Baby Shopping

I think she picked a good one!

Aunt Melly

It was so much fun to see Maggie interact and begin to form relationships with some of my extended family members. In particular, Aunt Melanie was where all the Fun was happening.

Example A: The horse farm.

Example B:
This series of pictures may seem like a sweet lady singing and dancing with a toddler. But really they were doing the "No Way Dance" together. (Chanting "No way! No way! No way!" is the sound byte you're missing) Fortunately, I believe Maggie was convinced it was a game and not an act of defiance.

We Did It!

I feel as though we (I) are finally starting to emerge from the fog. Don't worry, it only took seven months. A month ago it was a rainy, gross Saturday and Gary and I couldn't face the thought of being cooped up in the house all afternoon, so we packed up the kids after Maggie's nap and headed up to the mall. It was a wonderfully fun afternoon as a family, full of great memories. As we sat down after the kids went to bed that night we both looked at each other wide eyed and said something to the effect of "We did it!" As in, we did something that normal people do on an everyday basis without melting down (parents or kids), and actually having fun instead of just completing a task and saying "Phew, that's over." It was revolutionary.

Two weeks later we set out on a little bigger venture as we traveled down to North Carolina to spend a long weekend with my grandparents and some of my extended family.

The result at the end of the trip was the same - a thrilling "We did it!"

Keeping with my M.O., I did not take nearly enough pictures. Fortunately my Uncle Doug supplemented a few...but there are still some significant people missing. Namely, Huge Papa.

On Saturday we went out to the farm that my Aunt Melanie and her husband Phil live and work at. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful farms I have ever been to. They raise miniature horses and beagles (yes, this is a true story), and Maggie was just about in heaven.

Documentation that we were indeed all together:

Howie and his cheeks were quite the hit.

I have no idea what I'm telling Maggie here - likely to take her hands out of her mouth...a habit that we are not too keen on her forming.

That evening my Uncle Jon, his wife Maryam and their daughter Sophia joined us. Maggie truly loved having someone that enjoyed coloring, eating and watching TV as much as her.

Maggie loved helping Mamaw around the kitchen. And by helping I mean causing her more work. At least Mamaw knows what's been hiding in the back of her cupboards now.

It was all-in-all a great getaway. We are already looking forward to our next visit!

"It's Christmas!"

Maggie was a little confused at first with all of the Halloween festivities.

It did not take her long to warm up to the idea of walking door to door to get candy, though.

By the end of the evening she was yelling, "Happy, Happy Halloween!" every time a new group of kids came to the door. Then the older kids started coming, with not so fun costumes. After Scream and the Joker showed up, every time the door bell rang she would start, then say, "Maggie not go to door this time." I don't blame her.

Howie completely missed everything due to a late-set nap...which, considering the wet, cold weather, may not have been the worst thing.

Let Me Out!

Male Bonding

I'm sure this the first of many Sunday afternoons I'll find these two fixated on the tv together.

Fred

This is our pumpkin, Fred. Washable crayons have made him quite the hit. (Read: She was NOT a fan of the happy face I drew. He is now faceless.)