Fall Weekend

It really turned to fall this weekend in Central Ohio complete with a really cold and windy day on Saturday and even some sleet.  Of course this was the day we had planned to go to the pumpkin patch with Andrew's brother, wife and their two girls.  We still managed to find some beautiful pumpkins and had a nice time walking around.  Poor Jeanette had to stay in the stroller however bc it was so cold.  I will have to snap some photos of her this week in the adorable Halloween outfit I got her to wear for our outing.

After the pumpkin patch, we headed up to have dinner with some of Andrew's family and celebrate his parents 70th birthday.  They were both born on October 3rd in Columbus at different hospitals and have known one another since the 3rd grade!  I also started decorating the house for fall/Halloween!

There were 140 candles on the cake for their 70th birthday.

Sue is wondering if the cake will catch fire and Bob is too
amused to care :)

At the pumpkin patch

Poor baby Jeanette all snuggled in her stroller at the pumpkin patch.

Jeanette also learned a few new tricks this weekend.  Just when I was getting used to the idea of her crawling she started pulling herself up on things.  We now have the crib as low as it will go and we really have to keep an extra eye on Jeanette.  It's so hard to get things done with her being into everything.  I am still using the exersaucer to contain her so I can cook or do dishes, but nap time seems to be the best time to get things done these days.  

Jeanette is also able to sit up on her own a lot better now and can pull herself into a sitting position which she's never done until recently.  I got this basket for her toys which she now loves to dump all over the floor.  It seems like she grew and changed a lot over the weekend.

Sunday was our typical day trying to get things done around the house and running errands.  Sunday was also Andrew's birthday and he insisted that we not do anything special.  We had a nice dinner together and I got him a new OSU sweatshirt.  We both have a terrible addiction to sweat shirts and jackets so why not add to the collection!

This week is going to be a little nuts and I will have an awesome update next Monday.  I can't reveal much now but I hope that everything goes well with what we have planned!  

Hope everyone had a great weekend and has a great week!!!

32

Today my handsome, amazing husband turns 32 years old.

Back when we met in 2008 we were just babies!  I was about to turn 23 and Andrew was 26.  

At his brothers wedding June 2008

 As time has gone by so much has changed.  Andrew bought a house and we moved in together.  We've celebrated holiday's, changed jobs, lost loved ones, learned a lot about one another, loved and fought and triumphed in life.  

This is probably one of my favorite pictures of Andrew, on a cool spring day on our old boat.  That boy could spend all day, everyday on a lake, never catch a fish and still have a good time.  

I love how well he gets along with my brother.  They are best friends and it's so amazing to watch them spend time together.  

I've even convered Andrew to a Steelers fan.  And to think, he didn't even like football when we first met.  

And the boy does clean up well :)

We got engaged.

Got married.....

And then started a little family of our own.

I can't imagine a better person to spend my life with.  Andrew has been there for me during some of my darkest times and celebrated with me through some of the happiest.  He is an amazing father, he works hard for our family, he's hilarious (even he thinks he's the funniest person he knows), sweet, goofy, resourceful and pretty darn handsome.  

Happy Birthday pumpkin, I love you! 

Five on Friday

I saw that Carol over at Keeping up With the Kaune's had posted about her 5 favorite scary movies and since it's October I wanted to be a copy cat and do the same!  But I thought I would change things up a little, so here are my 5 Favorite Scary Movies and my 5 Favorite Halloween movies (they don't have to be scary):

Five Favorite Scary Movies:

The Shining:  Hands down, this is one of the best movies of all time!  I have loved Stephen King books and movies for as long as I can remember and this one takes the cake.  There are still parts where I have to shut my eyes, especially at the end when they find Jack all frozen in that maze, ack!!!!  There are so many scary things about this movie, Red Rum, blood pouring out of an elevator, the creepy twins, Jack going insane, the music and camera angles.  I will make sure to watch this one during October.

Pet Sematary:  Another amazing Stephen King movie adaptation.  I remember watching this with my dad one year around Halloween and I was so scared.  We buried two of our cats in our backyard and I had nightmares for weeks that they came back from the dead.

