Costumes and Pumpkins

I truly enjoy the fun that comes along with this time of year. Costumes are just so much fun and my son LOVES dressing up in his with his buddies. He let his friend wear his new ninja costume because he wanted to create something amazing "Super Cowboy Spiderman"! They were so funny running all over.
My other favorite thing to do as a family is carve pumpkins. This afternoon we carefully planned out the designs that Ristow wanted for our scary jack-o-lanterns. He was very pleased with the results. This is the first year that he was really into the goop and I mean "into" the goop. He loved playing with it and making goop soup. We all had a blast.

Chilly Fall Outing

Yesterday we were able to take a "walk" as a family finally and enjoy the 2mile loop at Long Hunter Park. We have borrowed a wheelchair from a friend and I feel some freedom as we are able to get a bit more out and about as a family. It was so much fun and Ristow stopped at every little marker and description of tree to learn about them and find out their names. I think we may have scared away any animals in the vicinity though with Ristow's cheers and announcements of each new tree. I even dragged my feet through the leaves in an attempt at fall leaf crunching. It made me smile and feel great! Though Ristow wanted to ride on the wheelchair with me rather than walk on his own, it was fun. I am so eager for this precious baby to come so that I can start going walking again, I know that this is just for a season and for now I am thankful that it is fall and I can be with my family. For that I am truly grateful.

Great Kid

This morning I had a little bit of a rough time, exhausted and lots of baby pressure on my body. As Ristow and I were waiting for a friend of ours to pick him up and take him to preschool, I apparently fell asleep on the couch. I woke up to Ristow checking my heart with his stethescope and then trying to have his lego guys give me medicine to help keep my eyes open. He was so caring and loving as he says "feeling better now mom?"
I am so thankful for the age he is at right now and how understanding he is with my pregnancy.
He is so ready for his baby sister to come! I think he is also ready for me to be done being pregnant, 2 more months buddy!

The Nursery

Well, after much hard work, we have finally finished the nursery! For a while, the guest bed will stay in there too, so we had to blend it into the room. I am so proud of Christopher and all the hard work he put into this room for his daughter. While Christopher's parents were here this past weekend, Beth helped me to find a comforter set and window treatment to top it all off. She also bought the crib sheet and blanket as a shower gift to us. I absolutely love everything about it and can't wait to spend time with my daughter in that room.

Here are some pictures of the room's progress and the final result!

Here is Ristow's contribution: Dark brown paint on the freshly painted tan wall!

I know he just wanted to help and be a part of it ;)

TaDaaaa!

28 weeks

"Your baby is equal in weight to a Chinese cabbage -- about 2 1/4 pounds. (Length: almost 15 inches, from head to heel.)"

Well, everything is progressing along as to be expected. The baby is getting bigger, I am getting bigger, sleeping less, getting prepared for her arrival more.

Ristow talks about her everyday and has been prone to wanting to pull out his ultrasound pics and seeing pictures from when he was in my belly. He asks how I felt when he was in my belly and if I was "sooo excited" for him too. He is too cute. I am just thankful that he is so excited about having a baby sister, though I know the green eyed monster will probably kick in to full effect once the baby is here.

First Day of Pre-K

Last night Ristow was very serious about his task at hand. He was very determined and needed everyone's input......He was picking out his clothes for his first day at Pre-K. Six shirts were laid out on the floor and mom's opinions seemed to mean squat, Ristow called for reinforcements. Daddy had to come upstairs and help him decide on the perfect choice, so everyone would think he looked like a big kid. After laying out his outfit, very satisfied he drifted off to sleep.

This morning he was up and ready by 7:30am, school doesn't start til 9:30am. Ristow made sure I got a good picture of him rockin' on his first day. He then carried all of his stuff to the car and we were on our way. On the way there he says "Mom, don't forget, my teacher said that parents have to stand at the door and NOT come into the classroom when you drop me off. But, I think I would like a hug and a kiss at the door." I told him that I would try to handle all of that. We got there and he was beside himself talking about all the kids being there and all the things he was going to learn. As we walk in the building he announces very loudly " I'm BACK!" (he was in the three yr old class last year but things were obviously going to be different this year)

As other parents were tearing up or saying how much they hated leaving their little ones, all I could do was smile. I am so proud of Ristow and his independence and I love him dearly, but I have to admit that day one of having some alone time to myself was pretty fantastic. The last three years Ristow has been in the program but I have always worked there too, this is the first time I get to just be the parent. I can't wait to pick him up today!

By the way, he has requested a congratulations party for himself to celebrate his first day of Pre-K. Today, I can't think of a better reason to bake a cake than that!

Star Wars Amoured Assault Tank

Today we used the last of a gift card that Ristow had gotten for Christmas. Since his birthday and Christmas are so close together it helps to save some fun for late summer when he is really wanting something new. We told him that he could pick out a new lego set with his gift card, since he is just really getting into legos. He knew from the start he wanted Star Wars legos.
I waited in the car while Christopher and Ristow went on their mission to pick out his set.
They came out of the store beaming from ear to ear. He had picked out a Star Wars Amoured Assault Tank (for ages 8-14) (with 407 pieces) YIKES! is what I thought to myself.

Upon arriving home we emptied all the bags out onto the kitchen table and decided just putting the guys together would be a good start. Then it was time for Ristow and Dad to head to a birthday party and come back to the Legos later. They arrived home at 4:35pm and at 4:36pm we had started the lego tank.........................4 and 1/2 hrs later........................................



Following instructions and putting together tiny pieces with a 4yr old is pretty much insane, but we patiently all worked as a family trying to make the tank. Well, to be honest, many of the parts near the end Christopher and I had to do and then just let Ristow attach them. Ofcourse the two times Ristow dropped it and the one time I broke it apart didn't help make the project go any smoother. But we can say we successfully put together the tank! We did make sure that Ristow understands that the next time he drops it or takes it apart at all, he is on his own to make something new. That is why we had to take pictures of it, since today is probably the only time anyone will EVER see it correctly put together. But now he has 407 new lego pieces to create new and amazing things! By the way, Christopher is currently asleep on the couch after that Long and Memorable famiy experience.