pumpkin patch

Last weekend we took our annual trip to the local pumpkin patch with Chris and Lisa and the twins. Ayla slept on me in the carrier while Aiden, Addison and Ryan ran around like crazy and checked out all the pumpkins and animals at the patch. It was the first really cool, fall like day so far this year - last years trip was in the 90 degree heat (see it here)!

our kiddos at the pumpkin patch...

family picture with our new addition:)

pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere

 Addison being adorable in her little fall outfit and boots (Ayla gets the hand-me-downs...right?!?!?) and Aiden taking a little break from running through the gourd tunnels to smile for the camera

indian corn

an escape chicken chillin' on a table full of pumpkins

Ryan and Aiden watching the chickens (this is the only pic I got of Ryan!) and Addison picking out her pumpkin 

Aiden checking out the goats and sheep. Yeah, he tried to kiss that black goat. He may have succeeded ;)

We wandered around for a bit and then picked out our pumpkins for the year. A big one to carve, a medium one for Aiden and a little one for Ayla. The trip to "the patch" is really the kick off to our holiday traditions and events - I love fall and winter. I am so happy this year to have little Ayla to include in all our holiday fun!

1 Month

Oh my, I'm so behind in Ayla update blog posts already...she is almost 7 weeks old already and I am just now posting her one month update. If all goes well I will be posting her 2 month update in about a week ;) Anyway, here it is...

 At one month Ayla...

• Loves to cuddle in really close and be held all day
• Sleeps best wrapped tightly in a nice, soft swaddle
• Had her first bath
• Getting more awake and alert everyday
• Grew out of preemie sized clothes and diapers
• Spends about half the night in her sleep-n-play rocker and the other half in bed with Momma
• Likes her "kick time" on the floor 
• Sucks on her thumb or on 2 fingers
• Loves having her hands on her face
• Is a good little eater - can usually be found attached to mom from 8am-11am and 5pm-9pm
• Hates her car seat and cries when the car stops moving for any reason
• Is so loved! She the sweetest little baby and really easy going...most of the time
• Went on her first trip to Nana and Papa's house

At the carwash

Aiden and Jeremy washed our cars the other night while Ayla and I got a little fresh air and watched them hard at work. Aiden splashed in the bucket of soapy water and ran to get sprayed by the hose at every opportunity. Pretty soon, he came over to me and said "wanna towel?" which is his new thing if ANY amount of water gets on him. Then this Momma got some cuddle time in with her babies while Aiden warmed up and dried off.

Aiden has been so cute lately, he gives kisses freely to us and to Ayla and will out of the blue come up and ask me "wanna hug?". He really is just the sweetest little guy and I think he is adjusting well to having a baby sister. I have seen him do new things and become a little boy over the last couple weeks - even his teachers at school commented on it. Watching him grow up makes me happy and sad all at once, he will always be my little baby boy though ;)

The last two weeks according to my phone

My appropriately pink pedi the day before Ayla was born, Capturing her first few moments of skin to skin with momma

Her first day snoozing, and checking everything out

Aiden meets his baby sister and gives her kisses, "big brother" - with a little attitude ;)

Eyes wide open, getting dressed to leave the hospital

On the way home finally with her girly headband, after 9 months SUSHI makes this momma happy!

Snoozing babies...

Love her, Ayla just chilling out for a little bit

Second sponge bath (when will that stump fall off!), rocking both my babies

Let's go Giants, let's go! Singing and clapping with daddy while watching the game

A dirty little soaking wet boy, little baby feet in my hand (she has my feet...see picture #1)

Since I took all my belly pictures in front of my bedroom mirror, I thought I would take one on us both now to show her size. The bedroom is much messier now than it was a few weeks ago ;)

Homecoming pictures

We really had to rig Ayla's carseat so that she could fit into it for the ride home - she was sitting up on 2 blankets and an infant insert in order to keep her in the right place!

Daddy took her out of the car and carried her into the house, just like he did when we brought big brother Aiden home from the hospital 3 1/2 years ago...

Speaking of big brother...he finally got to spend a little time checking out his little sister. They met several times in the hospital but Aiden was usually too busy checking out the hospital bed, and computer and what buttons he could push and didn't really check her out that much ;)

 He gave her some kisses...

And decided he dug playing with the little flower on her head! The flower, by the was was made at my awesome shower that I still haven't gotten pics up of yet - my cousin Amy made this one!

 The rest of the day was spend holding miss Ayla...

 And more holding miss Ayla...

 And spending time playing with this cute little boy and cuddling him up good after being away from him for longer than I ever want to be again!

And yes, she loves her little thumb ;)