Fall Festival

Chess met lots of new animals. This goat actually bent way down and sniffed Chess's head after I took this picture!


20 lb rabbit


The camel tried to nibble on her fingers.


goats and sheep


I love the expression on her face here.


I had to put in this pic of the adorable calf. Chess kept saying, "Mooo" and all her other animal sounds.


first time in a jumpy castle - she loved it


She got pretty dirty.


home for the day

How to Make Halloween Cookies

1. Cut out the cookies with cookie cutters.



2. After baking, ice the cookies and the table, too.



3. Taste the icing to make sure it's okay.



4. Eat the cookies. Enjoy!

Chess's First Camping Trip

With the fall weather so nice, we spontaneously decided to take Chess on her first camping trip.


When we arrived, all she wanted to do was play in the car.


Then she realized it was more fun to set up the tent, I mean play with the rocks.


She swept up a lot of rocks that day.


on a walk


Whoa! Watch out!


We have often tried to get her to fall asleep in her stroller or this back pack carrier, but have not succeeded until now. No nap plus camping equals one tired girl.


after the walk


She's up and running again.


Good morning! I didn't sleep that great, but she did.


Good morning, Daddy!


with her "monster" (it is actually a pokemon I won in one of those claw machines a long time ago)


morning milk


morning camp fire


walking all around


hanging out while Daddy packs up everything to go home

We sure did have a lot to clean up and wash after only one night of fun and camping!

Wordless Wednesday

36 Weeks and Thoughts

Here I am at 36 weeks pregnant. I am now at 38 and even bigger if you can believe it.



I am not much for sharing my thoughts on my blog, but I think I will a little bit now. I am starting to get a little nervous about delivering another baby. Chess's birth was so awesome: a 4 hour labor from start to finish, already 8 cm when we arrived at the hospital, no drugs for me, and a healthy and safe mom and baby (albeit a huge 10 lb 8 oz baby). We had an ultra sound last week and the baby's measurements said she weighs around 8 lb 4 oz. Those late-term ultra sounds can be way off (Chess's said she was just over 8 lbs the day before she was born). If it IS accurate, then it's a good thing, because this baby is smaller than Chess. My doctor has been really good about working with me and my desire to not be induced. I really don't want to be induced and have stronger-than-normal contractions and not know how long labor will last with it and possibly have to have a C-section (the risk is higher when you are induced). But I also don't want to have to have a C-section from a too-big baby or risk her clavicle being broken at birth, which my doctor says is a real possibility with big babies. But, I am over 2.5 cm dilated already, so hopefully things will progress naturally on their own very soon. My doctor is hopeful for this, too. So, for now, we are not scheduled to be induced. We want another completely natural birth and a healthy baby and momma. Now we just wait.

Wordless Wednesday

Burt's Pumpkin Farm

Going to Burt's Pumpkin Farm in the middle of September when there's a chance of rain is the only way to go We were supposed to meet other family there, but they decided not to go when the weather looked yucky. We decided to brave it and we are glad we did. There were no crowds, no lines, no people to get in the way of my pictures of Chess, lots of parking spaces, lots of room to play on the hayride, lots of pumpkins, and get ready for lots of pictures below.


Here we are first arriving.




Look at all that orange!


Chess was pretty amazed and kept saying, "Pumpkin!"






I am hiding a pumpkin under my shirt :)














Chess had so much fun on the hayride.


She was staring at the two other people that got on with us.






My precious girl.


Of course, all tuckered out.

And, just for kicks, here we are at the pumpkin farm last year: