14 weeks

I'm officially out of the first trimester and feeling SO much better! I am morning sickness free. The only real pregnancy symptom I have these days is a heavy dose of heart burn, which I remember well from my pregnancy with Mackenzie. For making it through the first trimester, I am rewarded with close to normal energy levels, being able to keep my breakfast down and the ability to feel the bumps and bounces of this little bean. Those movements are so precious and I can't help but stop what I'm doing and pat my belly to say "hello" back. It's hard to believe this time next year, we'll have a 6 month old little pumpkin to take Trick-or- Treating!

We had the sequential scan last week which tests for genetic disorders and looks for signs of birth defects. So far, the tests have all come back normal . The sequential scan requires a very accurate measurement of the nasal bone and the neck. Our baby was feeling sleepy and wasn't exactly cooperating. This was a little frustrating for the tech ( who was wonderful) but we didn't complain since it meant we got an extra long peek at our growing baby! Just before the tech got the measurement she needed, she pointed out that our baby was sitting on a piece of the cord with it's arms behind it's head and it's feet reclined. I'm glad things aren't too strenuous in there!

I see my nurse midwife again tomorrow and should get the order for the " big ultra sound". It won't be long before we know who this little lounger is!

Fall "Festible"

Samantha invited us to go with them to a fall festival at a church near by. There was a very well organized "Trunk or Treat" with games and candy as well as a bounce house, popcorn and hot dogs! Our friend Jenny and her two boys came as well!

Originally Samantha thought her boys would be Captain Hook and Peter Pan and we thought Mack could be Tinkerbell but the boys decided to go in a different direction and choose to go in a different direction ( as did Mackenzie who ditched her idea of being a dog ( with a leash) for a glittery princess crown ) it still all worked out:

Brock is King Ducky II ( from Veggie Tales) Malachi is a Knight and Mack, the fair maiden princess.

I was surprised at Mack's choice since she is such a tomboy and has never shown much interest in princess. Though she loves her princess gown, she was pretty irritated that her dress was getting in the way of her running and jumping. That little bug loving, puddle stomping, dirt digging girl is still in there.

Pumpkins!

We carved up this years pumpkins and, though it's been to cold to do so yet, we can't wait to put the candles inside for our trick-or-treaters!

This year Mack used cookie cutters and a hammer to create her pumpkin. She couldn't quite work the hammer ( safely ) on her own, but with a little help did great! Here she is picking out her cutters ( this made us think of Aunt Meg and all her fun cookie cutters)

Working the cutters into the pumpkin:
The next day she helped me accessorize my pumpkin:
The crew:
A friend of mine gave me this idea for some fine motor skills. We saved up the kernels for some turkey projects in November.

Extremes

Colorado has the wackiest weather ever! It snows nearly every Halloween. It isn't always a ton of snow but usually enough to make things pretty. But things got started a bit earlier this year. On Monday we had a record high of 81 degrees. On Tuesday night, after a warm fall day it began snowing and on Wednesday we woke up to this:




And this...


And worst yet, this:


Nearly 5 inches fell but , in true Colorado form, the snow was mostly gone by Friday and we were back in short sleeves and the mid 60's by Saturday. Though we definitely lost one tree in our front yard ( and probably the other) we all enjoyed the fun of playing in the snow and cuddling up after words:

My favorite part was when Mack woke up and looked out her window and in an awe struck voice said " *gasp* Christmas!"

Cottonwood Farms

Since we are a few hundred miles too far to visit Three Cedar's this year, we hit the 'net looking for a new place for our annual pumpkin patch trips. Mike found a little farm called " Cottonwood Farms" just outside of Boulder that we think will work well for us! Mack picked out her pumpkin and a few gourds. Mike and I will either scavenge Gram's and Papa's garden for a few pumpkins or grab a few at the store. In any event, here are pictures from our little trip:

It was a beautiful day with a record high of 80 degrees. The leaves here on the plains and foot hills of Colorado are still bursting in fall colors and there was just enough of a breeze to keep us cool!
Cottonwood Farms is snuggled up against the foot hills. Just close enough for some pretty pictures but not far enough into the bigger ranges to be snowy and cold!

Mack and the other kids had fun running through this straw bale maze:
You know I'm always looking for ways to show growth from year to year ( even though my little cheater is standing on her tippy toes)
Mack and Mike heading into the corn maze:
I finally caught up to her enough to grab her for a picture!

Ellie Belly

Ellie has grown a lot in personality and size over the last month. She's now potty trained and knows a few commands like sit, come ( unless you want her to come inside from the yard) , lay and shake. She's doing great with leash training and loves to be around people and other dogs. Of course, she's only three months old so all of this depends upon her mood, too. She's a funny girl, never wanting to miss out on anything. Her favorite thing is to lick the inside door of a dirty dish filled dishwasher. She can hear the sound of the the dishwasher opening from wherever she is- the yard or the house. She is also quite the digger . Though she's learning not to do so, she cannot help but bury every " treat" she gets. We've found doggie treats of every kind between couch cushions, in baskets and under toys. Her prime burying locations are where her pal Mack has already excavated. She seeks those out, reopens the whole that Mack reburies when she's done digging and puts her treasure in the spot. Little does she know that Mack never forgets her own digging spots and her treasure is usually unearth and returned to her with in a day or so for the whole process to begin again.

