October 27th ~ Fall

My gorgeous trees are losing their leaves so thought I'd take another pic before they're all gone!

My Halloween decor....

and yes...my kitchen behind it is still only semi-painted! Every naptime goes to working on Casual Camera photos! I'm always welcome to painting volunteers though ;-)

October 26th ~ wedding

I only had my little camera so could barely get a photo of Bailey all dressed up for a wedding! It was kind of dark in the reception hall and she kept running everywhere! I have so many shots where I only caught a glimpse of her dress in the frame! lol


Chasing after Griffin


That's better, let them chase you ;-)

See? She LOVES the older kids!

Bailey & Greg after the wedding

October 25th ~ Gramma Teri

Gramma Teri came over for a visit, we'd been missing her!! They had lots of fun together and went to the park giving me a chance for an uninterrupted shower, woo hoo! :-)

First time I've ever seen her get into her baby's cradle!

Reading outloud!

October 24th ~ While You Were Out

I am SO GLAD I decided to paint last night! Greg came home a day early!! EEK! Luckily I was MOSTLY done! I still need to fix up the bed & add a black & white photo to the frame but the general idea was there for Greg to come home & see :-)

Mom & Dad were over today to watch Bailey...Mom took these of Dad & B watching Dora :-)




Greg got sent home from work with this very random kitchen appliance but we put it to good use & I love it! Homemade pizza is my favorite and this cooks it so evenly & very quickly! I even had some feta & sundried tomatoes for my half, yum yum!

October 23rd ~ Ikea day

Greg's gone this weekend for work so I've decided to finally do some decorating to our bedroom! Rachel & I took Bailey and headed to Ikea - right at naptime, not too smart! But she did pretty good despite the lack of sleep! She gobbled up all her mac & cheese, some of Rachel's, a whole thing of fruit and a 3rd of my meatballs! Hungry hungry girl!



Bailey in the cart, she did so well for as long as we were there - thank goodness for a kid's spoon & fork set!

By the way let me just say how much I LOVE how much this store accomodates families! Not only do they have bibs, children's spoons, forks & plates available for use but they have WIPES AND a DIAPER CHAMP in the bathroom! I usually consider myself lucky if they actually have the covers to lay down on the changing table!

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We drove all the way from Ikea to Walmart for paint and ran into Rya, JD & Brezlin!

Rachel painting in a WHITE sweatshirt - crazy girl! When I commented on it she just said "I'm just not as messy as you are" PSH and let me tell you she DID get blue paint on it!!

October 22nd ~ Rosie's

In order to get me a bridesmaid dress that fit my big ol' belly and since her site didn't have maternity dresses, Niki chose her bridesmaid dresses to have empire style waists, love her! Mine came big enough to fit Bailey in there with me! Better to have that problem than have it too small though! :-) So today we were at Rosie's for my dress fitting and Bailey got to play with her kids, she ADORES older kids!
Bailey & Levi, watching Anna & Rebekah



My turn!



She LOVES these cars, remember at the Play Boutique?

October 21st ~

We have the most stunning trees on our street right now! Not many other trees are starting to change color quite yet so when you turn onto our street it's almost a bit of a shock to see this row of rich red-orange trees. Gorgeous, I love it!

And yes, I've given up on keeping Gucci out of the window ;-)


Ok I know this is a horrible food photo and I will definately never make it as a food photographer but they're yummy! Back in the days of our townhouse, Rachel & Greg used to request these enchildas, they are so easy to make & have very "kid-friendly" ingredients (soo not authentic!) so they worked well for those picky guys ;-) I usually use enchilda sauce too but forgot to put it on the grocery list!

Loving Two

A friend recently shared this story with me and I wanted to share it as it was very touching to me. It's referring to being pregnant and expecting a 2nd child. Maybe it's the pregnancy making me extra emotional but it makes me cry every time I read it....

Loving Two

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited.
And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?
Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you've never shared me before. I hear you telling me in your own way, "Please love only me". And I hear myself telling you in mine, "I can't", knowing, in fact, that I never can again. You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.
But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I'm afraid to let you see me enjoying him—as though I am betraying you.
But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.
More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast. But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other. I watch how he adores you — as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments.
And I begin to realize that I haven't taken something from you, I've given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you. I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you—only differently.
And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you'll never share my love. There's enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.I love you—-both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.

—Author Unknown

October 20th ~ Niki's Bridal Shower

My mom & Katie's daughter Mila


Rosie, Cassie & Niki


Me & Katie

Niki, Mila & Katie


Niki & Me


And Mila :)

October 19th ~ Crabbing with Grandpa

We FINALLY had a free Sunday to spend with Greg's dad on his boat!


Greg baiting the crab rings

"wow...wa wa!"



The first crab Greg caught, obviously WAY too small so we had to throw it back. Bailey enjoyed watching from the top and waving "Bye cwabs!"

Watching the seagulls & sealions with Greg


"sit"


She made a desk! :)


Bailey & Grandpa Mark


After a fun day on the bay!

I just love Bailey's chili face! It's mama's latest craving!

October 18th ~ Pumpkin Patch

"clean, clean!"

Getting coffee from Niki's coffee shop

Loving the whip cream