Happy Halloween

Yuck, what a cold and rainy Halloween we had. We decided not to take you boys out, but instead hung out at home with Zsu Zsu, Paka, and TseTse, passing candy out to the trick-or-treaters. Don't worry, you still had a chance to dress up too. Plus, last weekend we took you up to General Butler to go trick-or-treating with your cousins. You boys absolutely loved the wagon your daddy made for you. You were squealing and clapping your hands all night while we trick-or-treated through the camp ground.

We also let you "help" us carve the pumpkins. Wiley, you didn't seem to like the feel of the goop of the pumpkin, yet you couldn't help but to keep reaching in it to feel it again. Ryan, you quickly realized the pumpkin was something new to make noise and music with; you pounded on the side nonstop.

It's so fun experiencing all these firsts with you boys. It's been a fun month of October, enjoying the fall season and your first Halloween.

 

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11 Months

Wiley

• 17 lbs 2 oz; you are in size 3 diapers (starting today! they look so big!) and finally wearing 6 month clothes. You are growing quickly though and it's clearly you won't be in this size for long (this will be the first size that probably doesn't last us more than 4 months!)
• No teeth yet, but I'm sure they'll pop up any day now. You slobber as much as your brother now and are biting hard on everything you can.
• You like to let go when standing; you can stand alone now for several seconds at a time now
• You have taken your first steps already! You used to only take steps to me or daddy, but you are becoming more daring. You have taken up to six - eight steps across the living room when trying to get to your toys now.
• You like to show your distaste for food by blowing raspberries and spitting it back at us. You have seem to grown more picky with foods in the past month or so. You really don't seem to like any "dinner" foods (uh-oh -- did you get this picky trait from me?!) and vegetables are hit or miss.
• When we say, "Yay! Clap Wiley!" you throw one hand into the air, grin, and twist your hand around.
• Your smile still lights up the room and warms all hearts. You continue to smile with mouth and eyes. It's our favorite is when you are just sitting and playing in your own little world, look up and make eye contact with us, and give us one of your brightest smiles.

Ryan

• 15 lbs 2 oz; you are in size 2 diapers and wearing 6 month clothes.
• You have two teeth! Your bottom two teeth came in a couple weeks ago. Thankfully, this first round of teething really didn't seem to effect you too negatively at all. There was really no extra fussing, just a lot of extra slobber!
• Last month, when we'd try to get you to stand alone, you would squat, refusing to try! But now, you will show off your skills and can stand alone for several seconds.
• You aren't quite ready to take those first steps yet, although I know you could. You walk one handed, hardly holding on with your toy walker. Just like crawling, I know it'll be in your own time when you are good and ready. You watch Wiley take his steps and I just imagine you taking notes and analyzing exactly how to do it. You can tell you're getting ready to walk because now you crawl with one leg hiked up, ready to stand up. You can get yourself to a stand from the floor too.
• Although your weight still doesn't reflect it, you are our eater. There's not much you won't eat and even when it's not your favorite, you usually eat without too much fight.
• When we say, "Yay! Clap, Ryan!" you immediately start to clap and shout.
• You still just love music and it brings a smile to your face every time you hear it. Any song, hum, or even just a beat, you start to bounce, clap, and sing. We were bouncing the ball the other day and caught you dancing to the rhythm of the bounce.

I just cannot believe that in one month we will no longer have babies in our house! This has been an insanely fast, but fabulously fun year.  You both continue to amaze us every day with all you learn to do. It is so fun watching your personalities develop and seeing how what you have in common and how you are different. I don't know how it is possible, but we continue to fall even more in love with you both as time goes on.

Fall Break

We made it...fall break is here! One whole week off to snuggle and love on my not so babyish-babies! Today we celebrated and kicked off fall break at a local orchard. It was so nice; we basically had the place to ourselves. While there you both experienced your first hayride, corn maze, and pumpkin picking! It's safe to say you both loved it; Wiley you were all smiles and Ryan you were shouting all day with excitement. What a fun way to start our week together!