It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

It is hard to believe that Halloween is almost here. I can vividly recall our first Halloween with Everly last year and how "out of sorts" we all felt. Everly was about 6 weeks old and Danny and I were both so exhausted we didn't know which end was up, but somehow we managed to dress Everly up in a bumble bee costume (thanks Fairy Godmother) and head out for trick or treating in our neighborhood. I guess that is just how you roll when you love Halloween as much as Danny and I both do! :) I still remember our conversation about how we were going to go "all out" with our family costumes next year as we walked from house to house with Everly snuggled up in the Baby Bjorn on Danny's chest. 

Fast forward one year later and we are holding true to our promise to go "all out". The Halloween festivities are in full swing in our household. We have already made two visits to the pumpkin patch, decorated the entire house, and are putting the finishing touches on our DIY costumes (no store bought costumes in this house!). I will be sure to post the "big reveal" photos of our costumes and Halloween shenanigans next week. For now though, I will leave you with some photos from our visits to the pumpkin patch.

Look Who's Walking Now!

For the past month Everly has been threatening to walk. She has been scaling the walls of the "play area" and cruising around the furniture at lightning speed all summer long. Towards the end of August she started taking a step or two without holding on to anything if there was something (or someone) really close by that she could grab. About a week before her birthday we bought her what I lovingly refer to as her lawnmower, which quickly helped her build some confidence while speeding around the living room and mowing down anything that crossed her path (poor Bama!).

Two days after her birthday she decided to let go of her lawnmower and walk about six steps toward her Auntie Genell while we were all sitting in the floor opening her birthday presents. We all squealed with delight and I felt sure that she would be walking everywhere within the next few days. Boy was I wrong. She actually stopped taking steps altogether over the next few days and reverted back to crawling and cruising. 

Two days ago, out of nowhere, Everly walked across the entire living room right before bed time. I was sitting on the floor and I told her to come to me so we could put on her PJs. Before I knew what was happening she was walking across the room with her little arms straight out in front of her and the biggest smile I have ever seen on her precious little face. I froze and held my breath because I knew any sudden movement or sound from me would probably cause her to lose her concentration and fall. When she finally made it over to me she stumbled into my arms and nuzzled her head in my chest. She was so proud of herself. Of course all I could do was cry. 

I could hardly wait for her to walk again, but after that stellar performance she refused to try it again. Yesterday she went back to cruising and holding on to the walls, furniture, and gates. I was fully prepared for her to take another break, but apparently she woke up this morning and decided that today would be the day that she would walk. Luckily, our nanny was here with us today so I was finally able to catch all of the action on tape. Watch out world, here she comes!