Happy Halloween!

Always my baby girl.

Same farm.  Same fence.  Same baby girl...

... Always my baby girl. :)

It's that time of year ...

Fall is finding its way to Florida ... well, somewhat.  The weather is cooling down, reaching mid eighties most days and the nights are just perfect with the most beautiful breeze.  The forecast is even calling for some seventy degree days this upcoming week!  Yay for Fall in Florida! :)

During this time of year, it's become a family tradition to visit Hunsader Farms for their big Fall Festival.  The farm is full of yummy food, pony rides, train rides, face painting, crafts, music, and of course lots and lots of people.  It's always a fun time ...

This year we met up with the the Benge and Wieters families.  Isla and Abby were dressed to match and ready to take on the fun together.  Levi and new baby Mav were enjoying their stroller rides and people watching.  :)

Abby loved the pony.  Here she and Daddy are thanking the pony for a nice ride. :)

The train ride might have been her favorite this year.  She was smiling and giggling the whole time! 

Wordless Wednesday - Look at this guy.

Sitting up like a big boy!

Daddy thought goggles were necessary to complete the look :)

One month later ...

A little over a month ago I was having many mixed emotions about Levi wearing the helmet.  I knew he'd adjust well, but I was missing my head snuggles and upset by people's reactions to seeing a baby in a helmet.  

If you were to ask me now about whether or not we made the right decision, I wouldn't hesitate to say "absolutely."  Levi has adjusted extremely well.  It doesn't phase him in the slightest.  In fact, when we take the helmet off for the hour at night, he rubs his head and pulls at his hair ... almost like he is missing something there.  I look at him without even noticing that he has the helmet on.  It's just become part of him, part of us.  When people stare I have to think about it for a second, forgetting why they might be checking out my baby.  Then I remember ... 

It's amazing to see how Levi's head has changed in just a short amount of time.  From the top of his head, you can tell that it has really rounded itself out.  From the back, you can also notice the changes, but we still have some work to do.  His ears still aren't aligned correctly, but over the next few months will hopefully become more symmetrical with one another.

We are still continuing physical therapy once a week to treat his torticollis.  Levi's muscles in his neck are still weak, causing the head to tilt.  The tilt is the most difficult thing to correct, but we are working hard at fixing it!  Levi will also start seeing a pediatric chiropractor next week in hopes to have additional help.

Our next helmet recheck is coming up in a week.  I'm looking forward to seeing the scans of how much his head has changed.  Hopefully we don't have too much longer to go, but whatever the time length is ... we're ready to do it.  :)

We missed the celebration!

Dear Levi,

  

In the midst of all the October excitement around us, we missed celebrating your half birthday.  We may be two weeks late, but it's never too late to wish such a handsome little guy a happy six months!  

You are changing in so many ways and so quick.  Still as happy as can be, you are getting easier to manage by the day.  You are getting to be such a big boy!  At your six month check-up last week, you weighed in at 19 pounds 4 ounces and 28 inches tall.  Thankfully you are in the 98th percentile for height so you even out pretty well.  :-)  

In just the past week you have learned how to sit unassisted and have almost mastered it.  I'm not sure I'd say you are crawling, but you are moving.  It's more like you propel yourself forward and flop down on your belly, get back up on all fours and repeat.  I'm not sure it's the easiest way, but for now you've figured out how to move forward and it certainly makes you proud.  You wear the biggest smile on your face as you inch towards the place you want to go.  So cute! 

You are babbling all. the. time.  We hear "ba ba ba" the most but we've heard a few "ma ma ma's" and "da da da's" in between.  I get the feeling you are going to talk a lot, just like your big sis.  :)

This time last month you were very unsure of solid foods.  Oh, how you have changed little man!  You are loving your food.  You are enjoying peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, pears, apples, blueberries, mangos, peaches and bananas.  You love everything and open your mouth wide for the next bite.

Sleep is getting even better.  I think sleep finally turned a corner when I realized (just like Abby) that the earlier bedtime, the better sleep will be.  Putting you down around 7:30 has made a huge difference!  For the past six nights you have gone to sleep around 7:30, skipping that dreaded 5am feeding, and sleeping right until 6:30, sometimes later!  Way to go!  :)

Levi, your toothless grin keeps a smile on my face.  You are such a handsome little guy, with or without the helmet.  The helmet is making your head progress so much in such a short amount of time.  Your personality is starting to shine and I'm looking forward to the next few months, where you will learn so much more.

Happy half birthday sweet boy!

Love,
Mommy

Wordless Wednesday - Sick Day

Abby woke up not feeling so well today, so off to the doctors we went

& a lazy, restful day was in order :)

Thankfully by afternoon (as the song from Doc McStuffins says) she was feeling MUCH better ... SO MUCH BETTER. 

 ... we are a bit obsessed with that show in this house!

It was quite the ride :-)

Even if it didn't feel like the end, we can officially put the 2012 baseball season in the books.  It was an amazing year, with so much promise for the future of the Orioles.  A team that has struggled year after year came together and found that special "spark" that was able to ignite the entire city of Baltimore and bring it back to life.  Teammates became family and worked towards one goal ... winning.

Along with several of his teammates, the hubs had an outstanding season.  Record breaking 51 saves, MLB Delivery Man of the Month, American League All Star, nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, and the recipient of the Orioles Community Service Award.  I don't usually brag, but both on and off the field, this man continues to amaze me and make me one proud wife! :)

A team that wasn't expected to finish above 500, not only accomplished that ... but made it to the playoffs for the first time in fifteen years.  Talk about a fun, exciting, and well deserved journey!

First stop ... Texas, for the American League Wild Card game.  An amazing time with the ladies and such a fun win!

Then it was time to face the Yankees.  Baltimore was PACKED with orange and black, in a way that I've never seen!  In New York, Jim was able to meet up with his biggest fans ... childhood friends who now cheer on the O's, despite growing up in Yankee territory. 

Even though it wasn't the ending we were hoping for, it was such a fun ride.  This team worked hard.  They worked together.  They became family and we feel extremely blessed to be part of it all. 

Win or lose, the wives are always proud of their hubbies! :)

Until next season .... 

This and that ...

Good morning from Fort Worth, Texas!  We are up and moving, excited and ready for tonights Wild Card game.  The last few days have been full of uncertainty, but the possibility of what is yet to come leaves a smile on my face!

Following our loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night, I traveled with the team to Texas.  The guys had a workout yesterday, so I took advantage of some free time and had my hair cut and colored.  It was overdue and it seems to be easier on the road, without the kids :)  I've also been attempting a blog makeover, so please be patient while we are under construction!

Last night we had a wonderful time at dinner with a few other couples.  We celebrated with a toast to congratulate the guys on such an amazing season, which followed by a few glasses of yummy wine, impressive food, and some fun conversation.

Sue is home with the kiddies and holding down the fort while we are away.  I'm missing the kids terribly but know they are in great hands and having a lot of fun.  Levi is still working hard on moving forward ... take a look.

After tonight we'll see where the rest of this journey takes us.  What a fun, thrilling, and exciting ride it is :)

Already like her Mama ...

Little Miss Abby loves to play school these days.  She refers to her playroom as her "class" and you'll often find babies and teddy bears napping or sitting up on the mat for circle time.  Today she read "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" to her class and luckily for Levi and me, we were her students! :)



Maybe one day Abby will want to be a real teacher or at least have a love for books like her Mama. :)

My singin' girl :)

A new favorite ...

It's a Small World.