1st Halloween!

Elijah had a wonderful 1st Halloween as a lil monkey! He didn't fuss once and actually seemed quite content being pushed around in the stroller in his monkey outfit. We ran into our friend down the street, Julie, and her daughter Ellie and she tried to show Elijah how to trick or treat. It was so much fun watching all the kids run around in their costumes!

Mommy and the Lil Monkey

Daddy and the Lil Monkey

BANANAS!!!!

Trick or Treat

Ellie and Elijah

Elijah's pumpkin

Matt's ghost and my bat kitty pumpkin

Halloween Fun

We enjoyed getting Halloween things done today, like wearing our BOO shirt and picking out our pumpkins!!! Hopefully we'll be able to carve them tomorrow and play with the insides! In Oklahoma, because it's still decently warm in October, you have to wait to the last minute to carve your pumpkin or it will rot before Halloween:(

Looking good with our Mummy Snoopy Dog

Elijah is getting so big! He can sit up in his summer seat alone for short periods of time.  I can't believe it's been 5 months since he was a little tiny baby!

Sporting our Grandma's Lil Pumpkin bib while enjoying our rice cereal!

Playing on the floor with daddy, listening to music together. Criss cross will make you...what?!

New Laughter

Last night, Matt and I were struggling to get Elijah to bed. While Matt held him to give me a break, I decided to put away some dishes and such. Apparently, this was hilarious! After a few minutes of laughter, Matt insisted I get the camera to record some of these precious giggles. At least we know what to get Elijah for Christmas this year! Teaspoons and measuring cups!

First Foods

Elijah tried his first taste at solid foods today! We started with rice cereal mixed with breast milk. Initially, he gave us the funny face and pushed it all out with his tongue, but after a few minutes he really got into it.

Elijah guiding my hand into his mouth!

He's not terribly sure what to do once it's in there...

Mr. Messy Mouth

After the first few minutes, Elijah started really enjoying eating. It was so funny, we had to catch a video!

Hanging with Daddy

Elijah got his 4 month shots (at 5 months of age...oops) and did really well. Just like last time, he was tough as nails and then snuggled the rest of the day. The fever and yucky feeling lasted two days this time, but Matt and I enjoyed the snuggling.

Snuggling with Daddy

Rosie cheeks feeling yucky 

We love reading

Elijah has been showing more interest in reading lately. The other day, he was a bit fussy, so we pulled a few books out to read together and he was silent. Elijah really enjoys the colorful pictures and reaching out for them. His favorite books, from what we can tell, are Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and My Mommy Hung the Moon.

Reading My Mommy Hung the Moon

Elijah reaching for the pictures

New Play

Since our return from Virginia, Elijah has just been growing like a weed! He's finally tall enough to play in his activity jumper and he's sitting up well enough also. Elijah is also reaching out more for toys in the sitting position and staying upright in his seats (with a bit of support). We're amazed by his development and amused by his random giggles! We are truly blessed!

Our Return to OK

We had a really great visit in Virginia, celebrating three birthdays (Justin, Nonna and Papa) and just enjoying one another's company. Seven days worth of visiting and traveling around VA. Elijah was a trooper and during our visit, he learned to roll over...over and over and over again. Now if we could only get him to roll back over to his back:) We're very excited that he's on the move, but a little weary as this obviously carries a certain level of increased activity and therefore counter activity by us. It's just the beginning!

Excitement about traveling home to see the kitties 

Passed out for the first leg of the flight

Sitting with daddy for the second leg of the flight

Final Days of VA

On Sunday afternoon, Matt and I left Elijah with Nonna and Papa and we went back to our old stomping grounds. Alexandria, VA was where Matt and I spent the majority of our dating days together. We drove to Old Town Alexandria and checked into Hotel Monaco. That evening we walked around Old Town and met up with our good friend, Kevin Ward. Afterwards, we enjoyed a phenomenal meal at the Chart House restaurant. The Chart House was also where we dined after we were married:) Following our meal, we once again walked through Old Town and even snapped a picture in front of the Alexandria Court House, where we had our pre-marriage/Engagement photos taken. So many wonderful memories and sentimental moments made for an amazing night out for the two of us.

Kevin and Matt in front of Hotel Monaco on King Street 

The happy couple at Alexandria Court House after dinner

The next morning, we went walking through Old Town (once again), grabbed Starbucks and enjoyed the sunrise on the pier looking out on the Potomac, followed by and AMAZING breakfast at Bread and Chocolate.

A beautiful Virginia morning

Salmon benedict and Berry Pfannkuchen

Before returning home, we grabbed lunch at Matt's favorite restaurant, Typhoon. It's a Thai restaurant located in Arlington, VA across the bridge from the Pentagon.

Virginia Part Four

Hey, we were there for seven days, there are a lot of parts to the VA visit!'

