Eckerts - Pumpkin Time

Every October we take off a Friday and head down to Eckert's to pick out a pumpkin. Today was a beautiful day and we had a great time!! We pigged out on Fried Chicken at the little country restaurant and picked some apples and a pumpkin. And we brought home a whole apple pie and all kinds of yummy baked goods stuff.

An attempt at a family photo. I didn't realize Gwen's face was in the sun... ha!

And we tried again. Oh well its sorta .. OK.

My new favorite pic!

Grandma Boeckman always comes with us.




 

Attempt at a group family pic. The kids not cooperating.



Cooper enjoyed the kids size grocery cart at the market.

Such a big boy!

Mmmm... testing out the apples.

 

 

 

Seriously.. where the heck are we? 

 

Helping Daddy pick out a pumpkin. 

 

   

 

 

 

  "I'll take this one.".. ha! 

Lifting it up like daddy. 

2 Months

 So I posted this photos a few weeks ago. But didn't have a chance to write down what Gwen is up to these days. Just a few quick notes of Gwen at 2 Months. 

•At her 2 Month Checkup she weighed :  12 lbs. 10 ounces

•She is such a happy baby. She smiles all of the time. She even kinda laughs and she talks and coos a whole lot. 

• She is very social. She always wants to be sitting where we are. In her chair, if we are playing with Cooper. 

•She acts like she might roll over. 

•She is starting to grab toys. She can holds toys if you help put them into her hand. (10 weeks)

•Her hair is starting to look lighter. Still with a little bit of a redish tent to it. 

•More an more she is starting to look like Cooper at this same age. 

•She is sleeping a little longer at night. A four hour stretch at first. Occasionally 5 hours. 

•She makes some crazy loud noises when she is gassy. 

•She has started to notice the tv and her turn her head to look at it. 

•She loves watching Cooper and listening when he is talking. 

•She starting to like laying on her floor mat and 'talking' to the animals.

 

And just like Cooper she has all kinds of funny expressions. Gotta love the furrowed brow.. ha! 

Mashed Potatoes

Yes you read it right the title of this entry is "Mashed Potatoes." I had to document this long awaited moment ..ha! As I've probably mentioned before Cooper is sorta a picky eater. I guess that seems about right since Joe and I are fairly picky eaters. Cooper is just not very good at trying new things. But one thing he refuses to eat is potatoes. Ever since he was starting solids, he has never taken them. He just spits them out. And now he just cries if I offer him some, ha! Any kind of potatoe - mashed, baked, boiled, etc. He only eats fries and tator tots. I thought seriously what kid doesn't like mashed potatoes. He can't really be my child. I've tried multiple occasions and he just refuses. Well last week we had the moumental moment. He finally tried mashed potatoes and HE LIKED THEM. At 3 and a half years old. FINALLY!!!

But it was that old trick that finally worked. If you want your kids to try something new, allow them to help you cook it. Last week I was making shepards pie. And getting ready to mash the potatoes. And let him help me mash and stir them. And sure enough he asked to have a bite. And then he asked for more. I gave him a little bowl of them. And he ate it and said "Yummy in my tummy". He totally cracked me up, since usually he would cry and act like I was feeding him poison or something.

Well I thought this must be a ONE time fluke. So tonight we had another dish with mash potatoes. A nice little roast. And we gave Cooper his plate. With a small scoop of mashed potatoes and he started eating them. HA! We have gotten over the 'hump'. I can hardly believe it. But this gives me a little confidence to keep giving him new things. Maybe he is moving out of the picky phase. Who knows?

So that's it, I just had to write this down. One of those funny little things that I don't want to forget.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Joe's Bday

Joe's 34th Birthday was in early September. Diana had us over for a little mini party. She made a really good home cooked meal. Steak, potatoes... and all the fixin's...ha! She also got Joe a cake.

Gwen slept through the whole thing. 

Cooper and I gave Joe our own mini party that weekend. I made enchilada's (one of his favorite meals). And a homemade Texas Sheet cake. And he opened a few gifts.