Fall Festivities

Finally, some crisp weather! Granted, there are still those sneaky 75-degree days in the mix, but we are certainly welcoming the cool air, the morning dew, the heat dial on the thermostat at night, and enjoying the lower sun, the turning leaves and the time we can spend outdoors playing together!

It's been a busy October. We just barely made it to the Pumpkin Farm in time for Halloween!

One event that kept us so busy was the wedding of our good friends, Kerry and Craig. They got married in Houston in the middle of the month and we took a brief family road trip southward about five hours to join in the celebration of their marriage. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful ceremony. We were so happy to have been a part of it, and the kids did great, although they WORE their mother OUT! Luke, being the Best Man, was unable to parent-assist for much of the evening. Thank goodness for helpful friends (I owe Melissa and Kristin each an evening of childcare) willing to love on Mr. Flint while I literally chased Lyla round Craig's parents' enormous (and gorgeous) backyard!
Lyla continues to ask to go "back to the hotel." Why are hotels SO fun!? Flint was not too fond of that portion of the trip. In fact, every time we opened the door to our room, he cried. I guess he didn't like being couped up. We spent lots of time just walking around the halls "exploring."
We finally made it to the Pumpkin Farm on the 29th. Cutting it close, I know! And even then, we only managed to get there about 45 minutes before sunset. In any event, it was the perfect amount of evening sunny and Fall chilly. Lyla totally hammed it up for the camera so she could hurry up, get the pictures done and go play! We did our traditional shot in the wooden stand-ups, posed with some punkin's, then the girly took off to go slide, explore the hay-stack house, old tractors, little pedal-tractors and gawk at the corn maze. Flint had fun throwing various sizes of orange "balls" (yes, pumpkins) around and screaming at the other kids (mostly the little girls playing with each other, who were also doing lots of screaming). He'd seriously just stand there and shriek, all grins, trying to mimic them (or maybe flirt?). When it started to cool off, he became very snuggly and sleepy. That, along with Lyla's need for "her own food" resulted in a pretty quick trip to the pumpkin patch. We had Lyla pick out pumpkins for both Flint and herself, paid, then went across the street to Gia and Pap's to steal some dinner for the starving girly.

Sunday, we invited family over to assist in the carving of the great pumpkins. Whether or not our itty-bitty punkins were "great" is yet to be determined. Lyla designed both pumpkins on paper beforehand and decided what was to be drawn, where, and how big/small/scary/funny, etc. When she insisted on eye lashes for both pumpkins, I suggested maybe just her jack-o-lantern should have them. "But Flint has eyelashes, too. See?" She pointed to Flint's eyes. Too true, Lyla. Too true.

Other photos from October, the pumpkin patch and carving pumpkins are HERE!

Happy 1st Birthday, Flint!

On October 20, 2011, our happy, easy-going, goofy, ball-loving, high-five giving, babbly, screechy, speed-walking, jumpy-dancing, cracker-eating monster, toothy-smiling, big-brown-eyed, finger-sucking, wiggly, busy, hilarious and adorable Mr. William Flint turned ONE!
On his actual birthday, we celebrated by opening gifts from Mommy and Daddy just before Lyla went to school. Later, during naptime, Lyla and Mommy baked our favorite little dude his first birthday cake. Chocolate, chocolate! Yum! Lyla had tons of fun following the directions and helping stir and pour (read: taste). We made Flint a special mini-cake all to himself and used the rest of the batter for cupcakes and a few mini-buggy cakes.

That evening, Gia, Pap, Aunt Shan and Uncle John paid a visit and watched Captain Carb Junkie dive into the messy deliciousness. I set up a backdrop and prepared to snap some photos while he stuffed his face and smeared chocolate everywhere. Much to Flint's confusion and simultaneous delight, everyone sang Happy Birthday and Luke set the tiny mocha tower in front of him, then offered him the first taste. Slowly, but surely, he went to town. He hardly moved from his spot beside his special treat and diligently worked his way through the gooey icing to fistfuls of crumbly cake. I thought surely we'd have to pry his fingers off the cake plate, but he soon had his fill and simply stood up to walk away - Cue Daddy for emergency fast-bath! The boy literally left a chocolate ring around the tub!

Two days later, we celebrated all over again at Flint's First Birthday Party! Per what has now been deemed tradition, he had his first party at Grandma and Pap's house. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful Fall day (Okay, maybe it could have been a little more "Fallish," Texas! But we thank you for the sunshine, though we stayed in the shade as much as we could).

We went with a "ball" theme, since that seems to be Flint's #1 mostfavoritethingever.
Gia bought a small kiddie pool and filled it with several bags of ball-pit balls (I think the count ended up being something like 500). The boy had plenty of practice time in the days prior to the party.

With the ball pit being outside (another favorite) on party day, he was super excited. He rolled around, threw balls, gnawed on balls, swam around in the balls, buried himself in the balls (with assistance, of course) and simply chilled out, as well. He was accompanied by family and some close family-friends. Gideon won the prize, though, for most chillaxed.

