Taking Some First Steps

Ok, I may be exaggerating a little, BUT...they were still steps, even if they were executed like a weeble wobble! ;~) Unfortunately, I couldn't hold out my arms for Caroline to walk to me and take pics at the same time, so I don't have the proof, you'll just have to take my word on this. I've been trying to get her to practice some more but I think she is done for now. I think she figures the crawling gig is a lot easier and faster than trying to walk right now. All in time. She's fast now, I can only imagine how crazy it will be once she is walking around everywhere. I'm sure once she does the "real thing" we will have it on video for all to see. For now, I have posted just a few pics of the two of us together in our matching vests, well one is black and one is pink, but other than that they are matching! ;~)

Mommy & Caroline

Mommy & Caroline posing with our Pumpkin.

Pumpkin Pickin' at The Great Country Farm

Saturday, October 4, 2008: Caroline's first trip to the pumpkin patch...who knew it would be such fun!

We had heard great things about The Great Country Farm located in Bluemont, VA...and I have to say they were all true!

There was an animal farm to visit (check out Caroline's imitation of Mattie below), pipe slides, corn mazes, a HUGE bouncy ball trampoline, cow train rides and of course the highlight...a hayride to the pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins...and much, much more to do especially if Caroline had been a little bigger. However, Daddy did manage to talk Mommy into letting him take Caroline down the pipe slide. I wasn't sure how she would react. Well, actually I thought she would be terrified and crying as they came out at the bottom, but I was wrong, well a little wrong. By the look on her face, I'm not sure if she really knew what had happened. SO, Daddy had to take her again...but I think she had a good time. Caroline and Daddy also rode the cow train ride...a little less terrifying to an 11 month old. I think Daddy intentionally picked the cow named "NICK" to remind him of the Army Corps! ;~) When the cow train ride had come to the end of the road, we decided to take a break and eat some lunch and enjoy the live music. Caroline LOVES music...swaying her head from side to side to the beat!

Now it was time for the main event...the hayride out to the pumpkin patch, where Caroline picked the most perfect pumpkin! Well, with a little help from Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandad! ;~)

Here are just a few pics of our day at the The Great Country Farm and the Pumpkin Pickin' event! Happy Halloween!

Hey Look at me...pretending to be our dog Mattie.

Daddy...what just happened...was that a slide?
Caroline and Daddy riding the "Nick" Cow Train
Our Family...Mommy, Daddy, and Caroline in the Patch with the perfect 'lil pumpkin

(well, two of them)
Grandma, Grandad, Caroline, Daddy, and Mommy

A Day Trip to Harper's Ferry, WV

Sorry it has been a while since I have posted our comings and goings. We have been busy! I'll try and catch everyone up on our travels and adventures.

We had a visit from Grandma and Grandad a couple of weeks ago and we decided to take a day trip to Harper's Ferry, WV. We had a great time!

It was actually chilly that day, so Caroline was sporting her fall attire...coat and hat. I think everyone had the same idea (to visit Harper's Ferry) that day because we were unable to find a place to park, so we had to take the bus from the National Park into Harper's Ferry...Caroline's first bus trip...as you can see below she loved it! What a big girl! We toured and learned a little about John Brown and the history of Harper's Ferry and took in lunch at one of the local eateries and enjoyed the scenery. Of course, we took lots of pictures of the little girl and her adventure! All in all it was a fun day had for all! Actually, MUCH better for me the second go around, since my last trip (our anniversary) I was sick with morning sickness! ;~( BUT it was all worth it...

Sorry you missed this trip with us Daddy...we missed you!

Here we go...HOLD ON! Wow...this is fun...I'm a big girl riding the bus!
Caroline and Mommy at the bus stop.
Grandad and Caroline Grandma, Caroline and Mommy

Goodbye Toys...Hello Tupperware!

Let the discovery begin!

While Mommy was fixing dinner, Caroline discovered the hidden surprises in the kitchen cabinets. Caroline discovering the Tupperware cabinet was like Christopher Columbus discovering the world was round...she was SO EXCITED! Who needs toys when you can play with Mommy's stuff. There was Tupperware all over the kitchen floor by the time I finished dinner. It did however help keep her busy while I was doing things I needed to do. Now we just need to teach her how to put everything away...I think that will probably be awhile. ;~)

With this new discovery, we decided that it was probably time to install the child locks on the cabinets, so the exploration will continue BUT with mommy and daddy's supervision.

