pumpkin patch fun

She doesn't know it, but Lisa Leonard has been my tour guide to the central coast for the past two years. Her latest local mention was a pumpkin patch I hadn't heard of before. And I'm glad I looked it up!

Now, the Avila Valley Barn is pretty great, as they have animals and food and pumpkins all right in one place, but they usually also have hundreds of PEOPLE you have to dodge to enjoy all the ambiance.

Probably going on a Monday helped tone the crowds down, but when we showed up at La Familia Ranch, we were the only guests there. (In a fun coincidence, Lisa and her boys showed up a few minutes later. I got to introduce myself and tell her she was the reason we were there.)

Every kid should get a chance to ride in a wagon with a pumpkin on a sunny October day.

dear javi

I loved getting to live at your house for a while. You have some pretty great toys and you were really nice to let me play with them. I'm glad I was able to help you out in the clapping and crawling departments. I told you it was no big deal and you'd just be able to do it one day without even trying.

I'm glad we got to spend some time together while our mamas clicked those things at us. Does your mom still do that to you? Mine does. I'm okay with it for now, I guess. But I'd really like to take a look at that thing she clicks and bang it around a bit to see how well it's made, but Mama won't let me.

I don't mind that you put your arm around me while they were clicking, but I think maybe the kiss was too much, too soon. I mean, I liked it and all, even with the grass tickling my face...but it scared me a little. I'm only used to mama and daddy kissing me. And grandparents. No one else my size kisses me. So I'm sorry that I ran away right after. Maybe some other day I won't.

love,

Lucy

I like Javi. This is nice. Just hanging out on a beautiful day, leaning on my friend…

Look at her looking at me. She totally wants me to kiss her.

Smooooooch!

Stink. Probably should have dropped the grass before makin' my big move…

Waitaminnit…whaddid he just do??

Wait, Lucy, don't go! 

Mama! Help me! He kissed me!

Oh man, I blew it.

You can read Javi's letter to Lucy here.

exhausting (happy) birthday

Three hundred and sixty-six days ago, we served you your eviction notice and then forcibly dragged you out into this big crazy world. You've charmed pretty much everyone you've come into contact with ever since.

Here's some photos from today, one year after your entrance.

You woke up so happy! Mama sang Happy Birthday to you…the first of several renditions you would hear today.

You conked out in the car on the way to the Doctor's office. I know. Who schedules a doctor's appointment ON your birthday?? Sorry.

Sleepy.

You had a great time climbing around in the exam room…

You were a bit perplexed by the bandage on your finger…it didn't take you long to get it off! No tears for the pinprick, though. Brave girl.

How about going grocery shopping on your birthday? Fun, right? Okay…not so much. Again, sorry, baby. Maybe when you have a clue what a birthday is we'll do more fun stuff on it!

Your first cup of milk! More, please.

You were so very tired by the time we got to your cupcake. You want me to do what, Daddy?

Okay, I guess I'll try it. Meh.

And then you swooped that cupcake right into your arms and snuggled it to death.

The end.

outside vs. inside

You've now been outside my body as long as you were inside it!

Milestones this month:

Official transition from your infant car seat to a convertible car seat. Which also means you get to ride in the shopping cart seat now, and ride facing forward in a stroller. I am amazed at how much you have loved stroller riding when you can see all around you. You hold onto the tray and sit up straight and just smile and smile, occasionally waving your arms around. You love the feel of the wind in your face. On a long walk, you eventually slouch back, pop one foot up over the side and just chill. 

Time with the grandparents! They have all really enjoyed getting to know you at this age, and you've enjoyed lots and lots of love from all of them. 

Road trips! After your first plane ride on your 8-month birthday, we had a couple of days of longish road trips on our way to meet up with Daddy. You do really well in the car…such an improvement from when you were mere weeks old and screamed the whole time.

Beer! Just kidding. I just think this picture is funny.

Cousins! (And their parents!) You met your cousin Gabby for the very first time, and the two of you have had a great month+ getting to know each other. I think you'll both be sad when we are back on the other side of the country and can't spend time together. You got to spend a weekend + with your cousin Esther, and she just can't get enough of you! 

