember thinking time was flying by with Little Guy, but this is like triple time warp speed fast!  I can't believe the newborn days are over, the completely sleepless nights gone (for now at least), and my heart even fuller than I EVER imagined possible.  With every passing day Mr. Wyatt Bear grows as his own little person, with a look all his own and a smile that can literally stop old men in Costco to ask what his mommy does to make a baby so happy....Mr. Wyatt Bear, you have stolen our hearts, with your grin, your kicks, and your coos, we couldn't imagine a life without our sweet boy.  Happy three month birthday to the happiest baby I know (you take after your very happy big brother!)