Where did October go?

Hattie loves sliding with Daddy

Baby Lyla and proud Mom

Birthday Boy

Morgan fishing on the boat

Daddy and Hattie on her first boat ride

Hattie and Mommy

Nana with her Grand babies...very happy!

Hattie and Morgan at the pumpkin patch

What a smile!

Pumpkin Patch

What a big girl!

Showing off her four teeth!

Sisters having a chat.

This month has really gotten away from me, I have been behind in my blogging. Not sure where the month of October has gone. We went up to Oklahoma the first of the month to celebrate our nephew Cohen's 2nd birthday and to meet our new niece Lyla. We stayed out at the lake and the girls had a wonderful time running around, fishing, riding on the boat, and playing with family. It was wonderful to be able to help celebrate Cohen's birthday with the family and to finally meet sweet little baby Lyla.

The rest of the month has just flown by. Some of the highlights include going on a walk/hike in Fort Worth on a Saturday morning and running into a Cattle drive with thirty or so horses leading 20 longhorns down the Trinity River . It was a exciting little glimpse into the world of a cowboy for the girls. It was a nice treat we stumbled upon on our little family adventure on a random Saturday morning. Chad and I agreed that if we had tried to plan the same experience and timing it would never had worked the same way. Sometimes things just work out like that when you least expect it.

Chad and I were able to attend our first OU/Texas game since children. We had so much fun being adults for a day and seeing old friends. It was a great game despite Oklahoma's lost. However, we were very happy to come home and see our girls and put them to bed. Funny how priorities change over the years.

It has been a very rainy month of October, but one Saturday we managed to sneak in a trip to the pumpkin patch. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful pumpkin patch right across the street from us. They have a corn maze that is right on the corner of the intersection we drive by ever day and Morgan loves to watch the corn grow and grow. She knows that as it gets taller it is almost time to go the pumpkin patch. The girls had a wonderful time despite the cold air. Lots of pumpkins to play with, farm animals to see, slides to go down, tractors to ride, popcorn to eat, hay mazes to navigate through, and much more to keep the girls entertained. Maybe next year we will make it through the corn maze and on the hay ride.

Chad's office had a Halloween party for all the children last weekend. The girls had a test run in their costumes. Morgan is Snow White this year. She actually has been dressing up as snow white all month long. Some days she wakes up and says..."I am not Morgan...I am Princess Snow White." She tells every stranger that she meets that her name is Snow White. At school there is a snow white costume that she puts on every day as well. I think it is amazing how the little mind gets so set on one idea.

Halloween is in a few days and I can't wait to take the girls trick or treating. I know Morgan remembers it from last year and she is very excited. We only made it to a few houses last year, I will be interested to see how many houses we make it to this year. I know Hattie will be right behind her sister running up to the doors to ring the door bell. More pictures to come after trick or treating!

My Girly Girl

I know it is a little early to start calling my one year old a material girl...but she has been so cute these last few days. She LOVES carrying around these two purses. She doesn't like to have just one...she has to have them both. She hasn't quite mastered putting them on her shoulders, but she has figured out how to carry them both. I assume it is because she sees me carrying a purse and right now she likes to be like her Mommy. Just a foreshadowing of what she will be like in the future...I can see lots of purses, shoes, clothes,makeup...I am in trouble! I think I have a girly girl on my hands. What can I say...a girl wants what she wants!

I want to be like you

It is so much fun to watch the girls together. Morgan really is a wonderful big sister. Of course there are times when they want the same toy or fight over silly little things but all and all I am very impressed with their relationship. When Hattie is upset Morgan loves to sing to her (Twinkle Twinkle) and hug her, pat her back, whatever she can to try to make her feel better. Just last night we were looking at a picture hanging in our family room when Hattie was a newborn....we are all together in our first family picture. Morgan said "do you remember when we didn't have Hattie, now we do have Hattie, she is so cute." Amazing mind a three year old has.

Hattie just adores her big sister. She watches her so intently...how she plays, what she eats, where she goes...Hattie isn't too far behind. There are a few things that we have noticed that Hattie tries to do just like Morgan that really makes us smile. As we all know Morgan is a very picky eater. There are only a few things that she likes to eat...bacon, chicken nuggets, bread, chips, of course all snack food, but the one fruit we can get her to eat right now is an apple. Sometimes she likes for us to cut it up but generally she likes to eat it whole. Unlike most children Morgan also likes the skin of an apple, she will eat all around it until she has most of the skin off. She then asks for another one even though there is quite a lot of apple left. Once she puts it down Hattie is right there to pick it up. With all four teeth she tries to be just like Morgan and eat the apple. Mainly she is sucking the juice out of it, but she is so proud of herself that she is eating an apple (her sisters apple) just like Morgan. We have tried to cut up apple slices and give it to her like that but she knows what she wants.

