Circus Fun

Oh how I am loving the age of 3.  Yes, she is headstrong and independent and sassy (not sure where she gets that...ha), but she is oh so fun too!  A little over a week ago I took Katie (along with Jill and Stella) to the girls' first circus outing!  I didn't tell Katie until she had to change clothes so we could leave - I knew there would be LOTS of questions and wanting to go now.  So glad I waited - she was SO excited!  Here she is before we headed out.

And here are the girls - Katie was so excited that Stella was going too!

I wasn't sure how Katie would be around clowns - no worries there though...she loved them!  She kept wanting pictures with them.  And she got a clown coloring book and had the clowns autograph it.

Once inside, there were other activities to do before the actual circus began.  The girls loved the pony rides! Katie really wanted to ride an elephant - but that also meant I would have to, and that would have cost $30 for both of us.  Not worth it!  Maybe next time :)

Excuse my camera-around-the-neck tourist look.  

I absolutely LOVE this picture of me and Katie!  This was in line to get her face painted.  This one needs to be in a frame - note to self.

And here is my butterfly girl!

I think this one is hilarious - they were checking eachothers' faces out!

I completely enjoyed the circus too...especially the elephants!

Here is my sweet girl during the intermission!

After the intermission, the motorcycles did their thing with the guys doing tricks in midair.  I think that may have been one of Katie's favorite parts.  And I absolutely LOVE this picture on the right when one of the guys was in midair!

And here are Jill and Stella!

I'm not sure if this was the end or not because it was the end for us - the girls were worn out (it was like 8:45 by this time)...Katie loved the human cannonball!

And the girls were done for by the time we got home!

I think we will be going back to the circus next time they come through town.  What a fun night!

Pancakes and Pumpkins: Our Fall Tradition

Man am I behind on posting!  Over a week ago (not this past weekend but the weekend before), we did our annual fall outing.  It was so fun!  And I remember last year wondering if we would be a family of 4 for this year's fun...and we were!  We started our morning with brunch at Puckett's - Katie was so excited about her Mickey pancake!

After we stuffed ourselves, we headed to Gentry's Farm for more fun!  We took the annual picture on the truck - and I loved seeing BOTH kids on it this year!  These two pictures were my favorite...

Katie loved playing in the corn...

And here is Katie's cutie pie dress...I love the chevron pumpkin!

And here is Daddy and his girl!

Katie ran and ran and ran while we were there...

She also loved the slides there!

And she did the tire swing for the first time this year...I wish this picture were more in focus!

And we cannot forget about this little pumpkin!

After we did the hayride, someone offered to take a family picture...love it!

And we put the pumpkins out once we got home...I loved letting Jack really get to explore his wee pumpkin.  He even chewed on the stem a little bit (he didn't like it)!

This past week, we ran by a local produce place that has the prettiest mums - I love getting our front door ready for fall!  Here is Katie while she was helping me decide what color flowers to get...

And here is our front door ready for fall!

Jack: Four Months

Sleep

He is a great, flexible sleeper!  He can go abotu 10 hours at night.  And as for naptime, I know he will do well on a routine, which I've got to get going.  I am noticing a pattern of awake time and sleep time, but he is still napping in his swing.  I've noticed he will wake up first thing, eat, play, and then doze off for a catnap before eating a second time.  After that, he usually stays awake (or may have another catnap).  After the third feeding, he gets a good afternoon nap in.  And he does well staying awake during the evening.  Right now, I keep him up to do a last feeding at 10 or 10:30 still, but I think we are about to cut that out and try to put him down at around 8.  He is also still sleeping next to our bed, but I think that the transition to his crib will happen in the next week or two.  I'm interested to see how he does sleeping once we cut that late night feeding out and put him in his own bed...I sure hope it is a seamless transition (and I do expect him to wake up and have his first feeding a little earlier if we put him down earlier at night)!  I am hoping when we introduce him to cereal, it will fill him up and he will drop that last late feeding at night and go to bed between 8-9 and sleep til around 7.  Wish us luck!

Eating

He is still exclusively breastfed and it appears to be agreeing with him well :) He is eating every 3-4 hours which usually ends up being 6 times a day.  When he takes a bottle, he can easily down 5 ounces now!  I'm interested to see how he does when we introduce cereal to him!

Weight

He weighs 14 pounds, 12 ounces - in the 50th percentile!

Length

He is 25 inches long - also in the 50th percentile!  He also happens to be in the 50th percentile for head circumference!

Size Clothes

I think it is safe to say he is wearing 6 month clothes.  I am still shoving him into some 3 month things, but they are pretty snug.  I guess it is time to pack those away - sniff, sniff.  He is definitely growing like a weed though - I feel like some of the 6 month sleepers are starting to get tight in length!

Size Diapers

He is very solidly wearing size 2 Pampers Swaddlers!

Hair color

Still just some fuzz, but it appears to be light brown fuzz!

Eye color

Oh those baby blues...I think they are going to end up being like mine and Katie's eyes.

