Our Lumberjack

So the plan for this year's costume was ...Godzilla. However, Seth refuses to wear anything on his head right now. So in order to avoid people saying "What a great lizard, dragon,etc..." you get the point...I decided to wait another year or so when he is old enough to maneuver with a headpiece on. So we decided on a Garden Gnome. Wouldn't you know it...1 day before our departure to Chicago and a little over a week before Halloween, Target has an ad for a Gnome outfit. So that idea was out since we didn't want people to think we were doing our own knockoff version. So we decided on Lumberjack. So on go the flannel, jeans, vest, work boots, and here is where it got difficult. So we made a axe out of cardboard so it would be light enough for him to carry. What we didn't factor in is that he wouldn't even give the item a second thought and refused to even hold it. The beanie cap. It's a hat, so enough said...he kept pulling it off. So we both tried grease penciling on a beard/mustache knowing that a stick on beard wouldn't have lasted more than a few minutes with Seth. Neither did our grease beard. He kept rubbing his face, tilting his chin and rubbing it onto his shirt...and well in the end our Lumberjack started to look like a Hobo.

Just Pickin' Pumpkins in the Rain

Picking pumpkins sort of snuck up on us this year. We had discussed it earlier in the month, but with our trip to Chicago to plan, a leak in the roof, and 3 costume changes for this year's Halloween pick (more on that later)....we almost didn't make it to the Patch. We had only one day of opportunity, the Tuesday after we returned from Chicago. So we said "Rain of Shine". Shine? Nope. It started off that morning with the typical Washington sprinkle...No Big Deal. Well we got to the patch and it was started to come down. But we had packed the boots, jackets, and even....an Umbrella ( I know, how many Washingtonians own one right?) Well, Seth's boots are a bit too big, but we figured they'll work. Wrong. They were fine when he was walking, but as soon as he fell down and you picked him up, whoosh went the boots to the mud and puddles. I think the temperature dropped about 5 plus degrees from the time we arrived. Seth tried to pick out his own pumpkin, but the one he clearly wanted was about 4 times his body weight. I think the farthest we got into the patch was about 100 yards. We managed to snap a few photos, grab a pumpkin, and then it was back to the car to remove all the wet clothes, boots, jackets, and wouldn't you know it...we never used the umbrella!

They Built It, So We Went

Our very own Federal Way as host to this year's World Championship of Sand Sculpting. How could anyone possibly pass that up? World! This is huge! I sent emails out to anyone I knew to let them know about the big event...so if they are reading this and never went, their loss. It was such a sight to see. I have to say I had my doubts about the location ( the old Target and Toys R Us parking lots that have sat vacant for years), the number of items on exhibit and how popular it would be. Turns out, the location was a great use of space, there were so many sculptures, and the day we went was very busy. These artist have such a talent. Remember trying to use a bucket and shovel to make what look like a mounded castle construction? I remember mine always had a moat, I used twigs and rocks for decoration, and not very brilliant on my part...tended to built it close to the water...so when the tide came in...well there it went. There were 2 sculptures in shape of sand castles, true sand castles. They came equipped with arches, water cascading from their moats, peasant dwellings and elaborate detailing in the brick work. There was another sculpture that was a couple of buildings/ face and when you got at just the right angle, the two appeared to merge as if one. Another one that looked like a person in bondage was so detailed on the tie down straps that you felt like you wanted to walk up, release the mechanism, and free them from whatever they were bond to. OOh another good one was the one representing Washington. Typical Space Needle in the center but the artist did a fantastic job showing all this great state has to offer in ways of its evergreens, wildlife, mountains, and parks. The pics will have to be posted later. There is another good story for that. See we packed the digital camera, but forgot to replace the SD card that we had removed and forgot to recharge the battery. So Keith ran over to Top Foods and purchased a instant camera that we will have to take in for developing, scan into the computer, and then post later.

Free Your Glee Time

Who doesn't love the Fair? All the rides, exhibits, food, music, and everyone bustling about. The smell....absolutely awesome...a mix of grilled burger and onions, sweet scones, and "good farm" smell (hay, but not peed on type- ha). We were so excited about taking Seth this year since this meant Petting Zoo. He liked the sheep (for some reason kids find it less scary to pet the rear then the head), wanted nothing to do with the goats, wasn't too impressed by the bunny (but did like my twitchy nose impression of one), pretty much ignored the birds, laughed when he got to meet Elwood (my girlfriend Robin's daughter Hilary was showing him at Fair), and L.O.V.E.D the baby chicks. We think he loved the chicks so much since that is his favorite bedtime story that Daddy reads him "Fluffy Chick". We were able to check out a couple of exhibits - where people show off their collections, crafts, and art/photo. We were particularly excited about our niece Mikayla's Ostrich piece that she had on display. The women at the help booth had no problem remembering exactly where it was located when I had to beg for their help in locating. Oh, and you know how you can vote for your favorite piece? Yep, you got our 2 votes Mikayla!
Every year, Keith and I celebrate our Anniversary by attending the fair. We fell into this little ritual soon after we started dating. We were at the Puyallup Fair, jumped into one of those 4 pics on a sheet photo booths, and well...it began. Each year we would alternate between the black and white and colored photos. We try diligently to remember that we need to come up with different facial expressions prior to the event, but the pics always seem to come out with a serious/funny/where are we looking...oh there/and cutesy. Well 2 years ago I held a sign that said "plus one", last year we had 4month old Seth posing with sunglasses, and this year...well here's a funny story. So, we're walking around the entire fairgrounds, Seth has managed to skip his morning nap and it's really starting to show with anger management issues, and we're thinking we'd better get that photo. Yep, he completely zonked out about 5 min before we took the photo. It was hilarious. I kept trying to hold up his 19lb body so that he could be seen in pic, but he was slumping like a sack of potatoes. So it got truly funny as I am desperately trying to keep up with Keith on trying different fascial expressions, trying to prop Seth up, and the photo shots are being taken quicker then I can try to manage. Compound that with the fact that the Fair no longer has the classic photo booth - one that you would just look straight on into the camera, offered a reflection to check your hair, and the seat would adjust to accommodate your needs (like us shorter folks). Not this booth- it's only color, a non-adjustable bench, and the camera (as I so tried to remind myself but kept looking down) was located above the screen in front of you. Needless to say, the whole event made the pic for this year even more memorable.

