The Beginning of Upward Motion!

At the very end of October, right before Gabriel turned 7 months, he started becoming stronger and moving from on all fours to a sitting up position. Then he started being able to get up on his knees (like in this video) but he wasn't all that sturdy. The story goes on...a lot happened in the next three weeks! :)

The Parade Continues...& Halloween Night!

The Neighborhood folks all paraded with their kids all dressed up across a main street into the senior living section where they had a fire truck to explore, trick or treating, balloon animals and face painting.

Here is a quick shot of the kids on our street who came to the parade. Ayden, Ereka, Gabe and Layla.

A Family shot on Halloween Night. We were eating some grilled food out in the street because we had a block party before all the trick or treating began.

A Little Bumble Bee!

Someone noticed that all the guys were hanging out on the sidewalk together, so we all snapped their photo...they felt like they were famous or something, it was funny. We were laughing, "The men of Chalk Maple Drive!" It was a fun party!

A Costume Party & Halloween Parade...

This is the "cake" that I made for the costume party. The challenge was to bring the most "disgusting, yet edible" dessert or appetizer! So this is my version of a hand coming out of the dirt. Ok,ok...there are a few un-edible items on the cake, but the cake and cookie crumbs (dirt) are certainly edible. I didn't win...some eyeball cupcakes did! :) Oh well.

We pulled out some old costumes from the past...Bert and Ernie! My mom and dad wore these costumes that Great Grandma Pat made almost 30 years ago. They held up pretty well!

The Amberly (our housing developement) Halloween Parade was the Saturday before Halloween. Here is a pic of Ayden and our neighbor's little girl Ereka.

The Red Power Ranger is ready!

Group shot of all the kids in the neighborhood who came out for the parade!

More Photos of the Baby Shower...

upclose photo of one of the centerpiece arrangements.

food table flowers...

An origami decoration for the baby nursery. Can you see the little roses? So cute!

The table afterwards. I didn't clean these table up for about 3 days! I loved admiring the flowers. :)

A Baby Shower for Katherine!

I threw a baby shower for my neighbor, Katherine in mid October. It was so much fun to plan and execute since she is having a little girl! Yah!! Decorations in pink and green...such a fun change from the usual blue in my house with all the boys! We all had a great time and enjoyed some good food. :)

The gift table with the party favors in front.

These party favors were hand made, personalized stationary for each guest. Katherine's baby room theme is polka dots and so I took on that theme for the shower and stamped polka dots on the stationary and made a little packet of them for each.

It was a brunch shower with crepes, fillings, quiches, fruit, scones and coffee cake. We had some yummy fresh pressed apple cider, orange juice, coffee and tea.

I made the table runners for the shower...they added just the right touch to the tables!

Some Brother poses...

Gabriel-6 months, Ayden-3 3/4 years old

Gabriel's Creative Mobility!

Gabriel's Creative Mobility

In mid October, Gabriel was able to get up on all fours and get ready to crawl...but this was after he developed a couple of other ways to "get around." I think I have a video of it and will try and upload it after this, but he loves to scooch backwards while on his back by way of his head. (can't picture it? Hopefully the video will make it up. :) )

Here is one of his other favorite positions prior to crawling. My friends call it "the downward facing dog pose!" I was saying, "push up ready!" Anyway you say it, this kid is pretty agile for 6 months! :)

Our 6th Wedding Anniversary!

Truth is, we don't get out too much these days...so since it was our anniversary, I found a babysitter and we went out to a nice dinner in a cute part of Raleigh and then walked around the street to witness all the night life. We stopped in for a cupcake at this cute bakery and as we walked around, I couldn't believe all the action going on...it reminded me of college! I said to Julio, "Are these people all college students, they are going wild?" He said, "No, mostly 20's and 30's hang out here, these people are our age! This is what people our age do!" I laughed and said, "Not us!" Guess kids make you feel older than you are sometimes! :)

First Trip to the Dentist!

I had to post this photo from the beginning of October when Ayden went to the dentist for the first time! Can you see the button on his shirt...he was pretty proud of himself since the dentist told him that his teeth were healthy and that he was doing a good job brushing. He even sat still in the chair while the hygenist cleaned his teeth!

Autumn Activities!

Picking out pumpkins!

We went to a local farm...went on a hay ride, picked out pumpkins and went through the corn maze...it was a gorgeous day!

On top of a hay mountain!