What to be for Halloween....

 We have been going in circles daily trying to figure out what Samantha wants to be for Halloween.  So far she is deciding between: Tinkerbell, Cinderella, All Seven Dwarfs (YES, she wants to be ALL SEVEN), a butterfly, an apple, a pig, a kitty cat, a flower, a princess, Curious George, all the characters from Yo Gabba Gabba and her final choice before bed tonight was a ladybug (which she was last year). 

Stay tuned for what the outcome is....

Thatcher is going to be one adorable Tiger but he looks so cute in the witch hat too!

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Patch

7 Months Old

I turned 7 months old on 10/8. 

*I am starting to cruise around on furniture, although,

*I have not mastered how to get down gracefully.

*Because of this, I have yet to sleep in my crib because I keep hitting my head.

*So, my parents keep me in a Pack-n-Play.

*But, most nights I end up in my parents bed, embarrassing right?

*I love to smile and show all my teeth. I am working on my 6th tooth already.  Yes, 6 Teeth!

*I love to squeal and giggle and I am starting to make consonant sounds. 

*My Mom coaches me on "Ma-ma-ma-ma" and my Dad keeps repeating "Da-da-da-da".  Both of them don't realize that they look ridiculous doing this and I will most likely follow in my sister's footsteps and my first word will be "hi".

*I have yet to really take a liking to solid food.

*I do enjoy hanging out in the excersaucer feeding myself, and the dog, Cheerios. 

*The other day my Mom baked me a sweet potato that I thought was pretty good but it gave me bad gas.

I wonder what 8 months will bring?

Bounce House Heaven

Every time we pass by Earl Warren Showgrounds off of the 101 Freeway, Samantha is quick to point out whatever event is going on.  About a week ago, the bounce houses popped up for Halloween and I knew at some point I would have to take her.  I decided to surprise her one evening and not tell her where we were going. When we pulled up next to the bounce houses,  Samantha was one happy camper!

Happy Girl!

 

Happy Boy!

 

Mom, please don't make me leave this place!

 

This is where she sat for 10 minutes when I told her it was time to go home

 

This is her sad face because I had to get inside the bounce house and drag her out.

And, just for fun, here she is last year, bouncing away: http://thefallons.blogspot.com/2009/10/bounce-house-heaven.html  She looks so little!

Second Child Syndrome

My days seemed to be filled with whatever Samantha's schedule is for the day.  I shuttle her around to various activities and I am always sure to be home in time so she can take a long afternoon nap (everybody knock on wood, I repeat, a LONG afternoon nap).  On the other hand, Thatcher spends a lot of time being thrown in and out of his car seat and has no schedule at all except for I try to make both kids nap at the same time in the afternoon.

By Thatcher's age, 7 months tomorrow, Samantha had already gone to all sorts of music and baby activities that are offered in Santa Barbara (My Gym, Yellowbird, Infant Times etc.).  Once in a while I feel guilty about Thatcher not having these experiences but then I remember that at this age most babies don't do a whole lot.  Samantha mostly put the toys in her mouth, did a lot of wide-eyed staring at the teacher and often times left over stimulated.  Don't get me wrong, these classes are great for socialization, especially for the parents. :)

Yesterday it was cold, wet and rainy and there is not a whole lot to do indoors in Santa Barbara when you have kids.  As luck would have it, there was a music class going on downtown and Thatcher was going to benefit from it. 

I can't say that I would ever pay for these types of classes at this age again.  I guess Thatcher liked it, but I get the same reaction out of him when I let him unload the tupperware drawer or turn "Yo Gabba Gabba" on TV.  I also noticed that he gets just as giggly and happy when he looks over at his big sister in the car seat next to him which lessens the guilt I have for him spending so much time in the car.

Plus, how many other kids have put their mouth on that puppet?!  

More Swimming

We left behind the fog and cold in Santa Barbara yesterday and headed down to sunny and warm Thousand Oaks to swim with Dancing Grandma and Papa Ward. 

I think Samantha looks A LOT like Grandma Marilyn, don't you?

 

Thatcher LOVED the water

 

Relaxing in the Hammock

Lollipop didn't want anything to do with the pool

 

Two X's the Fun?

I am not sure if it was easier or harder having two kids sit side by side in a cart.  There was laughing, crying, hair pulling, biting, slapping, kicking, giggling, hugging and kissing.