Boo! or Should I say Moo!

I was quite excited for Parker's first Halloween, I started the costume hunt in April (just research...) and was on the lookout for a sock monkey. Just imagine his sweet face in that costume! Well, anyways I had to settle for a cow, which was perfect because he can say "Moo"

We were invited to a Halloween party that one of our Stroller fit mom's was hosting so we spent an hour trick or treating in our neighborhood (or as Parker would say as he walked away from the home...tricktreat) and then did a few more homes in Steph's neighborhood.

Parker was in shock at the first home (we tried to demonstrate trick or treating at home)...he gave the m&m's back! After that he was a pro! A neighbor down the street even said hello in Chinese...I did not break it to the man the cow was Korean!

Here's some pictures from the night and the month of October...

With my Stroller fit ladies...

What, I have to leave the candy???

tricktreat...

Traveling in the wagon along with Mom and Dad's cooler of Octoberfest...

He is going to miss the costume, he wore it quite a bit this month....

at Kindermusik...

At a friend's birthday party...

and Octoboo at the library!

Parker is going to be disappointed the holiday only comes once a year.

Shutterfly Holiday Card Promotion: Just in Time!

Jim had laughed (maybe some eye rolls too) at me many times, I looked at Halloween costumes in July and had started to search for our holiday card in early October! I had stated with Shutterfly, since I keep all of my pictures in the online storage. I used them for Parker's adoptions announcements (which I had picked out long before he came home) and they were the best for getting post placement pictures...send them to a Target store. Mom's who have had a first post placement visit understand how difficult it can be to produce 6-10 pictures!


So when this promotion came along, I had alread selected this card...

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/scrapbook-style-blue-christmas-card?sortType=1&storeNode=93479

We had some great photos done at the IMA and cannot wait to use them! However after looking at all of the cards I am kind of torn...

The religious cards are beautiful and it made me think abotu how we will teach the holidays to Parker. I particularly like this one...

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/oh-holy-night-religious-christmas-card-5x7-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=93479

Maybe once our basement is finished and life becomes a bit more orderly I can think about hosting a cookie exchange...I would love to use these invitations....

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards/cookie-swap-christmas-invitation-4x5-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=93510

Really cute, right?? Another favorite, that my Mom would love (she is really into gift tags!)
I think this one is sweet...

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-gift-tags/provence-gift-tag?sortType=1&storeNode=93513


I hope everyone has as much as I do with holiday preparations..yes, it is still October!

Best of all Bloggers...check out this link if you want your cards too!

Autumn Events

Let me be honest, I have never been too thrilled about fall (means winter is coming) or Halloween (well, since I was younger) but this year, since Parker is home, it has been much more enjoyable.

Here's what we have been up to...

The weather has been mild, so Parker has been asking to go "OUT" or just bringing us his shoes...
He spent lots of time pulling his wagon today.


A trip to the Headless Horseman...it is a haunted hayride, modeled after The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, at the Smithsonian history park in our town.

We figured we would go on the hayride in the daylight, however the only ride open was 8:00pm. Parker was a trooper, despite it being bedtime and riding through the middle of the woods. He is a bit too young to be scared and just stuffed straw in my bag while laughing hysterically. I am sure next year he will be terrified.

He ran around the grounds while we waited and even sat through a puppet show! He would laugh when the other children did, although he was oblivious to the plot.

While I was working, Jim joined some families I have met for a trip to the pumpkin patch.

He loved the gourds...

So much that him and Miles (his partner in crime) chewed the tops off them! No one figured they would bite through them.

We visited the Children's Museum, with some Stroller Fit Mom's for the haunted house,

they offer "lights on" hours for younger children. Parker did great, despite being able to see snakes and skeletons.

a stop at the water table!

the stroller fit babies

Cheering on Mommy

Parker attended his third half marathon this weekend, as I ran the Indianapolis Marathon at Fort Benjamin Harrison. Last year I did the whole 26.2, this year just the 13.1. Saturday was a beautiful day for the race, it ran through the state park and I was ready to go, as hit mile 9 I was shocked to see I was on pace for a 1:40ish time. Well, I guess I talked a big game because mile 10 brought a wicked side cramp...and I ended with a 2:02...

The best part was mile 12, where my Mom, Dad (he ran the 5K), Jim, and sweet Parker were cheering. Last year, as I ran I thought about my son in Korea and this year I was able to yell I love you.

That goal time is in reach, May 2011 500 mini. Who's in???

So I never forget...

Parker is going to be 19 months next week, and there are so many things that he does that I know will be forgotten if I do not document them!

