Presenting our little pumpkins....

So much has happened this past month! Even just looking back to the beginning of the month, we can't believe it was just a few short weeks ago.

We've been somewhat house-bound since Makenna was born, and we've been trying to keep Mattaya entertained. She's getting more into coloring now since she knows the colors and can open the markers on her own.

And the blessed girl even cleans up!

Time to burp. For Makenna, it's ALWAYS time to burp. This girl has way more trapped gas than any baby I've ever seen. We burp her often and think we burp her well...but there's always more.

"Is this really a time for picture-taking, Mother?"

I was so desperate to get a picture for her birth announcement, and she seemed to always be asleep. So when an opportunity presented itself, I took it, even if it was the middle of the night. (I didn't end up using this one because the resolution was so poor after I cropped it, so there were MANY more attempts in the following days.)

Good morning, Girls!

Several families from church were kind enough to provide some meals for us after we got home from the hospital. One family sent some pre-made cookie dough which turned into a "project" for Daddy and Mattaya.

Tasting the fruit of her labors.

After a bath.

"What you lookin' at?"

This is proof that she does indeed have a neck. We haven't seen it in a few weeks (the chins have obscured it completely).

Mattaya graduated to a new carseat.

Pretty comfy!

Daddy took over laundry for a few weeks, so the laundry basket became a really fun vehicle for Mattaya.

Eyes open = Mommy trying to get a picture

Mattaya has gotten more and more into her "mothering" and role-playing. This morning she came down and immediately put Elmo in the highchair and ran to get him some puffs for breakfast.

"Eat it."

Double-wrapped.

Mattaya was strong, but Makenna is strong and determined. No matter how tightly we swaddled her, she'd fight her way out. So we resorted to swaddling her first with a blanket then with the swaddler.

Try, try again.

And again, and again....

During the Hostfest, we had some visitors from Minnesota: Great-Aunt Lynette and her friend Marlys. They came for a visit along with Great-Grandma Mabel to meet Makenna. And they brought gifts, of course! Mattaya LOVED this new train and played with it continuously for a few days.

"Ride it."

She was pretty sure the big box was going somewhere.

See me ski!

Mattaya loves her outdoor gear and will put it on at random times.

Whatever makes you happy, Dear!

"Hi, Daddy!"

"Time to burp...ugh, I hate this part."

The winner. I ran out of patience, and this was the one that went on the announcements.

Kisses, kisses, and more kisses.

Mattaya loves her sister!

Adventures in finger-painting. She actually doesn't make as much of a mess as one might think.

Tea time.

We've been able to enjoy a few playdates with Lila and Grace.

(Lila is a friend of Mattaya's from Sunday school and the daughter of a friend of mine from high school.)

I love that she's so easily entertained!

"Just call me Barbie."

She's pretty sure she fits in the car and that it will take her places.

Gramma Julie took a week off to help us out. Mattaya was "loads" of help with the laundry. ;)

Mattaya has remained her usual active self, but she does this thing where she pretends to sleep and needs to be covered with a blanket. And now we're ALL supposed to get involved as she doles out commands: "Deep Damma" (sleep Gramma) "Deep Daddy" "Deep Mommy" (NO IDEA where that bossiness comes from.)

Grampa Gary and Gramma Pam came up for a visit. Gramma Pam brought a special Harley Davidson hat for Mattaya. Here she's admiring it in the bathroom mirror.

Grampa Gary and Gramma Pam also brought a special rolling pin for Mommy, but Mattaya was pretty sure it was some sort of ab-roller.

Don't ALL bus drivers wear totally cool shades like this?

We so took advantage of the help with feedings and burpings!

Birthday Party, The Sequel

Grampa Gary and Gramma Pam brought a special birthday gift for Mattaya, so we did a little birthday re-enactment. Mattaya was ALL ABOUT IT.

This girl loves her some cake.

And some Clifford books.

Removing the bow from the awesome Lego table!

Mattaya also got to go on a little shopping spree with her grandparents. These are her new ducky slippers...that quack.

First thing the next morning (apparently before she was even fully awake), she headed downstairs to the Lego table.

Daddy loves his girls!

She's still all about the drums.

*sigh*

She's gotten into VeggieTales now. She was excited to get her own Bob the Tomato ("Bob-da-day-doe) and Larry the Cucumber (way-wee).

"I'm the new one...isn't this supposed to be all about me?"

Another fun product of shopping with The Grands.

A girl and her dog. Yep, The Grands got her a dog. A fake dog. But she's pretty sure he's real. His name is Bobby, and she commands him to sit and to lay down and to eat.

And she very appropriately attempted to share her dog toy (which Matt bought her last spring).

Bobby doubles as a tunnel.

Matt needed to deliver his motorcycle to storage for the winter. It was a bit chilly.

Makenna likes her sink baths way better than her sponge baths.

What to do with a bored 2-year-old: bubbles.

"Better keep an eye on me, Mom...."

"What's this I've gotten ahold of?"

"So you're Dad...."

Mattaya came and asked for a "bath" for her baby.

Then promptly stripped to give herself a bath.

Comfy, right?

"What? Why are you guys laughing?"

Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Or a cushion and a pillow. Whatever.

The bath she likes. The lotioning and getting dressed, not so much.

Then Daddy bought our pumpkin. Mattaya was pretty sure it was her new best friend. She tried to tote it EVERYWHERE.

She hugged it.

She kissed it.

She put it down for a nap.

And pretended to take a nap, too.

And she sat on her beloved "puckit".

Mattaya just loved this "Giglet" costume we borrowed from a friend.

Mattaya has become very nurturing toward her babies. Holding them. Hugging and kissing them. Talking to them. Changing their clothes and diapers. Giving them baths.

(Two seconds after this picture was taken, she threw the doll on the floor touch-down style.)

Luke and Becca joined our small group as we gathered for the annual Pumpkin Autopsies.

Lila and Grace got to join in the grown-up fun.

Matt did this year's pumpkin all by himself.

(Yes. Those are pumpkin guts and seeds you see inside the pumpkin.)

Amy carved a cat into a honeydew and won a prize: The Not-Worst Pumpkin.

James and Keaton both carved the Headless Horseman and are sharing The Most Horse-like prize.

Becca won the prize for having an Old-School Pumpkin.

(classically carved, that is)

Matthew and Maria had to leave early to get their little pumpkins to bed, but had they stayed they would have been in the running for the Old School prize.

The finished products.

Matt's masterpiece.

Mattaya attempting to eat a popcorn ball.

Life's a bore when you're 1 month old.

Good thing she's wearing pink.

The comb-over isn't having a feminine effect.

Mattaya has learned to gently bounce Makenna.

One of the few moments when she's just "chill".

This poor girl has had issues with trapped gas and acid reflux.

Piglet and Tigger go a-visitin'.

"Hello, Papa Ander!"

(Grandpa Leander)

She arches her back, apparently trying to soak the back of her head.

Mommy got to go shopping for clothes for our family pictures coming up. Mattaya was a good sport about trying on everything Mommy bought.

She was all about the 2 pairs of shoes (not surprising) and the sweater (surprising).

Makenna enjoys her mobile, but this day she seemed to think the music was coming from the crib headboard.

Grampa Gary and Gramma Pam left a present to help us celebrate.

To help with Makenna's digestive issues, we've tried switching formula, using gas drops, giving her Zantac, and now chiropractic.

And so far chiropractic wins for making the biggest positive difference. Now if we could just have the chiropractor MOVE IN with us! ;)