Pumpkin Decorating

The final products!

Luke was the only one that would cooperate and sit still for the pictures. ;-)

Coloring the pumpkins

Today during our playtime with TayTay and Kristin the kids decorated pumpkins. We gave them each markers and a pumpkin and let them go at it. As you can see Luke supervised the activity, wishing he could join in the fun. We did give him a soft pumpkin to hold so he wouldn't feel as left out. Unfortunately, 2 year olds don't have a very long attention span, so the coloring didn't last too long, but I think they definitely enjoyed it! Once they finished coloring them we let them pick out fun faces for their pumpkins. Each one picked out their own set of eyes, nose, mouth, and hat. It was interesting to see what they each picked...and suprisingly they never picked the same ones, so there was no fighting! It was a fun day and a great way to get in the Halloween spirit!

Healed!

Isaac and his amazing neurosurgeon...he is the most skilled surgeon as well as a jokester

(he's so great with the kids!)

Praise God for our Poopsy (that's what the doctor calls him) being all healed! We have said it so many times, but I'll say it again, we were so blessed when we found Isaac's skull fussion, then to have a neurosurgeon as amazing as the one we used, and now to have the official word that he is completely healed and his head looks perfect! We are so thankful and relieved! The doctor actually said he could use his head for a poster because it is so perfect! Yay!

Zoo

The boys ready for their day at the zoo!

Just chilling out in the stroller, enjoying the zoo.

Checking out the monkeys.

He loved the elephants!

Stare down with the lion.

The newest baby elephant with her mama!

We started the day today at the Houston Zoo. It was our first time to go there with the boys, and I think it's safe to say we will be going back many times! Isaac loved it! His favorite was definitely the elephants, but that could be because they were getting a bath and he thought that was so fun! He also liked the lions a lot, I love the picture of him looking at the lion. He also just loved being free and running around, thankfully it was quiet and he listened well, so we gave him that freedom. Luke seemed to really enjoy it, too. He was very content in the stroller, even smiling quite a bit. He didn't like the reptile exhibit though, it was indoors and loud...I didn't mind, I gladly took him out of there. =) We didn't get to see the entire zoo because we had to leave to go to Isaac's appointment at Texas Children's, but that's okay because it means there will be more new things to see on the next trip.

It was a memorable day, and I'm so thankful we all experienced it together!

AggieLand

Yesterday was a fun day away for me and Carl. My parents came over and watched the boys for us, so we could get away and watch the Aggies. Luke just started taking a bottle this past week, so up until Wednesday I didn't know if I'd get my day away. Thankfully he decided that he would give me a break and take the bottle, so Carl and I headed out and spent the day in Aggie Land. Unfortunately, they couldn't pull off a win, but it was still great to be out there and cheer them on. We went with some friends that we haven't seen in a long time, they live in San Antonio, and it was a great chance to catch up! They brought their oldest son to the game, which made me realize how much I am looking forward to the days when we can take our boys to sporting events.
I can't thank my parents enough for allowing us to have this break. It was much needed break for me and it was so great to spend some time together, just the two of us. Every now and then mama and daddy need to recharge, and I am so grateful for the time to do just that.

5 Months

Watching the THS Homecoming Parade...he wasn't too sure about all the noise.

Yesterday was Luke's 5 month birthday...5 months, already!?! I had to double check myself yesterday as I was thinking about it being his birthday, I thought I must be wrong, how is he already 5 months.

He is doing great, and is such a fun baby! He is very laid back and happy, at home and with mama, but he tends to get a little more anxious when we spend too much time out of the house. He is getting better though, and will let others hold him for longer periods of time these days. He loves watching other kids, especially his big brother! He smiles, laughs, and reaches out when he sees other kids, he can't wait to be able to play! He has started playing more, he is really happy in his ExerSaucer, especially when Isaac comes over and helps him play with the toys. When laying on the floor to play he prefers to be on his tummy. He rolls back and forth over and over when on the floor, but spends the majority of his time on his tummy. He has also discovered an interest in playing with toy balls. Isaac is happy that he can now kind of play with him, he will bring him the ball, then take it away, just so he can give it back to him. Ha! It sure is fun to watch them interact, I am excited to watch their relationship grow!

Luke does not like loud noises, he startles so easily. He gets upset when Isaac is too loud, or when something around him is too noisy. I can see an improvement in this, but he still makes it clear that he likes his environment calm.

He has started eating some cereal, the first couple weeks of it he got more of it on his bib than he swallowed, but everyday he gets better! Yesterday he ate almost every bit of the cereal I made him. He is still not too into drinking his milk from the bottle, but we're working on it. He made me really proud the other day, he drank 2 ounces out of a bottle without a problem...I was pretty shocked to be honest.

