Fall favorites

The weather is beautiful and we all love being outside. Pumpkin Patches, hay rides, Burr Oaks and spending time with family sums up my fall favorites. A few pictures that capture those memories.

Musical Soul? Or Future Chef?

I don't think I've blogged about Paxton's love for instruments and music. I was reminded today of his love for playing music when he got out his book Wheels on the Bus, turned to the back to the musical notes, grabbed his piano and started singing away "the wheels on the bus!"
In his toy box in the living room we have a guitar and ukulele that he plays daily. I would say his favorite "top 40's hit" is Justin Timberlakes song "suit and tie." Most of the time he is singing the happy birthday or ABC song.
He also loves to bake and cook. He is involved in cooking most of our meals and we bake at least once a week. Ashley involves him in cooking lots of the meals too. Sometimes, on a lazy Sunday, he makes his own creation for lunch. The picture below is an example of a lunch Paxton made (he spreads the PB and cuts the bananas himself.)!

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Oktoberfest Festival

Hot dogs+funnel cakes+kid rides +beer=an awesome time

This year was especially fun for Paxton because he had his friend Brody to ride the rides with and they both loved the rides. They also spent most of the time running and falling down over and over. They also had to resist the urge to jump in the fountain!
Bennett enjoyed the festival from the Bjorn, we caught him giggling, smiling or drooling most of the time. Even better, Brody's mom is expecting a baby boy which means Bennett will have a buddy next year!

4 months old, how can that be true?

Man, time flies. Time flies faster with your second baby, at least for me it does. Bennett is the coolest baby. He is one happy guy. He is the happiest when he has his eyes on his brother. I would say his newest favorite spot is the Bjorn. He can catch all the action while riding front facing. Also, I have to mention that he sleeps 7:15-6:00ish most nights without waking to eat! It's heavenly. Funny thing is, he doesn't cry when he wakes, just laughs, talks and plays with his feet. Many people say he is starting to look like Paxton. I am starting to see it too. Some pictures of Bennett's 3rd month of life!

We love fireman!

What is better to a 2 year old boy than having a fireman for a dad? Nothing. Often I see Paxton pretending to hold a hose and making a sound like water spraying from the hose "he's putting the fire out!" He plays fire trucks at least 2-3 times a day and chooses "fire truck books" to read over most books. Tonight, at bed, when I asked him what he is thankful for he said "hoses for Daddy!"
At our visit the guys were testing the hoses. Paxton was able to help the guys carry the hoses and he smiled the entire time. The guys were giving him high fives, seriously he loved it. Bennett and I watched the guys do all the hard work.
I am having serious mom guilt because this is Bennett's first fire station visit and I didn't get a picture of him, my excuse is I'm always holding the sweet guy and taking pictures. I will get more pictures of him in the future, if you can pry him out of my arms!!

Zoo

I dreamed about taking both boys to the zoo many times this summer. I thought, I have a double stroller so I can strap both guys in and we would admire the elephants for hours, but then reality set in. The first weeks of Bennett's life he spent crying or nursing so the zoo was out of the question. Now B is happy as a clam to get out of the house and we are too. I think this is what makes this zoo trip so special, we can do these things as a family of 4, we can enjoy it and it will only get better!
When I asked Paxton his favorite animal he wanted to spend time watching he said, "elephants!" We spent lots of time admiring the cement mixer working on the penguin exhibit!

Little B is 3 months!!!

This guy is ticklish, so ticklish everywhere. Even when he is not being tickled he smiles just seeing our faces. There is nothing better than simply making eye contact with your baby and he smiles. If he's not smiling he is talking, I think one night he babbled to my Grandpa for a good 20 minutes.
Bob and I keep saying we turned a corner the minute Bennett turned 3 months. Maybe he is more content, maybe we are better at juggling 2, maybe we are less sleep deprived (he sleeps 7-5 most nights!!)? Whatever it is, it's better! Just last week we took him out of his swing for naps and bed time and put him in his crib, and he slept! Bob sold the swing on Craigslist the next day (he doesn't waste time) and I felt a sad, because we are done, done with a swing, done with a sweet newborn occupying the swing. Just another reason to cherish the time when Bennett is little! Below are Pictures of Little B at 2-3 months!