Happy Halloween!

It is finally Halloween. A.J. has been so excited for this day to come! He picked out his costume about a month ago (a pirate...to each his own), and has been practicing trick-or-treating ever since...he will go in the closet and shut the door and then knock. When we open it, he yells "Trick-or-Treat!" We'll see how the real thing goes tonight. Wednesday, we finally got to carve the pumpkins (it's still in the 90's, so we couldn't carve too far in advance or they would shrivel up). A.J. was so excited to carve, but when it came to taking out the pumpkin guts, he wanted nothing to do that. We kept calling him a sissy...turns out, he didn't mind the pumpkin goo, he just didn't want to put his hand inside of the pumpkin (he told me "Mom, I told you a hundred times, I'm not a sissy")!!! Today, we went to a nursing home with the MOMS Club. The residents were handing out candy in the common room, and all the kids went table to table collecting goodies. A.J. had a good time and made quite a hauling. Tonight, we're going to a potluck with the neighbors and then going trick-or-treating as a group. It will be A.J.'s first official time going house to house!

Not to sure what to make of the pumpkin guts

It was okay, as long as he used the scoop

He did use his hands a couple of times

Squeezing the pumpkin guts


Helping Daddy carve the pumpkins



"Arrr! Shiver me timbers and walk the plank"

"Trick-or-Treat"

Making a hauling

At the nursing home

Rough Weekend (and it's not over yet)

Okay, so anyone who knows our family realizes that none of us are particularly coordinated...in fact, most would say we are downright clumsy. This weekend proved to be no exception. Friday started off okay, so A.J. and I decided to go to the store. As we were walking around, I started having contractions (which I have been having on and off for a couple of weeks now). So we decided to go home and lay on the couch for the rest of the day. That night, we went to a going-away party for one of Andy's co-workers. When we got home, I rammed my foot into the doorway. I could hear my little toe pop and crack, but it didn't really hurt too bad (at the time). My feet are already huge and swollen, so I couldn't tell if it was swelling up on me or not. By this morning, I couldn't bend it and it hurt to walk on. So now, besides the waddling that comes with pregnancy and the fact that my hips and tailbone feel like they can give out at any moment, I have a slight limp from the toe pain. We decided to go to Bounce U anyway, because A.J. has been begging Andy to bounce with him. A.J. decided to try out the boxing ring. There was also another kid in the ring, and neither boy could really even pick up the boxing gloves because they were too heavy. The other boy did get his up in the air, but it immediately came down...right on A.J.'s eye! It's not black and blue yet, but it does have a red mark on it still (we were impressed that he didn't cry)! Then, he was chasing a girl through the obstacle course, and bounced right off the end, smacking his head on the hard floor. We could tell it hurt because he had one of those delayed cries...the ones where his face looks like it is crying, but no sound is coming out...then the big gasp of air comes and he starts wailing! He calmed down after a few minutes, and he and Andy started jumping again. Andy said he felt a twinge in his ankle, but it didn't really hurt...at the time. So they bounced some more and we headed for home. We went out for dinner that night, and by the time we got home, Andy could hardly walk. His ankle is black and blue and he's been icing it down. So now we have a limper, a limper/waddler, and a shiner/bump on the head...could anything else go wrong??? Of course! It was only 6:30...the night was still young! As Andy was icing down his ankle, A.J. wanted to go upstairs and put on his pj's, so up we went. He was having some trouble taking off his jeans, and lost his balance while standing on the bed...he ended up falling off right in between his nightstand and bed (he folded up just like an accordion). Again, the delayed cry set in. He started wailing, I picked him up, Andy hopped up the stairs on one foot, and we assessed the damage. He's got scrapes up and down his back, and a nasty bruise right above his knee. Poor kid! Tomorrow, I think we'll all just stay in bed all day! Anyway, I think we are going to survive. The boys did have fun bouncing, and here are some pics of their day.

Daddy tackling A.J.

In the ring with the boxing gloves

A.J.'s favorite...going down the big slide!

Where was this protective helmet a minute ago???

