Halloween Fun

This year Halloween was on a Monday, so all of our friends got together at the Traylors place on Sunday night for a fun Halloween party! Everyone dressed up and had a great time! This year, Robert and I were Thing 1 and Thing 2, Owen was the Transformer Bumblebee and Peyton was the littlest pumpkin in the patch.

A family pic before heading over

Owen and Madeline

 Sweet lil' pumpkin

 A group shot of all the kiddos- Emerson the Bee, Ruth the ballerina, Madeline the pumpkin, 

Peyton the pumpkin, Owen the transformer and Jovie the duck

 Whats a halloween party without a bonfire?

 ...and s'mores?

 And of course we all spent time cuddling each others babies! Here I am with Jovie

Class Halloween Party

Owen's Pre-K class at Washington Street Preschool had a Halloween Party and Parade the Friday before Halloween and the kiddos got to wear their costumes to school. It was so much fun to be in the classroom with Owen and his friends, to see all of the kids showing off their costumes and to parade down the streets in Old Town!

A few of the boys check out Owen's BumbleBee costume

 Miss Rosie tries to help get a class picture

 Parade time!

 Listening to a Halloween story

 Cupcakes and Halloween treats!

Announcement

Peyton's Birth Announcement-

Pumpkin Carving Time

And here are pics of the fun we had with the pumpkins we picked out of the patch :-)

Later, we added a pumpkin for Peyton :-)

A Pumpkin Patch

This year I wanted to take Owen to a pick-your-own pumpkin patch...you know, the kind where you take a hay ride out to the patch to pick your pumpkin from a muddy field? Unfortunately, all of the pumpkin patches around here had their crop significantly damaged by hurricane Irene and the tropical storm that hit at the end of the summer. We were still able to find places with "pickable" pumpkins, but the pickin's were slim :)

We had a great time none-the-less, and Owen was really excited to get to go on a hayride. Earlier in the fall when we went to Cox Farms we didn't go because I was pregnant and since the ride is so bumpy they don't recommend pregnant woman ride. Not wanting to go into labor at Cox Farms, we heeded their warning. But when Owen found out Shlagel Farms had a hay ride, he was ecstatic to hear mamas with babies were allowed to ride as well.

Checking out the baby pigs

 Little pumpkin head slept the whole time

 Heading out to the pumpkin patch

Growing Peyton-2 weeks

October 20th Peyton turned 2 weeks old! Here are some stats from her first two weeks-

10/6/11 (Happy Birthday!)
Weight- 6lbs 5oz
Height- 19.25in
Head- 12in

10/8/11 (Leaving the hospital)
Weight- 6lbs 1oz

10/10/11(First trip to the doctor)
Weight- 6lbs 7oz
Height- 19in
Head- 13in

10/20/11 (2 weeks old)
Weight- 7lbs 14oz
Height- 20.25in
Head- 14in

At 2 weeks Peyton loves to sleep and eat and poop :-) She has been gaining weight like a champ ever since we left the hospital and she soundly sleeps in her stroller and car seat while we run errands. She loves her pacifier and her swing and also loves to cuddle. She sleeps best when being held and swaddled or cozy in between mommy and daddy at night.

Peyton is a baby on the go already, having gone out to eat for the first time at just 4 days old while we were out in Old Town. She's also attended Emerson's dedication and picnic and has entertained numerous visitors over the past 2 weeks.

Taking an idea from her friends, we're going to try to do growth pictures with Elle the elephant over the months :-)

Here are Peyton and Elle at 2 weeks!

Our First Weeks Together

We left the hospital on Saturday morning, October 8th and were ready to start our adventures as a family of four. We always laugh thinking about the anti climactic departure from the hospital that leaves parents baffled that "they're just letting us leave with this fragile little life?" No one checks the car seat to make sure its installed properly, no one makes sure the car is in running order, no one cares if you have a crib or clothes or diapers or the knowledge needed to take care of this itty, bitty person; You simply get wheeled out, pushed away from the safety of the hospital into the overwhelming world of parenting!

And yet, somehow we survive...thrive even :-) For us it was first with the help of Grandma Bonnie, Grandpa Steve and Aunty Laurie who were at our house waiting to greet us. In those first days they cooked us dinners, kept us company, held the baby, entertained Owen and even gave my house one last good cleaning before leaving. God Bless them! Then it was our very dear friends who each took a turn bringing us wonderfully delicious meals and took time from their days to visit with us and love on our new family. God Bless each one of them for the blessing they were to us in those first weeks. And next it was Grandma Donna, Grandpa Bill and Aunty Sarah who came with excitement and gifts and again gave us (and Owen) much needed quality time. God Bless them! I guess it really does take a village :-)

Home from the hospital 10/8/11

 Just another day at home (10/10/11)

 Peyton ready for her first outing 10/10/11

Ready to go walk in Old Town

Peyton slept in the stroller and enjoyed the beautiful October weather

 BIG BROTHER, little sister

Owen & Peyton in Old Town at Emerson's dedication picnic

Peyton likes to swing (and her paci too)!

Beautiful baby girl, 2 weeks old

And my helpful little man

Peyton meets Grandpa Bill... 

 ...Grandma Donna

 ...andAunty Sarah

What a busy first 2 weeks this little girl had! Welcome to our life sweet little one!