Halloween-themed stuff

By SEDONA DING

Let's start with a cute picture of Maven, who is more fun to play with these days now that she has become more responsive to me tickling her. She still doesn't seem to react when I ask her (all the time about all sorts of things): "You like that, Maven?"

She has gotten good use out of this shirt that says, "Boo! 1st Halloween" (a gift from A-Ma Ding).

I started my work week by keeping my PJ's on Monday morning while carving the pumpkin I personally picked out from Pumpkins in the Park for our family.

I prefer the top to be off. That's because I'm so open-minded. (Ha!)

I won't lie to you. It might appear that Nanny Linda was leading the way with all this carving work. But I thought I was very convincing in feigning learning as she told me what was happening.

Dirty!

No matter how much I contort my face, I can't look as scary as the finished Jack-o-Lantern. I can't help that I have a sweet face!

At Tuesday morning Mommy & Me class, I got a lot done in the ballerina outfit that Auntie Debbie's mom gave me:

Playing and singing while holding a parachute.

Dancing and singing to the 'Funky Monkey.'

Sliding.

Swinging with my pals, Riley and Raychel.

And creative swinging. Very open-minded, eh?

I also found time to make a bag with a ghost, pumpkin and black cats on it for...

... you guessed it, "Trick or Treat" time. I didn't quite get the concept, but after a few toys came my bag's way, I sure liked it.

And after all that fun, my friends Raychel and Sienna came over later with their little siblings, Charlotte and Ryder.

After much fun playing in my bounce house, running around the house and lots of gabbing, our mommies smartened up and put "Ratatouille" on TV for some peace and quiet to go with their wine and sangria.

Night Reading

By SEDONA DING

Not a packed weekend like last weekend but definitely some good times.

On Friday, Whitney and Mommy played some tennis at their West End club and then took us to the pool there. Even Maven enjoyed some time in the sun and played in the pool with Linda, who made a special guest appearance.

On Saturday, we had a family lunch at Salt Creek Grille and stopped at a pet store on the way home for me to look at a lot of kitties and one dog. (For the moment anyway, I'm declaring that I am partial to cats and "I don't like doggies.")

Today, we spent the majority of the day with A-Gong & A-Ma Ding. I love going to the park with A-Gong! Afterward, I went to My Gym for Nicholas' 1st birthday party. I was eyeing the cake much of the time but then completely forgot about it while having so much fun.

I ended the weekend by reading some books to my dear little sister. She can get a little grabby sometimes, but we got the job done. Check out the photos!

"OK, Maven. Where is Elmo?"

"What else do you see?"

"Done, Maven. Done, Maven! Time to go to bed."

Maven's Class at the Pumpkin Patch

By MAVEN DING

My Mommy & Me class with teacher Franci took a special trip to the Cottone & Son pumpkin patch this evening.

Here's everyone (well, everyone who showed up) -- parents and babies.

Just us kiddos in this one. Can you find me?

Yup! I'm the big red pepper in the middle, towering over the others.

From left to right: Sabrina, me, Simon, Siena, Gavin and Killian.

I look like a professional at chilling with the pumpkins. Remember that I'm an expert now; this was my second time doing this pose somewhere in less than a week.

Look who was a tag-along! (Who says the second kid always follows the first?) Sedona was all proper in her Chinese dress 'costume.'

Nanny Linda and Riley came to keep Sedona occupied because Daddy was at work.

We're not sure there was ever Taiwanese/Chinese royalty who wore fancy dresses and traveled by horseback, but it works for Sedona!

I Love Saturdays

By SEDONA DING

We started a fabulous Saturday at Pumpkins in the Park hosted by Friends in the Park at my favorite Fort Lots of Fun park.

Here I am -- in my spirited Texas A&M "Halloween" costume -- with my buds.

