Trick or Treating Part 1

Downtown Ames had trick or treating from 10-2 today. We met our new friends Melissa and her daughter Landrey for some trick or treating. For the most part I thought it would just be fun for the girls to walk around and see all the other kids. Landrey got the trick or treat thing down pat, but Whitney was afraid to take a piece of candy. I'm telling ya, she doesn't like food, not even candy! She was wiped out from trick or treating, went straight to bed, and she has been napping for 2.5 hrs so far! Tonight will be trick or treating part 2 with the Welsh side. Hopefully that will wear her out too!

this was about as good as a picture as we could get of them together. Whitney is tinkerbell and Landrey is a cowgirl. I left Whitney's wings at my sister's, which really stinks because I could have put the wings on outside of her coat. Can't really tell what she is with just a little skirt poking out. That's an Iowa Halloween for ya!

her first sucker, she did like this for about 2 minutes, then she handed it back

Bass Pro Shop

Wednesday night we went to Bass Pro Shop in Altoona. It was cold, windy and rainy that night so the store was empty and Whitney ran around like she owned the place. She loved the big fish tank and the talking moose on the wall. I even put her in her pink camo for the trip. I think I deserve some cool wife points from Wade for that one! We also ate at the Fish Bowl, the restaurant attached to the store. Neither one of us was impressed with the food. I got the pulled pork sandwich and couldn't even eat it. Thankfully when the manager came around and asked how our meal was I honestly said it wasn't that great, in fact I said it was "icky" and had an uneaten sandwich to prove it. I'm not picky and don't complain to staff but I was feeling honest and disappointed in the meal, so we got mine for free!! The prices were reasonable and the food was just okay. I won't say we won't give it a second chance though if we go back.

Christmas present?!?!?

Good Apple!

Whitney found this gigantic apple in the fridge and knawed on it all afternoon/evening. She liked it because SHE wanted it and found it. For those of you who don't know, Whitney has ZERO interest in food and prefers to drink milk and juice all day. Yesterday was the first time EVER she asked for food and WANTED to eat. She basically ate from 2-9 straight, and it was a variety of foods, not just the apple. I'm trying not to get too excited about it, I'm sure she'll go back to her sporadic eating pattern!

Same day, different outfit. She found the apple again after she got bored carving pumpkins.

Pumpkin Carving

We carved pumpkins last night. I had too high of expections for carving pumpkins with a toddler. I fully expected her to have fun playing in the guts the entire time. I should have known better! She did have fun on her terms and it was fun to watch her get into the start of the Halloween traditions. Washing up the pumpkins first. I have been pulling a chair up to the sink and letting her go to town in the water. A soaking wet toddler and floor is a small price to pay for a preoccupied toddler while I try to get things done. She thinks it is so fun that multiple times a day she drags the chair over to the sink and gets it positoned just right and climbs on up.

getting the design on the pumpkin

Mine, Whitney's and Wade's pumpkin. With the exception of Whitney's pumpkin we unknowingly kind of chose ourselves. According to Wade I am evil and mean, Whitney has her excited face, and according to me Wade is a big eared gomer!

Wade, or I mean, Wade's pumpkin!
He is pretty proud of his pumpkin and always has to do something different. I on the other hand am okay with simple and ordinary!

Pumpkin Carving Video

24 Weeks

24 weeks with Whitney

24 weeks baby girl #2

I am now at 24 weeks. Not sure if the angle is a little different or if I'm a little bigger this time, or it looks the same? I have gained less weight at this point this time around, so maybe that is why my belly looks a little bigger? You can see I have the same pants on. It feels like my due date is just around the corner with the busy holidays coming up. I am mentally preparing myself that we baiscally have about 3 months left. I went early with Whitney, so I am expecting to go early with this one too. I know, I know, every pregnancy is different and I could go late, yada yada yada.

I have moments where I am super nervous about taking care of two and I worry about how Whitney will react. I feel guilty that the second baby won't get as much attention as Whitney did as a baby, and I feel guilty that Whitney will get less attention than she gets now. Then I have days that I just think whatever. That's what happens when you have more than one kid and everyone will adjust and life goes on. We plan on getting Whitney into a big girl bed before baby arrives, probably wait until January to do that. Haven't decided if I want to potty train Whitney before the next baby. If she keeps up her stance on the toilet we will be waiting. She used to LOVE going pee on the toilet and would make herself go, wipe, flush and clap. Now she acts like she is terrified of it and wants nothing to do with it. I guess I'll just follow her lead.

