To Grandmother's House We Go...

One of my favorite places in the world is my Grandma Snyder's house. It is the only place that still truly feels like home. Hamilton loves it about as much as I do. He makes his "rounds" as soon as we get there: toy chest, glass "aquarium," water cooler, Asian stress balls, books, and a turtle he is forever trying to make a home for in the toliet. His "Doodie" is one of his favorite playmates, which gives this mommy a lovely break, as well as a chance to see the generations surrounding me finding so much joy in each other. Sometimes we're lucky enough to be there the same time as my aunt Tracey, postcard writer and imaginative playmate, yet another favorite of Hamilton and mine.

I should have been doing laundry, packing, and cleaning, but how could I possibly turn down the opportunity to spend the day in Fullerton? I'll be up late tonight to make up for it, but it was (no surprise) totally worth it.

There was lots of reading (new books!).

There was the gifting of souvenirs from their recent Germany and San Antonio travels.


There were lots of smiles and silliness...

including ridiculous hats that made "Taco Tuesday" lunch even more delicious.


There was a very happy Beckett who took TWO naps to make up for a rough night.

Of course, there were also moments when everyone needed to be reminded about having good behavior...

but they didn't last too long.

Thank you Grandma and Tracey for another wonderful day spent on Ladera Vista Drive.

Beckett is Nine Months!

Every one of these post titles ends in an exclamation point because every month has gone by so fast. Little Becks has now been out in the world longer than he was in my tummy...wow (for time going quickly and for how looong pregnancy is).

The Stats:

Head circumference: 46 cm - 75%
Weight: 20 lbs (feels like more) - 50%
Height: 29" - 75%

Hamilton, who spent his first year <25%

The Happenings:

• He loves to eat. I am much more adventurous with him then I was with Hamilton. It also helps that Beckett gets upset anytime someone is eating and he is not, which is how he gets to sample more food. I have already been giving him bread regularly, trying to avoid another "bread is for ducks!" kid. Right now the Costco "hot dog and drink" $1.50 special fits us perfectly: Hamilton-hot dog; Beckett: bun; Kate: Diet Coke (although hoping to kick that habit...)
• On a related note, he is wearing 12-18 month clothes!
• Lest you think he is only ever begging for food, he has generously fed me one of his Gerber stars.
• Like Hamilton, he also likes to develop ear infections surreptitiously. We discovered infections in both ears during his last well-baby visit. Fortunately, we were able to use different medication, so no icky diapers and food strikes this time around.
• I love to watch him hold objects and study them. He especially loves phones, keys, and remotes.
• He continues to smile easily.
• He sleeps swaddled in one blanket while cuddling a second one over his face.
• After a long day of wearing clothes, he loves being in just a diaper. As soon as the last article of clothing comes off, he is smiling, kicking, and laughing.
• "Brother Bathtime" is also a highlight. He is splashing and kicking more, which only (unfortunately) encourages his brother to do the same. We're working on explaining that whole "double standard" thing to poor Hamilton...
• Beckett lights up when Alex gets home, whether he sees or hears him first. Lately, he's been trying to steal more solo parent time by refusing to go to bed or getting up after only a couple hours. Last night, he joined me and Alex for dinner. Luckily, he's pretty cute, and we like some alone time with him too.
• His naps are going well...and without the aid of a swing. He is using the green striped blanket Trav left behind...it's a sleep inducing miracle.
• He is saying "mamama," and I am pretending that he means me when he says it. Although, I may not be imagining things, as he called "mama mama" to me when he was in the high chair watching me make him lunch.
• As much as I hate to admit the possibility that I have another Daddy's boy on my hands, he is also saying "dadada."
• He can clap! It's adorable. And he learned it all on his own...just suddenly started doing it one day.
• When he is happy or excited about something, his hands and feet rotate around.
• An upper tooth has broken through his gums.
• No mobility happening as of yet, but a sitting baby is a great (easy) phase, so I'm not complaining. Unfortunately, though, his big brother knocks him down about 10 times a day.
• Signs of his emerging "big boy" status: the bouncer, swing, and exercise mat are on their way out.

Post-bathtime photo shoot:





Hamilton's request to look at this picture: "I want to see Beckett angry."


Guess who originally had the toy?

Halloween III: Then and Now

Halloween II: Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

We went to two small pumpkin patches this year, one with "Mommy and Me" class and one with our friends the Brandons. It's less about purchasing pumpkins and more about feeling like it's fall (remember we live in one-season-weather) and having fun with the kids. I hope we can make this a yearly tradition...and that next year we won't let traffic dissuade us from going to a "real" pumpkin patch.

Climbing to the top of the slide...the little kid who went up first couldn't get over and caused Hamilton to slide all the way dooooown the ladder. Poor guy. I attribute that to the fact that Hamilton refused to go down the slide once he was at the top. Ok, and it was also pretty high up and steep.

A contemplative moment in the bounce house...

At pumpkin patch #2, which was in a mall parking lot, seriously. We're city folk, ok?

Helicopter ride with Kieran (so glad they made it off these rides alive!)

Driving his own car...and it's even green, his favorite color. Bliss, baby.

Halloween I

I just created a "Halloween 2010" album on iPhoto...choosing my favorites from all our festivities this month...there were 47 photos! Yikes...far too many for one post! What to do? Well, if Halloween the movie can have a dozen sequels, then I should be able to have a few post sequels of my own. So, here's the beginning...with my reserving the right to post more.

I should preface the following photos by saying that kids make Halloween awesome...even if you've been a big Halloween Scrooge for most of your life. Hamilton counted down to Trick-or-Treating for most of the month, even spending a week refusing to go anywhere without his jack-o-lantern basket. I don't think he was disappointed when the real deal finally came around yesterday. And one of the first things he asked about this morning, of course, was his candy.

Costume #2: Couldn't resist the muscles...Hamilton is clearly loving them as well. The costume, though, looked much more complete with his blue Converse hightops.


My little pumpkin...


Alex and I actually dressed up! Miracle. We wanted costumes that went together, but our options were severely limited by the fact that 90% of women's costumes are slutty versions of the costumes you're actually looking for....from Cinderella to Hermione. I had forgotten, until we bought them, that my sister-in-law was Alice last year...a really perfectly cast Alice, so I feel a little lame, especially since (6 weeks post-baby) she wore that costume again this year. Though Alex's Mad Hatter did win "Best Costume" at the party we went to, and I'm certain my Alice played a role in that.

I learned a REALLY easy way to embellish plain t-shirts. All my boys got one for Halloween. Here's "Boo Boo Beckett's" romper that goes perfectly with his Frankenstein socks....
Hamilton and his buddy Stockton getting excited about Trick-or-Treating. Kieran, the third musketeer, is transforming into a shark off camera.
Trick-or-treating at Rosie's...
Yes, my boys all had two costumes (for the record, only one set was purchased this year). Look at my little dragon...between afternoon church and Halloween festivities, he was a goner by 7.
What?! A picture with me in it?! Miracle. Thanks, Tami, for giving me a break from being the family photographer. I love this shot of me and my crazy Hamilton. And, as my cousin Jenny pointed out, it is pretty awesome that we can wear shorts on Halloween night!


Disclaimer: I KNOW Halloween fell on a Sunday this year, but how could I resist?? And, if we went with friends from church, isn't that like an extension of church meetings? Let's say, yes.