Happy Halloween!!!!

Well, we have successfully survived Taylor's first real Halloween experience. Last year we just didn't mess with it since she was so little, and also because we didn't really know of anyone to trick or treat at their house. So needless to say, we sorta went all out this year. I kinda figure this will be the last year we have 100% say so on what she dresses up as, so I took total liberties. We got all gussied up and made it by to see a few of our friends (for those that we didn't make it to, I'm soooo sorry, but once Taylor was tired it was pretty much the end of the fun). We learned that Ms. T really digs Skittles, and as credit to her intelligence even was able to pick them out by their package in her candy pail. All in all it was a great experience, and I can't wait to keep dressing up as a family in the years to come.


She's really not that wrapped up in her thoughts of the force, she was in the process of nomming down a Skittle.


Oh yeah, we're total nerds, but who cares as long as you have fun?


My little Skittle queen!

Fort Robinson

The last few weeks have been a little hairy around here in the fact that Taylor has begun attempting to climb literally everything in our house. Truly, nothing is safe from the grab of little hands followed by the clambering of little spud feet for purchase. In an attempt to nurture this desire in a safer way (for both her and our furniture), Jody and I decided to go ahead and get Taylor some sort of climbing toy for the back yard. Kind of seems a little late in the year, I know, but we got it on sale this way; plus it's actually small enough that we're considering bringing it in her room once the winter really takes hold. Needless to say, after a small amount of initial apprehension, Taylor took to it well and had a blast. Here are a crap-ton of pictures to prove it!

Jody lays claim to the fort. I told him it was really his, but we would just let Taylor play on it for now ;)

Yeah, happy girl!

Climbing up the ladder......

Sadly she obviously has her Mama's coordination.

Daddy demonstrating how to use the slide with our garden gnome.

Oh boy! There's a periscope and I can see you!

Yay! Finally got brave enough to let go and attempt the slide!

For my friend that works at CPS, just pretend you never saw this picture. And even though I know it doesn't look like it, those power lines really are pretty far away from where he was throwing her.

Busy Weekend

It is widely known that Jody and I rarely leave the house for any reason that's not completely necessary (aka - work or groceries). However, because of this fact, it seems that on the rare occasions we do venture out, we tend to go a little on the balls to the wall side. How is this so, you ask? This weekend we managed to not only get out of the house, we managed to triple book ourselves in three different towns. Awesome. Sarcasm aside, we really did have a great time seeing everyone, only next time I think we'll split it up into more days as opposed to a 24 hour marathon that leaves us all tired and crabby.

We began our morning with the trek to Dalhart for Jody's family reunion, it was nice seeing our family, and meeting some new family that we didn't know before (For me, that was 95% of the attendees. If they weren't regulars at our holiday gatherings, I didn't know them, but it's always nice to meet new people.). After that we headed over to White Deer for steaks with Dad & Deanna. Taylor had lots of fun playing with the dogs and her cousin Kadey. Our last stop for the night was to see our dear friends Deawn and Brian in Pampa. Needless to say, by this point in the evening Taylors pigtails were a telling sign, and the horns came out as she transformed from cranky baby to full-fledged demon child. After a day of long car rides and no real napping she was exhausted. Can't say I blame her, but it's just never fun to be the parent of the constantly crying child.

Trying unsuccessfully to corral Taylor during lunch. She just wanted to run around like a crazy woman, unfortunately the room was way too crowded and she kept getting underfoot.

Thanks for helping us Grammy! Pretty sure my arms would have fallen off if you hadn't intervened.

Enjoying Mr. Potato Head's arms while Kady gives him a new face.

Showing Papa Val how to use the Magna Doodle.

Last stop for the evening. I tried to get pictures of Taylor playing with the boys, but this was pretty much as good as it got. And this morning after she was in a better mood, guess who forgot to pull out the camera?

Fall Foliage Festival

Anyone who's familiar with the Texas Panhandle has undoubtedly heard of the annual Fall Foliage Festival in Canadian. I liken Canadian to Fredericksburg - quaint, tiny, and lots of shopping to ensnare the tourists. We have never partaken in the tourist madness that is the Festival, but this year it seemed like a good idea, if for nothing else to hang out with family.

Mainly that's what we did - enjoyed spending time with family, but we did attempt the craft fair briefly. Taylor decided that napping was below her for the day, and as a result was a complete hellion the majority of the day. At the craft fair I bought her a barbecue plate for lunch, and I'll be damned if she didn't kick it out of my lap and onto the floor before I could even get one bite of the stuff into her mouth. Not to mention all the super loud screaming anytime the stroller was still or she was tethered to her carseat. Oy.

Front view of Moohead Mansion

Back view. Love the landscaping, Gomez ;)

Running around like a crazy woman.....

Grandpa, JW, Beth, and Gomez

Taylor decided Uncle Gomez was pretty cool, especially after he played Wrestle-Mania with her on the bed.

Dammit Dad! I was just about to dive headfirst in the dirt and give Mom a coronary!

Playing with Aunt Beth. These two became pretty tight!

