Playtime Pics

I took some pictures of Matthew today in his exersaucer as he checked out the toys.  One of the things I love most about his development right now is how carefully he explores things.  He'll take the time to gently move a toy back and forth with his fingers while he stares at it, all but furrowing his brow in concentration.  I love that.  He reminds me of Michael at these times and makes me wonder if he will be like his papa . . . interested in how things fit together, in how they work, in how they can work better. 

First Halloween Party!

Today we went to Matthew's very first Halloween party.  He was supposed to go as a monkey, but I crocheted his hat and it ended up being a bit too small, so he was a football player instead.  I'm going to give the hat another go and see if I can get it done by Halloween next week. 

The party was hosted by a co-worker and his wife.  We went last year too, when Matthew was newly growing inside me and was about the size of a grape.  Being there this afternoon made me thankful (yet again!) for how far we have come since that time last year and what a treasure we have in this little boy. 

Papa did the pumpkin carving while Matthew and I supervised.  We all had a pretty good time and Matthew was quite a hit with everyone.  He wore a little football hat that our friend Amy crocheted.  I'll post a pic of it soon.




Baby's First Pumpkin Carving



Pirate Pumpkin



6 Months!

Wow, has it really already been six months (six months!) since Matthew was born?  Unbelievable.  My life has changed so much since this little boy's arrival, that I scarcely remember what it was like before him.  I have tried a few times to blog (and am actually still working on his birth story), but I have been trying to say everything about him when I sit down to write, and since that is not possible (not enough hours in the day), I write nothing. 

I think my friend Carrie has been experiencing something similar . . . we both have young boys and we both have blogged in the past, but have been pretty quiet recently.  She just started a new blog and has inspired me to do the same.  She's aiming for posting at least one time a week and that sounds doable to me too, so I am going to borrow her idea--thanks, Carrie!  :)  Some blogging about Matthew is better than none at all.  And it will be a way for me to let friends and family know what is happening in our lives, because it is nearly impossible for me to keep up with everyone on a regular basis.  I am lucky if I get a shower some days!  :)

So with that, a few things about Matthew, aka Pumpkin Noodle.  That was my special name for him when he lived inside my womb and I still call him that now, or I call him a variation of that name: Noodle Boy or Noodley Noodle or just plain old Pumpkin.  The possibilities are endless!  It's funny because I think the first time I called him that out loud was just about a year ago, after I was in the car accident that caused such a scare.  I had started calling him Pumpkin Noodle when I talked to him in my head, but it was when I was in the ER with Michael and we were waiting to see him on the ultrasound to make sure he was okay after the accident that I called him that out loud. 

That scary time now seems like a world away.  Matthew is big now!  He was 15 pounds, 28 inches as of last Monday's six-month checkup.  Such a big kid!  He "talks" now quite a bit, babbling and cooing.  He LOVES books . . . his favorite right now is Mr. Brown Can Moo.  Can You? by Dr. Seuss.  He also loves the Little Pookie books by Sandra Boynton.  I sing to him all the time: "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is a favorite as is "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"--and of course, "Old MacDonald."  He often sits in his high chair while I wash dishes or make dinner and I entertain him by singing.  We also listen to Pandora to a "Family Folk Radio" station. 

I'll try to add more bits and pieces about Matthew in future posts . . . I want to post about what we did today before I get behind and it doesn't happen.

Pumpkin Noodle's mama signing off for now . . .