Candy? Thanks!

I didn't expect our Halloween festivities to be as big of a hit with little Mallory as they were.  She L O V E D trick-or-treating.  Cousin Trip came ove, and we hit every house in our neighborhood with a light on.  She walked to the door, often by herself, rang the doorbell, said "trick-or-treat!" before anyone came to the door, asked for candy, then said "Thanks!"  This went on for an hour and half! It was pitch dark and freezing by the time we got back home.  I think everyone was pretty entertained with her costume, and she was so preoccupied with candy she didn't mind wearing it.

"My Peacot!" "I Peacot!"

"Openen it."


Last Wednesday we went to our church's Halloween festival.  Mallory played lots of games and got her face painted.  Glad we got there early because it got busy fast!

We had lots of fun, but now comes the hard part...crying everyday because I won't let her eat her candy for breakfast.

Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend we trecked to the Pumpkin Patch.  We went to the same place last fall.  Mallory couldn't even walk then!  Funny to think about considering how speedy she is these days.  Memaw went with us (BJ's mom), and we all had a great time.

There were pigs and a donkey, and Mallory would have been happy if that is all we drove out there to see.  She kept asking about the donkey.  She even told me the next day that the piggies were dirty.

We roamed the giant field of pumpkins and ended up with seven! A little overboard, but whatever! Mallory got to ride before we filled up the wheel barrow.

This was also our first face painting experience.  She was so good!  She chose a ghost.

I've added some mums since I took this pictures, and for once I'm really proud of my fall decorations.  We got some COOL pumpkins.

Now if it would only cool off, it would actually be Fall. :)

I'm 2!

Our big girl turned two on Tuesday! She sang happy birthday to herself all day and said "I two!"

Last Saturday we had a party for her at our church. Some of her school friends came as well as our usually group of friends. There were, I think, eleven kids there all under the age of 3 1/2. They had BIG fun. Kali and Dennis brought the bounce house and we used the indoor playground. Mallory and Parker played the whole time and got super sweaty. When Mallory opened her presents, she said funny phrases like, "Oh My!" and "My Money!" It was almost like it was scripted it was so cute. She even blew her candle out, but only after Parker blew it out first. :)

I'll post more pictures later, but here's a few...

Here's a link to the video of the kids eating birthday cake. I've tried uploading video of them playing and her opening presents but it takes forever and keeps getting interrupted!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOexqxBGRF8

We went for our two year checkup yesterday. Here's the facts:
-Only weights 25 lbs. That's the 28th percentile.

-Is 1/2 short of being 3 feet tall!. That's the 90th percentile.

-Cried like she was being beaten the entire time. Even when no one was touching her. Just walking into the building incited tears and panic.

On "how smart am I" notes:

-She can count to 10 on her own.
-She can sing the ABCs all the way to "T" by herself and does so about 30 times a day.

-Informs me to stop singing because she is singing.

-Is a big jabber-mouth!

Love you Mallory. You're the cutest!

Hittin' the Gym

Mallory attended her first "I'm old enough to seriously play and understand what we are doing here" birthday party last Saturday. I think this event may have marked one of her top 5 days thus far. The party was held at The Little Gym, a gymnastic place for little kids, and she was in jump, bounce, climb H E A V E N. Parker was there and those two could not have had any more fun in an hour and a half. All Mallory wants to do - all the time - is "jump big" according to her. She jumps up and down on the ground, off the couch onto the ground, off the diving board at the pool, on the bed, etc.

The Little Gym has mats everywhere, ideal for a crazed, jumping girl. There were also rings, bars and balance beams. The way she tackled this equipment was incredible! She made it look like she had done it 1,000 times and was truly fearless.

For the birthday party they also brought out a parachute, balls, jingle bells and bubbles. All of which were sure to please. Mallory and Parker acted like they play with parachutes all the time. They knew just what to do and listened to the teacher. Smarties. :)

"Target?" / Toddler Time Updates

Is it a love of shopping or a love of cart riding? Maybe I'll never know the reason, but Mallory asks me daily while getting dressed in the morning and as soon as I arrive at her daycare in the afternoon ... "Target?" It's not like we go everyday, maybe once every ten days. I guess if it was up her Mallory we would make bi-daily trips to the precious Target store down the street from our house.

In other news, this past weekend Mallory moved into her "big girl bed." Her crib converts into a full size bed, but I haven't taken pictures yet because we are still waiting on the pretty rails to arrive so we can attach the headboard and footboard. Essentially right now it is a mattress and box springs on the floor. But, she is none-the-wiser and L O V E S it! Despite the fact that everything is already hers (in her mind), she loves to talk about "my bed, my bed!" She had no trouble transitiong to her comfy new bed. Last night she even invited her daddy to lay down with her at bedtime by saying "daddy night-night, daddy back" as he was preparing to leave her room.

Speaking of her speaking, she is a full on talker. She is pouring out toddler sentences right and left. She speaks very slowly and thoughtfully when trying to compose a complete thought. Prime examples include the following:

• "I hurt my toes. I kiss my toes."
• "I pick my nose. My finger, my nose."
• "I watch Dora!"
• "Mommy, where you? Bathroom? There are!" (apparently she asks this most often while I'm in hair and makeup in the mornings - hence my reply, "I'm in the bathroom")

Aside from current Mallory notes, BJ and are both taking classes at UALR this semester. I'm starting my thesis and he is taking two construction classes. Pray for our mental health over the next few months!

Big girl bed pictures to follow shortly.

Back!

"Back!" That's what Mallory says when she wants something back or when she runs away and wants me to say, "Mallory, come back!"

After a brief hiatus, we're back!

I'll summarize with pictures...

July 4th was the lake and friends coming to our house. Mallory even jumped off the back of the boat! She is crazed about the water.





The next weekend we (us and Kali and Dennis) took the kids to Wild River Country. They loved it! There was one small slide that we could ride with them, and both Mallory and Parker really liked it! It was a successful trip.

We've swam a lot this summer, and Mallory even loves to jump off the diving board. Really, whose toddler (not even 2 yet) is in love witht he diving board. I feel like the lifeguards think I'm trying to drown her. I promise, she loves it and is becoming a good little swimmer.


Our big trip this summer was sans Mallory. BJ and I went to NYC for a week and my parents stayed at our house with Mallory. We had a great time visiting landmarks, cathedrals, big crazy stores, eating, walking around in the heat, etc.


When we came home, Mallory's verbal skills had exploded. She is putting three or more words together and completing words that she used to abbreviate. I am no longer "Momma," I'm "Mommy." "Blank" and "monk" are "blankey" and "monkey." She says phrases like, "juice, I get it!" (runs to fridge) or "boo boo, knee, Dora" (acknowledging the Dora bandaid on her knee.)

Such a big kid. Such a fun summer.

Father's Day Hike

For Father's Day, BJ got to carry Mallory around in hiking backpack for two hours. But it was fun! Saturday morning we drove up to Petit Jean Mountain and all four of us went hiking, Ellie included. We stopped to have a snack and cool off.







Later we had a picnic and checked out the overlook at Petit Jean's gravesite. Mallory kept asking for "more." On the hike she kept saying "hike. rocks. bye rocks!"

Yesterday we spent the day on my parents houseboat. BJ periodically took his boat out to fish, and Mallory got to go on her first boat ride. When we would slow down she would say "more!"

We didn't do anything fancy with my dad because he won't sit still long enough. He would pop in, talk to us for a minute, then go roam the docks and talk to all of his boat friends who were cooking a big meal for that night. I hope he had fun! We did.

Also, Mallory drew all over her feet with a purple pen.