Psycho:  I am also a huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock and it was hard for me to choose between this move and The Birds.  I think this one is a little scarier however.  I love the camera angles that Hitchcock uses and how creepy Norman is in this movie as well.  It may come as no surprise that I am totally hooked in the show Bates Motel on A&E as well because it's the precursor to the movie.  I was skeptical that it wouldn't be good, but like the movie it's always leaving you on the edge of your seat.

Poltergeist:  I actually never watched this entire movie until a few years ago, and though it's cheesy it's still pretty scary.  It's also disturbing when you read about how the actors who were in this film had some awful things happen to them after the filming.  I think the thought of living in a haunted house is enough to scare anyone, but to have your child taken to the other side is even scarier!

Silence of the Lambs:  I know this might not be a scary movie to some, but I think it falls into the category.  The acting is amazing, the suspense is wonderful and there isn't a lot of blood and guts.  I will take suspense over blood and guts any day of the week.  Anthony Hopkins is AMAZING as Hannibal Lecter and the Buffalo Bill case is amazing too.  The part at the end with Buffalo Bill wearing the night vision goggles following Clarice around gets me every time.

Five Favorite Halloween Movies:

Hocus Pocus:  What girl doesn't love this movie and can quote every single line?!  This one is a classic and I could watch it a million more times and still love it.

Halloweentown:  Oh Disney Channel Movies, how I miss you!  I remember watching this one about once a week with my mom during Halloween when I lived at home.  My dad would walk in the room, see it on the TV and roll his eyes.  Nothing better than witches and a secret universe where it is Halloween all the time!

The Addam's Family:  I've seen this movie a million times as well but love it just the same.  I remember watching the old TV show with my mom and I was so excited when the movie came out.

Beetlejuice:  Another classic, did you know that Michael Keaton who plays Beetlejuice is only in the movie for 17 minutes of the whole 92 minute film!?  This one is funny and a little dark and who doesn't love a Tim Burton movie?!


Edward Scissorhands:   Another Tim Burton movie that is also creepy, funny and even a little bit sad.  It also features Winona Ryder as one of the main characters and the always amazing Johnny Depp.  The sets in this movie are pretty darn cool as well is the direction of Tim Burton and the music.  There is a Christmas scene in this movie and I adore the part where Edward is carving the ice sculpture and Kim is dancing around as if it's real snow.

So what are some of your favorite movies to watch around Halloween?  

Things I've learned about myself

I've been seeing some posts around the blogiverse about what we have recently learned about ourselves.  I know that I have changed a lot since starting this blog and I have learned even more about myself since becoming a mother.  There are some things that are harder to accept and some that I just feel the need to let out because they are a part of me.

• I cannot deal with alternative music.  I'm a simple girl, some classic rock or some country and I'm all set.  If it involves weird instruments and is played on the alternative station count me out.
• I have anxiety.  I have personally know this for a long time, but after really being diagnosed I am learning to deal.  I am on a light anti-anxiety medication and for the first time in three years I feel like myself!  
• I am only good at driving when I am in the car alone.  
• I hate mushrooms and do not think I will ever like them, the texture is enough to make me gag.
• There is nothing I hate more than people who don't have a work ethic.  They show up late and unprepared for work, screw around all day and somehow seem to skate by for years doing the bare minimum.  They complain when they have to do work that isn't "glamorous" like setting up a meeting or cleaning up trash after a conference, they call in "sick" and are constantly unavailable.  
• On that same note, I feel like I have a pretty amazing work ethic.  I love my job, I hate being late, I'm always prepared (almost to a fault at times it seems) and I love to go above and beyond.  Call me a brown-noser but this is just how I was raised.  
• I think that being with a man who works with his hands is so sexy.  I love when Andrew smells like grease and his hands are dirty.  
• I love coffee and though I have tried to kick the habit I can't!  It's not so much that I need the caffeine (although some days I do), I just love the taste and having something warm in the morning.  
• Becoming a mom is nothing like I ever could have imagined.  I look at Jeanette in wonder each day that Andrew and I created such an amazing little girl.
• I'm still pretty much in the "one and done" club.  I know that could change but so far life as a family of three (plus two fur children) is pretty amazing.
• As hard as it is to be a working mom, I really enjoy both.  I can see the benefits of staying at home but for our family and for me it doesn't make sense.  I think in an ideal world I would love to work part time, but with the career path I've chosen that's just not possible right now.  I will keep myself open to other opportunities however and who knows where the future might take me and our family.

