Pumpkin Delights!

After visiting the pumpkin patch, we came home with a ton of pumpkins! I can't resist gourd season. I however dislike carving pumpkins because of the mess. I have enough mess in my life with two little ones running around the house. BUT I still wanted to decorate pumpkins with Molly. This is her first year really getting into Halloween and I love celebrating it. Maggie still has a few years before she'll understand all the fun.

While Maggie napped one afternoon, Molly the Mermaid and I got to work on decorating our pumpkins. I found some awesome Martha Stewart Transfers at the local craft store and pulled out my Kitty Pumpkin Kit that I bought a few years ago at Pottery Barn Kids.

We decorated the pumpkins for about 15 minutes before Molly decided she was all done. I finished them up and had a blast sticking on the bugs and spiders. One of the perks of decorating pumpkins this way is that they last longer and I don't have to worry about rotten pumpkins.

Nine and Ten Months with Mag-Pie

Maggie,

I'm combining your 9 month letter with your 10 month letter because well these past two months just flew past us. The biggest news is that you are walking! You took your first official steps just two days before your 10 month birthday. You've been tentatively taking a few careful steps and then a few fast ones when you forget that you are walking. It's adorable.

You've also moved into your new convertible carseat and while you weren't sure at first, you've started to love it. I love the cute pink giraffe pattern! I had a laugh with your dad after I installed your seat. You see with your sister, I called the Car Seat Lady out and had her install the seat. I learned a lot from her but I now have the confidence and know-how to install your car seat (a Britax Marathon like your sister's!). She is a great resource and I did learn a lot of tricks from her. 

You had your first trip to the Pumpkin Patch and it was a blast! We had corn dogs, apple cider donuts and picked some great pumpkins. You wore the pumpkin suit that has visited the pumpkin patch and were the cutest little pumpkin. 

You also visited Mt. Rainier when my friends visited from England. You were a travel champ and it was a fun trip. I'm looking forward to going back and doing some hikes next year. I'm hoping you'll be up for them by then or at least riding in the hiking backpack. You had a great time with my friends from England and we were all so sad when they headed back across the pond. Next time we see them, hopefully it will be on their turf. 

You love food and have decided that you want to eat all the same food that I do, teeth be damned! I mean you only have two little bottom teeth (though I've spotted your two front teeth trying to come in!) but you eat whole apples and pears like it is nothing. You must have jaws of steel! 

You were a great companion when we moved Grandma from her house to her new apartment. You've enjoyed visiting her in her new home and especially love the attention you get from the other residents. 

You started going to daycare on Thursdays when I work in your sister's co-op classroom and you are doing so well there. Your daycare teacher always has such wonderful things to say about you and I think she secretly wishes that you were there more than three hours a week. I like that you have three hours of your own time a week. You didn't nap there on our first day and then took an epic four hour nap but you've now adjusted and usually take a short nap at daycare. 

You've also started pointing and I must say that the pointing stage is one of my FAVORITE stages. This next month is going to be full of so much fun! We have a trip coming up, you'll start walking more and pointing! I really hope the pointing ramps up. I love you little Mag-Pie. You are still the happiest little baby I've every met and bring joy everywhere you go. 

Forty Three Weeks with Chicken Nugget

We started Halloween early this week! We headed to the Zoo for their Boo-Tastic Celebration and dressed the girls in their costumes. Maggie is a crab to complement Molly's Mermaid desires. I figure she'll voice her own costume desires soon enough and until then, I'm going to take advantage and make the girls dress up in matching costumes. 

Maggie also went on her very first carousel ride! She was not 100% into it but I sure had fun. I'm pretty sure that her love for the horsies will grow quickly. 

Maggie had a fun week but has a wicked diaper rash that I'm hoping clears up quickly. She's been a bit of a 'crab' about it (sorry, I couldn't help myself!). 

Forty Two Weeks with Chicken Nugget

This was a busy week for Maggie with visitors in from the UK who kept her busy, happy and giggling. She did great with a wonky schedule and even experienced her first visit to Mount Rainier. I can't wait to take a family weekend trip up there next Summer. Maggie was a champ for the long car ride and only lost it near dinner time but after a stop in Tacoma to fuel up, she was back to her happy self.

Maggie decided this past week that she only eats the same kinds of food that I'm eating. If we were out having Mexican food, she was pissed when I offered her beans and rice but was thrilled when she was able to have some of my burrito. I guess her two little bottom teeth can really make a dent!

Maggie still isn't taking any independent steps but she walks all over the place while holding onto one of my fingers. She just needs to gain a bit of confidence and then she'll be toddling all over the place. Until then she is like lightening with her crawling. 

Forty One Weeks with Chicken Nugget

The weeks are flying by and soon you'll be a year old. I remember this time last year being so exhausted but compared to this year, it was nothing! Maggie is such a funny kid. She loves blowing raspberries and scrunching up her face. She's so close to walking but just doesn't have the confidence yet. 

Maggie's smiles keep all of us in giggles. She's just so darn happy all the time. She also an apple thief! I've tried eating an apple every day in the past week and she's stolen them all to nibble at them like a squirrel. It's adorable. Sleep is still only OK. I'm working on getting her onto a firmer nap schedule which I hope will help her nighttime sleep. I'd really like to help her sleep completely through the night and have her stop coming to our bed at 2 a.m. It's crowded in there! 

Forty Weeks with Chicken Nugget

Somewhere along the way, Maggie became quite the character. She cracks herself up and loves to toddle around the house. She's not quite walking but she's getting really good at standing up on her own. She moves fast too and loves climbing the three stairs up to our bedroom. 

Maggie had her 9 month check-up and got her flu shot. The look of betrayal on her face was priceless. She got her first taste of donut though because in this house if you get a shot, you get a donut. Except I feel like 9 months is a bit early for sugary donuts so I let her have a bite off my pumpkin cake donut before feeding her some fruit. It's all about compromises. 

Maggie is LOVING daycare on Thursdays and has learned how to turn on the waterworks once she spots me. Such a little stinker! I spied on her last week and she was happy, happy, happy. Then I popped my head in and she started wailing. Her daycare provider and I started giggling because we know that ploy! All in all, Maggie is doing awesome and I promise to post her 9 month letter soon.