I was able to snap a few photos of Caroline's hidden treasure discovery...hope you enjoy!

Wow! Who knew this stuff was in here...

Let's see what else I can find...

Ok...let's count...ONE, TWO, THREE...

Look at all these toys for Mommy!

How fun is this?!?

Ponytails Anyone?

Today Caroline and I decided that it was time for a ponytail. So, with the little hair that she has, we were able to get one small twig of hair in a rubber band. I guess it somewhat resembled a big girl ponytail! All that matters is that Caroline liked it...oh, and Mattie too! What a big girl...styling her big girl ponytail!

Look at Me...

Mattie, Whaddyathink?

Look Mom, I'm such a big girl...NO HANDS! All the attention is making me thirsty!

Caroline Goes to the Nursery

This past Sunday we went to church as a family. Since Caroline is now at the age of a "Wiggly Worm" we decided that it would probably be best that she visit the church nursery while Mom and Dad went to the service. So, we arrived early to get her checked in and acquainted with the nursery helpers and other babies in the room. The transition for all of us was hard. Our baby was going to be left in the nursery for the first time with helpers that we did not know. It was the first time that Caroline has ever been with someone other than family. Needless to say, it was hard for all of us. We were reassured that she would be fine. So, off we went with our pager (given in case they need to call the parents) to the service. I don't think either one of us could really tell you what the service was about. We kept looking at the pager and thinking how strange it felt to not have Caroline with us. It was the longest hour...it seemed like forever! So, as soon as the last song was sung, we sprinted to the nursery to get our BABY!! We found her sitting among the other babies on the floor with her dress and matching shoes of course covered in cracker crumbs. Our little pumpkin was perfectly fine. We do KNOW that she missed us because as soon as she saw us at the door, she started to cry. I kept thinking how hard it must be for many moms to leave their babies for 8 hours or so a day...it was hard for us to leave her for an hour.

All in all the nursery time was a success and this marks the beginning of many more fun nursery times to come! We didn't take our camera to church of course, but I did take a few pics of Caroline later that day in her dress and matching shoes!! ;~) She is such a girly girl!
I've also included a few more photos from our weekend.

Hope everyone had a nice weekend!

Wow...what's this stuff? Can I eat this??

How fun! It's a whole new world out here...

My little Hokie asleep with Daddy after the VT game

Caroline's Church outfit...

...matching shoes and all!

Caroline Goes to Babygarten

Caroline is 10 months old today!! I can't believe it. Only two more months and she will be a year old. I guess it's true...time flies when your having fun! And as parents, we are having more and more fun with her each and everyday. Brian and I have both said at one point or another, "I can't wait until she can..." but we have enjoyed each and every stage so far and are looking forward to many, many more!!

So with that said, Today Caroline went to Babygarten...no not Kindergarten, not yet...Babygarten. This is a 6 week class that is held at our local library. It's a time for kids Newborn to 18 months of age to get together, with their mommies, and have fun singing songs, reading books and most of all playing with toys and having fun with other babies their age. Caroline being "Miss Personality" was a hit with the other babies and mommies in the room. She was actually one of the oldest in our group. There were six babies there, including Caroline, ranging in age from 4 months to 10 months old, all girls except one boy named Dylan. I believe Caroline won the prize for being the most mobile of the group. It was amazing how she was able to spot the other baby that was 10 months old...it's like she said, "There's someone like me and I need to go say hi!" She loved the clapping after each song we sang together. I think she thought that everyone was clapping for her...sounds a little like her mom, right? Her favorite time came when our leader dumped a pile of new toys in the middle of the floor and Caroline headed the other babies off and got the pick of the litter.

So, we sang, we read and we played and then it was time to say goodbye to our new friends until next time. I managed to take a couple of pics of Caroline playing before the camera battery died. Hope to be better prepared next time!

All in all it was a great FIRST day of BabyGarten!

So Many toys...So Little Time!

I think this ball is my favorite.