Pumpkin Guts, Jack-O-Lanterns, and Halloween

The day before Halloween we decided to cut open the pumpkin and allow Makenna to help scoop out the pumpkin guts. She didn't know what to think of it at first but then she kept putting her hand back into the pumpkin and smiling. I think she enjoyed it!!


After Makenna was finished playing with the pumpkin guts, we decided that we would scoop out all of the seeds and make a Jack-O-Lantern. Every year we try to think of an interesting design, but aren't that creative to think of one ourselves so we usually use the internet to inspire our design. This year Toby wanted to make a cannibal pumpkin, so we had bought a small pumpkin and a larger pumpkin for this design. With a quick search online we found a few pictures of cool looking Jack-O-Lantern pictures and used that to inspire us before we cut our pumpkin. So without further ado, here is our Jack-O-Lantern:

I decided to make Makenna's costume because I wasn't happy enough with any of the pre-made costumes in the store. I was a little nervous to make it, but after a lot of time, thread, and fun/frustration I think that it turned out well. Unfortunately, Makenna had a fever on Halloween and seeing that this is a fleece costume she wore it for long enough to get a few pictures and then promptly took it off of her so it didn't worsen her fever. Oh well, we will be attending another Halloween party that she can wear it to.

Instead of wearing her costume, she snuggled with daddy. Makenna isn't really a snuggler so as bad as it sounds we don't like her being sick but we enjoy her snuggles when she is sick.

Pumpkin Patch

On October 23rd we went to the pumpkin patch that is by our house. My mom, Jim, Toby, Makenna, and I all went together. It was the first time that Makenna had been there and was very interested with all of the bright orange that she saw in the fields; at least that is what we assumed she was interested in. We were determined to find our pumpkin and pick it ourselves because last year I felt too pregnant to walk around in the pumpkin patch, but alas we didn't find any that we liked and had to resign ourselves to picking one up off of the tables. Oh well...we still got to look at the pumpkin patch pumpkins and take some pictures. In the end we found two great pumpkins. Stay tuned for our Jack-O-Lantern.

Walking

It is amazing how quickly babies learn new things. On September 23rd Makenna took her first step. It wasn't really by her own doing but she still took a step, so it counted. By October 12th she was ready, on her own, to walk. She started taking just one or two steps at a time before she fell but now she is walking all over the place. What a difference a week makes. She still can't stand up without using an object to help her up but once she is up she is on the move.

First Steps

1-Week Later

Conversation to a 10-Month Old

So Makenna started doing this little babbling with a laugh at the end and we finally figured out that she is probably imitating what conversation sounds like to her. It is the funniest thing! Unfortunately, I don't have a great video of it because any time I get out the camera she smiles and stops babbling, but at least this will give you a pretty good idea. Just picture her doing this over and over again to herself.

Mommy's Little Nemesis

If you know me, you know that I thrive on organization and neatness. You could think of me as having a little OCD. I guess nobody informed Makenna though because she is the exact opposite of me:-) We have some stacking cups and stacking rings, which I really don't know why they call them that. At our house they are definitely un-stacking cups and un-stacking rings because as soon as Makenna sees that they are nice and organized she has to come over and destroy the organization. It is so funny because any time you stack them she feels that it is her duty to promptly unstack them.

Cousin Wyatt

We are so excited to announce the birth of Wyatt, Makenna's newest cousin. He was born on September 21st at 1:50am to a very proud mommy (Beth) and daddy (Jason). He weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces and was 18 3/4 inches long. He is such an adorable little guy and is sleeping well. We were so blessed to be able to go and visit Jason, Beth, and Wyatt at the hospital on the day of his birth; just at a little more of a respectable time in the morning. It is going to be so exciting to see Makenna and Wyatt grow up together. We are so happy to have this little bundle of joy in the family.

Los Angeles County Fair

We love going to the LA County Fair. It has been a tradition of mine for a long time. My sisters and I used to enter table settings, collections, and photographs into the fair when we were younger. We don't do that anymore but I still love going to sightsee. We went with my mom and Jim and met Toby's mom, sisters (Renee and Beth), and brother-in-law (Jason) at the fair.

This year we got to bring Makenna and I was particularly excited to take her into the petting zoo because I thought that she would like that animals actually come up to her instead of running the opposite direction, as is typical of any animal that knows Makenna and still wants their fur. It was one of those moments that I really wish that I could know what she was thinking. All of the sheep and goats were coming up to her, she got licked, sniffed, and her clothes got chewed on a bit by one hungry goat. She would pet the animals a little and preferred the soft wool of the sheep to the rough fur of the goat. She was not incredibly sure that she liked it and a few minutes after we got in we quickly left because she had had enough of the animals. I think she was getting mad because she is teething and I wouldn't let her put her hands in her mouth while we were petting the animals. I think she prefers the animals from a distance.



We love that it is the one time of year that you can get deep fried anything and not feel bad about it. We always get the blooming onion, mmm...so good. We have never been adventurous enough to get a deep fried twinkie, snickers bar or butter though. Usually we leave with our stomachs happy from tasting such yummy food but upset from all of the grease but this time we were a little smarter and shared the food with others so we didn't feel awful later. Another reason I love going to the fair is that we always seem to run in to people that we know and haven't seen in a while. It was great catching up and showing off Makenna. All in all a great day!