Hanging with Pa

 As we would be spending Thanksgiving in WF, we went to see Greg's side of the family several weekends before and hang out.  Afterall, the at-that-time not named baby cousin would be born before we saw them next time - baby Emma made her grand entrance the week of Thanksgiving.

 Note weather it looks as if Coop is having more fun with the games on the iphone or in spending time with his grandfather.... This little one is always willing to be held and cuddled.

 Another swimming opportunity in the pool... in November... granted, I think the water was heated that day... hope so at least. Baby was very content for quite a while to just lay in the playpen and watch the big kids.  Still too little to get in - they don't even make swim suits that small!

Baby's Sixth

 At six months, I have two teeth and I love to eat. Still mostly eating baby foods but starting with picking up and eating.  Still nursing but I sure test my mommy's patience as I roll all over the place distracted.

 I'm still so happy.  95% of the time.  And of that remainder, 4.5% I'm very easily made happy.  I don't cry with a dirty diaper or not really even to let you know I'm a little hungry.  Still waking up at night most of the time about 3:00 pretending to be hungry - and I have my mommy trained so I get to have a snack and go right back to sleep.  She's even such a sucker that I'm only just now thinking about sleeping out of her bedroom... the playpen got moved to the dining room cause Mommy doesn't want to go upstairs and get me in the middle of the night.  But I have her trained really well because most of the time I just get to lay next to her and go back to sleep.  Daddy gets a little frustrated, but Mommy tells me he's a guy so it doesn't matter - seems guys sleep through all kinds of baby related noises and don't even know they happened!

 I've gotten a little pudgier.  Still only 6th percentile of weight at my 6 month appt (which I didn't go to until 7 mos), but you sure wouldn't know it from my food intake.  We just blame Daddy's side of the family.  I do have some cute little fat rolls though... just not that many.  And I'm holding on to a little dimple every once in awhile.

Daddy's smitten with me - I think it helps that I look like him.  He's glad he finally won in the gene pool.

 I'm rolling and starting to move all over the floor.  Still a little early to officially call it crawling, but I'm been inchworming for a couple of weeks now. Throw me on the floor with some little toys, and I'm a happy girl.

 I'm trying to talk back to all these people - saying mamamama but I think that's about all.  Mommy in her heart likes to think I'm talking to her... ha! Just a noise a like to make.  I'm a tricker - as my big brother would say "being tricky" and all.

 Can you see my little bottom two tooth buds pushing through... just little nubbins but they count.  Mommy thought that would be the end of the nursing, but we're just a good little team, there hasn't been any problems!

 I'm not very picky when it comes to toys - good things my brother and sister leave theirs all over the floor all the time.  They still like to hold me, but, sadly, I've lost my sense of newness and they don't fight over me as much as they used to.  Still so sweet but I'm just part of the group now.

Pics from October 2012 - Six months old sweet girl

Trick or Treat-ing

 This year's plan was to find Cooper a fun costume that could convince him that boys too can dress up - as his initial costume request was princess or pink... Like other dress ups at our house.  This knight costume was found at a resale shop only to be followed by a sword from Target.  A sword pretty much as big as Cooper, but he wasn't having a smaller sword once he discovered the bigger option.

 

Halloween meant the yearly ritual of heading to Friendswood to go trick or treating with our small group. A quick super healthy trip to McDonald - after all the super healthy snacking at school on Halloween (costumes included) and off on a midweek adventure!

 Gavin dressed up complete with tattoo sleeves; Miss Becca was a ladybug

 Nicole stayed at the house on candy duty with her visiting mom - with the newest two week old member of our group little Garrett

 Little Miss borrowed her own little lady bug costume - she stayed busy chewing on light sticks

 Hollyn's fairy outfit; Gavin and his cowgirl mommy; Iron Man, ballerinas, and other crazy costumes

 These kids know how it work - and their parents know that the minute the kids starting acting bored (30 or so) is a good time of take the opportunity to go back home! And then when you get back, start devouring the candy because your mom will tell you to stop pretty soon!

My little monkeys - every day is a costume day in our family

The Pumpkin Queen

 This year, we tried to carve a pumpkin again. In the past, it was Mommy's idea, the kids were interested for 5 minutes, and then Mommy had to keep carving until the project was completed.  This year, as typical, anything that happens at school is fact - so if they do it at school it's a good idea at home too.  They were better this year at helping.  Even though Coop still bailed at the end - both still thought it to be gross.

Yes, that is my child with a knife.

 And then there's Miss Katelynn; ready to just be super cute and oblivious.

 Complete with eyelashes ala Meghan and all things girly

Did I mention that this was the time of the year when Greg kept playing "Nightmare Before Christmas" over and over in the car.  The kids even tolerated the movie once - but Meghan's still singing songs. Good thing it carries over into the Christmas holiday season as well.