Fast paced Fall

I don't even know why I'm typing this right now, because I should definitely either be in bed or editing some images, but I hate being behind on our own family's pictures and and blog, so here it is.

I was just confirming a session for next Friday when I realized that next Friday was Nov.1st!  seriously?  It's no secret that our Fall has been busy and I was admittedly pretty melancholy when I realized that it's almost over.  But then - I pulled up my cell phone pictures and opened up my "October" family photo on our computer and realized just how much we have done!

We've been to a Yale Football game and had pumpkin beer.

 I flew with Eloise to TX to be a bridesmaid in a dear friend's wedding:

Andrew showed this to Adalyn and she said Mommy was a princess....awwwww

We started Eloise on Baby Lead Weaning since she won't take purees:

I packaged a million  bajillion prints for clients in our living room.

Went to our church Fall picnic (in the rain, but hey) where Adalyn had her first pony ride. (by the way, these 2 images are from Andrew's iPhone which takes waaaaay better quality images than my Andriod in case you're in the market)

And found the time to take images of my big girl after a playdate at the park one day.  We have a giant wall space above our couch in the playroom and I cannot make up my mind what to do with it, but I think I'm going to make one of these BIG  :)

"Adalyn, you can't have ice cream if you don't sit still for one minute and let me take your picture".  For real. 

ahhh the "cheese" face makes it's appearance.  hehe

But then I got this:

And just this Sunday, we had out "Fall family fun day".  We were supposed to go real pumpkin and apple picking at a local farm, but a conspiracy by our 2 little girls in which they were both up one after the other ALL Saturday night, lead us to just choose the easy Stew Leonards pumpkin patch and hay ride.  It was enough.  Definitely enough.

And the light was SO beautiful Sunday evening and since it was my day off and I didn't have a session, we stopped at the local park to take a few of the girls and went on a family run.  It was just about 3 miles and I realized that whoah, I can't run like I used to.

 


I took the cutest pictures of Eloise IN a carved pumpkin.  You'll have to wait for those, but here are the cell phone pic "before"s.

Yesterday, as part of a Newcomer's group in our town, we went to an outdoor Halloween party.  Yes, the girls are mermaids, though I kind of slacked on putting the costumes really together.  Oh well.  Still cute.

Don't think any words are necessary here, except that I am so, so proud of how brave she is.

And then just this morning, we went to an Enchanted Castle with our other playgroup.  This of course meant missing CBS, but man, she had such a good time.  I only wish she was more familiar with the Disney movies...will have to work on that.  ;)

Oh, and how I forget this gem:  On our way home from the Enchanted Castle, we were stopped at light right in front of Wendy's.  Without hesitation, Adalyn said,

"I need to go to the chicken nugget house pleeeeeease!".  How could I deny her?

Eloise Joyce, 6 months

6 months, whaaaaaaat?!!!!  I seriously can't believe it. You are inching (almost literally) towards toddlerhood and can hardly handle it.

New this month was perfecting your sitting up.  You are getting so good at it, and can hold it for a full minute unless you try to reach for something.  And I know you are 1 week past 6 months at this point, but just this week, you began to get up on all fours and rock!!  I know that crawling is coming soon.

You handled your shots like a champ at your 6 month appt and weighed in a teeny 13lbs 9oz.  I apparently was waaaay off when I claimed you to be 15lbs at 5 months, but it does make me happy to know that our scale at home overestimates ;)

This brought you down to the 5th percentile in weight, and although I didn't get your percentile in height, your doctor did comment that you were tall at 26 1/2 inches.  Speaking of weight, you could use some more, and we started you on solids foods, but you aren't really taking to them.

Besides  your first attempt at rice cereal, you haven't eaten any food since.  hmmmmf.

Here is the video, shot by your daddy.  I unfortunately forgot to tell him how to refocus, but I still love it.

You much prefer to nurse about a bajillion times a day and currently, about 2 times at night.  And when I went to a wedding on Monday, you refused the bottle for about 2 hours which gave me a minor heart attack.  As of today, we've tried breastmilk with rice cereal, formula with rice cereal, apples, pears, sweet potatoes, a banana (Baby Lead Weaning Style), and I bit of avocado.  You will have none of it, and I guess I'll just give you some more time.  

I've already mentioned your waking at night, and for this reason, you are still in our room, and most nights, spend 11:30-3am in our bed!  I just fall asleep nursing you and don't ever put you back until the 2nd wake up.  WE have work to do here, but it's just so easy to let you do what you please.

Oh my dearest Eloise, I will be honest and say that when I was pregnant with you, I didn't know how I would be able to love another human as much as your big sis.  Well, I can't even explain what you mean to all of us.  My love for you is to the moon and back, and you and your sister - our sweet little family - is the most perfect thing on this earth.  You have my heart little angel, and always will.  I'm not sure how old you'll be when you first read this, but if you happen to be a teenager that gets into trouble, just know that you can melt your daddy and I with your smile.  :)

Your eyes are still big and blue, and you are getting more and more hair everyday.  It appears to be a very light brown, but I'm still always shoving a cute headband on your head....and sometimes, pearls around your neck ;)

Ellie belli boo bear, you are the perfect addition to our family, the cutest (and most patient) lil' sis, and I CANNOT imagine our lives without you.  Hands down, this has been the best 6 months of my almost 29 yr old life thus far.