Training Pants

Quick question - does anybody know if they still make washable training pants? Or is it just underwear or pull-up diapers? I haven't really looked specially for training pants but I can't remember ever actually seeing them in stores. I'm debating if I want to seriously start the potty training process - more than the occasional potty we're lucky to get Bennett to do once or twice a week. Talking to my mom about it she was the one that mentioned that we all used training pants and that these would be much cheaper than pull-up's. Anybody know?

Pumpkin Patch

Last Friday we went to the pumpkin patch. This is the first time I've ever gone to one because usually mom either grows some that I take or I buy them at the store. This year because of mom's surgery and everything else going on, she didn't plant and garden. And, they seemed to be really high priced at the stores this year so we decided to try our luck at the pumpkin patch which is just a few miles from us. We were able to get 3 larger one and 2 small ones for $8! Here are a few random pictures from that afternoon.

As we were loading the pumpkins in the car, Bennett climbed over the center console and decided driving looked fun.

Volleyball

Last night was Kristen's last volleyball game of the year. She's a sophomore and was on the JV team this year. Bennett and I went to a few of her games. We would always try to get Bennett to watch her but I think all the girls out there looked the same to him because he would never really see her until she came to get him after the games. Her team did really well this year and won a couple of their tournaments. Kristen has also improved so much this year and has become quite the blocker and middle hitter. She's got the height and arm length for sure - now she just needs more muscle by next year!

21 Months

Bennett is 21 months. It seems so crazy to think that he is almost 2 already!

He's constantly learning and doing new things but not that much new news to mention I guess. Here are a couple of things happening with him these day.

-Getting in to trouble!

-Getting in to trouble!!

-Getting in to trouble!!!

-He isn't talking much yet but his two favorites are Oh-oh and Uh-uh. (He usually says these while he's getting in to trouble!)

(I make it sound like he is a terror but he is far from. He's such a sweet boy. He's just in a stage right now where he likes to investigate EVERYTHING. And all of that curiosity is what is getting him in trouble and making messes for me to clean up.)

-He is addicted to Blue's Clues. It seems that some days the only way I can get things done is if I pop in the DVD for a little bit. Otherwise he follows me around or hangs on my leg wanting up. I hate to do that but it's what works for now.

-He eats really really good at our meals at home but when we try to go out, he will barely take a bit or just messes up the table and floor. He'll eventually learn what he is missing out on.

-He has managed to put his shoes on himself a few times and we're also working on getting dressed (pulling up his pants, putting his arms in etc.)

-Bedtime is at 8:30. We have no problem at all getting him to sleep for nap or night. It usually just consists of laying him in bed and telling him goodnight. But he does usually wake up and wanders in to our room around 3:00 every night. Usually I can just carry him back to his bed and he'll sleep the rest of the night until around 7:00. Not that I want him waking up at 3:00 but that is usually around the time that I need to get up and go to the bathroom anyways. At least this way I'm not waking him up.

-He really likes looking at books but doesn't have the patience these days for me to actually read the story. So we do a lot of looking at pictures and pointing out different things in the picture. He does remember these things though because most times when he brings that book back to me again and I ask him "where is the___", he'll be able to point to it.

-We had our first watercolor painting project the other day which he seemed to really like. I was able to score a Handy Manny paint book with the watercolors at Target the other day on clearance for $.88 (original price $3.59)!

Contently watching Blue's Clues

Fall Pictures

Last week Bennett and I met up with my friend Melissa who's new hobby is taking pictures. She offered to make Bennett her model and she took a whole bunch of really great pictures of him. I know that she sometimes reads my blog so Melissa, THANK YOU! They all turned out great!

There are about 60 pictures total but these are just a few of my favorites.

(p.s. - He has this thing about bitting his bottom lip lately. You will notice that he did this in every single picture!!! I could not for the life of me get him to actually smile. They still turned out great though)

(this one was an 'alright girls - I'm about done now' face)

Raking Up Leaves

We have four huge Ash trees in our backyard. There are sooo many more leaves on the trees but we decided to get a head start on raking today before it gets too bad. Bennett helped us too with his little sand rake. (Until he decided to try out the big rake). Guess what he's going to be doing for us in the next few years!

Also here is a very pretty Maple tree that we have in our front yard. It's right outside my kitchen window - it's helped make dishes a little easier to do this past week.

Baby Update

I had my ultrasound on Wednesday to check where the placenta was laying. They called today and said that it looks like it has moved up! Yeah! The nurse did say that the baby looked like it was laying breach but I think that must have just been the few pictures they were looking at because the baby was moving around the entire ultrasound. So much so that the ultrasound tech needed me to lay on my side for awhile, she tilted the bed, had me empty my bladder etc. to get the baby to move around so she could get the placenta pictures she needed. So I'm not real concerned about it being breach. And even if that is the case, it has time to flop around in there a little more.

Here is the coolest picture we got from this time around. The baby's face was pressed up against my belly and we could see the eye sockets, nose, lips and chin of the baby. So, is this the face of a Girl or Boy Baby???

Also, I am now at 28 weeks which officially puts me in the 3rd trimester! Whohoo. I feel great right now and would love to feel this way for the next 13-14 weeks. Wish me luck.