Deja Vue

So we finally announced our news of Baby C2 due in June. We are ecstatic, of course, and a bit surprised our news came so early. Sophie will be 16 months old, so I'll definitely have my hands full for a while. We'll find out in January whether we're having a boy or girl and we haven't even started one single thing to get ready for this baby yet. I figure, we'll just wait until we know what we're having and then we can get busy with the details.

In other news, I attempted to take Sophie's Christmas card photo last weekend, which was disastrous! We suddenly had a cold snap in Texas, but I really wanted that perfect picture so we bundled Sophie up and out we went to a local park. We unwrapped her right before I started shooting but it was windy and she was not a happy little girl. I eventually gave up my dream and we got a decent shot by the Christmas tree later that day. So here are the photos that didn't quite make it this year.

By this time, Sophie was REALLY mad at me....

Our little green thumb

So here's what happens if you turn your back for one minute - maybe even thirty seconds - with a crawling, cruising, curious child in the house!

Busted!

Look at all this dirt mom!

This is so much fun!

I'm coming over for a muddy hug!

Spooky days are here!

This week has been full of spooky goodness as we celebrate fall and Halloween around town. We went to Fall Festival at a nearby church with our neighbors last Friday. Sophie went as an octopus, perhaps not the scariest costume around, but super cute. Then we went to a birthday party - Halloween themed - and she was decked out in her 'scary' tutu. So fun! I think she mostly wondered what she was wearing, but was a good sport about it. We have another Halloween playdate on Friday and then she'll dress up again (along with Cody) for trick or treaters Saturday night. Enjoy the pics!

PS - The last one is of my dirty, dirty dog who was playing in the mud this afternoon. He's looking at me like "Why can't I come inside?".

A Day at the Park

(Delayed publish - just uploaded pics.)

On a beautiful, sunny day this week (a rarity with all the rain we've been having), Sophie, Cody and I went to Frisco Commons Park. Frisco has done a pretty good job of developing several parks around town. This park has a very nice lake stocked with fish, several paved walking and biking trails, nice pavilions, and a huge playground. I'm sure Sophie will enjoy that in a couple of years, but this time around we just took a blanket and chilled out on the grass by the lake after a short stroll. I decided to test out my new camera and have added a few fave's below. Sophie had a blast just being outside - I swear she's going to love camping, hiking, etc. She's happiest outside, no matter what the weather is like. She enjoyed digging in my diaper bag, playing with the grass, feeling the wind in her face (it was seriously windy!), and watching Cody play next to us. It was a great fall day and I can't wait to go back with Benoit, maybe with a picnic next time.

Posing for the camera!

Playing with the grass.

Last minute kisses

Benoit's mom and aunt left this afternoon - it's always sad when family leaves. We had a great visit and we're all so glad they made the 3000+ mile trip to see us. Sophie is spoiled rotten now, but it's totally worth it to have some grandma time. We spent the weekend window shopping in Grapevine's adorable downtown shops and re-energized with some amazing barbecue at Crazy Eights, a very Texan joint where you order right off the smoker. We were all entertained by Sophie dozing off on her jumper this morning. She was just having too much but could barely keep her eyes open. Now when she's jumping, she raises her hands above her head like she's on a roller coaster - so stinking cute! Enjoy the pics and video below.....

Cody enjoyed supervising the paint job.

Sophie and Tante Lise playing horsie.... Yummy BBQ!
And the link to the video of our Sleepy Jumper!

http://www.youtube.com/user/2blovely

Rain, rain, go away

Poor Grand maman and Tante Lise have had rain all week during their visit. I'm sure they had hoped to enjoy some nice fall weather and spend some time outside as it's already so cold in Canada. Just last week they had their first snow. Dallas, on the other hand, has been rainy and hot/cold- from 85 degrees one day to 55 the next. So after they painted my dining room and family room (woo hoo!) they have spent two days at the mall. Yesterday, I picked them up after Sophie's nap and they had only toured the first level of the mall, so today they are back for level two. That's some serious dedication! Benoit's mind is blown - he just can't comprehend how a woman can spend so much time shopping. It's rather cute.

I think tomorrow will be sunny and we will take advantage with a trip to Grapevine, a nearby adorable downtown for some shopping and lunch. As long as we have enough Cheerios for Sophie, we can make it for 3-4 hours.

Time with Grand maman and Tante Lise

This week Grand maman Ginette and Tante Lise are visiting with our family. They arrived on Friday night and we've been very busy since then. We went to the Nasher Sculpture Museum, the Dallas Stars game, brunch at Corner Bakery, and the Dallas Arboretum. It's very nice for us to have time with our Canadian grandma! I know that Sophie is enjoying every minute of it. I'm definitely enjoying the new paint and all of the help! Here are a few pictures....

At the hockey game - we left early and missed the shootout. Boo hoo!

At the Nasher Sculpture Museum - a beautiful find....

Exploring the pumpkin patch at the Dallas Arboretum....

At the pumpkin house....

Cute pumpkin pic!

Petting the goat at the petting zoo....