Preparation for Halloween!

Our first family pumpkin carving adventure was a success! Three pumpkins carved with no injuries- pumpkins excluded. During the process we learned that 1) Evan is the superior pumpkin carver while mine look rather "special", 2) that Makenna is not a fan of being inside pumpkins, 3) Wayne likes the taste of pumpkin guts, 4) we have fun no matter what we are doing and 5) nearly every situation calls for the cameras presence!

Saturday is Pumpkin Day

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere...sadly many were rotten! :( We were warned that it was proving to be a hard pumpkin year due to the weeks of rain the area experienced late in the growing season, causing many to rot before it was harvest time. Regardless, we still had a great time at Latin's under blue skies and visiting with all the farm critters- especially the goats! We did walk away with two great pumpkins which we found at a family farm just down the road. Looks like this coming weekend we will set out to carve some creations!

Update on Miss Makenna: Our little one is growing by leaps and bounds. Some of her 3 month gear is getting a little snug, while some of her smaller 6 month clothes are just starting to fit. Makenna has also started to lift her head forward as she sits in her car seat. Her hand/eye coordination is improving greatly. We also have been seeing some new moves on the ground. Makenna has started attempting to roll from her back to her stomach!! She only gets hung up with rotating her head over and up.

Party in the Pumpkins

It was another busy week in the Oderman household. Saturday my mom and Aunt Marg stopped by for a visit after a wonderful week on the Oregon coast. Makenna sure loved the added attention- surprise, surprise! Sunday was packed with fun. By 10am we were out the door and heading north to Tacoma. With the change in seasons we decided it was time to replace both of our rain coats since neither are waterproof! So it was off to REI. :) A few hundred dollars later we both walked away with new rain gear and I even got a pair of pants and new sweater off the clearance rack! Lunch at the mall before checking out the Apple Store, Old Navy and lastly it was Babies 'R Us to pick up some of Makenna's Christmas presents! I know I know it's a bit early, however I don't want to leave it to the last minute. So into the closet her gifts from her Great Auntie Jen & Great Uncle Tom went. We were home and back out the door around 2pm and heading to a local pumpkin patch to celebrate Lucas' 2nd birthday (the little boy I nanny for)! Such a great location for a birthday party for anyone of any age with a birthday in October! Makenna was enjoying herself up until the apple launcher scared her socks off. Poor thing cried the most pitiful little cry. Well, if I'm being honest it was anything but little. Moving away from the launchers location we were able to calm her down right before Lucas opened his presents. He was sooo funny. During the singing of "happy birthday" he attempted mid-song to blow out his candles on his cupcake. :) His mom, Alysha, had to put her hand between the candles and his wind maker! Everyone was cracking up. Such a sweet kid. We are so lucky to have great friends that have kids around Makenna's age.

A Cheeky 3 Month Old

What a character our little Makenna has become. Since she has become a drool factory in preparation for "toothy pegs" (as my Aunts call them) to make their appearance, she has found it quite amusing to make drool bubbles and even yes, milk bubbles. As I am writing this she sits beside me in her pumpkin seat watching her bare feet kick. She finds contentment in watching her hands, and those very hands have taken up permanent residence in her mouth. Reaching, grabbing, clutching are things she's been improving upon for a couple of weeks now. And just the other day while playing with Lucas she went from her back onto her right side in order to see her little friend! Where did this come from? Once again out of nowhere while making faces and pretending to sneeze she laughed! These pleasant surprises from Makenna are becoming more frequent with each passing day. For the past week Makenna and I have been working hard to get her back on schedule - aka sleeping through the night. Since her first rave (our Celebration) she has been getting up at least once sometimes twice at night. Last night marked the first time in a couple of weeks where we both slept through the night! Back to her normal 8pm-615am sleep schedule. Hoping by writing this it doesn't jinx our progress. :)

Makenna's First Whale Watch

Let's go. I'm ready to get out on the water and see some wildlife!

First friend- a California Sea Lion.

Love being on the water when it's foggy. So magical.

We did a little Makenna watching :)

Makenna met Alexis!

Snug as a bug.

Happy her horsey friend came along for the adventure.

Captain Makenna! :)

On board the best whale watch boat out there!

I have been waiting MONTHS to get back out on the water and finally with family in town Makenna got to experience one of my loves. Fog cloaked the islands adding to the areas magic. On her very first whale watch the lucky little Miss saw: Orcas, Minke Whales, California Sea Lions, Steller Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Dalls Porpoise, Harbor Porpoise and numerous sea birds not to mention countless islands. There is no such thing as a bad day on the water. Makenna did fabulously and seemed to really enjoy the day. She even got to meet the whale whisperer himself- Shane Aggregaard! It was great seeing my Island Adventures family. We are looking forward to migration season and the Gray's arrival this spring.

Photo Shoot- Kelly Hanson Style

Meeting Makenna

Great Auntie Vicky

Auntie Kellykins :)

Great Cousin Steven

Great Aunt Marg

So blessed to have two great friends fly out to meet Makenna :)

Thank You Jen & Kelly!

Great Aunt Jen (AJ) and Great Uncle Tom

You've got a friend in me :)