Big Day!

It was a big day in our house today. Each evening, Pumpkin and I have been "working" with Critter on standing on his own. He has been walking while holding onto things for a few weeks now and often will stand while only holding on with one hand. So, he has been standing on his own for 5-10 seconds and then just sitting down. He smiles so big after he does it. Well...today while Pumpkin was at school and just after Nanny came over, I was sitting on the floor with him helping him stand on his own and....

he took two steps towards me!

It was a very exciting moment. Even he had a look of pride on his face. At one point he was holding onto the couch and looked over at me, we both thought he was just going to let go and walk to me. He is not there yet, but will be VERY soon. Now I am just hoping he has more coordination than his sister or his mom!

How can I not smile!

It has been an interesting week around here. Pumpkin has been expressing all aspects of her personality without any reservation. This has made for very high highs, and very low lows! I love that she feels and expresses herself so intensely, it is just intense for me as well! So, we went out early this week in the evening to try to take her 4 year pictures. (Don't get me started on the fact that she is turning 4, that will be another post and a box of tissues!). Two years ago it took me 3 different days to get a picture. Last year, it took 2 times. This year, I think I got it in one sitting. These are some of the cute ones that just show her. I had our bubble machine running and it was such fun to just have her play and chase the bubbles. Hubby was with us and taking care of Critter, so she and I took a break and just chased each other. It was such a nice refreshing break from the intense week we are having. Looking at these pictures, how can I not smile at the amazing person she is!

Yes, she picked her own shoes for the day! I can only imagine that it is not easy to run in cowboy boots, but it did not slow her down...at all!
Then, I just had to post these of Critter. He really LOVES these teething biscuits. Can you tell?!?! I do however only give him one when it is about time for a bath. Amazingly enough, he is not nearly as messy as he used to be! I gave up keeping his shirt on for these times, it is just easier not to keep it on :)

Feeling better

No...no one was sick in the house, at least not at the moment! :) But...I have my camera back! This is why it took me two years to bring it in to get fixed. I felt a little lost without it. There was really nothing in particular that I needed to take pictures of, I just missed my camera! Bad news is that the cost to repair my two lenses was almost the same as replacing them. However, they were able to clean the camera body and get rid of the darn dust spot that I have been fighting for TWO YEARS! It felt so good just to be able to grab my camera today and take pictures again. I know I am a little bit of a baby, a week without my camera and I was going through withdrawals :)

The weather has been SO nice in the mornings that we ventured out to the park this morning. Pumpkin really needed to run and get out some energy. I needed to get out of the house since Critter was up at 5:15 and Pumpkin was up at 6:00. Lucky I am a morning person and I am able to drink coffee! We had a great time at the park. Critter had a fun time in the swings. I don't often put him in there because it has been so hot, I did not want him to get burned. Today, it was not bad yet though. He loved it. Of course Pumpkin had to get in on the action and push him. Even though she was pushing a little too hard for my comfort, he just laughed and laughed. She can really do no wrong in his eyes. It was fun to get out of the house and see how much she has grown up. I vividly remember the days when I could not be more than a foot or two behind her because she would walk off the play set, run into another kid or hurt herself doing some crazy thing. Now, she tells me to sit down and she will stay where I can see her. Gotta love the independence! It was a great morning with the kids, just what the tired momma ordered!

He was having so much fun with Pumpkin pushing him. He kept laughing and smiling at her.


It is fairly hard to swing on a swing with your legs crossed, but she figured out how to do it. Not fully sure why, but she had fun!
I love how she is framed in the water feature here. I was just playing with my large lens and checking how it was focusing and happened to get this shot. She has pretty good running form, if I do say so myself! :)

Hip Hip Horray!

I am rather excited at the moment. I just got myself completely caught up on our 2008 scrapbook! Well...I am not counting the 65 pictures that I am picking up today! I got caught up through the beginning of August. The last time I was actually caught up was right before Critter was born. I guess this is one of the benefits for me with Pumpkin being in school. Our schedule has worked out rather nicely. We drop Pumpkin off and then Critter and I come home and he takes a nap. I am still trying to adjust to such a quiet house. Our home is NEVER quiet when Pumpkin is awake. Lately she has taken to singing even more. It is rather nice since she can actually carry a tune, unlike me! I am just so excited to say for a few hours that our scrapbook is caught up.

I have not posted much in the past few days because my camera is in the shop. For the past 2 years I have had either a dust spot or scratch that appears on every single picture. I have to find it and then erase it on every one! Yes, it has driven me a little crazy. But...they are fixing it and I should get it back in another day or so. I feel quite lost without it though. I always have it within reach in order to take the random shots of the kids that i adore. I do have some video I will need to upload later.

An update with Pumpkin and school. She is now staying the extra 15 minutes for lunch. We decide the night before what she is wearing and also bringing for lunch. It reduces the time disagreeing in the morning! :) She still loves it. I am still having a hard time getting her to tell me what she does during the day. It was cute though. On Wed. night we were eating dinner. She got a serious look on her face and said "Okay Mommy, I am ready to tell you about school now!". Considering she only goes on Tuesday and Thursday, it was really sweet. I got up to put my plate in the dishwasher and she said "Mommy, sit down please. I am not done telling you about school!". I know that she has made a friend or two, but she keeps changing their names. When I pick her up today, I will have to find out what they are. I heard her singing a new song the other night that I think she learned on Thursday. I am learning to let go. That is hard on me. She is just growing SO much. Anyway, I am babbling since the house is so quiet. I will update with new pictures soon.

Big Day

Today was a big day for our family. It was Pumpkin's first day of preschool. She has taken classes before at a gym but we were always with her. She went to summer camp this summer, but that is something fun. Today we sent our first born off to her very first day of school. This is the start of her school career. I hope it is the start of an adventure she really enjoys. I know that I really liked school and I hope she does the same. I can not believe that she is old enough for school. She is my baby girl. She is the one that made me a mommy. She has so many of my personality quirks that we butt heads quite often. This is the little girl who has started saying "Thank you" at dinner time for giving her a nice dinner. The same little girl who reminds us to say Grace before we eat.

Pumpkin was such an amazing kid today. She was excited to show Daddy her room (he missed Meet the Teacher night because of work) and where her "cubby" is. She was excited to line up with her class on the playground. I barely was able to get half a hug from her before she ran off. Poor Daddy and Critter got nothing from her. We stood and watched her walk in a crooked line to the stairs and then up the stairs to her room. She did not look back for us. When we picked her up, the only thing she told us is that she wanted to stay for lunch. Uh-oh on my part. I figured the first day was trial for all of us. I guess on Thursday she will be bringing a lunch and I will pick her up 15 minutes later! :) Neither Daddy or I could get her to tell us about her day. I had to cheat and have her call Nanny and then Nana and Opa in order to hear about things. I just eavesdropped on what she said. This whole parenting thing does take some sneakiness every once in awhile!

I am so proud of the little lady she has turned into. I was sad today to see my "baby" all grown up. But....I am excited to see what she is going to contribute to the world. I know whatever that maybe she will do it with gusto and passion. So...here is the start to an amazing future. I love you Pumpkin, you will always be my baby!

She wanted to take pictures with Critter this morning. This is one of my favorites of the two of them. Critter has not wanted to be held much lately. I guess he knew his sister needed it this morning!
Right before we walked out the door I finally got a nice picture of her!
Saying "cheese" in the car before heading to her room.
This is the most she turned around to look at us while they were walking to their room. Other kids were crying and upset, not our Pumpkin!