Training Wheels Included

W is to craigslist like I am to yard sales. And he's totally great at finding a steal-of-a-deal.

We've upgraded E's trike to a real bike, with training wheels and all. E is in absolute heaven! The bike is basically new with the tags still attached and the deal also included a helmet, which E desperately needed a replacement. The night we picked it up, E didn't want to get off to head back home. On the entire ride back he'd point to the back of the car {trunk} and say, "bike!" or hold out his helmet and say, "hel-met!" It was pretty awesome. 

And you can probably guess where we've been spending most of our days this week...{Laundry, you're gonna have to fold yourself!} The kid only comes inside for food and drink.

I think W knew I'd be taking pictures on this morning and wanted to make sure E was matchy-matchy with his new ride. ;)

A boy and his bike.

I thought of that while riding my bicycle.

--Albert Einstein

Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. 

--John F. Kennedy

 Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling. 

--James E. Starrs

Getting some good exercise in while trying to keep up with him and carrying his brother...

Baking Bug

I love being a Mama, especially one that gets to stay-at-home. One of the unforeseen joys is being able to develop more hobbies and actually try to get good at them: sewing, crafting, decorating, cooking...and now baking.

Since sewing, diy, and crafting are a bit on the back-burner, I guess something enviably had to take their place for now. And baking is something I can do while E is awake and do it with him. Plus this is THE perfect time of year to turn that oven on, throw something apple-pumpkin-sugary in, and inhale its sweet aroma.

My trial run with E, if you remember, was an amazingly delicious Pumpkin Carmel Cheesecake Turtle Bread. We then moved onto some yummy Apple Fritter Muffins. And after both their huge successes in taste and baking performances, we've been on a big roll since. I've tried to make something new at least once a week. 

W had a work pot-luck on Halloween so the night before I made Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes. {pictured above} W got to pull out his culinary school skills and teach me a thing or two about soft and stiff peaks for whipped cream topping. He's a great teacher and I always learn a lot when he's in the kitchen with me. It made for a fun evening as we were both huddled over the mixer and scarfing down 'samples'.

Definitely love learning how to make more things from scratch, but I will admit that I'm way too intimated by yeast so I've steered clear of anything that requires it. And my piping skills, as you can see in the pic, need some serious help! My most recent challenge was this recipe for Pumpkin scones. I left them in the oven for too long and burnt the edges, but they were actually still tasty. After hitting the store this week for more butter and half-n-half, I'm determined not to over-bake them again!

Have any baking blogs or recipes to share?! I'm on the hunt for next week's treat.

Pumpkin Bourbon Shake

 In my most recent Real Simple, there was a drink recipe that sounded SO GOOD. Pumpkin and bourbon?! W and I were all over that like white on rice. And it did not disappoint. Absolutely delish! It's thin enough for a straw, but so rich and creamy! Just another way to enjoy this fall season....

What you need:

{Recipe serves eight, so we just cut everything by 1/4}

4 1/2 cartons vanilla ice cream

2 c canned pumpkin

1 c milk

1/2 c bourbon...buy the cheap stuff!

1/2 c packed light brown sugar

 1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

whipped cream for topping

Put everything but the whipped cream in the blender and mix until smooth. Pour, top with whipped cream and add a straw.

Friday Happy Hour, anyone?!

Chop Suey

It's been done. E got his first hair cut on November 1st, 2011 at approximately 6:30 pm.

We had a close family friend, who's in beauty school, come over to give Ezra his first 'do. Em did my make-up for my wedding and she's fabulous at what she does. Plus, it was fun to have her and her mom over while W could be there to witness it too. 

The two quickly got acquainted...they bonded real fast since Em brought combs and a spray bottle full of water. For awhile now, Gpa was been styling Ezra's hair whenever he goes over there to play and Ezra is just NUTS about it. So E was definitely a fan of Em's from the get-go.

Papa helped at times to hold E's head straight while E occupied himself.

And away she cut. I was much more sad than I thought I was going to be. It was exciting to see it happening and see his reaction to a new experience, but it was definitely bittersweet. I'm so glad we waited until he was two, rather than get it around his first birthday!

And he loved it!

Some before and afters

 Yeah, we tried to keep it as long as possible. This cut turned out to be more of a trim. ;)

Thanks, Em, for giving our little dude a new 'do!

Merry Christmas To ME!

Saturday really felt like it was my birthday or an early Christmas. W took both boys in the morning...the first time I was away from Theo. I walked downtown and got my toes, fingers and eyebrows done. I strolled through the farmer's market; all the while thinking the boys were running around at the dog park.

NOT.

W completely surprised me by picking up my Christmas gift-- a few months early. 

My new, very own, awesome CAMERA!