Another thing Morgan loves is elephants. She is a master at making the elephant sound. The other day Hattie grabbed an elephant and made the same sound she has heard her sister made so many times. I was shocked that she put the two things together. She knew what the animal was and what sound it made. She saw what her sister did and wanted to be just like her. Funny thing is however she picked up a toy dog and made the same sound later that day...at least she is putting animal sounds together with animals...to her all animals sound like an elephant.

The other day the girls and I were in the kitchen and Morgan was singing or something and she started a little playful scream. Hattie imitated her happy scream. It then became a little game and the two of them went back and forth with their baby high pitch screams. Normally this game would be a little rough on the ears...but at this very moment it was music.

Similarly when Morgan is singing sometimes you will hear Hattie singing her own little song. Of course it is her baby talk but you can definitely tell she is making up her own little song just like her big sister.

Every time Morgan goes to the bathroom Hattie is right behind her. She isn't quite sure what is going on but she knows that whenever Morgan goes into that room she wants to be right there. The other day we were in the bathroom and she was pulling at her pants like she knew what she was supposed to do. I actually put her on the potty (diaper on of course) and she sat on her sisters potty chair. She was so proud of herself it was pretty cute. Hopefully this is a foreshadowing of how easy potty training will be for her...one can only hope!

Just yesterday I was doing some laundry and Hattie pointed up to the coat rack. She was pointing to her sisters coat. She was so intent on putting it on that she didn't settle down until I had it on her. Of course we were inside but she was walking around with this huge face with accomplishment.

I started this post a few days ago and didn't get a chance to finish it. I am glad I was interrupted because I think the funniest Hattie imitating story happened after I had started. Sometimes when Morgan gets upset she thinks she needs to go sit in "time out." We don't even have to tell her, she just knows she is being unreasonable and heads to her little spot on the wall. We tell her she doesn't have to be in time out, and then she calms down and gets up. During this whole episode Hattie was watching Morgan throw her fit and sit in time out. After it was all over Hattie went over to the wall and sat down in "time out." She had this cleverish grin on her face..."look at me", her eyes were saying. It was so funny! She wanted to be just like her sister even if it was when she was getting in trouble.

I write these things down to help me remember this time when being sisters is so much fun in a child's eyes. I love to see them grow as friends and playmates and develop their relationship as sisters. I have been lucky enough to have a sister who is one of my best friends and I can only hope that Morgan and Hattie will always feel the same!

Morgan's 1st day of Preschool

Morgan has been looking forward to going back to school all summer. Last year she was in a mother's day out program and she loved it. This year, we started at a new school, Compass Christian Preschool. I am so excited for her new school. I have been impressed with it even though she has only been there one day. It is curriculum based, state certified, her teachers are amazing, there are centers, role playing, art...not just crafts, language development, and so much more. As a former teacher I just had a feeling when I toured the facility back in February it was going to be the right place for Morgan. And, the best part of it all is that it is right down the street.

All Summer long we have been driving and walking by and telling Morgan about her new school. She loved to do this...luckily it is pretty much on the way to everything. Then a few weeks ago we got a post card from her teachers introducing themselves with their pictures. Morgan carried this card around with her whenever she got the chance. We found out she was in the Penguin class which is perfect since Morgan loves penguins so much and her teachers Miss Denise and Miss Paige were excited to meet her.

Before we knew it, it was time for "meet the teacher." Morgan was so excited that the place we have driven by for so many months was finally a place she was able to "go in." Needless to say she was ready and eager to go. She ran in and immediately started playing with all the fun things her new classroom had to offer. She even brought the post card from the teachers and actually gave it back to them. At one point she said "hello everyone, I am Morgan Belle Peters," while all the kids were playing. I am not sure anyone heard her but me, but it was pretty cute. All the anticipation seemed to live up to all of our expectations.

Yesterday was the official first day. Morgan was all ready and wanted to carry her backpack and lunch box. The backpack is as big as her and nearly weighed her down, but she didn't care. After getting a few family shots Chad and I were off to take Morgan to school. After signing in and putting her backpack and lunch pail away we took Morgan to the door. She was excited to see Miss Denise and Miss Paige and she was ready to start the day. Chad and I gave her hugs and kisses and she was ready for us to go.

It was a successful first day. Morgan met all her new friends and had a blast. We are still trying to get all the details out of her, and as we know getting information from a three year old isn't the easiest thing. We do know she loved it and can't wait to go back. What a big girl my little Morgan is...she is so brave, independent and eager to learn! I can't wait to see what all this year has in store for her!

