Overdue Updates (Part 3)
September and October have been very busy months in our household and with our family and friends. As I've mentioned before, it is very important for me to savor these last few months with Mia before baby boy arrives.  We have embarked on a lot of fun adventures including the Canterbury Race tracks, Severs Corn Maze, cabin trips, Mia's 2nd birthday, transitioning in to her new "big girl" room and bed, starting a new 5 day a week day care, quitting her Nuk 100% cold turkey with almost NO issues at all, Afton Apple Orchard, brunch with friends, potty training in full force and of course this past weekend with a bunch of Halloween festivities.  Mia has grown up so much and become such an individual with such a unique and funny personality.  She is the perfect combo pack of both Nate and I both in physical traits as well as her character.  Here are some highlights from the past 2 months of fun filled outings and activities with family and friends.

Airborne on this massive bouncy thing at Severs Corn Maze

the point when I realized I probably should NOT have been on this while being 5 months pregnant...whoops...don't worry, baby boy is fine :)

getting acquainted to the HUGE corn pool

helping me bury dad in the corn

it's like quicksand...this corn pool was so amazing

this is what it looked like when Mia was "jumping" in to the corn pool..always such a cautious girl :)

finding her way in the kiddie maze

Mia says she does not like riding horses...but LOVES riding ponies :)

Mia turned 2 years old on Sept 24th, 2011.  Here are a few pics from her birthday party, the day right after the corn maze adventure....what a busy (but fun) weekend.

I've been told she looks JUST LIKE NATE in some of these pics

taking time to read the cards before diving in to her gifts...so thoughtful

showing off her favorite gift....fruity smelling Hello Kitty lotion form Anne/Aaron and baby Alice

Her older "cousin" Brenden showing her how to safely cut up fruit and veggies

Mia showing MJ her new "big girl" room and bed

death stare...don't even THINK about taking away my cookies and ice cream

Here are some cheerful pictures of the beginning of MN fall.  The temps have been surprisingly warm and we took advantage of trying to spend a lot of time outside in the beautiful weather....because we all know that won't last too much longer :(

Her arrival at Afton Apple Orchard....Suri Cruise has nothing on Mia,
Eat your heart out paparazzi!

enjoying yummy apple and pumpkin donuts

loves feeding any kind of animal she sees

thanks to Erin for taking this awesome pic

"here Annie, let me fix your hair before we take this picture"

awwwwwww

Pot Luck Brunch at our place...complete with 11 kids under the age of 3.5! 

Hold it...hold it all of us parents try to capture this pic...

Aaaaaannnnnnnnd they're done.


Mia was a cupcake for Halloween this year (50% off, yesss!)  For the second year in a row, we visited my grandmother's nursing home for their annual Halloween Parade.  The "old folks" line up in the hallways and the kiddos walk up and down going trick-or-treat.  Mia was pretty overwhelmed with all of the people and costumes.  She eventually warmed up to the idea, used her nice manners by saying thank you and actually spent a lot of time handing OUT candy to the older kids...what a trooper.

she loves seeing her great grandma Peggy :)

Ahhh, snuggles with Papa

4 generations

Our friends kept asking us what we were doing for Halloween this year...dropping hints that we should have people over in their costumes like we did last year.  After a week or two of getting the hints, we decided to gather the troops again and have a pot luck the day before Halloween (yesterday).  It was a nice deal in the end: we provided the house, drinks and clean up while everyone else brought the food and treats....not too bad :)

Mia, MJ and Milo taunting our cat who snuck downstairs through his cat door

7 friends in costume ages between 3 months and 2 years 1 month old

this lasted maybe 10 seconds :)

baby bumble-bee Ellen and I back by the fire


That just about brings us up to speed for the happenings of the past few months, whew!  I only have one more thing/update/adventure to add in Part 4...our recent "Babymoon" to Montreal, Canada...stay tuned.

Overdue Updates (part 2)

Overdue Updates (Part 2)
**Whoops...I am SO DUMB!  I keep forgetting that "photo bomb" does NOT mean including a bunch of pictures on one blog post.  Nate keeps reminding me that a photo bomb is when some dork ruins a pic that would otherwise be awesome.  Again, my bad.  But seriously....when you think of the phrase "photo bomb" don't you just immediately think of an explosion of lots of photos? :)  Oh well...I'll work on it.  Now on to the blog:

Yup...duh....if you haven't heard by now, Nate and I got pregnant right away and are now expecting our second child (a baby boy) sometimes around "the end of January".  The excitement of finding out we were pregnant created a bit of a sense of urgency in me to spend as much time together as a family of three because before we know it, those days will be long behind us.  As such, we have spent the past 5-6 months filling our weeks and weekends with a substantially busy social calendar.  Here are just a couple of pics from Easter...because they are cute.

Mia always gets more eggs when Grandma Peggy is on her team

They thought they could trick me, but I saw this one!

Notice the new basket...she needed a second one to hold all of the eggs she found :)

Our spring and summer went by so fast, but what's new?  I think there was a period of time where our family of three was out of town 5 weekends in a row whether it was to Osceola, Danbury or our friend's cabin.  Here are some pics from spring and through the summer...WARNING these are heavily focus on Mia, but I feel like they should be because pretty soon...she won't be the only one we are taking pictures of anymore:

Mia was lucky enough to have a few bike rides with daddy, she loves her helmet...it had white skulls on the side

How do you NOT add a picture like this?

or this?

learning bean bags

3 generations

pee-a-boo with Nana Kathy

one of our many walks this spring/summer

free, local pool during the summer=awesome

Mia petting her baby brother

Apparently, this is how we get on a pony ride

Yessssss...she loves her some pony rides

This summer was the second time we have been invited to our friend and neighbor's cabin in northern MN.  We had three couples, three toddlers and a dog :)  I wouldn't exactly call this weekend relaxing considering the age of our children, but it was certainly beautiful, hilarious, exciting and full of amazing food and great company.

on the pontoon

matching outfits photo shoot....all are a bit apprehensive

then they all love it and each other...

we all get along so well!...

Aaaannnnddd back to being apprehensive or crying :)

some of my favorite moments are when Mia gives me kisses

annual ride on the giant yellow slide at the MN State Fair

loves her some sheepies/lambies :)

NOTE TO ALL FATHERS:  NEVER EVER CUT YOUR CHILD'S HAIR (right before her 2nd birthday party, at home, alone, with no supervision) WITHOUT A CONVERSATION OR APPROVAL OF THE MOMMY

Nate's lucky she is still cute

Still to come...Fall fun festivities including Severs Corn Maze, Mia's 2nd birthday, Afton apple orchard, brunches/gatherings and Halloween 2011 (cont.)