Trick or Treat

We took Lucy to the pumpkin patch recently and after feeding the goats, watching the ducks, and going down a slide - we enjoyed a tractor ride to pick out a pumpkin - guess which 'winner' was Lucy's favorite? I guess I use the term 'favorite' loosely since we went very close to Halloween and I think it was the only whole one left. After driving for a very long time to the middle of nowhere to see clumps of disparate, rotten pumpkins, I thought of a metaphor for living in Liberty.


On Halloween, we walked downtown to the Liberty square where the shops were giving away free tootsie rolls to wanting children (one each). Lucy made it about halfway when she fell asleep and did not wake up until we were almost home. I thought some of the stores were a little chincy on their handouts given the fact that they charge $30 for a t-shirt that touts the local high shool football team (that has a 2-4 record and no chance for the state playoffs).


Good think that Nanthida was ordained as the backup candy collector - with us splitting 50% of Lucy's candy in order to provide that service. It was actually an interesting exchange when a 20-something person (not in a costume) was asking for candy. After throwing out an un-enthousiastic 'trick-or-treat', Nanthida would sheepishly nod to the stroller with a sleeping baby and nonverbally try to communicate that we were only gathering the chocolate for our 14-month old...which was usually met with a shot of suspicion and disbelief. During that time, I either looked the other way or tried to blink heavily (showing a physical disorder or emotional instability) in order to avoid engaging in any conversation. They don't teach that stuff in grade school.


Fortunately for us, the Liberty square is not that big. We actually had some neighborhood trick or treaters this year that we stealthily maneuvered around on the way home to not tip them off that we were home (and to not have to share any of our loot with anybody else). So - I hope you found this educational as to where to go - and not go - next year. So far, I have found that none of the kit-kats have been tampered with - but I am only halfway through my testing. I will let you know when I get further along in the process.


In closing, I wanted to share what Lucy's reaction was when I told her she would not be going to the Hanna Montana concert - she did not take it lightly. I consoled her by letting her know that Hanna Montana wasn't coming because her house burned down in the fires in California - and that is what happens to people when they are bad.

The Evolultion of CrAZy!

We've had a very busy week. Charles was out of town for work for the first time in a long time, Lucy had her first day of nursery school, and me, well I'm just trying to stay sane! Saturday my good friend/"cousin" Sarah Koehler married her one true love, Scott, in a beautiful and intimate ceremony . The reception was grand and there were many faces I haven't seen in years. It was great catching up with old friends. Unfortunely (if not predictably), I did not have my camera. So, no pictures...yet. I'll try to steal some from my big sis, and hopefully I'll post them soon!

Here's how blogging goes in our house. If I've been good, I'll have taken pitcures through out the week, and I'll write about the stories that accompany them. Nine times out of ten, I don't have my camera. And when I realize that it's about time for a post, I find myself snapping pictures of Lucy at any opportune (and inopportune) moment. Go figure, this post is no different than the many others that precede it.

Lucy loves her Disney movies. I can vouch for that. Earlier this week I decided I needed a break from Ariel, Cinderella, and Lightning McQueen, so I put in Moulin Rouge. The music and wild scenery entertained her and I was happy to be watching actual people act. After four consecutive viewings, I went out on a limb and put in Napoleon Dynamite. Here is what happened, and perhaps has a little to do with the following pictures.

Lucy glued to the screen...


About half way through the movie, she went running down the hall, without pants and hair tie missing.


Back down the hall, still pantless, but dancing this time.


Still dancing, still pantless (but did you notice she still has her shoes on?).


Crazy facial expression meets crazy hair, and cray pantless, dancing baby!


At this point Dad decided Lucy needed her bath and off they went, leaving me to finish Napoleon Dynamite by myself. I did not complain.


Still a crazy baby, but at least she's clean!

Saturday

What is going on? Two posts in a matter of a few days? I am a super-blogger this week for sure. Anywho, Saturday evening I went to Sarah K's bachelorette bash. As I was walking out the door, I went to give Lucy a hug and kiss goodbye. I thought she might be sad to see me go.

I had no more mouthed the words before she shut me out and waved me away. She looks absolutely distraught, doesn't she?

I had such a great time. First we went bowling. It is not for the faint of heart or weak of wrist. I came home feeling like I had been run over by a truck. It was worth every wrist, hip, and back pain I suffered. I even managed not to have the lowest score. I definitely do not take for granted any adult-time that I get outside of the house. We went back to Sarah's house for drinks before feasting on a delicious dinner at Blue Koi. Dessert was the last on the menu. Unfortunately, due to the graphic nature of those pictures, they will not be posted. If you can provide proof of age, I will be more than happy to send them to you.

When I was pregnant with Lucy, I waited until I was 30 weeks before I took any pictures, and believe me, at that point the last thing I wanted to do was pose for the camera. This time I'm trying to be better. This picture is at 16 weeks 5 days. We have our next OB appointment on Thursday. That's when they will schedule the next ultrasound where we find out the gender!

The baby has been kicking up a storm since last Friday. Lucy was kicking at 15 weeks, so Fetus Horton's (It's new name) activity was a little later than I anticipated, but too early for any real concern. It's only been since Friday that I have truly felt pregnant. I am afraid that the Fetus already takes after Lucy. They are both night owls, as they both feel it's time to party once the lights go out. Also, Charles felt Fetus kick for the first time last night. So, if you want to feel the baby move, I suggest coming over after 11 PM.