Food…let's just say you don't follow all the books. You think it's funny when I try to feed you with a spoon, and would much rather take the spoon and chew on it. I manage to get some food into you this way, but you are still just not very interested in baby food. You were almost all the way to 9 months when I offered you some avocado…and you ate it and wanted more! Ever since, we've been offering you bits and pieces of lots of things we're eating, and you really like most of it. Still not eating very much of any one thing, but you have tried lots and lots of new foods.

Sightseeing! we got to take you to some historic spots near where we were staying. 

Restaurant highchairs! Since we're not home, we're eating out much more often, and you are getting good at sitting in your own chair (and getting strangers to talk to us).

Teeth! Those first two bottom teeth showed up about halfway through this month after not much fussing at all…just lots and lots of drool and a few nights of interrupted sleep. You're a dream baby.

Swinging! Both in the park and at Uncle Chris' house…you get all mellow in the swing.

Spectator sports: Daddy's been playing softball, so we get to go watch. You chill out in your stroller and take it all in.

New toys! At both cousins' houses, you've gotten to play with way more toys than you have tried as of yet. Toys requiring batteries (help!). You have enjoyed all the exploring and have figured out quickly how to make the noises you want to hear.

Clapping! You've figured out how to put your hands together…the clapping noise comes a bit later on :)

You manage to scootch yourself backwards, but haven't yet figured out forward, purposeful mobility. You still love to "fly" on your belly with arms & legs going like crazy. 

You love being outside and I can generally count on a walk to calm you down if you're cranky. You love textures and sounds and exploring how the two relate (spent several minutes rubbing your head on the foam mat, then the laminate flooring, curious about the different feel & sound!) You cluck your tongue and think it's great when every adult around you starts doing it, too.

You love doggies & cats & birds & airplanes & being outside. You get super excited when you hear the door and know that Daddy is home.

I love being your mama. As much as I loved the 9 months of holding you inside of me, I have loved these past 9 months of holding you and loving you and looking in your eyes and watching you grown and learn and discover. 

the many faces of lucy

She's mostly a very serious baby, but about a month ago she came up with this:


It's a smile that takes serious concentration. And though it may look like she's making all kinds of noises while she's doing this, it's actually a totally silent process with very serious faces in between the grins.

She does have some normal smiles in her repertoire as well…and though she is serious much of the time, it's a happy serious. She's quite content and seems to be thoroughly enjoying this process of growing up and discovering things. Like blocks! With letters!


Sometimes I think she's just so happy that she can sit up by herself. She just sits and smiles and waves her arms around for a while and it's all great fun for her.


It's nice, because I can sit her down in the hallway and do laundry and she's just happy to be there! I hope she's also learning how to take over this job asap…


We had some beautiful weather this past month and spent some time outside. She grabbed her first handful of grass…and didn't try to eat it!


She loves bathtime, and has discovered splashing. And rubber duckies. She likes them both.


We've tried various foods with little to no success. This picture is misleading, as it looks like she's really enjoying her apples. Actually, I think she did enjoy the apples…but mostly she just closes her mouth and turns away. No thanks, mama.


She does love her some daddy time!



And of course she loves to eat several things that are not food. Her safety straps being one of her absolute favorites.


Her sneakers are another.


I simply cannot explain how much I love this face.


And this one.


And this one.


Yummy block! C is for cookie!


And this is how she spent a good 15 minutes tonight, watching the fire. Comfy :)


This age is so much fun…we love watching her play as she discovers new things she can do. She loves to hang out in the kitchen with mama, watching me fix breakfast or empty the dishwasher. She will sit for increasingly longer periods by herself and play with one or two toys the whole time. She is sweet for other people who want to hold her and has started giving out smiles more and more to anyone who tries to get one from her. She has her screechy noisy times and when she babbles, it sounds more and more like words…dadadada being the primary sound, though I think she has yet to connect that to "daddy." She loves it when daddy comes home, and I had better be done feeding her when he walks through the door, 'cause she is totally distracted by him. She loves to play with the patches on his uniform. We have just this week been putting her to bed without rocking her to sleep first, and she's doing great…still cries a bit, but not for long at all. We have been so very blessed with this sweet girl, and we are grateful to God for entrusting us with her care and training. Seven months already!