Chester

Sam and I met Chester, Chestnut Square's most famous kitty, about two years ago after we had finished taking some Christmas photos there.  He followed us to our car and Sam sat down to pet him for the longest time.  Sam never forgot about Chester and talks about him every once in a while.  When I told him we were going to do back-to-school photos at "the houses" in Chestnut Square his first comment was "I hope we see Chester".  Sure enough, Chester was there to greet us as soon as we pulled in to the parking lot.  And then he promptly tinkled on our car.  An extra-special greeting!  Sam was equally horrified and impressed.  He made sure I knew we needed to wash it off as soon as we got home and then followed Chester right in to play chase around the houses.  

Chester is so popular with the kids around town he has his own picture book and often posts on Chestnut Square's Facebook page.  He nipped at Sam and a couple other kids while we were there, but he's pretty tolerant overall and the kids love to chase him around.

After Sam and I spent some time taking photos, he spotted Chester alone on the sidewalk and the two of them had a little playdate of their own.  I'm not a cat person, but any kitty who likes my kid is a friend of mine.  Even if they potty on my car.

Until next time, Chester!

*click

here

to see our first encounter with Chester, way back in November 2011*

Back to School 2013

Sam starts Pre-K in three days, seventeen hours and forty-two minutes.  Ish.  It's not like I'm watching the clock or anything.  Ahem...

I knew we had a playdate with our Lens Baby friends coming up, and our plan was to get some back-to-school pictures of our kids.  I

also

knew that I would be more likely to get some nice shots of Sam if we were alone without the distraction of our sweet friends running circles around us!  So I struck a deal with Sam that if he did "nice" pictures with me in McKinney on Monday, we'd have some silly fun when we came back with our friends on Thursday.  He agreed and it was a success, I'd say. 

♥ Happy Back-to-School 2013 ♥

Nerd Alert

So...this was the deal.  Go out on Monday with Mommy for nice back-to-school pictures and we'll go back with our Lens Baby friends on Thursday for silly back-to-school pictures.

He agreed to this deal without hesitation and had a great time portraying this character and running around with his friends in between shots.  Little does he know, this deal was a win-win for Mommy.

Evie at Nine Months

Evelyn Mae, you are nine months today and what a smiley girl you are.  If I had a nickel for each time a stranger stopped us and commented on your smile I'd be rich!  

Measurements - 

weight - 21 lbs 7 oz - 90%

length - 29 in. - 90%

head - 18.3 in. - 97%

Clothes - You're wearing both your 6-9 month and 6-12 month outfits.  We're still in summer clothes, with a long way to go, I'm afraid.

Diapers

- You're still in a size 3!

Feedings - You're now eating four times a day for a total of about thirty minutes a day.  You eat around 3, 10, 6, and 11.  This month you tried lentils, broccoli, spinach, peas and various fruits.  You like everything Mommy makes you!  You also like baby poofs, mum-mums and baby yogurt bites.  These things keep you happy while Mommy makes dinner

Sleeping -  You're still getting up for one feeding each night, and needing a binkie re-plug here and there.  Dr. G. said no more eating in the night.  You're too big of a girl to need a mid-night meal.  We'll see how that goes!

You're a very busy baby, pulling up to everything and everybody, cruising around the furniture and crawling so fast we can hardly catch you.  You are showing signs of being an active little person!  You loved watching Sam swimming at swim lessons and I'm sure you're anxious to try it yourself.  We took you to the pool a couple times this month and you're very happy floating in your baby raft as long as you have your binkie.  Sometimes you spit it out and try and lap up the pool water like a little puppy. 

We don't see any teeth yet, although I can kind of feel something working its way up on your bottom gums - Dr. G. felt the same thing.  Looks like you're going to sprout teeth a little later than the average baby. 

Dr. G. was happy to hear that you are talking to us, although he wishes you were using more consonants when you babble.  You're rah-rah'ing and yah-yah'ing with an occasional Da-da thrown in, but he wishes you were buh-buh-buhing, too.  He suggested it might be because there's someone else...

who shall remain nameless...

who's taking up most of the talking time in the house.  I think that's a very possible explanation!  He still gave you an A+ on your baby report card.  Mommy forgot to tell Dr. G. the funniest thing you say...Hi!  You love to say "Hi!" to everyone - strangers we meet, Daddy when he comes home, even your own reflection in the meat department at the grocery store.  You say it with quite a punch, almost yelling it at us, and you sound like you have a Southern accent already.  "Hah!" you say.  It tickles us every time!  What a friendly gal!  You have a strong, deep voice - I wonder if you're going to be an alto?  You sound a lot like Sam.  Sometimes when one of you makes a sound from your room at night, Daddy and I will look at each other and ask, "Which kid was that?". 

You still love books and all your toys.  Mommy's old pop beads and Sam's talking mailbox are your favorites right now.  We always know when you've found something on the floor that's not a toy because you pick at it and talk to it - almost growling at it - for a long time.  I always have plenty of time to take it from you. 

Your official nine-month photo and below it, Brother's nine-month chair photo

We love you Evie Mae!

Tree Climbing

Evie "modeled" for a photog friend this morning so I knew she'd be getting her picture taken today.  It was a nice surprise that I was able to shoot some photos of Sam afterward, as lately it's been a little harder getting photos of him for the blog.

On the walk back to our car we found two trees with branches low enough for climbing.  We only had time to climb one, but we'll definitely have to go back this fall.  I'm imagining cool temps, pretty autumn colors and no giant mowers stirring up dust in the background...

He's been telling me all summer he wished he had a tree to climb, so these were a lucky find.  And all posing credit goes to Sam.  These were the more traditional poses.  I need do an outtakes post with some poses he came up with that I decided to pass on.  Creative little guy!