Pumpkins, Parties, and Petting Zoos..........OH MY!

It was quite an eventful week.

Saturday October 9:    We went to the Pumpkin Festival at Chatfield Resevoir.  It was over-priced and there were too many people.  There wasn't much for Gwen to do, but she did pick out a few pumpkins, play in the dirt, and eat a hot dog and corn on the cob.  Her favorite thing was the blow up Chick-Fil-A Cow

Monday October 11:  Gwen didn't have daycare and Mike & I had the stomach flu.  It was one of the worst days ever.  Gwen left a trail of destruction throughout our house and Mike and I were too sick to care.  We let her eat what she wanted and do what she wanted.  I am so happy she never got sick!!

Wednesday October 13:  My baby turned 2!  I started developing the cold that would follow the stomach bug.

Sunday October 17:  After a week I am finally feeling decent again (stomach bug + horrible cold = worst week ever) so I decided to finally leave the house (besides for work) and take Gwen to a pumpkin patch in Parker.  We thought the other pumpkin patch was over-priced........um it was NOTHING compared to this one.  It was $10/person (even Gwen).  We lied and said she was 2 and she was still $5.  The pumpkins were insanely expensive so we didn't get one for her (she got 3 at the last one).  We ended up sticking with the "free" activities because we did not want to send any more money at this place.  We were shocked at what pumpkin patches have become.

Anyway, we paid the money and Gwen had a BLAST.  We went into the petting zoo where Gwen got to feed baby cows, goats, ponies, and sheep.  She looked at ducks and bunnies.  She loved it but got a little scared when she got surrounded by all the animals while she was feeding them.  She then spent, what seemed like eternity, playing in a vat of corn.  We did the corn maze, played on hay, raced ducks, and played on the pumpkins made of gold.  Now that I look back, $25 wasn't too much to spend on the memories we had from today :-)

Pictures from Gwen's Birthday Party...........

.......aka dinner with her parents.  We were unable to throw Gwen a party this year because I had been so sick.  Luckily she is 2 and will never remember.  We made her birthday as memorable as could be considering we hadn't eaten in a while.........

Opening Presents





 







It's my birthday and I am "TWO"

  

Playing on the chair Grandma & Papa bought

Guess Who Peed on the Potty??

Gwen!!  (well we all do, but it's more exciting when she does it)

Daycare puts her on the potty 2-5 times a day and yesterday (her birthday) she actually peed.  Normally she sits there and at home she will read, play with the iPhone, or brush her teeth.   I let daycare handle the potty training since they are with her most of the time.  I am surprised they start so early.  I guess they recommend we do the 3 Day Potty Training at home.  That should be fun and gross.  Nothing like missing a day of work to follow your child around with cleaning supplies................I'll wait until at least after the holidays though.

Then & Now

So the sentimental mom needed to put a side by side to show Gwen at age 1 and age 2.  What a difference a year makes.  Then, she was a baby.  Now, she is a little girl.  Happy  Birthday sweetheart!

THEN:  October 2009-Gwen turns 1

NOW:  October 2010- Gwen turns 2

My Baby is 2!

My Sweet Angel Gwendolyn-

I wish you the happiest of birthdays!

Last year at your one year appointment with Dr. Snelling, she told me to remember you the way you were at age one because by age two I would not recognize you.  I thought she meant how you looked.  Boy was I wrong.  In one short, and fast, year, my baby became a little girl, in looks and life.  Last year on your birthday you were this little helpless baby.  You were crawling around, you had little hair and a lot of pudge.  You were still on the bottle and would take 2 naps.  You only had a couple of words, if that, and were just starting to develop a personality. 

Now I look at you and am amazed at what you have become.  You are this beautiful little girl who talks constantly.  You are this sweet little girl that runs from us in grocery stores and has this head of hair that I refer to as Texas hair (it's gigantic at times).  You are so innocent and pure that you constantly make us laugh.  You are so smart which is seen by your constant use of words, the ability to count to 10, knowing your ABC's, repeating every word we say, knowing your colors and how to manage an iPhone.......the list is endless.  You give the biggest and best hugs, your smile lights up a room, and your laugh is the most beautiful sound in the universe. 

I would be lying if I said that you were this perfectly well behaved little child all the time.  In the past year we learned some not-so-fun traits that you have too.  You are stubborn and won't do anything unless it is your idea.  This was seen by you not taking your first steps until 18 months.  You are a spoiled brat, and I say that with love in my heart.  If you don't get what you want, you throw the biggest most spectacular tantrums and proceed to get snot and saliva everywhere.  Sometimes I can't help but laugh at how dramatic you are over the smallest things. 

I said in your first birthday letter that the day you were born was hands down the best day of my life.  I believe in that statement more now than ever.  You are the love and light of my life and everyday with you is amazing............both good days and bad :-)

I love you Gwendolyn!
Love,
Mama

One Friday A Month...........

our daycare is open until 9:30 pm so parents can have a night out.  This will be the 2nd time we are leaving Gwen (it will be a monthly thing) and we love it.  It's $20 extra and they feed her dinner and she plays with other kids.  Yes, she is at daycare for 14 hours on those days, but honestly, I don't care.  Momma & Dadda need a night out!!

I also have a couple shout outs:

Happy Birthday Mom!

Congratulations to Mike & Macaire Cognetti.  They welcomed Jasper Colman today at 3:52 am.  Everyone is healthy and happy! 

Thankful Thursday

With all of my traveling and busy work schedule, I haven't had a chance to complete a Thankful Thursday in a while.  So here you go:

1.  That the madness of the first 8 months of 2010 seems to have been put to rest, and things are looking up again.  I have hope that 2010 will end on a high note and that is something I thought I would NEVER say this year.

2.  This stage in Gwen's life.  She has been so happy and is not stingy with her kisses and hugs.  She runs everywhere and has so much energy.  She seems to be using her words more and breaking down less.  It's been so much fun and I am looking forward to truly enjoying this time.

3.  The last 3 months of the year.  I love the fall and I love the magic of the holiday season.  This time of year has snuck up on me and has come very fast.  It seems like yesterday I was planning Gwen's 1st Birthday and I am now planning her 2nd. 

4.  Upcoming family visits.  I am really looking forward to The Jurbalas coming out in a couple of weeks, my parents for Thanksgiving, and hopefully the entire Jurbala clan for Christmas.  Gwen now recognizes everyone and it makes it more fun to watch for us and I am sure for all the grandparents/uncles/aunts too.

5.  Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  There doesn't need to be an explanation for this one.  The taste and the warmth........yummmm.