Before Eleanor... There was fall.

Before the littlest sister arrived, life was busy with outings and lots of fall happenings. 

 

October was a busy month for us.  We had an AMOK park party with a scavenger hunt and pumpkin painting.

There was camping in the playroom, which is now large enough to accommodate a full size tent.  The kids did really well and slept in there the entire night.  This is going to be a reward/bribe because it was a huge hit.

Alastair has been playing soccer again this fall.  He got off to a slow start but got really into it right as the season ended in November.  Of course.

 

Not to be ignored, my favorite little photo bomber lept in front of the camera.  If there is a camera around, she will be in front of it.

 October was also field day at Alastair's school.  It was so fun to see the kids running and jumping their hearts out.

 Apparently there is no winner for athletic prowess (because his class certainly wouldn't have won that) but there is a spirit award, which they were proud to win.

Next up was the fall festival at Emery's school.  Alastair isn't too old for the festival yet, thankfully.

 Emery made sure to pet every animal in the petting zoo.

 And Alastair enjoyed himself as well.

 

This year they were both big enough to ride the train on their own.

 Emery had a blast with the games.

After the festival, we visited the pumpkin patch.

Alastair was feeling photogenic.  He is wearing an inflatable scabbard unfortunately because I couldn't figure out how to get it off of him without popping it.

We are are all set on pumpkins.  It seems I forgot to take a picture of the one we carved for Halloween, but we enjoyed the second through Thanksgiving.  

Halloween:

 

Definitely a little short for a storm trooper.

Alastair went as Luke Skywalker dressed as a Storm Trooper.  For the first time ever, a foreign made Halloween costume that I ordered actually ran big.  I could not have been more shocked.   It was not a good day for Alastair and he didn't spend much time in his costume, so there's always hope he'll want to wear it (and the helmet) next year.  It certainly will still fit.

Princess Leia.

Emery went as Princess Leia, surely the last year I can get away with a non-pink princess look.  I am a master of last minute projects, but this one was cutting it close even for me.  I started the pattern and sewing this costume at 2pm on Halloween.  By some miracle, it worked out!

 

Our new neighborhood (technically just the other side of the old one) has a Halloween parade with a fire truck and a block party.  Emery was reunited with her friends from swim team and was delighted to walk in the parade with them. Alastair spotted some friends from school and was off like a shot.

In November, we kept up with soccer games and going to birthday parties.  Two weekends in a row, Emery got to ride ponies and now she comes to my room on Saturdays and demands to know when she will get to ride again.

 

This was a super fun party with a magic show, hayride, pony rides, and a zipline.

The one problem is that Emery is convinced that there really are pink and purple ponies (her favorite, you know) and I keep trying to convince her otherwise.

 

This party has set us back months at the Bowling house.   

Since life in our house kicked into high gear in July, it has been a hectic six months.  We are all enjoying a little more home time with the baby's arrival.  I for one could really use the break!

Baby Eleanor Arrives!

 

Welcome to the world, baby Eleanor!

 Before we got to meet you...

 

We had to do a few pictures on our way to the hospital.  Thirty nine weeks pregnant and SO ready to meet you!  A bit nervous about how you were going to arrive, however.

 

We were a family of four for just a few more hours...  

Then you were here!

All 8 pounds, 7 ounces of you, which makes you the littlest Bowling so far, smaller than your big brother by 2 ounces.

           

 Daddy now has another girl to protect.

 Your big brother and new big sister were so excited to meet you!

 So were your grandparents and your uncle.

 The best part was that they got to have a special cake to celebrate your birthday.  Sadly, you have to wait a year to get a piece of your own cake.  That will be next Thanksgiving, and our family of five will have much to celebrate and be grateful for.  We already do!

Like a big sister who always brings a fresh diaper and an alcohol packet to clean your umbilical cord.  She loves being a "big brother."  I keep trying to tell her that girls are big sisters, but she figures if it is good enough for Alastair, it is good enough for her. 

 And your real big brother, who loves to sing to you and helps Emery get a peek by picking her up.  He just loves to hold you.  These two have your back, no matter what. 

 You are beautiful.  With the most perfectly soft skin and clear blue eyes. 

 When you came home, Emery got to help give you your first sponge bath.  She was so gentle and followed my directions precisely.  

 You endured it with grace.

 You are already so loved and you don't even know it!  Welcome to the world, Baby Eleanor.

Getting Ready for Baby...

This pregnancy has flown by.  While (aside from the first trimester) it hasn't been a difficult one, it has made everything going on in my life more difficult:  staging one house and moving into another all while taking care of two crazy kids.

I took a moment about a month ago to do a few pictures to commemorate this child's journey.

 

 8 months.

 I love the picture I have of Alastair and I while I was pregnant with Emery.  Now I have one with her.

 I feel a little weird about posting a photo involving my rather ample (and pale) belly on the blog, but I think this is sweet enough to warrant inclusion.  

It only took three babies to warrant a push present (google it), but Kim really came through for me.  This past Saturday we went to pick up my new mechanical baby.  

 Ford Flex:  the love child of an Expedition and a Mini Cooper.

All the sportiness of a smaller car with three full rows for a family. 

 The best part for the aching back of a pregnant woman in her ninth month?  Seat heaters!

 The kids are so excited to meet their new sister.  Me too.

Three!

 Three.

 

For Emery's third birthday, we had a teddy bear picnic in the backyard.  She loves all things bear related with Little Bear ranking at the very top of the list.  A vintage Little Bear theme was perfect for her party. 

 

All the bears in the neighborhood came to help celebrate.

 It also gave me a chance to use the picnic basket that Kim and I recieved as a wedding present.

We had a picnic lunch and let the kids play in the yard, collecting acorns and swinging on the play set, two of Emery's favorite activities.  During lunch, I read a story from one of the Little Bear books from my own childhood while the kids ate on the borrowed parachute (thanks Jen!).  Then it was time for games and songs. 

We sang/played "Come Under My Umbrella" which is always a big hit.

 Bigger yet was the teddy bear trampoline.  Check out Emery's "Baby Bear" catching some serious air in the upper left. 

 

At three, Emery is all about dress up and pretend play.  She loves her kitchen set with felt food and loves to sing and dance.  She tells us "pink and purple are my favorites" on a daily basis and judges her outfits based on whether she can dance in it or not.  She loves ponies, all other animals, and her brother.  This is a girl who tells us "I love you so much!" several times a day and is quick with a kiss and a hug.

Emery's most common statement these days is "I do it all by my own."  Not by herself, or on her own, but "by my own."  This covers everything from getting out of the car to dressing herself.  It is neat to see how proud she is with what she can accomplish. 

Baby Bear is Emery's constant companion and she routinely tries to smuggle her out of the house and into the car, although Baby Bear is officially an inside bear.

For her treats, I made some simple cupcake picks with scenes from the Little Bear books.

Three candles for our big girl.  Emery sang at every meal for a week, particularly because both her dad and grandmother celebrated birthdays within the next 8 days.

 

Until this past week, she was unable to say Alastair and has called him "Dat-ter" as long as she has been talking.  This week she started to try to say his name.  I don't know why that makes me so sad, but my little girl is definitely moving into her new role as a big girl.  "Momo" is now Elmo and Boudreaux is only "Yo-Yo" part of the time now.  I have a feeling a major regression is on the way though with the new baby's arrival.  Emery isn't going to give us her status as the family baby easily, I'm afraid.

That's ok.  We'll keep our wonderful "honey girl" just as she is.