Little Miss Trouble

Ahhh! Mommy caught me!
Socks are for Suckers

I might just be the cutest thing you have ever seen

Now that Maggie is mobile we have had a most difficult time keeping up with her and keeping her out of trouble! Her favorite new place to play is Lucy's water bowl and she also really likes to climb into the entertainment center from Woodview. I have moved things around but she still finds a way to get to them! As I type she is playing with Lucy's kennel and opening and closing the door. She definately keeps us on our toes but it is so fun to see her try new things!

Costumes and Curry

Wrapping up another great weekend...Rob got home late Friday night after taking the Professional Engineer Exam (an 8 hour test!) in Columbia. He has been studying for it for the past 2 months and we are so glad it is over! Saturday we spent the day watching Michigan State beat U of M which was excellent! Its been too long since we could say that. During the game I tried to make some candy spiders with nuts, caramel and chocolate but they did not turn out that well at all. They looked yummy but did not want to come off the tray! We put on costumes and spent the evening at the Dornstaders celebrating Drew's birthday. Maggie wore her skunk costume and won a prize for being the cutest baby there (she was the only baby there). Rob and I went as hippie hikers who happened to stumble upon a skunk. Today was an absolutely beautiful day outside and we took the jogger to the Engineer Trail for a walk. We finally found a store that sells our favorite curry and Rob made an excellent chicken Tikka Masala for dinner-Indian might be one of my favorite foods ever!! Looking forward to Halloween this week but we will miss the Pantanos as we always spend this holiday with them. A special Happy Birthday to Claire who will be 20 on Thursday!

Pumpkin Patch

Today Maggie and I and Rachel and Caroline went to the pumpkin patch in Dixon with the Parents as Teachers group. It was a little chilly but turned out to be a beautiful fall day! We had a good time but I had a little lesson on "expectations". I know not every pumpkin patch is a Halloween dream but it was a VERY far cry from Uncle Johns Cider Mill (you Lansing people know what I am talking about!). We had to pay $2 to even look at the pumpkins! The hayride was fun but where was the apple cider and warm homemade doughnuts? Just another case of "don't expect much in Missouri". It was like the Apple Festival all over again!! Maggie did get a chance to try out her new silver booties though. An old lady in Cracker Barrel even told me she liked my babies "bling" shoes. Really!!?? Holla!

Hayride with Caroline and Maggie (note the sweet silver shoes)

How did these girls get so big???

lil pumpkin!!

Amanda (our PAT friend) with Maggie and Rachel with Caroline

Help! Mommy question!

If any of you new or more experienced Moms are reading this and have any suggestions I am at a loss! So far Maggie has been a really good eater and will pretty much devour anything we give her. Recently though she has been really funny about her food. After few bites she will put her chin in the air, make a face and scream. She will eat turkey chili and yogurt but is not happy with cereal and fruit for breakfast and gets mad after about 3 bites of veggies or fruit for lunch/dinner. If I give her something she can feed herself she does a bit better but the girl cannot live on cheerios alone! So....1. Any suggestions for finger foods she can feed herself at 8 months? 2. Any way to get her the daily amount of iron when she refuses to eat her cereal? Just when I think I have something figured out...

Farewell Ritters

Well, it's that time again. Another great family is moving away! On Friday we got together to say goodbye to Ben, Laura Leigh and baby Reed. We really loved having them down the street and will miss them as they move to Ft Stewart. It was so fun to watch Laura Leigh progress with her pregnancy and to be here when Reed was born. We wish them good luck in Georgia and can't wait to visit them (and Erin and Jack) in Savannah! We were able to take a picture of some of the Delafield ladies. We miss you Beth!!! In other news we have two new baby girls on the street. Congratulations Megan and Chris and Jana and Eli!

Maggie-O-Lantern

Here's what's new at number 38!

Maggie in her new dress from Auntie Megan. She looks so cute in blue and you can see her two bottom teeth. We think more are trying to come in on top but she bites me every time I try to check.

I voted! I had 000001 absentee ballot from the State of Michigan. Rock the Vote! And also check out www.momsrising.org for free Mommy voting bumper stickers!

Attack of the hand! This is Maggie sound asleep this week. Rob had to get the camera and capture this silly moment.

Maggie now likes to greet us when we go in her room to get her after nap time. Her big smile makes my day!

For our company coffee this month we carved pumpkins. Here is my maggie-o-lantern. Thanks to KD for the tiny knife and Mr. Drew for the skewer. She would not have eyeballs without it!

Weekend

The weekend is over again! I don't have any new pics to post but will get on that this week. On Friday we got a surprise visit in the form of Rory and Jenny Dibble! It was great to see our wonderful friends and catch up with them after their move to Seattle last year. Saturday Maggie and I went shopping with Rachel to Springfield and had a long but fun day at the mall and Target. Rob and I spent today enjoying the weather and relaxing/studying when Maggie was asleep. Watching Mad Men now and wondering who these crazy people with Don are?? New pics soon!!

Thanks KD!

Katie is my neighbor across the street. She is super sweet and has been a good friend here in Missouri. We enjoy making fun of silly politicians and hanging out on Saturdays when the guys are playing poker! She is a GREAT cook as well!

With this award you have to:
A. List 6 things you value/support and 6 things you don't.
B. Pass it along.

Things I value:
1. My family! They are the best and I miss them so much everyday.
2. My husband. Rob is the best guy I know and I am lucky to have him!
3. My daughter. Being a mother is the hardest and best thing I have ever done and I love every minute of it.
4. My Friends all over the world
5. Service-Get Involved!
6. My Education.

Things I don't:
1. Fox News
2. Religious Extremism
3. Judgemental People
4. Cynicism and Negativity
5. People who choose not to be involved and then complain all the time about how bad things are.
6. Excessive wealth

I nominate Beth. She lives in Alaska now and we really miss her and her family!

Prost!

Ever since Rob started the Career Course it has been our weekly habit to have dinner with a few of the couples from his class. Last weekend we hosted the group at our house and celebrated Oktoberfest! We set up the fest tables, played German music and had some great German fare. The schnitzel Rob made were a huge hit (thanks to Katie for the deep fryer) and Caroline won the cutest kid award in her dirndle. I haven't been to Hermann yet but kinda figure our fest was better!! Prost!

Delafield Neighbors

Love you Sally!

Caroline in her German Dress

Maggie and Mommy

7 Months Old

Maggie is 7 months old today! Just this week she started saying some new sounds (ma-ma-ma) and last night she started scooting across the floor to get the tv remote! Rob was right and she will be completely mobile before we know it. She weighs 16 and 1/2 lbs now thanks to all of the new food she can eat. Her special favorite this week is whole wheat Ritz crackers-yum!