So far the pregnancy is going well and baby is kicking away!

Another Busy Weekend

Another busy weekend in Iowa! On friday afternoon we made a last minute decision to head to Matt and Tiffany's for the night so Wade and Matt could deer hunt saturday morning. Whitney loves her cousin Owen and follows him around and is very concerned with where Owen is at all times. It is pretty funny considering she doesn't care a whole lot what other kids her age are doing. She pronounces his name Oh-nah, can't get her to say Owen. When we got home saturday afternoon she walked around our house looking for Oh-nah. Whitney and Owen

Whitney and Brynna


Then Sunday Grandma Cathy and Great Grandma Audrey came to visit. We went out to eat at Hickory Park, yummy!!

Getting ready for winter!! After living in the heat of Missouri for so long, I am actually looking forward to cold and snow. That is the FIRST time I have ever said that, and I am sure I will regret it two months from now!!

We are continuing to stay busy during the week too. With all of our socializing Whitney is starting to get a little more aggressive and stick up for herself. She fights back and says no when a kid tries to take a toy away. As long as it doesn't get physical I'm happy with that! Last week she bailed minutes into toddler story time, but Thursday morning she stayed in the nursery the entire hour and a half for Bible study. We may be making progress. She was getting really clingy at home and would freak out when I left the room, I think she's continuously afraid I'm going to leave her. She also started waking up in the middle of the night like she was scared. Not to mention she is a BIG TIME mama's girl. Kids!!

More No

I find this little story humorous, even though Whitney's attitude lately is extremely annoying.
She has this little soft cover book and she was at the end of the book and wanted to turn another page. She managed to pull apart the back cover and I stopped her and told her that was "no". She was determined to complete the job, looked at me and said, "more no?" Then the next morning she saw the book and said, "hi no!"

River Valley Pumpkins

We had such a perfect weekend last weekend. Well, maybe I should speak for myself. Wade spent saturday doing homework all day and it was weekend #2 that he has not made it out deer hunting. As for Whitney, she got totally out of whack being busy and having Grandma around that she didn't want to eat, poop, or sleep. I never realized how much of a routine girl she was until we moved back here and have been busy every weekend. Grandma got here friday night and we spent saturday morning at the park and then saturday afternoon/evening shopping in Des Moines and had dinner at my aunt's house. I have been to WAY too many garage sales, because I don't want to pay retail for anything! At least I know I have another girl to get more use out of whatever we buy. Sunday morning Whitney stayed home with Grandma so Wade and I could FINALLY go to Church. As I mentioned in a previous post it had been FOREVER since we attended a regular service. After lunch at Panera we headed to River Valley Pumpkins. A long time family friend runs it. It was great seeing the Smith's and Whitney had a blast. Unfortunately our camera battery died and we only got a few pics.

Mom

Whitney has taken to calling me Mom, and I have no idea where she got it from. It was bad enough that she went from mama, to mommy, and now MOM?!?! She started calling me mom one evening last week and I asked Wade if he taught her that. No, he didn't. We were at the park yesterday and she was calling me mom and another lady says, "she looks too little to be saying mom!" Yes, I know.

Exciting news, we made it through toddler story time today!!! Not sure if it was the super crowded room, the fact that we sat out of sight from the open door way, or that they sang Old McDonald, which she loves. Fingers crossed, we may be making progress!

Pumpkin Patch

Over the weekend we went to Cedar Rapids to stay at my sister's. On Saturday we met them at a pumpkin patch in Atkins. It was by far the neatest pumpkin patch EVER! There was so much to do there we didn't get to it all. We were there for two hours and easily could have spent up to four hours there if it wasn't so cold! It looked like a nice day, but brrr!!!!

Alaina Wade and Whitney

birthday donut! Callie turns one on Oct 10th, but they had her birthday party on Sunday. Callie did a much better job on the cake, but didn't get a picture of that.

it was a Halloween themed party, so all the girls had one their costumes, and they were all fairies!

We're Having......

After having an ultra sound that shows the baby growing on schedule and looking good, we found out that we are having...... another girl!! I'm excited about another girl and I'm excited that Whitney will have a little sister. According to MY plans we are done after two, so Wade will have to put up with all of us females!! Yay for a happy, healthy and growing family!