Baby Update

We went to the doctor this morning for my 36 week check-up. There's still really no news to report. The baby's heartrate was 135 bpm, and it is still breech. I'm guessing it is going to have a huge Davis noggin, as there is always a huge bump by my right ribcage (talk about making it hard to bend down)!!! I asked the doctor if she had a guess to how big the baby would be, and she is thinking in the 7-8 lb range (I'm keeping my fingers crossed). Although I'm still pretty big and feel like a cow, I haven't gained as much weight as I did with A.J. Plus, I'll be delivering almost 2 weeks early, so I'm hoping this baby might be a normal size!!!

Bounce Jungle

Today, A.J. and I went to Bounce Jungle with our MOMS Club. What a great way for A.J. to burn off some energy! He seemed to have a lot of fun, and he kept telling me about all his new friends. He really wanted me to bounce with him (ha...that would have been a sight!), so I told him we would try to bring him back with Daddy soon. Anyway, it was good to get out of the house for a little bit!

Going down the big slide

Saying "Cheese" to the camera

Bouncing with some of his friends

He was really hamming it up for the camera today!

Moo Moo Palooza

Today, we went to Superstition Farms to the Moo Moo Palooza event. There were arts and crafts, petting zoos, hayrack rides, pony rides, and much more. We had a lot of fun, despite all the wind (and blowing dust). As for a baby update, I went to the doctor yesterday and there's not much to report. The heartrate was 151 bpm and the baby is still breech. It's still just a waiting game.

A.J. with one of the cows

Petting the bunny

The Turkey with the turkeys (when he saw the turkeys, he started doing the chicken dance)!

Feeding the goats

This horse may look friendly, but it kept head-butting A.J. (he thought it was funny)

Enjoying a hayrack ride

Hundreds of cows (I think I've seen more cows and dairy farms here in AZ than back in IL)

Climbing up the haystacks

Laughing in the pumpkin patch

More Pizza Fun

Today, we joined the MOMS Club for another fun day of pizza making! We toured the pizza shop, watched the tour guide toss pizza dough, made our own individual pizza, and even met Mr. Slice! Mommy's favorite part was the walk-in refrigerator. Brrrr...it was cold! I'm surprised with me being a furnace that I didn't set off the alarms!!! The tour guide was really good with all the kids, and everyone had a great time. They even gave all the kids goodie bags! A.J. really enjoyed his pizza, as well as his chocolate pastry!

The tour guide showing A.J. all the toppings for the pizza

Flattening out the pizza dough (or making a mess in the flour...you decide)

Tossing the pizza dough (this was A.J.'s favorite part)

Sampling some pepperoni

A.J. spreading out sauce on his pizza

Taking time out for a pic with "Mr. Slice"

Some of the kids sitting with Mr. Slice

Desert Breeze Park

Yesterday, the weather was so nice here, we decided to go to one of the parks. We ate a picnic lunch, fed the ducks, rode the train, and, of course, played on the equipment. Everyone had a great time!!! We're definitely enjoying this cooler weather!

A.J. and Daddy enjoying their picnic lunch

A.J. and Mommy feeding the ducks

A.J. riding the train with the lady with the big old Buddha-belly!

Another pic of us on the train

Daddy and A.J. riding some sort of creature (if I have to post pregnancy pictures, Andy will get the embarrassing pictures posted)

Enjoying one of the many slides

This park even has a splash pad

Daddy pushing A.J. on the swing...

and A.J. pushing Daddy on the swing!!!

Mommy and A.J. on the swing...A.J.'s trying not to fall off, as I don't have much of a lap anymore!

Double Digits!!!

We have finally hit double digit temperatures after our first summer of mainly triple digits!!! I was listening to the news the other day, and the meteorologist said we had 105 days of triple digit temperatures. That makes the 49 days of 90+ while being pregnant with A.J. look like nothing, but these triple digits were definitely more tolerable (humidity in IL is a killer). The news anchors were also joking that now we are in the 90's, people will start breaking out their sweaters and turning on the fireplaces! It is nice to finally be able to go outside again, and we're looking forward to getting out a little before the baby comes. Meanwhile, here's some pics of A.J. keeping himself occupied while I try to keep my feet elevated.

A.J. is getting very creative with the blocks...he used every last one of them to build this tower and monster!!!

I moved the chairs from the kitchen to the family room so I could mop...A.J. thought I was playing trains and wanted to ride in the caboose!