Festive Fall Weekend

We had the perfect weekend. After a call in the morning from our friends, we got ready to head off to the pumpkin patch. I realize Cambria is probably a little too young to appreciate an outing like that, but that's ok because I'm not! She gives me a good excuse to do a lot of "kid" things like go to the Crayola factory, for example, and she makes a great little travel companion. The weather was windy and cold but we all bundled up. There was a tractor that took us on a hay ride out to the patch where we got to walk around and check out the pumpkins. I'm glad we found a great little place to go get pumpkins in the years ahead.





Then this evening was the second year that Bethlehem's South Side hosts a festival called 'just desserts.'
You get a ticket and walk along the main street where the shops have dessert tables and you get your ticket punched in return for a delicious snack. Everyone was so friendly and we tasted things like pomegranite frozen yogurt, sugar cookies, raspberry brownies, choc peppermint cupcakes, orange cupcakes, pineapple bread pudding, mini eclairs, macaroons, baklava, handmade chocolate candy, a pumpkin pastry and more. Amos' favorite was a rice krispy, cranberry, coconut ball like the one found here so I'll have to make those soon. There were 22 shops that participated this year. We thought it would be a nice chance to see the shops and enjoy the weather (it was a lot nicer in the evening), and indulge my sweet tooth ;) Cambria got a lot of attention and she enjoys riding around in her Bjorn and being outside so it was a great night all around.

3 Months Old!

Cambria is already 3 months! She is such a happy and fun baby and I am so happy that I get to spend every day with her playing with her and watching her grow. She is now 24 inches and 10lbs 5 oz.

• She loves to "talk" back to us when we play with her and give her a lot of attention
• She is starting to be ticklish and we can get a laugh out of her usually by tickling her neck or thighs
• She is very smiley and blinks her eyes in such a cute, flirty way
• She enjoys looking at her mobile

• She has started to drool and likes to blow little bubbles
• She has started chewing on her fist and fingers (not happy about that!)
• She loves her play mat and could spend hours grabbing at her toys (better than mom's hair and earrings!)
• She loves to splash around during her bath every night
  

mom's little angel!

• When dad is home he reads her nighttime stories before bed

• When you hold her hands and pull up she will straighten her legs and loves to stand and look aroundOur little sleeping beauty!

A Melting Pot Date

I love the Melting Pot. It is a great fondue restaurant where you get a fantastic 4-course meal (cheese fondue, salad, meat fondue, and chocolate dessert fondue.) It is quite the experience and if you have the whole shebang you're usually there for close to 4 hours. It is pretty special to Amos and I because that's where we went to eat before we got engaged close to 3 years ago.

While Tyler & Christie were in town we were able to go out for a fantastic double date. Cambria slept most of the time but when she was awake she was having a great time just being her curious self.

Cambria's Baby Blessing

Cambria is such a lucky girl. She had many out-of-town visitors travel from far away to come be a part of her special day. Ric (Grandpa) flew from England, Mimi & Geepy traveled from Maryland, and Tyler, Christie, Allie & Jake came from Arizona. It was nice having such a full house of loved ones.

For her blessing she wore a very special dress. My father was the first one to wear it 50 years ago for his baptism as a baby. My grandmother (Cambria's great grandmother) made it by hand. Then as a baby I wore it for my baptism and Cambria got to wear it when she was blessed. It is a beautiful dress and I'm glad she could wear something with so much meaning and history attributed to it. She also had a handmade white blanket she was wrapped in, made by Christie especially for her. It is such a beautiful blanket she'll always treasure.

She was blessed by her father, and it was a beautiful blessing. She made her presence known throughout it, though. Quite loudly. She doesn't really like being held on her back, and prefers to be snuggled up to your chest. As soon as Amos finished blessing her he pulled her into his chest and she went silent. That's our little cuddlebug.

"oh hi there!"

So loved

Hangin' out with Grandpa

Mimi & Geepy

Cuddling with Christie & Allie

Tyler and a tired Jake-ster

Thank you to everyone who helped make this day so special! We love you!

Mischievous Baby

But Mom, what do you mean "baby bags aren't for babies to ride in!" ?

Daddy's little pickpocket caught red handed!

Enjoying the Fall

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year! It's not too hot to be outside and the air is crisp and clear. Fall begs for campfires, outdoor festivals, hikes and evenings on the deck watching the sun set and the fireflies come out. It also will always remind me of the feeling of starting a new school year or semester in college, and all the anticipation that comes from a new set of subjects, teachers, and new friends.

Amos and I have had the chance to get outside and play some tennis together a few times already. I played in high school and Amos is just pretty athletic in general so we are pretty well-matched (although he usually pulls out with a win!)

Cambria loves to be outdoors, too. Geepy discovered that she loves to look up through tree leaves into the sky. It's probably the contrast that gets her attention. Anyway, one day she was being particularly fussy while I was trying to make lunch, so I decided she would probably enjoy some time outside on the deck with the fresh air and a slight breeze. I was right! I couldn't resist taking some pics.

(Cute hat courtesy of Grandma Hobby - I think it makes her look like a little daffodil!)

2 Months!

Cambria has come so far in 2 months!

Height: 23 inches
Weight: 9lb 14oz.

• She holds her head up wonderfully and loves to look around; she's so curious. That's why she prefers to be held over your shoulder, the position Mimi and Geepy call 'old faithful'

• She's a happy baby and doesn't cry much at all, but when she does, she snorts like a pig and it's hard not to laugh sometimes
• She loves to stare at her Baby Einstein whale toy, a lion gift bag with yarn, and her rockin' robin jingle toy that was Mom's as a child (not shown)

• She's full of smiles, especially when she first wakes up
• She loves to be held in the air like super girl
• She mostly sleeps through the night, just waking up at 2 or 3am to eat and then not again until 7. Usually at 7 I can lay her on my chest and pat her and she'll fall asleep again until 9:3o or 10.
• She went on her first picnic and walk along the river

• She falls asleep on car rides and shopping trips in her baby seat
• She likes going for walks in her Baby Bjorn carrier
  
• When she goes, she GOES. Usually a change of clothes is involved in her little explosions
• She has started cooing and making different sounds
• She sleeps without her swaddle now and loves to sleep with her arms up
• She loves taking a bath in her whale tub
  
• She loves to look up at a tree and through the leaves to the sky
• She enjoys getting her diaper changed

Visit from the Hobby's

Lerren & Jesse (Amos' bro and sis) and our nephew Oliver came to visit us! We had a good time going shopping, going to the Crayola Factory, touring Philadelphia and relaxing.

Some pics from Philly:

Sis and I at the park!

Crayola Factory

4 Generations!

Visits with Mimi and Geepy and the "Greats"

With Amos traveling a lot, what better to do than take a trip 3 hours south to MD to visit her grandparents. Mimi and Geepy love to play with her, and mom even gets a little extra rest because of all the extra helping hands. We also get to have fun going to lunch, going on lots of walks, playing with Lizzy the dog, taking baths, and discovering all of mom's old toys!

She even had a chance to visit her great grandparents! (below)