Happy Halloween Y'all!!

Howdy Partner.

For his first official Halloween, Eli got all gussied up as a genuine cowboy.  You may remember this outfit from his first trip to Texas.  Yep, that's right, his cowboy outfit from Aunt Anita still fits!  But that doesn't mean it wasn't a little stiff.  Walking, bending his knees, and sitting in general proved a little difficult until he got his costumed loosened up.  It was hilarious.

Has there been a cuter cowboy?

Final preparations

Our first stop was Buzz's house.  All Eli wanted to do was walk in their front door - he had no interest in grabbing a piece of candy.

The dads' attempt at getting the kids in a picture.

Does this count as a first date?

After touring the cul-de-sac with Woody, Jessie, Buzz and Stinky Pete, he definitely got the hang of walking up to the door and grabbing a treat out of the bowl!  That didn't stop him from trying to walk into every house we stopped at though.

Thanks for the candy, now can I come in your house and look out your windows?

We had the best night with our favorite cowboy, great friends and a cul-de-sac full of fun neighbors.  It makes me so happy that Eli will get to grow up surrounded by great families. 

Block parties could get a little crazy up here on the hill.

Happy Halloween Y'all!

Sunday Funday at the Lazy T

It is no secret that one of my favorite things about being a parent is getting to enjoy all the fun 'kid' things in life again....and this weekend's pumpkin patch was no different.

Ryan, Eli and I headed down Zeandale Rd, just east of Manhattan, on the most beautiful afternoon in the history of Autumn, towards the Lazy T Ranch Family Fall Festival.  And, as Ryan asked - Yes, it  lived up to everything I had hoped it would be.

Hmmm...so many choices.

Little help over here?  This thing weighs more than I do.

 For you locals out there, the Lazy T has all sorts of fall fun to offer.  We hit up the Old Barn, Hay Bail Maze, Pumpkin Patch, petting the horses and, Eli's favorites - the Pumpkin Bounce House and this little John Deere gator we found abandoned near the Hedge Apple Slingshot.  We chose to save the High Zip Line, Tunnel slide, Pony Rides and Hay Rack Ride for next year. 

Who needs a pony when you've got a gator?

Eli loved exploring all of the different 'attractions.'

Love, love, love, love him.

How can you not have fun with these two cuties?

Do We Have a Toddler?

Well, well, well...look who's back.  Contrary to popular belief, I have not fallen off the face of the earth - I simply went back to work.  I can tell you right now that I'm going to feel the need to summarize the entirety of the past two months thus creating a disjointed and longwinded novel.  Therefore, I'll start with the present and work as far back as I have the energy  :)

In current news - we have a 15 month old!  While his gross motor skills do not yet meet the definition of a 'toddler' I'm pretty sure his attitude does.

You know that laid-back, chill, go-with-the-flow baby I've written about in the past?  Well, he moved out.

He has been replaced with an independent, sweet yet stubborn little boy.   Don't get me wrong - I love his independence.  Eli, literally, does not know a stranger.  Last week it was the jeweler who Eli wanted to be held by.  The week before that it was the strangers across the aisle on the plane.

He sat on this man's lap for at least 10 minutes.  Then he reached for the lady by the window.  They read a magazine.

He is not particularly bothered by being left with a babysitter or at the nursery.  Sometimes when we are all in the living room he will grab a toy and drag it back to his room to play by himself.  But then....

Come the times when he wants to be held, played with, fed, or allowed to do something he's not supposed to. And when he doesn't get his way? 

I imagine these are the things that are frustrating about being a 15 month old:
- Mom is holding a steak knife.  I sign please.  Mom tells me 'no'.  BUT I SIGNED PLEASE!?!
- I know and can understand 40+ words, but I can only sign/say 5 words.  Why can't they understand what I want???
- Mom and dad spent all those months encouraging me to roll over, scoot, crawl, and sit up.  Now they want me to just lay still to get my diaper changed???  Hypocrites.

Eli backed out on his hair cut last Saturday.  I.  JUST. CAN'T CUT. THEM. 

At 15 months Eli walks with assistance, takes about 6 independent steps, says car, vroom, and truck, signs more, please and all done, has 10 (almost 12) teeth including his molars, has learned to point (and use the iPad).  At his 15 month appointment, Eli was in the 5% for weight and 47% for height.  He wears 6-12 month pants (they finally fit!) and 12-18 month shirts. 

I have this innate sense that naptime is coming to a close - so I'll make it snappy.  Here is a photo summary of the past two months.  Enjoy!

Eli loves to play and is ALWAYS moving!

Freedom!!!

My friends make the cutest babies.

Daddy's old stompin' grounds.  Team Haley Hobbs represent!

He will climb in his chair and read forever - after he gets situated which takes...forever.

Let's pretend he did this for the entire flight.

Oh how I wish this picture had sound.  His 'stories' are the best.

His favorite perch.  So many cars and trucks to point out!