Pumpkins Galore at the Dallas Arboretum

It's been a long time since we ventured all the way out Garland Road to the Dallas Arboretum.  Too long, in fact!  I really do love it every time I go there, so I'm not sure why it takes me forever to do it.

Anyway, Cami and I picked up Shelley and Lila from BSF yesterday and made our way out to Pumpkin Land.  Lila loved this cool display at the entrance and insisted on sitting on the "big pickle" for her picture.  Ha!

Next, we found some humongous pumpkins!  They must have outweighed Lila by a mile. 

Cami didn't like just spectating, though, so she got out of the stroller and right onto the hay. 

Immediately, I had a flashback from 2010!



Lila didn't have nearly as much hair, but they both share those baby blues, that's for sure!

Cami was a little more serious about her poses than Lila was that day.

It was either the "serious face"

or so much happiness that she just had to clap!

How can this little lady be this grown up? 

Sweet snuggles from this Mama's Girl.

She's getting so much hair!  And it's curly, too!

Memaw and Lila explored the pumpkin and gourd house...

and we all thought the Jack-o-lantern house was super cool, too.

We sure did wish that big brother could have come with us.  He would have liked running through the haybale maze with Lila.  Stinkin' school always gets in the way!

"Hey Mom, is it lunch time yet?"

We found us a picnic table that was close to all the action.  Cami loved watching the birds and Lila kept a close eye on the petting zoo.

After lunch, we sat inside Cinderella's carriage,

and then checked out her horses that were made of straw.

Then we went to pet some animals.  Turns out, Cowgirl Lila is very timid around goats.  Who knew?  It took a lot of convincing to get her to touch this friendly goat.

And this was as close to feeding this one as she got.

She did really like this "furry goat," though!  I said, "yes, do you mean the sheep?!"

After the petting zoo, we set off on a walk.  Lila said, "we're taking an adventure!" and skipped ahead of us in total glee.  We found this pretty waterfall...

and then stumbled upon this neat split-level koi pond.  How cool!

"Wait, Lila!  I want to come with you!"

Soon enough, little sister will be able to keep up with big sister.

We had a wonderful time exploring the gardens and are really going to try to go back next month.

It's just too pretty not to:)

Jammie Party

"Big sister and big brother went to school today!  What should we do?  Go out?  Nah--let's stay in and party down in our jammies."

"You're cute, Cami, but I'm getting kind of sleepy already."

"C'mon, Colby!  You can hang for a little while, right?"

"Maybe if I could sit next to you, that would help."

"Sweet!  My plan worked!"

These two were beyond precious this morning.  Their mommy and I had fun introducing them to each other, and we got some uninterrupted girl time, too.  Bonus!

"Come here my little cuddlebug!"

First kiss!  Love at first sight.

I think he liked it! 
 Will these not be the cutest pictures EVER if these two get married one day? 
It could happen!

Pumpkins, Parties, Football...

all signs point to Fall!  We went to get our pumpkins at the Murphy Road Baptist Church again this year.  It's so close and the kids enjoy it much more than just picking them up at Kroger.

My three little pumpkins sitting on some hay.

Cami even got to take home a pumpkin that was just her size!

"Those big kids can't have this one--I'm planning on using the stem as a teether on the ride home."  And she did.

We got two five tiny pumpkins, two small and two medium ones.  All were pleased.
Great success!

 

When we got home that afternoon, there was a very exciting package on our front porch.  Lila's costume had arrived!  She insisted on trying it on and even had me do her an "Elsa braid," to complete the look.  This kid CANNOT wait for Halloween this year.

Saturday evening we went to dinner with the whole Hays crew to celebrate Uncle Scott's birthday.  Cami loved hanging out with him and Uncle Lyndsie.

And these two were pretty excited about singing happy birthday to him!

On Sunday, I took Lila to a birthday party at Metroplex Gymnastics.  It was such a cool gym and even had this zipline running through it!  Go Lila!  Thank goodness it was a fun place, because her brother was living the life of Reilly.

 

While Lila was partying down at the gym, Jackson was busy getting to watch the Cowboys game.  With his buddies.  On the front row!

