Happy Halloween!

8 Months!

Thomas turned 8 months last week. He's becoming such a big boy, both in size and in what he can do: crawling everywhere, pulling up to stand, using furniture to walk, climbing stairs, feeding himself...we can't believe how fast these 8 months have gone and how much he's changed!

Weekend Thomas pics

We put Thomas in his halloween costume and went to the garden center for a few pictures and a few gourds and mums for me. 

It looks like he's waving in this picture, but it was purely an accident!

Once again, he was fascinated with the hay. Don't you love the spikes down his back!?

Jenn bought this beret for herself just for fun. She tried it on Thomas. Dad and Ed were not amused! I think he looks ready for the theater: a mini Shakespeare? Maybe there's more than sports (and Sportscenter) in his future...

Bathtime mohawk!

We made this fleece panda rug/blanket this weekend after seeing a sample in the local quilt shop. It's being donated to the Fox Point Church bazaar, but we had to let Thomas try it out first!

Grammy, Grandpa and Aunt Jenn come to visit

The headline says it all--we had visitors this past weekend! Thomas was spoiled and adored to his heart's content. :)

with Grammy and Grandpa

Checking out a pale pumpkin with Aunt Jenn (more halloween costume pics later)

Reading stories with Grammy

All bundled up for a walk in the park with Grandpa

Applesauce!

 Mom and I made a bushel's worth of applesauce this weekend (before Jenn arrived, or she would have helped). We now have a freezer full of homemade applesauce. Yum! 

Lots of apples!

Hard at work!

Dad kept Thomas entertained by dragging him around the house in a box, and...

...climbing the stairs. Thomas got halfway up by himself and he was very proud!

A photo to show future girlfriends

My grandma got the outfit in the photos below for Thomas. The dragon onesie and matching socks are very cute; the coordinating bright green hat and pants are a little much. As you can see in the second and third pictures, Thomas found a better use for the hat!

A few firsts for the week: he's started feeding himself toast, puffies, and yogurt melts. He's also started to think that he can stand on his own and lets go of whatever is helping to support him. It always results in a wipe out! And finally, tonight he made his first foray up the stairs (!). He went up one and then backed down to floor level. He's a little daredevil with absolutely no fear!

Visiting the Pumpkin Patch

We took advantage of the beautiful weather on Sunday and visited a pumpkin patch. Ed suggested that we were doing so more for my benefit than for Thomas. I'm not arguing that--I love everything about fall, including pumpkin patches! 

We picked out a big family pumpkin to carve.

Cute close-up. 

Trying out the back carrier--it worked great! 

Investigating a mini pumpkin--more Thomas' size!

Even though neither of them is looking at the camera, I thought this was a cute picture. Thomas was fascinated by the hay bales and couldn't take his eyes (or keep his fingers) off of them.