Ellie has her own routine and her favorite part of it is when Mackenzie is in bed for the night and she gets to hog her half of the couch. That is, unless Mike is home. Then she isn't usually happy with her third of it and takes to the floor. If , by chance, I'm not ready to lounge on the couch after putting Mack in bed, Ellie sits at my feet until I find my way to the couch.

Though it's been so much work and we're any where close to be fully trained, We all agree that Ellie is a great addition to our family. Well, most of the time anyway. After a particularly long dog training day, Mack usually reports " I don't want a doggy" at the dinner table. Not long after dinner, though, the two head outside for some more digging!

The boys are coming!

Samantha and the boys came for a play date last week after Brock got out of school! They had so much fun together , running and chasing each other, playing puzzles , Zhu-Zhu pets and ball outside. Brock was fond of the time out chair and you know that if one kid wants it, so do all the others. Brock got up so Mack snatched the spot and soon there was a three kid pile up:

This was the scene at our house after the boys left. Partly due to a cold but mostly due to the excitement, this girl was tuckered out. I am not at all shocked since she woke up up at 3 am that morning to go potty but mostly to tell me that she had planned on telling Brock and Malachi all about electricity!

Getting in the Halloween mood

With Halloween still 10 days away ( as judging by the 10 little pumpkins left in our Halloween countdown) and since Mackenzie has been loving the dress up stage for several months now, you never know what you might find at our house.
Before this, I went to get Mack from rest time. In place of the blonde haired girl I left there, I found this little bunny casually reading her kids magazine on her bed instead.

This was also the day that Mackenzie told me she wanted 10 pony tails in hair. She also said that when she has hair like Rapunzel, she will still brush her teeth while I put 100 pony tails in:





We received a package full of Halloween goodies which has also contributed to the festivites. Grammy sent a plastic bug kit and glow in the dark PJ's for Mack among a boxful of other things. Here's Mack sporting her jammies:


And Daddy's too ( the hanger completes the outfit. Especially when you're the " best magical laundry helper in the land!" ):

Lovely

Mackenzie has such an extensive vocabulary for only being three. Sometimes I just have to giggle at the things she comes up with. Today while walking and chatting about things we saw around us, she used the words " lovely, extravagant, vibrant, unfortunately, quickly, expensive " just to name a few! She even used them correctly ( The wanna-be English teacher in me is always so proud when anyone uses adverbs correctly) . Unfortunately, since the induction of a certain 3 month old puppy into the family, she's also heard the phrase " dammit" a time or two and that, too, made an impression on her as well. And for the record, she used this phrase was also used with shocking expertise. Thankfully, she ( and the person who introduced the phrase who shall remain nameless) learned a new phrase to say instead. Though she'd only said this phrase twice, it was apparently quite the habit to kick because Mackenzie asks me several times a day " What do I say?" ( instead of dammit she means ). " Oh, yes! DARN IT! "

Snap shot- Take my picture!

Leaves!

While we don't have Michigan caliber leaves, our weeping willow tree did shed quiet a few leaves. So we each took turns raking up the leaves and Mack and Ellie jumped in them.

Our annual leaf angel pic:
Here's last years.
Play time:
Once all the raking and playing was done, everyone needed a rest:

More rocket fun

Mack invited Brooklyn and Kaleb over for a sleep over this weekend . One of the highlights for them was when Uncle Mike got out the rocket. While they enjoyed launching it, the real fun was watching it fall into the open field behind our house and chasing after it once it landed:



After dinner, a bath, jammies and a snack, they all settled in for a movie before bed. Mack isn't quite sleep over ready, she really just loves to cozy down in her bed to sleep but it was still fun having the kids over.

Modern day hieroglyphics

I found this little guy on the storm door the other day . He's so cute that I just couldn't wash him away. Mack's just lucky she did it with her finger and not anything more permanent!

The Greatest Show on Earth!

We had a chance to take Mack to her first circus this week and, though the loud music was a bit much for her at first, she loved it and is already asking to go back again next year.

It had been years since Mike or I had been to the circus and it was interesting to see the changes made with improved technology but it was also good to see that the circus can still be counted on to have the old favorites as well.

Mack with her bigger than she is popcorn:
She also tried cotton candy which she wasn't entirely too impressed with.

Mack's always been sensitive to some louder noises , so this is how she enjoyed the first half of the show. During the second half, she sat in her own seat and snacked on popcorn:
Mack liked the elephant train and also the tigers and horses:
True to their slogan, it's still one of the best shows on Earth- at least it is when you're three! :