Bring It On, World!

The idea of a brand new baby is so...heartwarming.  Newborns are cuddly (with the exception of the 6-8 colicky hours each day), they nap all of the time (in ten minute increments), and nothing is more intoxicating than the smell of a new baby (right before the soy formula spit-up volcano).  Why would anyone want to see their snuggle bunny grow up?  Because toddlers are awesome. 

Perhaps it's because I am able to sit still about as long as Wes, but life has become crazy fun around here.  Sure, I utter the word "no" more times than I ever thought possible in one day, I say things that I never imagined would come out of my mouth ("Wes, we don't eat things out of the sink"), and I deal with as many tantrums as I did in the (high school) classroom.  But Wes' ability to live each day with unbridled enthusiasm is exhilarating. 

Halloween became very fun for us this year.  After a few failed attempts of getting Wes into his costume in the days leading up to Halloween, we were finally successful with our little mouse.  Bear and Wes made wonderful greeters for the kids who came to our door.

Success!

Lion and lamb or Bear and mouse?

Eagerly awaiting our first trick-or-treaters

My favorite mouse :)

Like typical parents, we derive great pleasure from embarrassing the creatures under our care.  One day they may team up against us, but for now, Wes pulls Bear's fur far too often for them to work as cohorts just yet...

I promise he was giggling...

A bit redundant, Mom and Dad.

This past weekend was one of many firsts.  Both Wes and I experienced cousins for the first time.  I have no cousins, so growing up I never got the opportunity to experience that aspect of family.  Wes met two of his cousins, Harrison (3) and Max (1) for the first time this weekend.  It was an intense day of play!

Can you tell who has the older brother?

These guys are only two weeks apart.

Harrison

A proud grandma and her grandbabies

A proud mama and her boys

Grandma and Grandpa Mullins

While the family was together celebrating Grandma Mullins' birthday, Wes decided it would be a good time to test out his feet.  The whole family witnessed Wes' first attempts at walking!

With Wes' new mini-mobility, he is able to destroy discover what was left of our household organization.  He found Dad's St. Louis Cardinals hat in the over-the-door shoe rack. I'd argue that even a Cubs fan couldn't resist this guy.

We ended the weekend with a meal at McDonalds on a dreary, rainy evening.  We decided that Wes was ready for his first Happy Meal.  He was so excited about it he gave it a kiss :)