*I would have more pictures, but as usual I put my camera up after the first hour or so and never gave another thought to it. This is why I do not work for the paparazzi.

Keys!

In recent weeks, Taylor has developed a weird obsession with our keys. Seriously as soon as we are trying to leave to go anywhere she starts asking, "Key? Key?" And if we are dumb enough to hand them over (which is 90% of the time, you'd think we'd learn), Katie bar the door the tantrum that ensues once we take them away so that we could, oh I don't know, drive maybe?

But funnier than the little tantrums is the fact that she has actually figured out the purpose of keys. The last couple of times we've caved and given her the keys she runs up to the front door, car key at the ready (I think because it's the biggest on the ring), and starts trying to stick it in the doorknob! It amazes me how much she observes, even when we don't realize it.


Trying to get out the door to go to the pediatrician. Taylor's soooooo not going down without a fight.

Sleep Wars

Jody and I have been very fortunate in the fact that Taylor has pretty much always been a good sleeper. Once we got over the initial hump of colic and reflux, it's been pretty smooth sailing. So, needless to say, we've gotten just a tad spoiled. For some reason, beginning this past Saturday Taylor has been waking up at 5:00 am and adamantly refuses to go back to bed. The first time, I totally gave up after an hour and just let her stay up and call it morning. At about 7:00 we both totally crashed in the floor while watching a video. Sunday was fine, but Monday was once again haunted by the 5:00 am witching hour. After 20 minutes of rocking, she finally went back to sleep, but as soon as I decided to attempt laying her in her crib, she began the spider monkey crawl clamoring frantically to me and crying so pitifully it absolutely broke my heart. So, I did what any exhausted parent does when they finally decide to wave the white flag of truce - I stuck her in bed with us in hopes that we could all catch a few more z's.

Normally Taylor does not like sleeping in our bed. She sees it as party time and a golden opportunity to chase after Alice since she's groggy too. But Monday morning she zonked right out. It was awesome! However, the last two mornings have not gone so smoothly. I once again resorted to the last ditch effort of sticking her in bed with us, and this time she acted a little more in line with her usual character. I'm honestly surprised I don't have a black eye from the head butt she gave me during one of her flying burrito tackles. So if anyone has any suggestions on how in the heck to break this 5:00 wake up habit please let us know! If not, just send coffee.

*Update - After posting our woes on Facebook, many friends suggested moving back her bedtime to 9:00. As much as I hate having her up an hour longer (that was my me time, dammit!), it's sooooo much better than having her up two hours earlier!

Fifteen Month Checkup

Taylor had her 15 month checkup this last week, our "little" girl is weighing in at a whopping 25.3 lbs and is 33.5 inches tall! Apparently she's pretty big for her age, and is in the 95% for height. Other than acting really terribly when the doctor came in, the visit went pretty well overall, and we managed to catch our first ear infection of the season before it evolved into a big one.

As far as the rest of us, Jody is officially halfway through school, yay! Some of you may also know that we acquired a cat with our house, a very sweet little orange thing that is blind in one eye; we totally named her Morris. However, one of my dear friends called me yesterday to ask how one goes about getting a cat. Since they were in the market, and god knows the last thing we really need is another cat, we packed her up and are happy to report that she know has a permanent home - with someone else!

Let's Catch Up!

So perhaps it's been a while since I was responsible enough to get anything new up here. Sorry for the hiatus, but you know, when you just don't feel like writing sometimes it's better to take a break than to force it. Work has been keeping me more than busy, and Jody is almost to the official halfway point in school!

As far as Taylor goes, well she is becoming more and more of a little person every day. Climbing is a fun new pastime, and Jody even walked in the living room the other day to discover our little angel standing in the middle of the coffee table. She has also mastered the art of eating with a fork, even though most of the time she loses patience with it and simply grabs it up and stuffs it in her mouth when she thinks we aren't looking.

The only challenge we've been having lately is sleep. For some reason in the last week Taylor now wants to be rocked to sleep. This is odd, because ever since she was born she just wants to be put down and left alone when it's bedtime. And as a matter of fact the times I've tried to hold her until she falls asleep used to only end with her crying to be put down and me having sore arms. Not so much anymore. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that she is getting literally all of her teeth right now (four new ones have broken through on bottom in just the last week, and you can feel the nubbies on top where the same thing is about to happen there too).

Taylor has also started to want to lay her head in the water at bathtime. Normally this would be an "Awwww!" moment, but unfortunately water is not conducive to her ear tubes.

Look at that happy grin! Any time I turn my back on her in the tub I usually find her laying flat on her back with that super cheese grin as the water goes rushing into her tubes to probably cause a massive ear infection.

Watching the Muppets. Yeah, it's a guilty pleasure for me too!

"Teeth-teeth!" This kid loooooves her toothbrush and toothpaste. After brushing she wants to carry them all around the house with her. Usually prying them away ends in a temper tantrum.

Hell yeah, I'm using a fork! Note the raspberries on her forehead from her failed attempt to descend the concrete steps head first on all fours. Needless to say she now attempts it feet first.