Pumpkin Patching

how our lives have changed since june 2nd, 2011. we have gone from a non-pumpkin patching couple to a family wrestling the crowd on a sunday morning, attempting to capture the perfect picture of our little pumpkin in an overly crowded pumpkin patch. but, that's what it's about. it's about experiences. introducing beckham to new sights, new sounds & pumpkin patches.

beckham devours every new scenery we toss his way. he soaks it all in. from the texture of the pumpkins, to the children running to the next halloween activity. he insists are being in a position that allows optimal exploration. i can't blame him. i feel the same way about new adventures...i want the best seat in the house.

this picture has now found its home, front & center on my iPhone home screen.

these two boys melt my heart.

before this sunday morning excursion ended, we opted for some play time under the big sycamore trees.

(i know beckham is blurry...but how could i not include that big open mouth gummy grin)

this year is about creating traditions, for our family. from pumpkin patches to christmas stockings. from birthday celebrations to vacations. traditions that will transform & grow with us over time.  here is to many more trips to the orange spotted ground that is a pumpkin patch.

New York 1 - California 3

as i sit here, in shorts, sandals & a tank top. still hot from this 92* day, i realized something. it's official. new york hands down takes the cake in the fall season department. the air is crisp. scarves are a necessary accessory. you have to layer BUT not bundle up like the winter. the crimson, gold & copper leaves dance from their home on the tree branches to the floor blanketing the sidewalks of central park. fall in new york is magical. the buzz of the city shifts from sunbathing sundays in the park to hustle & bustle of the holidays floating on the horizon.

i miss it. i miss a real fall season. with boots. and coats. and techni-colored trees. the crunch of leaves as kids trick-o-treat on halloween. one day, hopefully soon, we will take beckham, to experience fall in all it's glory. 

the undeniable urge to pick apples, sip cider & take slow paced walks in central park. it's almost as if the city holds tight to those few weeks called fall. it's a season of cherished moments because winter is ushering in. but, not before the breathtaking beauty that is fall.

i think it's safe to say, california holds the title for the other seasons.

but fall...oh fall...you belong to new york.

The Magic Kingdom

walt disney nailed it on the head the day he sketched mickey mouse. his imagination has captured the hearts of generations & evolved into, truly, the happiest place on earth. i can still remember the butterflies the night before going to disneyland. butterflies that only danced that way one other night of the year, christmas eve!

 

we obviously realize beckham won't remember his very first time to disneyland. but, it was apparent that the magic kingdom captured his heart. the wonder of his surroundings twinkled in his eyes. he fought sleep until our final stroll back down main street. it was obvious, he wasn't willing to miss a thing.

the night air was crisp, so we bundled up our baby boy and headed to disneyland. probably later than we should have but, i am so glad we did. it was a perfect night. shared as a family. a night time adventure. a place that i am so glad we could introduce him too! this surely will not be his last visit. it's just the beginning!

as we were coming out of it's a small world the electric flashes of fire works sounded in the night sky above us. our curious little monkey was hardly startled by the LOUD bomb, bomb above. he just leaned back into his dadda and admired the shimmer & sparkle of each explosion.

  

be still my heart. my two loves. taking in the magic. together.

one last moment, captured. 

a sleepy boy with his mama & dadda celebrating disneyland & ushering in fall.

(the only major bummer with nightime adventures...you gotta use the flash on your camera!)

Four Months

beckham,
  this month has catapulted you from newborn to baby. you've always been a pretty bright eyed focused little man, but this month, the curiosity leaks from every pore in your body. it is magical watching you discover the world around us. sights & sounds captivate you. you want to touch, pull, chew on anything within fingertip reach.

  everyday is a new adventure with you. you treasure the simple delights in life. gazing at yourself in the mirror. silly songs that mama & dadda sing to you. sweet puppy licks on your toes. each moment is savored. so often as we grow older, we no longer delight in the little things but watching you makes us stop & cherish the tiniest giggle, the littlest sigh, the smallest sneeze. i wish for you, as you grow, you are able to stay in the moment & continue to delight in the small things. those moments are the ones that will define you. those are the moments that will stay engraved on your heart.

  you have earned a new nickname this month. thanks to your 0-60 personality. dadda came up with the name jimmy the gemini. sometimes, jimmy jumps in and takes over our sweet little man. jimmy is kinda drama. he seems to take over & cause you to scream & cry out of nowhere. jimmy has even come out after a sweet kiss on the cheek from dadda or a silly face from me. we now look at you and lovingly say "jimmy?!" it seems to help calm you down!

 you have upgraded yourself to crib status. we had to do this transition in stages but it has been a total success. the extra space has you squirming all over the place! told you, you packed your newborn status in a box and sent it out with the mail. in return, the postman brought back full on baby status. in addition to the five star sleeping accommodations, you have shown some serious determination to sit up. you have been working your core & are lasting longer & longer in the upright position, bumbo free. oh, did i mention the haircut? yep, it was time. things were getting pretty wild. we gave you a nice little trim. those few snip snips transformed your newborn face to sweet baby boy. and a full on blonde! i mentioned you chew on everything. well, your chewing obsession has caused you to fold yourself in half so you can taste those toes that mama & dadda have been gnawing on for the past few weeks.

the fair was just a warm up for the introduction to the happiest place on earth. that's right! month four equals discovering disneyland for the very first time. i believe you have a new love affair with dumbo. your dimples stayed glued to your cheeks as dadda took us up & down on the famous big eared elephant. and guess what? dumbo was your first ride & your dadda's first ride on his first trip to disneyland too! it melted our hearts watching your sleepy face fight off a snooze so you could take in everything it's a small world had to offer. your head danced from side to side as you discovered each new country through the eyes of each animated doll. we promise to take you to as many of those countries as we can. so you can explore the real thing. 

1/3 of your first year has slipped through our fingers. but, before those moments passed they made a pitstop on our hearts and left a permanent copy of these last four months. because these last four months mark the first moments of us being parents. your parents. and us being a family. moments that we will never forget because they have shaped us & changed us & redefined the people we are & the people we will become. keep growing love, your dadda & i are here to savor each little & BIG moment of your life. 

with more love than you'll ever know,

mama