Monkey See, Monkey Do

Yesterday we spent a lot of time making this house a home. We unloaded our box of framed pictures and art, gathered some nails and a hammer, and got to work. Joey watched intently as Ron and I discussed in depth the placement of each piece. When we got out the measuring tape, pencil, and level is when Joey got very interested. He was so cute as he picked up a measuring tape, placed it on the wall and told us he was working on the wall. It was cute still as he grabbed a small framed picture and walked around holding it up against various walls of the apartment.

Then he took it one step further. (as he always does!) While we were preoccupied with our home decorating, he climbed up to the desk, took out a pencil, and began marking the wall where his measuring tape was hitting. He was so proud of himself as he exclaimed, "Mommy, I work! I work wall!" Without looking at him, I answered something to the effect, "Oh, that's great Joey!" I figured he was happy playing with his measuring tape and picture, and mimicking what we had been doing all day. Imagine my surprise when I looked at the freshly painted apartment walls to find Joey's pencil markings.

It didn't make me upset, because he didn't do this to be naughty. He did it because it is what he saw us doing, and probably thought to himself, "great, I can finally draw on these boring old walls because Mommy and Daddy are doing it too!" This was another time in my parenting career where I was extremely grateful for Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser.

Happy Baby Food Winner

True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 9 Result: 9 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

I know I'm super late in finishing up this giveaway and even later in posting the winner. Please forgive me, I've been a bit busy. I've learned that keeping up with my blog while packing up my house and moving 600 miles away is a difficult task. I'll do better with my next giveaway, I promise.

That being said, congratulations to post #9, The Rosa Family! Hope your baby enjoys Happy Baby Food Products as much as my babies do! :) I'll contact you via email for your shipping info so we can get your prize out to you ASAP!

Withstanding the Test of Time

Joey enjoyed these toys so much as a baby, it's no wonder that he still thinks they are fun. In fact, I'm pretty sure that he had more fun with them today than he ever did as an infant. He laughed so hard as he climbed in and out of the exersaucer and jumperoo this morning, I thought he was going to hyperventilate. Apparently these toys entertain children throughout their early childhood years...

Here is a picture of Joey enjoying the exersaucer at 6 months:

Finding a new way to play with it at 11 months:

Rediscovering the fun today, at almost 2 and a half:

And finding out that climbing underneath it is still exciting...

But not a lot of jumping was happening in the Jumperoo as it sagged to the floor after Joey climbed in:

Last Call!

This is your last chance to enter the HappyBaby Babyfood Package Giveaway. It ends up being something like $25 in free Organic Babyfood. I know I said I'd end it last week, but I'm running it just a bit longer... until Wednesday 11/4/09! First entry is easy-peasy... just comment. Followers get another vote, grab my button and post it and enter again.. you can enter up to 6 times, so get busy!!! Winner will be announced Thursday or shortly thereafter...

Trick or Treat

Yesterday was my favorite Halloween ever. Since we are hardly settled in to our new home, we packed up the kids and drove to my sister's house which is now only 4 hours away! I know 4 hours sounds like a lot, but it's a short ride compared to the 11 hours it used to take to get to her house. Our traveling circus turned her house upside down, and my kids just love her and her kids to pieces. It was a crazy, hectic, and super fun 48 hours. 3 adults, 6 kids, and 3 dogs made for a "never a dull moment" type of weekend. Here are some pictures from the fun house:

Katelyn felt right at home on the purple couch. This was right before I put her in her Halloween costume. (Olivia isn't in this pic with her because we were letting her sleep right up until it was time to leave the house... she's like mommy, without sleep she's CRANKY!)

I had trouble deciding whether Joey was a Lion or a Tiger. At first I thought it was a lion, but now I'm pretty sure it was a tiger. Either way, he looked damn cute.

The cutest pumpkins ever.

Desperately trying to get a bite...

We're skipping the Cheerios, and going straight to the hot dogs.

If she likes hot dogs, she was definitely born into the right family.... Oscar Mayer is my BFF.

Trail mix is a good dinner, right?

I VANT TO SUCK YER BLOOD!

It looks cute, I know. But don't be fooled. That was Jack's back of chips. Joey stole it from him and then only gave him the small broken ones. Lesson learned: if you want your chips hold on tight or some nasty little wild cat might just snatch 'em from you!

Ready for trick or treating!

Don't worry, we told him to stay on the sidewalk and watch for cars...