Goodbye Autumn!

We're ready to get into the Christmas spirit around here.  Happy first Sunday of Advent!

Pumpkins

I had big plans for the 3 pumpkins we picked at the pumpkin patch, the 4 sugar pumpkins the AACS kids left in our yard, and the pumpkin Grace painted at the Prigel Farm.

They're all rotting.

I'll try again next year, and stick to getting my pumpkin puree from cans for now.  Pumpkin muffins and cookies and visits with cousins from the far South tomorrow!

The Girls

I used to do a fairly good job writing about the girls each month or so, and keeping sort of an online journal about how they're changing as they get older.  I realized this morning that I've fallen out of the habit of giving these updates, so I thought I'd take a few moments to write some things about Grace and Leah-- for me just as much as for you. 

Grace Olivia, 3 1/2 years old

This is a picture of Grace right after her last ballet/creative movement class of the fall.  Grandma and Pa gifted her with 6 weeks of class, taught by the mom of some of Grace's church buddies, and Grace absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED it!  We all knew she had the energy and some natural rhythm, but it turns out she was one of the most coordinated and attentive little dancers in her class of 3 to 5 year olds!  She is a fabulous skipper and although her arabesque is a little wobbly, she did a great job learning some basic ballet moves and was an inspired "free movement" dancer-- I giggled the whole time I watched her move to Disney songs (the theme of the class was Ballet Princesses).

In the picture she is wearing her absolute favorite ballet leotard.  She is now wearing Princess dress-up dresses every. single. day.  If we have to leave the house, she'll change into regular clothes.  But as soon as we walk through the door she strips down, flings her clothes to the floor, and pulls the princess dress back on.  Both the Belle dress and the Cinderella dress are rather tattered at this point.

Grace is beginning to sound out simple words (only when she's in the mood) and can write many letters herself.  She prints her name very well (it looks like this:  GracE) and her drawings are starting to look more creative (people with facial features, hands and feet; airplanes with a long row of circle windows; outdoor scenes).

Grace is also making up elaborate make-believe games and pulling Leah right into them.  I can't tell you how many times I've answered to "Mom!" only to be told that I'm not Mom anymore, that's who Grace is.  I'm usually the old Queen, instead, which I'm ok with.

Leah Anne, 27 months

Leah is making a lot of good observations (and vocalizing them) and has a funny sense of humor.  She'll talk to herself a lot, sings all the time, and always has a long list of people she's thankful for when we pray at the end of the day.  Her favorite songs are still Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and ABCs.  If I had a dollar for every time I heard those songs...

She also likes to pretend that she's in charge and will tell Grace what she should be doing.  "Gwace, be kiiind!" "Gwace, don't touch this!"  "Gwace, be quiet and go sleep!"  Leah loves to take care of her baby doll and I think she's going to especially love having a baby in the house.  The baby will probably handle Leah's mothering better than Grace does:)

Leah likes to practice writing O's and L's (which still look like V's but she's getting better!).  She'll write row after row of little circles in neat lines.

Both girls talk about the new baby, and I can't wait until the kicks are hard enough for the girls to feel.  The video camera will be ready and waiting for that moment!

She Turned Two

Leah can't believe that it's been three months since her second birthday party and I'm only just now getting pictures posted on the internet.

Although it's a little late, I thought I'd share a few photos anyway!  As always, we crammed as much family as possible into our little house and had a great time watching the cutie pie birthday girl do her thing:

Best fruit dip recipe (you can see it in the bowl in the picture below):
Combine one small box of vanilla pudding mix, 1 tub of Cool Whip, and 16 oz. can of crushed pineapple, with the juices.

Oh my, did Leah enjoy her cake.  She was in the midst of her highly-restricted diet to kill the rampant yeast in her gut, but at her party she enjoyed a cake full of gluten, eggs, and sugar!

Happy (Belated) Birthday to our sweet Leah-loo!  You are just as cute, cuddly, and charming as ever.

Fall Fiesta

Last weekend we headed back to the Prigel Farm for their Creamery's much-anticipated Fall Fiesta!  Above, you'll see the guests of honor lining up to cross the road toward the milking parlor.  They left behind a newborn calf that made its appearance during the festivities!  I wish I could have my baby.  In a hospital, of course.

Here's Grace and her good buddy Grae on a hayride pulled by Uncle Bobby and his tractor.

The girls got their faces painted as cats, with a little help from Aunt Becki.

Their ridiculous mother made them sit still in the hay pile for a picture, when they'd much rather be climbing said hay pile.

We enjoyed a long hayride, stuffed some hand-me-down maternity overalls to make a scarecrow (you will never find me actually wearing maternity overalls-- the horror!), painted pumpkins, and ate ice cream!  I didn't take too many photos as my hands were busy holding my hot cider and my pumpkin ice cream cone.  Please, please try the pumpkin ice cream if you stop by the Creamery!  I plan on sneaking down to the freezer on Thanksgiving night for another taste:)  My baby is craving it!

Four Months

I'm at 20 weeks and despite a sciatic nerve that frequently acts up, I'm feeling good.  Grace and Leah  got to meet our new little pal Knox (Shane and Wendy's newly adopted, teeny, tiny bundle of sweetness) for the first time on Saturday, and it was very interesting for me to see how they acted around a newborn.  Leah was very gentle and stroked the baby's arm and head while saying things like "hi, baby Knox..." and "awwww..." in a whisper.  Grace let out a little shriek, ran up to Knox, and starting digging her fingers under his chin to tickle him.  Two very different big sisters in the making!

Sonogram!

It's our baby!  We didn't find out if we have a boy or a girl...20 or so weeks to go until the big reveal!

My next OB appointment is in a couple weeks, so we'll get the full report from the radiologist then.
Just for fun, here are Grace and Leah's sonograms.  At first Steve and I thought this little one looked like a replica of Grace, especially the second picture, but the more we stare the more we can see some differences.  I just love sonograms!