"Catching up" with October

Catching up . . . Unfortunately when my plate gets too full, there are things that get pushed to the back burner. This blog has been on the back burner for way too long. What makes me upset is that when I don't post right away I forget some of the little details or memories . . . I'm finally completely caught up with downloading, editing and then uploading my photos in hopes to stay better on top of everything. And I know there is no way to do it all, not even close, but I will make an effort to push something else to the back burner next time I have too many balls to juggle . . .

- October -

Shannon turned SIX months old!! She had pretty much mastered the art of sitting up all by herself too! I wanted to mark the big occasion of her being half of a year old with a fun photoshoot by Mommy . . .

Shannon's smile is simply one of my most favorite things, her teeth were just starting to poke out too!


Although she looks like my thinker John here she really is quite fiesty!





Quick outfit and location change . . . I LOVE playing dress up with my little girl!





Checking out the grass . . .


"You talking to me?"


Love!


Happy Baby!!


Who knows what they see sometimes . . .


Big brother John wanted in the photos too! "Look at the bubbles Shannon!"





It took him a little while but he figured it out pretty well!


Time is a funny thing . . . I remember six months felt so much longer than six months when John was a baby, he seemed so grown up and not baby-like any more, it was an accomplishment, reaching a whole SIX months . . . and now with Shannon? I feel like I blinked and bam she was six months old, definitely still my little baby and not grown up at all . . .

We were still trying like crazy to get her to enjoy baby food . . . to some success . . .


But she was still a bit unsure of it all . . . it's still a work in progress.


Okay gonna go ahead and admit something that might get me nominated for worst-mom-of-the-year award. . . Shannon was not getting daily baths, or even every-other-day baths, there was even a time when I wasn't sure the last time she had a bath, it was just that . . . you know what? There's no good excuse, really. Anyway, I saw a really cute Johnson and Johnson commercial of a baby taking a bath in the kitchen sink and thought, yes! I can do that (almost) daily! So my dirty baby started getting more regular baths in the kitchen sink and we love it. When you really think about it how dirty is a six month old getting on a daily basis? Right? No?




Some cute photos of Shannon being cute . . .


Hello?


"Yes, I'm adorable and I know it!"




Next up was a fun get together at the Sponseller house. When Victoria and I were both still pregnant, Bernie got us cute matching outfits for the girls and we finally got a chance to show them off . . .  Just imagine me on my belly with my camera, Victoria and Bernie hovering over me making monkey noises, rattling toys and yelling "Shannoooon, Scaaaarlet looook hereee!!" . . . and yet neither of them looking at the camera at the same time!




"Let's see how long we can get the adults to act like this? Look away, just look away!"


"Oh Hey! I know you!!"


Do you see the attitude on little Nonners? hehehe


We couldn't forget about getting John in one!


And a good photo of Uncle Matt and Shannon!


Grandma Betty turned 91 this year and the way I look at it any birthday after 90 should have a big celebration! You wouldn't know Betty was 91, though, she's sharp as a tack, witty and will remind you of her years of experience should you forget it for a second. ;) We had a very nice brunch at a local clubhouse and enjoyed just being together.

Happy Birthday Betty!


Happy Family!


Nothing better than having family love on your babies!


What?!


John and Janet, he loves her so!


Since we had the kids dressed nicely, we thought we should go get pumpkins for carving . . . (and again with the "not looking at the camera at the same time" bit!)


This one! No! That one! Wait, how about that one waaaay over there!


Hey scarecrow!


:)


She looked soooo grown up here! And sooo much like John it's crazy! Also, do you see that little tongue-curl-smile thing? It kills me!


A few days later we carved our pumpkin and by we I mean Jeff!


Whatcha doing Daddy?


Tadaa!


And here he is, our happy little pumpkin. And since we live in humidityville, this guy grew mold pretty fast and found his way out the door just a few days later.


It was time for school photos for the kids which is another thing that makes time seem to fly by! We got these cute photos of the kids, doncha just love the fake backdrops and forced smiles?






More proof of baby food dislike and kitchen sink baths . . .

Maybe if we let her feed herself?


Ummm, nope!


Yeah, I still don't like it . . .


But this seems like fun!!!


Big brother John even wanted to help out! :)


These get filed under "just cause" and "love" . . .


That smile seriously gets me every time!


And I would just like to take a moment to discuss the overload of Shannon and lack of John photos here . . . John flip flops between "Mommy get your camera!!" to "Mommy put the camera AWAY!!" and October seemed to be an "AWAY!!" month, sorry buddy!

Next up was a trip to see Grandma Doris in her new place. Grandma Doris and Grandma Betty are both living in a lovely place now, just a few doors away from each other. I've heard that it's pretty rocking during Bingo hours!! ;)

As much as I would like to deny it, Grandma Doris is getting older and no longer the marathon runner go-go-go Grandma I once remember.  She's still sweet as pie, willing to talk to anyone about just about anything, but I can tell that she's finding a slower pace is more her style these days . . . I just love it when I get to see her interact with my kids and love on them, the way she looks at them is what gets me. It's like she's happily surprised to see them every time. There's a twinkle of wonder in both of their eyes . . . can't quite describe it, but it's there and I want to remember that.


Neither of them looking at me but you can see the love . . .


Yes, there it is!


We enjoyed our time with Grandma Doris and even sang a round or two of "Mairzy Doats" (by the way I seriously thought of naming my Etsy shop by that song since I learned to crochet from Grandma Doris and she has always sang that song to us) Good memory!!

Before we knew it, the month was coming to a close and it was time to get dressed up and have a Happy Halloween. Now last year Bernie made John a beautiful, err, scary dinosaur costume that I loved and he refused to wear it. I tried really, REALLY hard but he flat out refused to put it on his body so we just threw on a football jersey at the last minute and that was that. This year I didn't get my hopes up, in fact, work was busy and kinda stressing me out and I didn't want to go through the effort of finding a costume only to have it thrown to the floor, so Jeff went out and picked up costumes for the kids, Buzz Lightyear for John and Ladybug for Shannon. Holding my breath we started to get dressed and initially John pushed back, but with a little gentle pursuading we got him to wear it and he LOVED it. Shannon was sooo ready for her nap and kinda zonked out so she just happily went along with it as well.

Okay so you can see John was kinda not having it here, but he had the outfit on so this goes in the success file!


An attempt to get us all in a photo . . . yay!


Zoooonked out!!!


Then someone turned on the "I'm excited" switch! Watch out! To infinity and beyond!!!


Cousins! :)


Family!


More Family!


Then it was time to go Trick-or-Treating! (by the way I know you're loving John's candy "bucket", nice right?)


Success! :)


It was a great month and I wish I could remember more of the details . . . the one advantage to "catching up" is that I get to relive the fun times. Many more memories to catch up on coming up soon . . .