-He is talking so much more, he will repeat (or attempt to) just about everything, sometimes it is a bit hard to understand. His favorite word are shoes and socks, he is adamant that he have these- if I mention we are leaving. We will start down the stairs and he will exclaim "shoes". He makes sure his Dad and I always have socks on and if not, will bring one over and say "DOCK!"

-I am spoiled, I truly have the sweetest baby. This week we had a picnic at the park and he crawled in my lap and let me feed him. BTW...it was 85 degrees this week! He loves to give unsolicited hugs and kisses and will pat your back when you hold him. Sometimes he will tell me he is a baby, it is so darn sweet.

-Oh yes, there is a naughty side-throwing ALL food, sippys, etc. and drumming on my head, with rhythm stick in Kindermusik..owww

-He loves to "blow his nose" when the toilet paper or kleenex are on the belt at the grocery store he will point and wipe his nose.

-He gets scared, I squeaked a dog toy at him, in the store, thinking he would laugh..OH NO, he let out a shrill Halloween scream. OOPS, bad MOM! He has a frog puppet that he will only poke with one finger and run away, as it is frightening!

-I despise when mother's post about bodily functions...mostly on FB. However, this is a blog, used in place of a baby book (overjustification?) He loves to pretend to go to the bathroom (he has his own little toilet, just because he is interested not because he is being trained) and he ran back to his room (with only one tube sock on, yes only) and peed on his PBK rug...and said OHHHH. Teachable moment, right?

We made hot chocolate (milk with sugar free syrup-warm) and he hid under the planning desk to drink it.

He has started pretend play, here is he feeding his duck. The duck got soup (HOT or OOT) as he told the duck. I think he got pizza and an apple too, all the food words he knows.

Playing dinner

Bounce house at Dad's company picnic...

Shades of Green

I wanted to share my reaction to seeing Sara Snow at my last MOPS meeting. Sara is a green living expert, and this woman is the real deal, she lived green growing up..even when it was not the norm or trendy to do so.

The link to her site provides much information, but I wanted tot share my reactions and what I have implemented in my home. I understand that not all of these ideas will work for each family, in addition I realize there are many other things we can continually implement in our home.

*Going paper towel and napkin free. Use rags and make paper napkins from an old sheet. I wish I had a sewing machine to finish the edges on the napkins.

*Buying organic and local for the purpose that there are 35% more essential nutrients and 25% more vitamins and minerals in organically grown produce. In addition, the reasons I had bought before was pesticides, which have been linked to ADHD and impacting reproductive organs to name a few. Now, there are lists of produce that should be bought organic and those that are safer. I am in the process of looking for a local Co-op or CSA.

*Using houseplants to clean the air. Placing English ivy, chrysanthemums, or Gerber daisys in your home assist in cleaning the air.

*Using Bee Pollen to treat seasonal allergies. Taking the LOCAL bee pollen daily builds an immunity to the plants that are part of your environment. This is more direct that using local honey. I found a jar at Whole Foods ( refrigerated vitamins) and we have started taking it daily. Sara said her husband is now symptom free!

*Reusing products when possible, new items (cribs, toys) give off gasses when they are new and your children breathe these. Used cribs have released these gases and keep the crib out of a landfill.

*Use natural cleaning products. I keep a 50/50 of water vinegar for all purpose cleaning, great for wiping down Parker's high chair. Baking soda and vinegar makes an amazing scrub product, you should see my kitchen sink!

Some other things I have been doing, is using Freecycle to obtain and repurpose items. For example, I got Parker a used picnic table and basketball hoop. This saved me about $100 and repurposed the items. Yes, the table is faded...he has no idea!

We do not have curb side recycling here, so I am going to sort and drive it to the local center. Yes, I have been bad about this before!

We have been good about taking our bags to the grocery store ad using CFL lights.

Any other green living tips?

First Fall

This time last year I would tell Jim that I could not wait to take Parker to an orchard and a pumpkin patch. Well fall has arrived and today we had a MOPS playdate at a local orchard.

We picked apples...and did not attempt to eat them

Discovered hay...Toto I do not think we are in Korea anymore

Ran screaming through the maze,

and once home we made some applesauce. He told me the golden delicious apple was "MMM" and even offered me a bite. We decided to wait for Jim to cut a pumpkin, meaning another trip to one of the local pumpkin patches!

As of today, we reached an additional milestone. Parker has been home 8 months, which means he has lived with us longer than either of his foster families. The memory of our early days and weeks seem distant, as if it has been years since Parker joined our family.

Family Photo Shoot

Check out Raincliffs Photography for a sneak peak of our photo shoot at the IMA.