So what have you learned about yourself recently?  Anything similar to mine?

Also, I'm super excited for some upcoming events but since some of them are top secret I won't be blogging about them for a few weeks!  My in-laws are turning 70 tomorrow (yes, they have the same birthday) and my hubby will be 32 on Sunday!  We are also planning to go to the pumpkin patch for the first time with Jeanette on Saturday, I know it's going to be chilly but I hope it doesn't rain! 

Jeanette - 8 months old

My baby girl is growing up so fast!  Where has the time gone?!

Height: 31 inches or so, I could get a good measurement

Weight: About 17-18lbs, I put her on the baby scale the other night but she would not stop wiggling!

Clothes/Diapers:  Jeanette is still in a size 2 diaper and I don't see that changing anytime soon.  They actually fit her about perfect right now.  As far as clothes, she can still wear some 6 month onesies but is mostly wearing 9 month now since she's so long!  She can still wear a lot of her 6 month pants but I can tell they are getting too short.  I had to get her some more 9 month clothes since she didn't have many and I am still on the hunt for fall/winter coats.  She also is in need of shoes, but finding something that fits her tiny, skinny foot is next to impossible.  I found some slipper type shoes and hope to get them for her this weekend.

Sleep:  Naps have been a struggle over the last week, I imagine it's because she's had a bit of a cold and is cutting a tooth.  She still sleeps amazing at night though, from about 8pm to 7am and sometimes even later on the weekends.  I feel blessed to have a good sleeper, she must get it from her father!

Feedings:  Jeanette takes about 3 bottles a day now, around 6-7 ounces each.  She has a fruit with oatmeal around lunch time and a veggie around 7.  I think she's ready to have a morning snack as well and I may start that over the weekend.  She LOVES yogurt (we've been having the yobaby peach and pear) and loves all of the orange veggies.  She's very interested in watching Andrew and I eat and tries to reach out and grab the food.  I have been trying puffs with her but she can't quite get them into her mouth on her own yet.

Trying to eat the puffs

Worst Moment(s):  Jeanette had a bit of a cold over the weekend, she was a trooper even with coughing in the night.

Best Moment(s):  Watching her change is amazing!  She is also finally sitting up, she can't really put herself into a sitting position yet, but she loves to lay on her side and play.  It's funny because a lot of people in my family lay like that on the floor so it must be genetic!  Hearing her start to babble more was one of my favorite things this month!

Development:  Jeanette cut her first tooth!  One of her bottom teeth has come through and it's super adorable, though sharp!  She was such a trooper when it came through.  She's also "crawling" or more like pulling and dragging herself across the floor.  She gets up on all fours and crawls for real for a second and then falls over.  She's a lot better at sitting up now and when I hold her up, she can stand pretty well.  She also claps her hands and says mama, dada, and baba.  She's learning to put food into her mouth (we've been practicing with puffs)

Sitting up like a big girl! 

Jeanette Likes:  Eating, chasing the cat and dog, playing in the dogs water bowl (I've moved it now I don't know how many times but she keeps finding it), baths, clapping, sitting in the cart at the store (this is a new one), being outside and watching the trees blow in the wind, going to visit family and being chased by mommy and daddy around the house.

Sitting in daddy's high chair at Grandma and Grandpa's House

Another one of her new favorite things is looking out the front door.  She especially likes it when Bessie is outside so she can watch her in the yard. She laughs so hard when she comes to the door and barks.  

Jeanette Dislikes: Since we have been trying veggies/fruits there has not been much that she disliked, until the night we tried green beans!  She wanted nothing to do with eating those!

Playing with mommy's feet.

Riding in the cart for the first time at Target!  

Laying on her side, so also loves to bang the
sippy cup on the floor and make a bunch of noise.

I cannot believe that Jeanette is 8 months old already and how much she has changed!!!!!