Take me out to the Ballgame

Keith, Seth and I went to Jack and Ethan's T-ball games on Saturday. It was so great on so many levels...we had the day together as a family, it was weekend day, got to visit with Ben and Jill, and got to see both boys play t-ball. First up was Jack's team The Monkeys. Jack is currently trying out playing as a "lefty", seems to be a natural at sports, and is learning the concept or rather basics of the game. We had a 40min break between games so all 3 boys played at a nearby playground. Next up was Ethan's team The Wildcats. Ethan seems to have no problem connecting bat to ball, loves to see how fast he can run, and kept practicing proper stances while hanging out in the outfield. I felt like their personal paparazzi snapping up photos every chance I got.

Holding his own...bottle.

Well, tomorrow marks Seth as 1 year 3 months. As you can see from the photos, he has started to walk and hold his own bottle. Mind you, he won't fuss if you hold the bottle for him...he actually prefers it. It's such a relief not to have to hold it all the time since it seems to take him longer to drink from the bottle now that he is starting to learn on the cup. It is however, one of the few times he'll just lay with you and snuggle. With Seth, snuggling indicates either bottle time or he is not feeling well..ie teething.
Walking, now that's an entirely different thing. He does not want any one's help. Last month you could of offered to hold his hands to help balance, but that's yesterday's news. Oh and he was perfectly fine with a complete stranger or another relative helping him walk, but mama? Nope. The only way Seth walks with me is by hanging on to the back of my skirt, shorts or pants and walking behind me. He is very good about directing me where to go as well and vents his frustration when I either stop or go in the wrong direction.
Shopping carts. Here's a funny. Seth wants to help you push it. Yeah. So imagine trying to hold him as he is putting both hands on the bar and trying to push it down the aisle. Remember, he's barely 2ft in height which means you are trying to hold him up off the ground at bar height, holding onto him for dear life as he is pushing the cart all over the place, and trying to put items in the cart, steer, and let him think he is pushing....otherwise, bring on Sonic Boom Boy. Yikes!
Babbling. Oh Seth loves to babble, especially in the late afternoon evening. It's like he is recapping the day. He just gets to going, it's so awesome. I try to hold a conversation but at some point...he just bores of me. ha ha.
He also does this 2 fist thing in the air. He throws both arms stretched above his head, fist clenched while babbling what sounds to be angry banter. It actually started a couple of weeks back as a tantrum/angry thing. But of course, I thought it hilarious so I made up positive things to say like "mom gives me organic and I want the regular stuff" or "I want cookies to go with that" or " it just makes me so angry I have to shake my fist"....and every time, he ends up giggling at my antics and chimes along. It's simply hilarious.
Hide and seek. Ah now this is a favorite of Seth's. He will hide behind the curtains in the dining area and wait for you to say "Where is Seth" and play along. This can go on for a while sometimes. He giggles when you find him and seems to think no one can see him even when half of his body is exposed or his feet are showing. It's funny. He also likes to play this one varied as a "try catch me" or "look for me" game as he crawls in and out of furniture, from one room to the next and around anything that has a slight obstruction, like a corner wall. He just giggles so hard when you surprise him and act like he surprised you. It's precious.
The couch. Ugggh. We knew this day would come. He wants to climb up on the couch...and then what? Yep, try to lean over the sides. Yikes! Sometimes Keith and I have to purposely sit on either end of the couch to try to block him. And when we're trying to watch a Netflix item, we have to sit on the floor, otherwise you have to keep rewinding or pausing the program in order to keep one eye on him and the tv...it's too much.

Playing in the kiddie pool

I think it hit 87degrees today. Whew! Thankfully Keith broke out the bicycle pump this morning and inflated the turtle pool Russ and Danyal's son Carlton passed down to us. Sweet! I removed all his clothing, including diaper, and plunked him inside. He loved it. He must have
sat out in that thing for a good solid hour playing with a small sand bucket, shovel, and sandcastle casts (dual purpose for when we fill up his sandbox that we scored at the local church rummage sale). I had turned the thing so that the back of it blocked out the sun and only had about an inch of water in it. I let him decide when he was done....that's one thing we have learned about Seth, he will bust out the Sonic Boom on you if you pull him away from something he is enjoying. Trust me, the Sonic Boom is just that. (see month 11 for further explanation). He decided he was done right after he peed in the pool. Yeah, you knew that was going to happen, only natural.