Look at Bryce and Natalie eyeing my popcorn! Their mommy, Patty, understandably preferred that they didn't eat it. That look is so familiar to me, because it is usually me eyeing other people's food. My mom is strict on sweets and junk food.

My friends' moms all know to bring extra food if I'm going to be around. For some reason, their food always tastes better.

Alice A-Ma and Toshi A-Gong were in Japan so this was their first time seeing us in three weeks. They were eager to join us in this Saturday fun. 

They were very excited to see how well Maven sat up and loved to smile and thought my verbal skills were pretty impressive. I speak in complete sentences now (as you can see here).

We then headed to American Martyrs for a school fair that was quite cool.

I rode my first pony! It was so fun! I love horsey rides!

Maven watched from the sidelines with A-Gong and A-Ma while I ...
.... held and petted a piglet ...

... and a bunny! I was so gentle. Petting zoos are fun.

I love my bounce house, but it really didn't compare to the bounce houses at this fair. I begged to go on this big slide with Daddy's help. Then I hopped around all by myself in a huge beach-themed bounce house that included a challenging hill/slide that I dared to climb to complete my adventurous day.

I was so tired out. I took a healthy two-hour nap afterward.

More fairs, please!

TGIF

By SEDONA DING

I started my fun-filled Friday playing with Linda and pretending to be Maven in the exer-saucer. I'm silly like that. But so is T.L. (just keep reading for more on that).

Then it was off to library class with Musical Storytime with Melissa Green. My biological mom was busy holding Maven so my other mom held me (her name is Whitney Boole!). She spoils me. I like her.

Afterward, we headed over to the home of T.L./Tito/Bird (he's got so many nicknames) for some yummy lunch and play time. Even Maven had a great time with his toys.

I found this interesting thing in T.L.'s room with Barney was on it (I love that big purple oaf). But what does it do?

Hmm ...

Oh, got it! I can do this!

I'm a rock star -- wait, do rock stars play trumpets? -- wearing my Pinc premium signature jeans.

We eventually let Maven play with us. T.L. even got interested in this highly complex game Maven plays all the time: Grab item. Put in mouth.

And T.L. joined in the game. See, pretending to be Baby Maven is fun!

Elizabeth helped watch and play with Maven so Mommy could tend to me. She and Kendall are our first Mommy & Me friends.

Raychel and I entertained our little sisters. We also defended them from our toy-stealing friends. We're good big sisters.

 

After I went down for my nap at home, Maven stayed up, took off her jeans to get comfy and hung out in my rocking chair. I think she looks a little too cozy there. She'd better hope Mommy gets her one of her own. Mine has my name on it!

I napped for 2 1/2 hours, which is a huge accomplishment given that I usually nap only 45 minutes to one hour. My mommy loves Loretta and T.L. for wearing me out. We look forward to more playdates at their house! (Hint, hint: We know they read this blog.)

Mommy & Maven Class

By MAVEN DING

Today was about my Mommy and Me class -- but Sedona certainly derived satisfaction from helping. Sabrina's mom, Simona, and my mommy were in charge of dinner for my class. Mommy made salad and stole Anita's famous recipe for "Death By Chocolate."

Sedona helped with stirring the devil's food cake and chocolate pudding.

And she totally enjoyed her reward: licking the bowl, spoon and whisk. The stuff wound up all over her face, no matter that she's such a neat freak.

We are doing an evening class, and many other kids' daddies do attend. My daddy is usually busy or has Sedona to take care of, but today it was all about me and both my parents while Sedona visited her self-proclaimed best friend, A-Ma Ding.

I'm the oldest kid in the class besides Sabrina (who was born on Mommy's birthday, oddly enough). It's kind of nice to be the big kid when Sedona is always ahead of me at home.

Sabrina and I chilled and played on the mat while the other little babies slept.

When it's music time in class, I always perk up. I'm usually the first and sometimes the only one laughing and reveling in it. The first-time parents in class see me and think it's so cute ... and, well, who can blame them?

I am cute!