I'm super stoked that he decided to give it to me early. And I loved the way he surprised me. My point-and-shoot was giving me issues recently so I couldn't use it. And how awesome to be able to document these up-coming festive months with clarity, zoom, and speed?! Boo-yah!

So these roses, that are currently a week old, are from him, but not my Christmas gift. It's my very first photograph using my very new camera. 

Major props to my hubby! :)

TWO months

Theo, our little butterball...

It's only been two months and already you've completely captured our heart. It just feels like you've always been a part of our family. You have so quickly melded right into our family; it seems so natural that you are ours. You have grown so very quickly {a little too quickly for Mama}!! But I love this process of getting to know who you are. What makes you happy, frustrated, giddy, sad...all of you. And that it's slow and takes times as you continue to grow and develop and learn new things. A sweet little mystery unfolds. As time continues to move at lightening speed, here are some things we've noticed this past month....

A bit of a night owl, although we're thankful for the improvements in this department already

Cooing and smiles galore!

 Like to sleep on your back with just your arms swaddled for naps, although you would totally do without the swaddle...it's just that you wake yourself up by jerking your arms

Actually enjoy the swing for longer than ten minutes {YES!}

Giving your Mama long stretches {6-8 hours} at night! 

Some days you hate the car seat, while others you don't seem to mind it

Already half the size of your older brother and in 3-6 month clothes. Basically, to us, you're huge.

Your hair is growing in dark and your eyes are looking hazel.

Still a little gun-shy around your brother's affections {and rightfully, so. ;)}

People consistently say two things: "He looks just like Ezra!" and "He looks just like William!"

Easily entertained with patterns, light, and faces...and the ceiling fan.

THE noisiest eater and sleeper!! I don't think you'll be sleeping next to Mama much longer...

You just seem to be a mellow little guy who likes to hang out until you're hungry or sleepy. I love your kissable little cheeks and soft baby hair. And your rolls kill me. You are already so different from your big brother; I don't think you'll have issues with people not telling you two apart. Theo, you are simply adorable and we adore you!

Pumpkin Guts

A first for both of them! Over the weekend we gutted our two medium pumpkins with the boys.

Well, one helped for a bit...

E did a great job de-seeding for like 10 minutes before he started playing with the ones on the tray. Or taste-testing them. Then that got boring so he went off to "mo" {play with his lawn mower}. Even with the short attention span, a great time was had by all. Another one of those awesome moments where I look over at W and think, "Man, we're really do this family thing!"

And the other little guy just hung out and watched all the action.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Land of Nod Wish List

Just got my catalog the other day and I'm going to need an extra big helping of discipline! Too many cute and awesome things that could totally go under our tree or in stockings this Christmas...

An Ezra-size guitar

A harmonica...simply for sentimental reasons. My dad would lay on the couch and play the harmonica while I stood on our little fireplace "stage" and sang into a microphone. One of our favorite things to do while I was growing up. 

More puzzles for E

Art Easel

An adorable little Ugly Doll for T

And if we lived in the snow...

How cool is this "snowman in a sack" set?! Seriously, awesome. 

Land of Nod has some other cute decor ideas that I'd love to try at making myself...if time and energy allows. heh. tall order, nowadays!

At least this mitten garland. Would love to hang this cute felt fun on our fireplace.

Close To Home

I think the only time we got into the car all weekend was to drive to church Sunday morning {which we were more on time for than last week, but still late. Baby steps!}

It was just one of those weekends where we walked everywhere. One of the perks living so close to everything. Friday night, W and I had some drinks downtown with the other new hires at his firm. I'd met most of them so it was fun to get to know them more. I also thoroughly enjoyed my Cosmo--first drink post-pregnancy. We actually pulled a Sweet Home Alabama {"You have a baby....in a bar!} and took Theo with us. He was wrapped up until the very end when he got hungry and the ladies demanded to hold him. I don't think anyone noticed W's weird tummy growth. :)

We saw a bit of the marching band competition downtown early Saturday morning. Ezra really loved watching them play from Papa's lap. This has unintentionally become a family tradition as we've run into the parade four years in a row now.

After church and naps on Sunday, we did a late lunch picnic at a park. This weekend had just gorgeous weather all around. How could we not spend it outdoors?!

And it seems we have a budding photographer on our hands...E hijacked my camera and took a few pics.

I've been trying for a week now to get Theo's smile. E captured it, along with his binky, my camera's wrist cord..oh, and our bag of Kettle chips. ;)

We walked back home, caught up with some neighbors, and finished the evening with a delicious supper of fish, cheesy bread and crock-pot bruschetta. A simple and relaxing weekend!

Reason #708,534 Why He's So Great

...Taking care of this gigantic pile of clean clothes so I don't have to...

{Threw Theo in there just for size comparison. ;)}