My husband - the photographer

We love pictures. Growing up my father was always documenting every moment of our lives with the camera. I hated it at the time, but now that I am older I love that we have so many family pictures throughout the years.

I am lucky I married someone with that same passion. Chad and I both love to take pictures. Sometimes we may go a little crazy with all the pictures we take and post in different places, but I love them. I hope our children will love them as much as we do.

Chad really has a gift for photography. I think he is very talented on capturing memories with the camera. I love that he has a hobby like photography. I hope he continues to learn and challenge his artistic talents.

The other day we went to this amazing place for pictures that is pretty close to our house. It was a Sunday morning and we were thinking of fun things to do and Chad came up with this great idea. The girls got to run around and enjoy the beautiful weather, and we were able to take some amazing pictures of the girls at one and three years old.

As you can see he did an amazing job. There are so many beautiful pictures...more than I could post. Thank you Chad for having such an amazing eye with the camera and capturing these wonderful moments of our lives.

Oh how I love my girls!

I look at my little girls and I have to blink my eyes. Who are these little ladies growing up so quickly right in front of me. I go to sleep at night and when I wake up they have grown taller and smarter.

I am not sure when it happened but Hattie is no longer a baby. It might have been right after she started walking when I fully realized how much she understands. She knows what you are saying and has recognition of what is going on around her. For example, for the last month or so whenever Chad walks in the door she gets so excited. She just has to hear the door to know her Daddy is home. When you ask her a question she can communicate and tell you yes or no. She has started to dance, give kisses, and she is really getting around now. I know it won't be long until she starts running.

Morgan is a little lady. Her mind amazes me. She has a very vivid imagination. She will talk and sing for hours in her room when it is time to go to sleep. Chad and I figure as long as she is in her room and is happy what is the harm. She tells stories, makes up songs, loves to dance, pretend plays, and has the most amazing fascination with animals. She is about to start preschool and I am very excited for her. Although she has been in a mother's day out program before, I feel this is the first real classroom experience for her. I know she will love all the learning, playing and friends she will encounter in this next year. We drive by her new school every day and she can't wait to start.

Chad was out of town these past few days, so it has just been me and the girls. I have really loved the time we have had together. Of course I love my husband dearly and most evening I can't wait for him to get home to help out but, it was a nice just being with my girls for a few days. There were some amazing moments and some not so amazing moments but, all and all I loved it. The first night Morgan sang to me as I was putting her to bed, I will never forget that moment. Hattie has been verbalizing so much these past few days...I can tell she is really trying to form some words.

A friend of ours is expecting their first babies (they are having twins) in a few months and they asked me what I thought about staying at home. I told them I think it is all these little moments that I get to share with my children that make me love staying at home. These experiences we have together are priceless and I couldn't imagine giving up this time for anything. Staying at home has been the hardest, easiest, most challenging, most rewarding thing I have ever done. I am so happy I am able to "love my girls" each and every day.

Hattie's 1st Birthday Party!

Hattie Marie Peters

August 19, 2009

1 year old

Birthday Cake




Hattie trying the cake

Grandmother and Hattie

Proud Mommy and her one year old

Daddy and Morgan pushing Hattie in her new toy

She really likes it!

Morgan loving baby Stella

Birthday Girl

Gary and Morgan loving on each other

Trying to get a family picture

Pops and Hattie

Hattie and Morgan having a blast together...sisters!

My sweet birthday girl!

What a wonderful birthday we had. My sweet Hattie Marie turned one and she was surrounded by all those who love her. We missed Aunt Meredith and her family as well as Aunt B and her crew, but other than that we were so lucky to have the rest of the family there to help Hattie celebrate her big day. There was bbq, wine (for the grownups of course,) presents, cake, laughter, and lots of love for Hattie's celebration.

As you see from the pictures Hattie had a wonderful time. Of course we had the smash cake which she really wasn't that interested in. She picked at it for a little while, it was white cake. The cake I got for everyone else was chocolate, when she saw us eating that she decided she wanted that instead. I would have to say her favorite gift was the car that you can push her in. She laughs and kicks her feet every time. Morgan loves it as well, as you can see in the picture we have even tried it with them together.

This past year with my sweet baby has gone by so quickly. It is scary to think how quickly time has past since I have had children. It scares me to think that I am going to blink my eyes and we will be sending the kids to 1st grade, celebrating their sweet 16's, watching them graduate high school, sending them off to college, meeting the man they are going to marry. As for now, I am loving having a one and three year old. I couldn't be any happier with my life. I only wish as many people could feel this sense of elation that I am lucky enough to experience.