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.

The Zoo: March 2010

I was a lot more adventurous with Baby Beckett than Baby Hamilton. It probably had something to do with Hamilton's crying every time we went someplace. Beckett, on the other hand, spent his first weeks sleeping and eating. Thus, the following trip to the Santa Ana Zoo happened. Our friends the Lowes, Brandons, and Streets went. Funnily enough, we all ended up having babies in 2010. Mine was the only one "out" at this time, though, which meant the other moms made the trip MUCH easier for me....i.e. no running down Hamilton by myself. Looking back on these photos, I can't believe how much these little guys have grown up in just the last six months!

Sarah and Hamilton holding hands...so cute!

The power of snacks...the first time they are still...

The animal merry-go-round

eagerly waiting for said merry-go-round...

our little hatchlings...

Beckett is Eight Months!

Every month celebration post is beginning the same way: I cannot believe he's eight months! Time has really flown by, which is exciting because fun breakthroughs are on their way, but it's also a little sad because I will miss this extra squeezable, not-so-independent Beckett. Now on to his update...

• He had his first "temper tantrum" the other day. Hamilton took a matchbox car away from him. I tried to give Beckett a baby rattle instead, but he just squeeze his little fists together and made a very disgusted sound. When, he got a matchbox car back, he was back to his happy self. Already a big boy!
• Hamilton has a drop-off playgroup for a couple hours every week, which gives me some alone time with Becks. One day we went to Target. I let him ride in the cart seat for the first time (with his cushy seat cover), and it was the most pleasant shopping experience with kids in a long time. He seemed so pleased to be riding in the cart like a "big boy" and just smiled and laughed every time I talked to him.
• I took Hamilton and Beckett to the park the other day. Hamilton eventually made his way to the swings but was trying to get in a baby swing with tiny leg holes. I explained, "No, we have to get in the other one because this blue one is for tiny legs like Beckett's. Wait! What?! Beckett can ride in the swing!" So, I got to push both my boys in the swings (Hamilton got giant "blast-off's" and Beckett's were baby "blast-off's"). Beckett really seemed to like it, but kept one hand tightly on the swing and the other balled in a fist. It was the highlight of the day and served to undo some contentious moments earlier on. I can't wait to do more and more activities with them together.
• On a sadder note...Beckett got an ear infection in both ears a couple weeks ago, which led to my better appreciating Hamilton's quality of eating whatever medicine is given him. Beckett would make his mouth as closed and tiny as humanly possible. He also refused to eat any solid foods. Consequently, I've experienced more Beckett frustration lately than in previous months. Yesterday, though, he miraculously started taking the medicine no problem and has been eating yogurt. Hopefully, we'll get fully back on track soon.
• He is about 20 pounds now. Carrying the car seat is virtually impossible.
• He lights up and starts kicking whenever Alex comes home.
• He is sitting up better and better...just scared to leave him alone with Hamilton who can cause falls through well-intentioned hugs and ill-intentioned pushes.
• Beckett's still nuts about Hamilton.
• Beckett and Hamilton have been going to sleep in the same room for about a week now (I'd normally tranfer Beckett to the crib when I went to bed). Only one incident of Hamilton climbing in with him, but he did so so carefully, he didn't even wake Beckett up.
• The photos are from Beckett's first official photo session since the hospital. I kind of love the cheesiness of the Kiddie Kandids-brand of photography. We took them while Hamilton was at his sports class with Alex...this made managing everything easier (H is a bit of a camera-hog), but I really could have used him to help make Becks laugh!
• The awesome shoes are from my great aunt Edith Ann. She got similar ones for Hamilton. I can't wait to send her the pics!
  

I know this is technically "catch-up" month, but here are some recent Hamilton moments I had to record before I forgot them forever...

• in a sad, quiet voice after I told him he was going to the doctor: "I don't want Dr. Pang to doctor me. I'm not brave enough." He WAS brave enough, though, and got examined while sitting in a chair by himself.
  
• first words of the day: "Mommy? Is it morning time? Can I get play clothes on?"
• after I told him he was being a good big brother, he laughed: "I'm not a good brother! I'm Hamilton!"
• at the doctor for Beckett...Hamilton to Dr. Pang: "Beckett's sick. He threw up." Why did I even go? He's got it all handled. He also rolled the stool over, "Here you go, Dr. Pang."
• after I raised my voice (not even that much) for him to stop doing something: "You scared me! Mommy say 'I'm sorry'!"
• "But turtles live in the water," justifying why he put a toy turtle in the toliet.
  
• has recognized the number 5 and letter Y while out and about.
• held Beckett on his nap for a whole song at "Mommy and Me" class. So, so cute.
• ok...here's one flashback photo from June...when Hamilton discovered that Mr. Potato Head glasses + Beckett = hilarious
• 

Announcing a Month of Catch-Up

I was scrolling through some pics in iPhoto and realized, "Wow, we've done a lot of stuff I haven't said anything about!" And this, of course, is in addition to that list of posts on the right I said I'd write. Ah, well. Rather than be totally overwhelmed at my inability to document fully my little guys, I am dedicating the month of October to catching up. It will undoubtedly be mainly photo-based. But, don't worry, Becks, the 12th will be totally current and about you and your 8-month-old self.

To begin...

Parenting has a lot of downsides (messy diapers, toys taking over the house, being hit and screamed at, no sleeping in), but one upside is being able to take childhood photos that will really embarrass your teenager. Hamilton, these are for you :). They were taken on Beckett's blessing weekend. The shoes belong to my grandmother; I'll take credit for the sexy legs.