Fall Fun

We have FINALLY been able to take part in some fall festivities. It seems like every weekend we have had something going on so it was nice to have a weekend off (I drove Heath crazy all weekend reminding him this was our "Fall Filled Family Fun Weekend" - Griswold style). Last Wednesday we met the Flecks and Jenny and Noah at Eckert's Orchard and Farm for a play date. It was so much fun seeing the little ones walk around, laugh at the goats, and drive the tractors. Saturday we met them again along with the Trott family for Boo at the Zoo. I loved seeing all the kids dressed up in their adorable costumes. Then Sunday we took Lyla to the pumpkin patch at Stuckmeyer's Farm. She loved walking around and looking at all the "bum-pins". She and Daddy carved her pumpkin tonight, this year it is a shout-out to our Cardinals who are in the World Series!! Happy Fall everyone!

Riding the horse swing at Eckert's

Not quite as cool as Grandpa's combine

Checking out the animals

Boo at the Zoo with our little owl

Fun at the pumpkin patch

Helping Daddy carve the pumpkin

Chicago

Last weekend we decided to take the Amtrak train from St. Louis to Chicago for the weekend. Lyla loved the train at first, but we found it was pretty difficult to keep a 1 year old entertained for a 6 hour train ride. She was pretty good, but did not nap until we saw the Chicago skyline (of course!). We had a great time at Shedd Aquarium and we were lucky enough to be able to spend time with family that Lyla got to meet for the first time. Such a fun weekend!

All aboard!!

Ready for lunch in the dining car

Finally out…and we are almost there!

Playing in the hotel room

One block from our hotel was Lake Michigan and Navy Pier

Ready for dinner at Lou Malnati's

Bedtime 

Excited for Shedd Aquarium

Apparently stingrays won't let you pet them if you splash the water…

Checking out the belugas

The jellyfish exhibit

They freak me out!

Loving the aquatic show

Ready for the 4D Ice Age experience

After the aquarium we walked around and did some sightseeing, apparently she wasn't impressed! :)

Saturday night we were able to meet Uncle Norm, Aunt Janet, Brian, Denise, and the kids at Harry Caray's for dinner. We had a lot of fun!

With the Chicago Marathon taking place on Sunday morning, we had quite the adventure getting to Union Station. We took a cab, the L Train, and huffed it 10 blocks with all of our luggage but we made it on time. Lyla loved chasing the pigeons around while waiting for our train.

Thank you, Denise, for the coloring book which helped kill time on the way home!

Surprise!!

Talk about the Good Stuff!! We are excited to announce that Baby #2 will be arriving in April of next year. We were completely surprised but could not be more happy or grateful for this little blessing to join our family.

Family of Four!

We are Walking!

Lyla has been taking steps for quite awhile but this week all of the sudden she decided she was finally ready to walk on her own! I absolutely love watching her bobble around like a zombie. It is really cute when she gets excited and tries to "run"!

I'm adding this last video because it cracks me up. Lyla has been doing really with all of her animal sounds. This week she started doing a new one…the chicken :)

September's Pictures

Apparently I did not take many pictures in September! We had a lot of fun with friends and loved spending time with family in Indiana. I can't believe how big she is getting. We are so close to walking on our own, she takes a few steps but still is much faster crawling. She still loves animals and knows a lot of the sounds they make. Heath and I just love this age and how much her personality is coming out each day. Lyla, you are such a funny, sweet little girl. We love you so much!

Labor Day cookout with the Flecks and Wasson's

Peek-a-boo from the teepee

Nothing like a little morning yoga in the teepee

Techno party in the tub!

She didn't know what to think of the techno music Daddy was playing…although this may have also been her reaction to Daddy doing a little techno dance with the lights! He would not let me video his dance, but this was pretty much my reaction as well!!

Some days it is so hard to get my laundry sorted...

Someone wants to go Trick-or-Treating on her tractor this year

Practicing her "Give me some Candy" Face. "Please, sir, may I have some more?"

Pretty Girl

Morning at the Park

Finally we had a cool morning! Fall is my favorite time of the year mainly because of the weather but this year we have been in the 80s and 90s almost every day in September! At least the last day of the month we finally had a break! I took Lyla to her favorite park, Suson Park, where they have a little farm filled with animals. She was so much fun talking to the animals and Baa-ing at the poor sheep. Here are a few pics from our morning.

Baa!!

She thought this cow was hilarious. Every time I would say, "Moo" the cow would wag his tail and L would die laughing.

Such a fun morning with my girl!