Fall is here!

Fall is definitely the favorite and most anticipated season in our household. We couldn't be happier that Mother Nature finally decided to give us some cooler days and nights. There's a chill in the air and the leaves are changing into wonderful shades of red, orange, and yellow. Soon there will be bonfires with weanie roasts and smores, hayrides, and visits to the pumpkin patch. I cannot wait! Hopefully this weather is here to stay, as I can't imagine slipping back into summer or worse, running head first into the beastly cold that is Winter here in the midwest.

Speaking of cold, Miss Lucy decided now would be the best time to shop for a new jacket. It's lined with a wonderfully soft fleece, and has cute embroidery and a faux fur collar to boot! She wore it for the first time on our nightly walk earlier this week. It kept her sound as a pound, and hey, we think she looks pretty cute in it.



With the recent drop in temperature, we've decided to cut our energy bill some slack and shut off the A/C. The only problem is, it gets super cold late at night and stays that way until about 4 in the afternoon. Yesterday we woke up and it was a chilly 66 degrees. All morning Lucy and I were bundled like eskimos. I know what you're thinking, "Turn on the heat dumb-dumb". Herein lies the dilemma, by late afternoon, early evening the house warms up to 70 and stays that way well after we've turned in for the night. Do I turn the heat on for few measly hours and pay the price (quite literally) or do we suck it up and dress like it's the middle of winter?

Instead of doing either, I decided the best solution was to go somewhere and steal someone else's heat. Problem solved, for yesterday anyway. We hit up the Center and Lucy played to her heart's content. I got to hit up some sale racks and found some good deals. Everybody wins!






Lucy's first driving lesson. I told her she wouldn't pass her driver's test with the one-handed approach.

Such a quick learner. Notice her hands on the ten and two, well as close as they could make it considering she doesn't tell time yet.

Charles and I were feeling quite motivated yesterday, so last night after our normal walking circuit, we logged in another mile or so. It was so chilly that we dressed Chubs quite warmly. The extra time in the stroller in addition to being nice and toasty must have lulled her to sleep because this is what we found when we wheeled her inside. When did she get so big? She's such a big girl now.

I couldn't resist a close up. She is so precious, especially when she's sleeping. Now I'm remembering another reason I didn't get much sleep when she was first born. All I wanted to do was watch her sleep, and not in that creepy kind of stalker way.

Lastly, a new development. Lucy is now drinking milk. It has to be watered down, but it's a start. She's drinking anywhere between 5 and 8 oz of Vit D a day. I picked up a lunch box for her to keep her milk chilled when we're out and running about. She loves it. When it's empty she carries it around the house. It's like her own little briefcase. Here she is getting ready for work. Lunchbox/briefcase... check, Boa... check, cellphone... check.

All Things Lucy... Sort of

Lucy has become an incredibly picky eater. In fact, instead of eating from the five basic food groups, she's made up her own. We like to call it "Lucy's Six P/C's". They include, but (on a good day) are not limited to: Pancakes, Cheeto Puffs, Pudding, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cheese, Pizza. In order to humor me, she sometimes eats ground beef if it's covered in some kind of spicy tomato sauce or on the even more rare occasion pieces of apple. We won't be winning any dietary parenting awards, but at least she's not starving.

As you can see in this picture, dinner was Pudding and Cheetos. You may have to click on the picture to see why she must be bathed after dinner. It's very difficult to comb Cheeto crumbs out of the hair.

Last Wednesday we met up with our friends Tina and Bella at the park. Lucy's walking, but she still prefers to bear crawl when she's in a hurry. She wanted to get down and play, but the ground was muddy. We compromised and decided the swing was a better fit for both of us. I could keep her as clean as she arrived and she could still get some of the park experience. She loved it, and it was hard to pull her out.










After one bummer of a summer, we have some very, very good news.


Here, let Lucy tell you. That's right. We are expecting!

We will be 15 weeks tomorrow (Wednesday, 10/03). Not to be Debbie Downer, but in late May we suffered a miscarriage, and it was devastating. That being said, it makes this pregnancy all the more sweet. It's been very hard to keep the secret, but we wanted to wait until we were safely in the second trimester. We've had three scans, and each time little burrito was progressing as it should be. Our official due date is March 26, but I'm sure it will be late (it's half Khamphakdy, half Horton; genetics are tough to get around). And yes, as soon as we can, we will find out the gender, so I can stop calling our baby an it. At all three scans the baby's heart was beating strong. This last time I even saw the little arm and leg buds moving. Even the second time around, I am amazed. Our body's are capable of doing such great things. I feel lucky to be pregnant again.

So, Miss Lucy will be a big sister. She's already been in practice. For her birthday she received a water baby, and she is obsessed with it. She carries it or drags it around where ever she goes. I tell her to love the baby gently; give the baby hugs and kisses. I think she has selective hearing because all she wants to do is scratch water baby's eyes out. If anyone knows where to find infant size goggles (like the ones you wear in shop class), let us know. We may need to invest in a pair or two.