On Saturday morning, we all got up and decided to go for a walk in Middleburg. To our surprise, we found a little festival taking place in the village of Aldie. It is an even smaller town, hence the village status, than Middleburg and they were having a fall festival with crafts and tours of the old mill. Elijah enjoying a ride in his stroller and being pushed around by Nonna and Papa. We even got to take a tour of the old Mill and see how it used to produce cornmeal! 

Papa sporting an Army hat pushing the jogger 

Elijah bundled up to face the cool fall weather

Later that day, while Nonna and Papa babysat, we went on a wine tour with the connoisseur, Rich. Our first stop was ...... I'll have to look up the name. The wine was fine and the scenery was amazing. What made the stop was our limo. 

Me, Kiersten (Ralph's wife) and Trink 

The beautiful vineyard in the background

Family shot

First, let me preface this by saying the guy was a terrible driver from the start. He almost killed us crossing a highway! Once we made it to the first stop alive, we got out and enjoyed our time while he parked off somewhere to wait. BUT....it was were he parked that started the adventure. This guy, after three days of rain, pulled into a grassy area with a steep incline IN A LIMO! Not a four wheel vehicle, BUT A LIMO. 

Yes, that's our limo stuck against the fence and that's the tow truck pulling it out!

Enjoying the outdoor wine tasting area at Chateau O'Brien

Alas, we made it out of there and headed over to Chateau O'Brien, another vineyard where Rich has contacts. It was a really enjoyable and educational experience with the most beautiful scenery. I think Matt even enjoyed the wine experience....and the limo ride!

Virginia Part Three

On the third day of our visit, the clouds were still upon us. We tried to make the most of it by taking a stroll down the gravel road to meet Justin's friend, Ralph. We've heard so many stories about this "mountain man" down the road and his hobbies. It was a pleasure!

A walk through the clouds

It started to pour while we were visiting, so we grabbed a ride back to the house and lay low. Besides, the next day, Nonna and Papa Kensill were flying in for the weekend!

Day three in VA, Nonna and Papa arrived and Elijah started to re-learn their faces. He really enjoyed them when we were visiting in Indiana several weeks ago, so he warmed up quickly.

Getting reacquainted  

Relaxing with Nonna, but keeping an eye on Mommy

That night, we went out to a wonderful dinner at the Red Fox Inn, located in Middleburg, VA. It's a very small historic town about 20 minutes away from Trink and Justin's house. As I'm told, back in 1800's, during the Civil War, the Inn served as both headquarters and hospital to the Confederates. The pine bar in the restaurant was actually made from the field operating table used by an Army Surgeon who served with General Jeb Stuart.

The Red Fox Inn had amazing food and wine, which definitely made for a great time! Elijah was even able to sleep (since it was past his bedtime) in the quiet environment. 

Rich (Trink's oldest brother), Trink, Justin, Nonna & Papa Kensill 

Our little family

Family shot

Virginia Part Two

We were so glad to get a great night of sleep with Elijah after such a stressful day of travel. The weather was still not cooperating, but that didn't stop us from playing inside. Justin even got his travel guitar out to teach Elijah his first lesson about Stevie Ray Vaughn. Elijah really enjoyed the music and gave Justin his uninterrupted attention.

Elijah enjoying the lounger seat that Aunt Trink borrowed for him

Relaxing on the couch

Lesson One: SRV is the master and Uncle Justin plays just like him

Lesson Two: Hold it like this and place your fingers just like that on the strings

Prince cuddling up for a picture with Elijah and I

Trink and Justin offered to dog sit for a good friend while we were visiting. Prince, the Italian Greyhound, was the sweetest most cuddly dog I've ever met. He also comes from a home with a baby and toddler, so he was very well behaved around Elijah. And with no body fat whatsoever, Prince wanted to be right on top of anyone and covered with whatever you had nearby. 

Flying to VA

Today we flew to Virginia to visit Uncle Justin and Aunt Trink. They recently purchased a home in Haymarket, VA that overlooks a beautiful landscape. It's a mountainous area...well actually they live on the mountain, but that explains the view.

Elijah being an angel for the first half of the flight

It was an interesting flight from OKC, as Elijah was an angel for the first half. The second half...not so much. We went through three diaper changes and had to throw out one shirt and burp rag. Yikes. Thank goodness it was a direct flight!

The first (of three) not so pleasant blowouts!

We were so excited when we landed! Elijah was flailing around in his stroller and just wide-eyed at all the new things to see. Dulles airport is a maze of elevators, trains, cars and terminals, but eventually we found our way to Uncle Justin and his 1997 two door Chevy Tahoe.

Wide-eyed in one of the many elevators with mis-marked buttons

Unfortunately the weather in VA was a bit overcast, which would not have been terrible except that on top of a mountain with low cloud cover, it was a wall of fog! No worries, we had catching up to do!

Uncle Justin getting some hands on time finally