Week 21

Week 21 brought the beginning of fall. The weather has turned cool and the leaves are starting to change. It's a wonderful time of year here in New England (except that the long, cold, snowy winter is nipping on our heels). In this week's picture, Fisher is propped up next to one of the leaves that has already fallen and the pumpkin Hayes picked out at a pumpkin patch last weekend.

Here is Fisher wearing one of my favorite hats. He is not a huge fan of hats so far, but I'm determined to get him used to wearing them. I LOVE hats on babies. And let's face it, he'll need a little extra insulation for his precious noggin this winter!

It wasn't long ago (4.5 months, to be exact) that Hayes was our "baby." Perceptions shift so much with the addition of another child. All the sudden, Hayes is our "big boy" and we expect more of him. But then, he'll say or do something that reminds us that he is just two and a half. For example, the other day, we were putting away laundry and I was showing him stacks of clothing that I had organized. I pointed out Kyle's underwear. Hayes didn't see which pile I has pointed out and asked, "Daddy, where's your pull-up? Where's your pull-up, daddy?" Kyle and I both busted out laughing. I wonder if they make Diego pull-ups in Kyle's size...

Here is our beautiful big boy:

Last weekend, we made our annual trip to pick apples from a nearby orchard. It was beautiful out---perfect for picking! Here's a family shot: (we'll have to get a new one with Fisher actually facing toward the camera next time)

A view from the orchard that sits atop a hill---the leaves are just beginning to change:

Picking:

Hayes filled up his own little bag:

Hayes and Kyle took a tractor ride to different section of the orchard to pick another variety of apple. (Note that Hayes is chomping on an apple. He ate several apples while we were there---which had the unintended effect of causing some belly gripes while at the pool later in the afternoon. Let's just say that swim diapers are not impenetrable and I have learned the lesson that one can, in fact, eat too many apples.)

In the (sorry excuse for a) pumpkin patch:

Fisher's head and neck control is pretty good now and he's beginning to get coordination of his hands. One of his new favorite activities is to rub his eyes when he's sleepy. He also is able to face forward in the bjorn now (which he really seems to like a lot better than being smothered against my chest).

Fisher has been much more engaged lately. He watches us (especially Hayes) and gets ticked if he is not facing the action. He'll voice his displeasure until we turn him toward whatever is going on.

He has started to focus on toys and is able to sit in the bumbo chair and look mostly comfortable in it (just last week he would slump over and fuss about his discomfort in the chair).

This is our latest dinner-time set-up. It seems like just yesterday that we placed Hayes in the same bumbo chair to entertain himself while we ate dinner!

Betty and Butch sent a package that included these neat wrist and sock rattles. It came at a perfect time since Fisher is so interested in his surroundings these days!