First visitor in October - Shannon!

October is going to be an amazing month!  We are either going to have visitors here with us or we are going to be going somewhere to visit someone else.

Our first visitor of October was my dear friend Shannon.  We all look forward to her fall visit as a highlight of the year.

She got here on Friday and we went to dinner and hung out.  We also went and got a reflexology foot massage but I don't remember whether we did that Friday or Saturday night.

Saturday morning I took Emmalyn to Kindermusik

Max did a 21 day fix workout video - he wanted to work out.

Shannon and I did some shopping, had some lunch and then it was family time (because all of us want time with Shannon!)

We were going to go downtown - it's a place we've never taken Shannon.  We were going to ride around on the McKinney street trolley.

While we waited for the trolley, we got some frozen yogurt

Riding the trolley.  Maxwell sat on Miss Shannon's lap the whole time.  Sorry it is such a dark picture.

We got to see parts of downtown and then got off the trolley at Klyde Warren Park.  The kids had fun playing in the kids area.

Here's what the trolley looked like (it passed us again as we walked to dinner)

Emmalyn enjoying the queso at the Mexican restaurant we went to.  She was happy when she was eating and was difficult to entertain after that.

The group at dinner - Emmalyn is out of the screen waiting in her stroller to leave

Maxwell and downtown Dallas

We had a fun time riding the trolley around Dallas

Morning with cereal and the ipad

Look!  Emmalyn let Shannon hold her!

For Shannon's last day in town we did another thing she's never done (or us).  We went to the Stockyards in Ft. Worth.

This old cowboy had some pretty cool lasso skills

Watching the cowboy

Shannon and Maxwell

Longhorns are pretty big!!

The kids and I went on a fun little train ride around part of the stockyard

They sat next to each other and at one point held hands.

Max thought it was pretty cool.

We had some time before the cattle drive down the main street so Peter and Maxwell went to go do this maze.

Unfortunately Peter and Maxwell didn't make it out in time to see the cattle drive.  I was expecting the cattle drive to be long with lots of cows.  Instead it was like 13 cows and over in a matter of seconds.

We finished off the day with some Texas Bar-B-Que.  Maxwell was so attached to Shannon.  He was very sad to see her go when we took her to the airport.  

Thanks for coming Shannon!  We always enjoyed your visits and can't wait for the next one!

Since we had a bunch of visitors coming, we decided to go ahead and get a full mattress which will eventually be used when we turn Emmalyn's crib into a full bed.  Butt for now, at least we can have a bed up in the bedroom upstairs and two different real beds for our guests.

Kids playing with legos while we bought the mattress.

Sleeping Kiddos

I love my lunch date

I still go to Brittany's each work day during lunch to nurse Maxwell and to enjoy whatever phenomenal lunch Brittany has made me.  I count my blessings that she lives close enough to my office that I can do this and also that my work schedule allows me the flexibility to sometimes take a little bit longer lunch and enjoy my time with Max.  It sure makes being a working mom much easier.  I don't feel like I am completely missing out on him.  Here's what I got to be a part of from October 15 - 19, 2012.

It was a beautiful day so we came home and enjoyed the sunny day.  Long sleeves, pants, and barefoot.  It was warmer than I expected when I dressed him so it was okay for him to be outside without socks on.    That's what happens when Maxwell doesn't let socks stay on his feet.

Picking up the fallen leaves and letting them blow away.

Drawing on the magnadoodle.

Look at the big belly!

Relaxing in the corner of the couch.

I'm just going to rest right here...

Streeeeeeetch

Look Mom!  It's a pumpkin!

Running around with his pajamas on his head.

Video - He always enjoys a good game of peekaboo!

Brittany doesn't hesitate to shop with the 3 boys.  She's awesome. I don't think I'd take that on.  She sent me this pic while I was at work.

This is what the majority of the pictures I take during lunch end up looking like now - blurry.  I have to take a bunch to get one that is somewhat clear.  He just doesn't hold still especially when he's smiling or laughing.

Wrestling with the bear

I'm soooo big!

What Max is up to now:

• I usually sit on the bed/floor with Max in my lap when we are reading books.  This week he came up to me, turned around, and backed up into my lap.  So sweet.
• At bedtime when we have finished reading books, he lays down and cuddles a little bit first before I put him into the crib.  He likes to smile and roll into me and end up with his back against me and then reaches out with his right hand to touch my face or grab my arm and put it around him.  Melts my heart.  It sure is wonderful to be at a point where Max can show love back to us!
• He has a fake laugh.
• He cracks himself up.
• He is going strong with the drool.
• He has learned how to blow and we'll practice by blowing on his food although his blow is more of a long fffffffffff sound.
• When we take off his shirt he loves to touch his belly button.
• He knows where his belly button, eyes, nose, and tongue are.