Flint was not too keen on the opening presents part. I imagine it's hard to understand something like that when it isn't a regular experience. But with his sister's help, he did his best. We tried to go pretty fast to hold his attention. It's been a week, now, and I can safely say (and my wrecked house can attest!) that he is thankful for all the wonderful toys, books, clothes, and hand crocheted Yoda hats he received.

And again, Flint got to chow down on loads of sugary cake, this time in the shape of a ball! Mmm. Everyone else enjoyed cake balls and brownie balls while Flint shredded his own cakey "mah." Following more playtime in the yard with his besties, the boy crashed for a few hours. I know naps are greatness, but birthday naps must be super awesome. They always seem to last a little longer...

What a day! We had so much fun enjoying our little man. A year ago, I remember not being able to wrap my head around how I could ever love another child as much as I love my Lyla. Well, Flint, you enlightened me! And while I don't tend to think of the day of your birth with quite such fondness (at least all the part before you finally came out), I'd relive it everyday for my favorite little boy of all time. We love you SO much! Happy Birthday, Son-shine!
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More birthday pics (yes, there are more... ah!) in this album on Picasa.

September Summary

Apparently, September has come and gone and I haven't a blog post to show for it.

Oops.

What did we do in September...? Well, according to our 584 photographs:

• We went swimming at Gia and Pap's a few times. With the heat index finally cracking, the pool temp dropped from Giant Bathtub to Pleasant and Refreshing, so we took full advantage. Even on chillier days toward the end of the month, Lyla still stripped to nekkid-bum and hopped in, justifying, "But I want to be cold." She also checked "diving for objects" off her list of water-activities-to-master-this-summer.

• Lyla spent a solid two weeks sleeping in her bed tent, and loving it.

• We had two playdates at Parr Park with our buddies. Flint really enjoyed the freedom of walking around the playground and trying to climb the equipment. It occurred to me, then, that the boy may require his first pair of shoes, which were purchased promptly.

• We hosted a playdate at our house. We played, had sammiches, baked cookies and made some yummy (gross) Toy Story fruit snacks from a fabulous (clearance item) candy-making kit. The process was cool (sticky) and the gummies were colorful (difficult) and cute (painfully sweet).
  

• Flint's spherical toy preference grew to an acute obsession. He easily utters (or screams, demands, whispers, proclaims) the word "muh" (ball) at least 100 times a day as he chases after any number of hard, soft, plastic, rubber, large, medium, small balls all over the house. His favorite game involves taking Lyla's Sky Ball (super bouncy, excellent ball - thanks Uncle Les) to the foyer of the house and marching back and forth along the tile from the front door to the living room, throwing it, retrieving it, throwing it, retrieving it... you get the idea. He is also a huge fan of the fist-size balls that come with so many baby/toddler toys. At any given moment he has at least one clutched in his fist. And admittedly, he has gone to bed with one on a number of occasions.
  

• It rained. It finally rained. We were so enthralled, we took our 100% organic, nutritious frozen pizza dinner (there was broccoli, too!) into the garage for a garage picnic to watch it fall. Lyla was psyched. Flint was confused. I'm pretty sure he had no idea what the wet stuff was, and he tried to run out into it several times, so he had to be confined to stroller-dinner.
  
  

• Aunt Debbie visited. We were really bummed we didn't get to see her as much as we'd hoped, but we did manage one photo (although it's not the best). We will have to visit her soon in Colorado!

• Lyla, having been successfully going to sleep in her own bed without assistance, then staying in her bed all night, earned her very own fish tank. For every night she completed all on her own, she earned a component to the tank. Tank, filter, gravel, plants, rock, "No Fishing" sign, water, water dechlorinator, then FISH! We took her to Petsmart to pick out a new buddy. After only a few minutes of deliberation and much redirection from the foster kitties nearby, she selected a Zebra Danio. On our way home, she decided to name him... I mean HER... "Twinkle Star." A week later, after keeping up the good work, she earned Twinkle Star a tank-mate, "Flower," a florecent pink Danio. So far, both fishies are... well... alive.

• We went to Haydrienne's Lego-themed birthday party! Gideon made raspberry noises for approximately two hours while Lyla tore Haydi's room apart and Haydi read some of her new books. Flint wandered around deliriously, rubbing his eyes and "barking" at the dog.

• Flint turned 11 months! Wow!

• We rocked out.

• And lastly, Emily (that's me) has been trying to get her photo business off the ground. Hence, the huge lag in posts! I'm working on getting a website together and growing my portfolio. In the last few months, I've had a plenty of shoots and I get more comfortable and confident each time. Q&U Photography should be up and officially running in the next couple of months! And perhaps this girl can start making a little dough doing something she really, really loves!

Catch up on our other photos on Picasa!