October has been so nice (it's 80 degrees today) and we have been very fortunate that it's warm because Bradley skinned a knee about a week ago and has refused to wear anything but shorts ever since so he can see his "big ouch" at all times. This has proven a bit tricky at night since it's gotten a bit chilly in the evenings and we've had to put him in fleece jammies and then roll them up above his knee. But it's not that big of a deal because he also insists on having access to his belly button at all times so his footie pajamas were already crossed off the appropriate attire list.
You'll also note the sweet new ride in the pictures above. Thanks to Grandma Kati and Grandpa Dan for sending this and a matching pink one for little Eleanor! We've only assembled one so far because they're both too small for it just yet. But that hasn't stopped a LOT of enthusiastic scooting around.
Finally trying it outside. This is the way both kids prefer to ride on it. Fairly adorable.
I've decided I really need to stop bringing a stroller to the park. No one rides in it anymore, I just use it to carry all of our bats and clubs. Maybe child #3 will be my calm child that just likes to relax and hang out in the stroller for a bit? Both #1 and #2 currently view the stroller as prison. It probably doesn't help that I threaten them with being put in the stroller whenever they walk too slow or in the wrong direction on our way home.
But look at this face - how could I every deny it anything that it wants?
You'll note Eleanor's new, cool Frozen princess dress. This was a big hit, every time I put it on her she looks down at her chest and says "Anna, Anna!" while pointing at either princess. I got Bradley an Olaf the snowman shirt so he wouldn't be left out, which was also a hit. So much so that he didn't take it off for three days. Even at night he would beg for us to put it back on him over his pajamas. I somehow didn't get a picture of the front of the shirt but it's royal blue and it shows up in a lot of pictures. It figures that he would insist on being able to see his knees at all times and have a favorite short sleeve shirt just as cold weather is approaching.
For instance: here is the Olaf shirt at mealtime fun with Eleanor. She's feeding him a banana and everyone involved is very excited.
Fun Bradley anecdote: we've been listening to classical music during breakfast every morning and Bradley calls it "big bad wolf music". No idea where he got that from, but I like it.
The Olaf shirt was worn on a recent trip to Deanna Rose Farmstead.
We finally figured out that the wagons by the entrance were free to use and while my children hate strollers, they LOVE wagons. Mostly because one can get in and out on one's own and you don't feel so "trapped". It doesn't really speed along our time at the farmstead because we stop a lot to get out, and then in again, and then maybe you want to put your seat down and sit on top of that, but wait, Eleanor is in "my" spot, let's trade, oh, I want out again, and so on and so forth.
We went back again a few days later (they close soon for the season so we're getting in as much farmstead time as possible) and the kids had a blast checking out the Halloween decorations.
This played spooky music and the people on the sides spun in circles. Bradley watched for at least 15 minutes while pointing out all the "bad guys"
Checking out cows with our friend Eli
Wading through goats with Eleanor. She paused to pet and kiss the goats and Bradley mostly just wanted to push his way through.
Saving Eli from overly friendly goats. Seriously, that's what he was doing. Bradley is trying to push all the goats away from Eli because they cornered him once he brought them a bottle of milk. Bradley is the kid you want in your corner when you need someone.
Our favorite bridge in the cute garden area
And then we visited our favorite stone statue in the garden. I have no idea why Bradley loves this so much. But he wanders over there every time we visit and garden girl gets lots of loves. Although this time he stepped it up a notch.
Hugs for garden girl
Oh my. I told him to hug her so I could take a picture. Guess he thought he could do better.
I am not as terrified of being stuck indoors with these guys anymore, we have a pretty good time playing together or even trying out some arts and crafts upon occasion. The basement has been getting a lot of use lately.
Together. We are always together because these guys love each other so much.
Nathan has really been enjoying football season this year because not only is he getting to watch a lot of games, there are also many cuddles to be enjoyed! Granted, often it involves having the game on and reading to small children while they snuggle on his lap but I am hearing no complaints!
Skyping with family to tell them about baby #3
Nathan thought this was the best way for Bradley to model his new Big Brother shirt ...
More reading
We read a LOT these days. I don't know who loves it most, it's a four way tie at the moment.
Sweet little Eleanor is following in her brother's footsteps and hides from me whenever she has a poo. I'll ask her if she has a poopy diaper and she'll grin at me and say "hide hide!" and trot off to a nearby hiding spot. But she has already surpassed him in her willingness to poop in the bath and/or shower. It's getting to be too regular of an occurrence, it happened twice in three days this past week. NOT our favorite activity.
Eleanor is relying heavily on her cuteness these days.
But there's plenty of adorable new habits she's picked up. We hide our eyes and then put our hands down to say "peekaboo!" to Mommy and Daddy.
We also have a couple of carved pumpkins on our front step that both kids like to go and say "bye" to before we drive anywhere. I'll ask Eleanor if she wants to see the pumpkins and she'll say "kitty!" (there's a kitty one) followed immediately by "BOOO" while shaking her head. Boo is for our spooky pumpkin. We have to allot a fair bit of flex time before leaving the house these days for things like getting shoes on, finding favorite books we NEED in the car, and saying goodbye to our pumpkin friends.
Eleanor also lets us know in no uncertain terms when she thinks it's time for a meal
And Bradley ... well, he hasn't changed much from when he was 6 months old.
I was talking to some other moms the other day and they were talking about how their kids asked for time to themselves and personal space and I realized I had no idea what they were talking about.
We are moderately cuddly around here these days. With each other, with the kitties, with everyone. Eleanor will sit and watch a show or two with me and Bradley now, but only if she's sitting on or near me. Bradley always runs over to join the snuggle fest. I enjoy our morning tv time quite a bit.
Bradley is our sleeper. I realize how lucky we are to have a child who loves to sleep as much as he does. For instance, sometimes he has to holler at me and Eleanor to get out of his room by yelling "no no no" if we walk in to his room after seeing him awake on the baby monitor and he's not yet ready to get up from his nap and in fact hopes to go back to sleep. Eleanor on the
other hand ... she greatly prefers to be awake. Bradley sleeps in later than her every morning and generally naps at least an hour longer than her as well. Crazy girl, sleep is wonderful.
Our two little sweeties in matching backpacks at church.
Nathan's company had a trick or treat event at his office and we had a grand time eating our way through the event. Bradley is able to open a surprising number of candy wrappers on his own, I was very impressed. Where there's a will there's a way I guess. We finally started trying to get him to at least space out the candy. We were not very successful. And he drug his sister down with him, she was eager to get on board with Bradley's brilliant candy plan.
Cheeks!
The candy has been hidden in our closet for the time being, wish us luck as the biggest candy holiday of them all approaches. How much candy can a one and two year old eat? ALL the candy. It's funny, even our picky eater is willing to try any variety of candy with happiness and trust. But potatoes! And pasta? Disgusting. Count Bradley out.
And here is one last video that best captures the relationship between Bradley and Eleanor. Adorable and full of tackles and jumps and loves.
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