These three goofballs cheered their heads off and helped the Cowboys beat the Giants.

Touchdown!  This kid was loving life.

 

 

He came home with a new Cowboys football and shirt.

He and his friends had planned to all wear their new Cowboys gear at school today.  Such a cool night for him.  Maybe next time he'll take me with him!

Baby Boom!

I love babies.  I have always loved babies.  So imagine my total elation when two of my very best friends had babies within a few days of each other!

Baby Colby was first and was born on Oct. 2nd.  I made it up to the hospital right after he was born and his sweet parents let Auntie Crystal hold him soon thereafter.  We were instant friends!

 

I took Colby and his family dinner a few nights later and got to have even more snuggles with this little cutie.  He is SO sweet.  I was in heaven.

 

 

A few weeks later, Baby Dylan made a surprise early arrival on Oct. 14th!  I was at Jackson's baseball game when Dylan's mama called to tell me that they were heading to the hospital.  So exciting!  I made it up there around 10:00 that night, right after he was born, and was beyond thrilled for my sweet friend.  She's such a great mommy!

A few days later I went back to visit him at the hospital and got to hold him for the first time.  More sweet baby snuggles!  Love it:)

As you can see, our baby isn't so tiny anymore.  Tear.

She's loving life, though, and getting to try so many new foods these days.  She's a big fan of cheerios and even got to try a bite of ice cream the other night, too.  Ice cream fan for life.

My babies are growing up too fast!  Thank goodness my friends are still in the middle of the Baby Boom.  It really is the best of both worlds.

9 Months!

This little girl turned 9 whole months today!  Before we know it, we're going to be watching her blow out her birthday candle.  Oh, my! 

She can chill with her feet up,

or sit down nice and sweet,

 

 

or she just might surprise everyone and STAND UP on her own for the very first time!

Who needs to crawl anyway when you can just go straight to standing and walking? 
This little gymnast is also working on her right legged splits.

She's no slacker, either.  Gotta get those middle splits down, too.

She's got two bottom teeth already, but Dr. Betty said she's about to get 3 more on top. 
"Did you tell 'em about my teeth, mom?"

Happiest baby on the block.  As long as her mama is around:)

 

And now for the stats: 

18 lbs. 11 oz. = 50th percentile
  She's still a great eater and has three solid meals a day in addition to her milk five times a day.

28 3/4 inches long = 90th percentile
She's grown almost 2 inches in the last 3 months! 
No wonder she's been outgrowing her clothes like crazy.

 

17 1/4 head circumference = 50th percentile
No big melon head for this baby girl:)

Cami, we think you are perfect in every single way.  You are babbling non-stop and we love it.  You can say bebe, mamama, dadadada and hi.  You love playing peek-a-boo, especially right after bath time, and will laugh right along whenever others are laughing.  Most of the time you start laughing, and then clapping very quickly follows.  You are just so happy!  You started drinking water from a sippy cup and really seem to like it.  Dr. Betty said we get to start giving you Yo Baby yogurt and cheese, too.  I'm sure you'll love both. 

We do need to work on your physical abilities a little bit, but I'm sure in no time at all you will master all of that.  We've got to teach you how to go from laying down, to sitting up, to pulling up to a stand, all on your own.  Lila said she will be your trainer!  I think you are probably planning a big surprise for us and going to hop up one day and run after your brother and sister.

TX-OU - Get your horns up!

 

The Longhorns can't say we didn't try!  We love the TX-OU game around our house.  It's my favorite game of the year.  There really is nothing else like it.  We made queso, taquitos and pigs in a blanket, then smores cookies for dessert.  It was a football feast!  I can't wait to be able to take these three to a game one day.  We'll eat a corny dog at 10am and get in the stadium in time to do plenty of TEXAS! FIGHT! and sing The Eyes of Texas, too.  Lila is a little cheerleader in the making and loved practicing UT cheers with me during the game.  She had the Sound Sack for school this week and it was the letter T.  She loaded up on T items, and wore her Texas Longhorns shirt and hair bow.  She even took the UT bobblehead football player and plans to play the Alma Mater for her class with her horns up.  Love that kid.  Hook 'em Horns!