Endless Pursuit for the Perfect Christmas Card Picture Take 1

There is a beautiful ginko tree that I walk/run/waddle by each day that has the most georgous golden yellow leaves and I told myself last year....everyday, grab Amelia and get her picture.  Did I??  NO!!!  Well this year I told everyone that I walk/run with to not let me forget.   So yesterday morning, just the right amount of leaves have fallen and just the right amount of leaves were still on the ground and the light was just right and even though I was out numbered and Amelia hadn't had a nap, and I had to wake Bennett up from his I decided to take them and try!!!

So this is where I tell you that Amelia acted like a terrible three year old, kicking and screaming, and she wouldn't smile, or Bennett threw a fit and cried the entire time, or the wind blew to hard or mom had a breakdown because she realized that she was just being a MORON, trying to do this without help, but I won't, because none of that happened!!!

Amelia played and laughed the entire time.  Bennett loved the outside...duh...and giggled, smiled and watched his sister, the sun set just perfect and the wild wind calmed down, mom did not have breakdown, because I figured I could come back the next day, it was literally 30 seconds from the house so it was all good.   I seriously was able to take 200 pictures in 25 minutes.   I went for quantity hoping to get a few good ones.....So these below are a few of the ones we got.   They may or may not show up on a a Christmas card.   I am just glad to have some good shots of the two nuggets together.

5 Months

 

The Big Man, The Benster, Bennett turned 5 months old on Sunday.  Wow, five months....he really  has been growing and changing lately.   The stats....He is 26 1/2 inches long and weighs 17lbs 12 oz...  I only know the exact weight because we were at the doctor this morning for what I though was a terrible rash....turns out he has eczema.   Bless this poor little guy.   He is me reincarnate.   I am truly being paid back in all shapes and forms. 

 

He is cutting his bottom two teeth, hence the hands in mouth.  He chews on them constantly and is a drooling machine.  I can feel them and his gums are so inflamed.   I expect to see a tooth any day now. 

 

 

 

He is sleeping like a champ, eating like a mad man, and is so much happier.   He smiles and giggles majority of the time.   He is pulling up from the sitting position, but topples on over, will attempt to roll, but then realizes it and kicks his hips back to stop himself ?!?!  Hard headed child!!    He is fascinated by his hands and still loves his ABC wall in his room.   He loves to have someone sing to him (bless him that he doesn't know how bad his mom sounds) and will sing along with you.   The outside is one of his favorite places to be and is loving his exersauser.  

 

 

 

Most of his baby hair has fallen out except for the top, so he sport a really tall mohawk or the best comb over EVER.   The new hair is much lighter, and I think it will be dark blonde like his sisters.  He is very wide eyed and always looking....my little observer.   When I think he is asleep in the car, he is just look out the window at the world going by.   He loves his food, all his food, squash, sweet peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, apples, pears, bananas and even prunes.   I am still making it.   I bought $7 work of veggies at the farmer's market and made enough to last us 3-4 weeks and this guys eats !!! 

 

It's a good thing since his formula cost $35 a can!!! I tried switching him back....ha no go, jokes on you!!!  I knew he had a touch of eczema, but after the switch, the following resulted!!!  Talk about making mom feel bad!

 

This was on Saturday....just a few spots....

 

 And this was this morning....not a happy camper.   So not only does he have tummy troubles like I did as a baby, he has his mothers wonderful skin =(.   Poor guy.  So we are all stocked with lotions and washes to combat this, b/c I know it is zero fun dealing with skin issue and cold weather. 

 

 

He continues to change daily and is truly a blessing to this family.   I cannot imagine life without him, even if he occasionally like to serenade us at 12:30 AM with a song.  

And We Made It....

We made it through the month of October and are still trucking...sheesh...this week itself has been crazy !!!

 

Monday we packed it up and headed to Oxford to visit Mollie...the entire gang!!  We ate lunch at Ajax on the square and then visited Square Books Junior, Amelia's request and then stopped at Hollis' Sweet Tooth.   I truly think the Hallelujah Chorus went off when Amelia walked in.   Girlfriend, stopped in her tracks and just stared around and whispered "whoa"

 

 

We had trouble convincing her that these were "real" M&M's because of of all the colors.  

 

 

Once she figured out that they were she decided on the "dark purple, light purple and pink!"  Really what more could a girl ask for...chocolate in her favorite colors???

 

Big Man just hung out while we shopped...he didn't protest to much as long as we let him check out a few ladies ever once in a while.   Seriously, this guy likes his ladies....such a flirt!

 And just for a little random October happening...someone got some snuggle time with Otis...or it should be the other way around.   Otis got some inside and snuggle time.   He was a happy camper.

 We hit up HOOT (Haunting of Olde Towne) with our friends Mary Virginia and her Mom and Dad and had a blast on the bounce houses, carnival games and hayride.   This was a last minute thing, but so glad we did it!!!  The girls had a blast.  However this picture does not convey that.   We decided they were not happy with the wait for the hayride, or were seriously discussing something

 

After letting my plants go this summer...hmm can't imagine why I didn't get a chance to water those suckers....I am proud of my "purple theme" pots.  Hopefully they will survive.   Who knows I may be able to keep plants alive after all.

 

 

 

Amelia had Trunk or Treat at School on Tuesday.   This was new for me.   I think I did well decorating my car, but some people "really" get into this.   It didn't matter, this kiddos could care less...just as long as I had candy to give them!!!

 

They are all lines up and ready to go....She is the Cheerleader!!! After spending Monday at Ole Miss, she wanted to wear her uniform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We carved Pumpkins last Friday night, but before we carved them, someone had them play dress up....this totally cracked me up...especially the cheer pumpkin!!!

 

 

And we finally made it to Trick or Treating.   We are fortunate to live in a small town where we are able to go house to house still (which is dying off slowly and it makes me sad) to trick or treat. 

 

My mermaid, with purple hair and "fancy make-up" 

 

 

 Best shot I got of her all night....I really think she has been training because she ran for what I know is a mile, then walked really fast for the next mile.   She crashed I had a piggy back for the last little bit.   Needless to say we both had Halloween hangover this morning.

 

 

Oh and where is the Big Man's costume....He had it on and I totally forgot to get a picture.   He was a skeleton or Lazy Bones....I will post the next time he wears it.   

 

And finally, Amelia made the discovery of all discoveries today....Tootsie Pops have chocolate in the center....If only I could have recorded the excited when she found it!!!

 

 

So that's it....we made it through October.   November starts, and things pick up even more pace, but that is completely okay.   We love this time of year.