Babies, pumpkins, and chickens

Highlights over the past few weeks include time cuddling with Baby Grady, carving a real pumpkin and dressing Trey up as the cutest pumpkin ever, and a visit to the chicken coop at my dad and Sandy's house.

The weather has changed, the leaves are (were) gorgeous, and our days are shorter.  Fall is really here with winter just around the corner.  I'm really looking forward to the upcoming days off from work (Veteran's Day on Friday, a week off at Thanksgiving due to furlough days and the holiday), and, of course, Christmas break....yes, I am already thinking about Christmas break.

 A walk up at Mt. Tabor

The plan was for Trey to play on the playground with Sarah and Kennedy while Adam, Randy and I chatted, but this is what happened instead...

Julie and Tim are in the throes of parenthood.  Grady is a sweet baby with a pretty happy demeanor.  He's only 5 weeks old, so he still gets confused that daytime is for being cute and alert and nighttime is for dreamland.  I was looking back at my blog from when Trey was that age...so quickly we forget how hard and exhausting it is.  

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks:

Trey loves to be in his crib and just "hang out". This usually means throwing his toys and blankets over the edge and giggling as I have Elmo and company "climb" up the crib and fall back into his lap.  I also like to put books in his crib, and I love watching him sit and look through them (even if they are upside down).

 A weekend morning at the science playground at OMSI

Trey thinking, "Seriously?  I get to play in the water
and you're not going to stop me????" 

"Hmmmm, let me see how far I can splash this water and how wet I can get." 

"Better taste this ball." 

All the other kids moved on, but Trey was so content at the water table.  He could have stayed here all day long.  He was DRENCHED when we finally took him away from the table.  

Halloween this year was definitely more of an event than it was last year.  Trey got to carve his first pumpkin, went to a Halloween party at the Woodlawn Swap n Play, and went to another party at his daycare.  We skipped the trick or treating since it was bedtime, but Trey didn't seem to mind.

 Trey digging the guts out of his first pumpkin.

"Now that I have everything out of the pumpkin it's time to put it all back in." 

 Our two pumpkins

Checking out the jack-o-lantern

 Headed to the Woodlawn Swap n Play party with Mindy and Camille 

When we arrived I told Randy that I was bummed Trey couldn't walk yet because he couldn't "mingle" with all of the other kids.  After watching Mindy and Bill chase Camille and Jason and Stefanie chase Declan all around the party, I decided it wasn't so bad that we got to sit in the corner and chat while Trey crawled around.  

Mom and Trey

After the party, Randy's fishing buddies, Jason and Ryan, came back to our house with their wives and boys.  We ordered pizza and hung out while the boys played.  This was so much easier than going out to dinner like we originally had planned.  I love seeing Trey with two friends "playing" in his room.

 Trey and Randy at the daycare party

That's Trey's bed back in the corner.   I still can't believe he takes 2.5 hour naps in this place.  A freaking miracle if you ask me.

Last weekend we went down to Eugene for a fishing/haircut/grandparents trip.  I would say that the majority of Trey's books have to do with animals, so I was excited to get him out to see the chickens and ducks that Heidi and Kelly have at their house.  I love these pictures that Randy took.

 Trey's not too sure about the rooster...

who, by the way, didn't get the memo about the time change.

 Trey and the rooster about to come head to head

I think he did make contact with the chicken 

but luckily there was no pecking involved.,

 Trey was so comfortable with the birds.  

I think he's going to be a creature guy just like his dad.

Trey and Grandpa Gerts

Randy and Trey down at the river.  The tree to the right is where Randy and I were standing when we said our wedding vows.

Extra Random:

Trey likes to hide things around the house.  I looked all over for his "skipit" (his blanket that he has with him all of the time) and could not find it anywhere.  I realized I need to start looking in cupboards and found it in the butcher block.  This kid cracks me up.

Trey hanging out in the man chair reading his books.  I don't know what the story is with his shirt.  Either drool or something from dinner??

I needed to keep Trey entertained while I was doing some things in the kitchen.  Having him play with dried beans and a variety of bowls did the trick.

We are having so much fun with Trey right now.  He is constantly learning new things and exploring.  I love his curiosity and his delight when he figures something out.  He has been extra clingy for the past few weeks, but I secretly love it because it means more cuddle time for Mama.