Looking Like

Still Brad's Mini-Me!  Although I have to say over the last couple of weeks I see a LOT of Katie expressions on his face!

Nicknames

Little Buddy, Little Man, Baby Jack, The Dude

Favorite toy

We have a toy that hangs from the handle of his carseat - it is a monkey that plays music when you pull down on him.  Jack loves it!  And he has another monkey toy in his swing that he likes too!  And of course the squeaky lion is a hit.  He still loves the playmat and the swing too!

Firsts

Whew!  There have been quite a few firsts recently!  He had his first trip to Kiawah (outside Charleston), first time touching/seeing the ocean, first bath in the real bathtub (which he LOVED) - definitely a big month!

Milestones

He is starting to reach for things.  Like I mentioned above, he has rolled from tummy to back.  He is definitely making more noise!  I have started saying "mamamama" to him hoping that will be his first word - a momma can dream, right? :)

Anything else?

I can't get over what a happy, sweet baby he is!  I really thought Katie was a great baby and that it couldn't get any better as far as disposition of a baby.  Well, I appear to have been wrong.  Jack is the sweetest - he is so smiley and loves to snuggle.  He loves to stand up and look around (I think the Exersaucer will be making its debut soon).  He loves to watch Sadie walk around.  He tries to sit up!...if you set him on the Boppy pillow, he tries to pull himself up!  He also loves to dance (just like big sis did)!

Here are a few more pictures from recently - is he not the cutest, most pinchable thing ever??!  I know I am biased, but good grief! :)

Always stylin'....

And this is a comparison of Katie at her first Halloween and sweet Jack - they're related, can't you tell!?  He definitely is a boy version of Katie! Katie is obviously on the left and Jack on the right ....

 And here he is at his 4 month appointment yesterday...he thought that mirror was the best thing ever!  He got a great report at the doctor - she couldn't believe how well he was doing with core control...she thought he was about to sit by himself (if he can just figure out how to use his hands to push himself up)!  And we are going to start cereal this weekend - should be fun!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Well it's good to be back!  I haven't done a WILW post in quite some time!  Here's what I'm loving today - and be prepared, they are all from my Pinterest boards. :)

 I'm LOVING this idea for a calendar done with paint swatches!  Think I may just have to try this out...it can't be THAT hard, right?!  Just put them together, paint a cute frame, throw it in there, grab a dry erase marker - and you've got it!

 I'm LOVING this fun craft to do with kids!  We went to the circus the other night (another post coming soon on that), so I think Katie would love to do this!

 I'm LOVING this idea for Easter - a color-coordinated egg hunt!  Each child can only hunt their color...this method ensures one child doesn't hog all the eggs (I would have hated this idea when I was little)!

 I'm LOVING this quote.  And even Brad got a good laugh out of it!

 I'm LOVING this idea for Advent!  Each day, the child glues a cotton ball to the calendar and by Christmas, Santa has a beard!

 I'm LOVING these fingerprint turkeys!  What a fun activity to do with Katie for Thanksgiving!!

What are YOU loving today?? Link up {here}!

Ten Years Already?!

This past weekend was my ten year high school reunion.  How can it be possible that I graduated with these folks that long ago (it was really almost 10.5 years ago!!)...wow.  It was an informal get together at a bar with finger foods and obviously drink if people cared to.  This was the group picture that the school got.  Not everybody had arrived by this point...

And a picture that I had someone take!  I've known some of these folks for over twenty years - whoa!

Cute picture with Jenny...I told you I'd put it on here, Jenny! :) So fun!

And a picture of me with Ginny...so glad she came!

It was a fun time - each reunion I love catching up with and seeing people to see what they're up to.  I'm hoping maybe we won't wait another 5 years until we get together!

This Time Last Year...

A year ago today, I woke up and got this...

 ...and now I have this little guy...

It's pretty amazing how things can change!  I can't believe so much has happened over the last year - I was pregnant, added another bambino to the family, and we have survived it all!  He is such a sweet, happy baby - his 4 month post will happen Monday more than likely. And there will be some other great posts coming - especially about our tour of the Carolinas trip (we were gone for 11 days - while it was definitely a  fun trip, to say I was happy to be home is an understatement)!

K is for Kindhearted

A couple days ago, I was feeding Jack and Katie was playing in the kitchen with our friends. Katherine and Dallas's little girl, Olivia, is about 8.5 months old and was trying to pull up on a little stool. Her momma was right there and caught it before it fell on her (thank goodness)! And before anyone could move it or say anything, Katie picked up the stool, moved it into the closet, closed the door, and said, "There we go...now she can't get hurt!" Definitely a proud momma moment...such a sweet, thoughtful, compassionate little lady.

Sneak Peek: 3 Month Pics

I had Jack's 3 month pictures taken a couple weeks ago ... and he cooperated!! I love how these pictures turned out-he is so full of personality already and you can see that in the pics for sure!

Prissy Pigtails

Katie is so proud of the pigtails today! And I have to say I'm pretty proud of how they look (at least for now)! I might even decide to do French braid pigtails - watch out!! :)