He is still pretty small, so I call him my peanut. He is wearing 3-6 month clothes now, but some are still pretty big on him. I tried putting a 6 month jacket on him the other day and it swallowed him...such a cutie!

Although having two little ones has proven to be quite a challenge, it has also been such a joy! I love being their mama, I love taking care of them and watching them grow, learn, and interact. Luke has added so much to our little family, more than I could have ever dreamed! I love my little peanut so much!

God has truly blessed us, by giving us these boys, and my prayer is that our lives honor Him!

Who needs to sleep!?!

As many of you know, Isaac has given up naps, except for the random time when he accidentally falls asleep, ha!

This is what I saw when I walked in his room after "nap" time one day this week. Apparently practicing his gymnastics is more important than sleeping.

Dallas Trip

This past weekend we took a family trip to Dallas! A close friend of mine is expecting her second baby, so her family hosted a baby shower for her yesterday. I have been wanting to head north to visit friends, to get away, and this was the perfect opportunity. Since Luke is now almost 5 months old we decided he could handle the drive and hopefully do well in a strange place (he is quite the homebody). Unfortunately Carl had to go to Dallas on Thursday and Friday for work, so he made two round trips in 4 days...yuck! He was a trooper though, he did it for me, and I'm so thankful for that.

We headed up on Saturday around noon; Carl was determined to make it up without stopping...um, really with 2 little ones??? Luke decided to set him straight immediately, we had to stop to change his diaper before we even made it to I 45, only 15 minutes into the trip! Ha! It was funny, but also a little scary, we thought it might be a long drive! Thankfully that turned out to be the only stop, we pushed through and made it the rest of the way.

When we got to town we went straight to Staci's house, to visit with her and Gabe. Isaac was so excited to go see them and to be in Dallas. When we told him we were going to Dallas he said, "Isaac bigger!" We always tell him he can go hunting with Daddy when he gets bigger, guess he put that with Dallas, too...too funny! Anyways, back to Staci's, we had a great visit with them! Isaac enjoyed playing with Gabe's toys, and Luke loved watching Gabe play, he thought he was fun and just laughed and laughed as Gabe ran around playing. I enjoyed visiting with Staci, catching up in person, and of course checking out the nursery. She is due in about a month and looks so great! I'm so excited for her and her precious family.

We stayed in a hotel in Lewisville, our old stomping grounds. We got a suite, thinking that would be best with the two kids...wrong again. Both went to sleep around 7:30, pretty normal, so we thought we had it made. Around 8:30 Luke started screaming, in the same room that Isaac was sleeping in...I ran in, grabbed in and brought him into the bedroom. He was wide awake and happy after that. Bummer. After some playtime we got him back to sleep, in our room this time. 3:00 AM...I hear Isaac talk, "Oh no why is he awake?" was my thought. Ten seconds later, he starts crying and saying, "Mama come back!" I ran in, so he wouldn't wake Luke, and scooped him up. He was so upset, staring at the door to the hall, he must have thought we left. Poor guy. Long story short, eventually, after feeding Luke and calming Isaac down, we all made it back to bed, unfortunately with Isaac in our bed. This was a first for us...not too fun...but he slept so that's what matters.

Sunday morning we met our former neighbors at the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch. When we lived there we would pass this place and I would dream of the days I could take my kids out there, after moving I thought we'd never do it, but we made it happen! This was the first time that our friends got to meet the boys, and it was the first time for us to see them in a couple of years. It was so great to hang out, catch up, and watch the kids play. They were my family when I lived there, Carl spent a lot of time working late, and I spent a lot of time hanging out with them. We really miss them! The pumpking patch was great...tons of pumpkins, hay stacks, bounce houses, hay ride, wooden tractors, and more! Isaac had a blast, and he did great with the other kids, he was so comfortable with them, and they were so good with him! Isaac asked us many times during the day if we could go back to the pumpkin patch.

After grabbing some lunch and packing up at the hotel, we headed to Denton for Staci's baby shower. It was a sweet time...full of family, friends, and lots of love for the Cavazos family. I am so thankful that I got to be there to celebrate this special time with her.

The ride home was long...both boys were exhausted, as were we. Luke slept some off and on, but Isaac talked and talked and talked...for 4 hours straight! Finally he crashed, right as we were coming into town, about 20 minutes from home. Silly boy!

We LOVED living in Lewisville, and have so many great friends still there (we didn't get to see most of them, which means we have to go back soon!), taking this trip reminded me of a special time in our lives, when we were just starting out...and now we're a family of 4. Part of my heart is still there, so many great memories, but Magnolia is now home, family is here and time with family is priceless. Maybe one day we'll get back up north, but for now we'll settle for some fun visits!