Pumpkin Patch

We dropped by the local pumpkin patch because Ava was dying to go pick out a pumpkin.  I really wanted to go the awesome one downtown this year but with Ryan, it is just harder to want to drive 30 minutes each way just to take photos.  So this worked out perfectly for us.

Ava & Ryan sitting on the hay.  We were a little nervous about Ava holding on to Ryan (especially Darren) for this photo but Darren was just outside the photo to step in if needed.  Ryan doesn't look too excited, probably because the sun was in his face.

Ava was super excited. She had fun running among the pumpkins and pointing at the ones she wanted to buy and hugging a few along the way.  She alwasy picked the HUGE ones that are like $70 or something crazy.   Needless to say, we did not get an insanely expensive pumpkin.  We told her to pick a medium pumpkin and we also let her get 2 smaller pumpkins and a gourd that is shaped like a swan.

 For the most part, Ryan could have cared less that we were there.  He was most excited when I set him on the ground and let him move a bit.  This sweet photo was taken just moments before he tumbled head first the ground..poor guy!

 And like I said, Ava hugged the pumpkins.  She would have liked to take them all home.

Boys

My Dad made a quick trip in to Austin for the weekend and we were able to catch up with him on Thursday.  Somehow I only managed to get this one photo of him with Ryan.  Would have loved to have gotten a photo of him and his 6 grandkids when we went to lunch on Saturday but it was a bit chaotic so it wasn't going to happen.

Oh and if you're wondering, those are new pillows.  You can read about them here.

The Great Shed

It has begun..or rather has been going on for a month and a half now.  And by it, I mean "The Great Shed" where all the hair you grew on your head during pregnancy begins falling out. 

When it first started, it was not so bad...well it bothered Darren but I did not notice it so much.  But now, every day, twice a day, I am cleaning the bathroom floor and picking up a small animal in the process.  I also brush my hair like crazy in attempts to get it to come out.  Just when I think I have brushed all the loose hairs out, more come out seconds later.  It is never ending!  And just plain disgusting.  I find my hair everywhere.   Darren's least favorite place to find hair? Inside his shirts while at work...he tells me he feels itchy and then finds a hair stuck in there.  My least favorite place? The bathroom floor...seriously it is just gross.

Too bad I don't remember how long this lasted when I had Ava.  Hopefully it will be over soon.  But if my sister is any indication, it won't be over for another few months...she said she shed for at least 3 months.  Make it stop!

Hope this post wasn't too gross for you!! At least I didn't post photos of the giant hairballs I find everyday.

6 Months Old

Ryan is now half a year old...seriously how has that much time gone by since he was born?!

  A little update on the little man...he sleeps through the night at least half the time (we were doing well until he decided to practice his rolling in bed in the middle of the night), he eats rice cereal and some fruits & veggies (bananas seem to be his favorite), he can sit unassisted (although we still use a pillow behind him for the times he falls), he inchworms and rolls all over the place, and we have started using a sippy cup some of the time. 

All in all, he is pretty easy and a happy boy almost all of the time.  I love hearing him laugh and watching how happy he is watching Ava..the 2 of them are too cute.

New stats:  15 lbs 10.5 oz (15%), 25 3/4 in long (20%) and of course still in the 98th percentile with his head.

And to compare that to Ava at 6 months: 14 lbs 5 oz (25%) and 25 inches (25%) long.

Here he is sitting.

 And on his tummy moving around...think he enjoys this the most.  Btw, he wore his UT onesie on gameday but to be fair to Darren he wore his A&M bib that day too.  This was just a hand me down and I decided to actually put it on him Saturday when we played...if you know me, you know I am a 2%er and could care less about who wins so it is kind of funny I put it on him at all.

 And here is Ava at 6 months (see? they have the same hilarious hair that sticks straight up...our kids apparently have little hair and if Ryan follows in Ava's footsteps, it will be a long time before he needs a haircut).

My "Things"...Ha!

Awhile back, my sister-in-law's sister-in-law (say that 3 times fast!), gave us some of her twin boys' old clothes.  Included in this stash were 2 "Thing" onesies (you know, Thing 1 & Thing 2 from Cat in the Hat?).  Anyways, I almost got rid of both since I don't have twins but then figured that I could do something for the kids with them.

Obviously, I did not have to do anything with Ryan's since he can fit in the onesie.  But for Ava, I used the Sienna Dress pattern from Lil Blue Boo (that I have used before and LOVE) to upcycle some old shirts into a dress.  I then appliqued the "Thing" onto it.  Needless to say, she was very excited and told me all day how she & Ryan were twins.  And everyone else that would listen (her teachers, classmates, daddy, etc.)

So here they are, my "Things".  Ava is "Thing 1" and Ryan is "Thing 2." 

I have such nice, cute "Things" don't I?

Lexie & Ryan

Gabe came over today to help me figure out how many pillows to make for my couches.  I know that sounds weird but she has been all about home decorating since she moved to her new house and I have no clue how many pillows I need to make to make it look good.

Anyways, she & Lexie came by when Ava & Sawyer were in school.  So Lexie & Ryan got to hang for a bit and we got to snap this cute photo.  Lexie's face is just pure glee and Ryan is happy despite the fact that he just woke up (he almost always has red handprints on his face when he wakes up...to the point where you can see where his little fingernails were on his face).

Oh and if you were wondering about the pillows, here are the fabrics I am planning on using...want a more colorful and modern look.  After I finish the pillows, I have 2 new art projects planned for the room, a sideboard/cabinet to refinish for the dining area and possible a new dining table to build (well help build since I don't know how to build anything).  Will post pictures on the project blog when complete!

Ryan Meets Guthrie

It's official!  As of Sept 11th of this year, my sister Cortney and her family live in Austin!! So exciting to have C back in Texas and close by. For the past 10 years, we saw her on average once a year...so not too much.  Especially exciting for her to move back so that we can get to know her kids better (and they can know us better).

Ryan finally got to meet the McFaddens and his new buddy Guthrie this past weekend when we went to their new (rental) house.  They are only 3 months apart and the only boys on this side of the family.

Isn't Guthrie adorable?  He looks like the Gerber baby or a doll or something...kind of unreal in person. (not in a bad way)

He has a natural mohawk and let me take like 100 photos of him..quite the little model.

 Ava wanted in on the photo action so she snuggled up to Guthrie.  I think he was a little unsure of her.

 We did not see Ava & Griffin for most of the time we were over there...they were having too much fun playing in G's room with all her toys.  Ava has been dying to see her cousins since they got here and I think pretty much all summer whenever we talked about them coming here, she would mention playing with Griffin.

Griffin, as you can see, does not really want to have her photo taken.  Too many things to do to sit still for a picture!

 Here's Darren cheesing it up with the boys.

And here's the McFaddens sitting on their front porch as we were leaving.