Bear Down!

The calendar says it is officially fall ... good to see you again!  Fall is my absolute favorite season for more reasons I can count, but football season is right up there on the list with apple cider donuts + Hocus Pocus!  This year's new addition of an outdoor screen + projector brought us many fun summer nights with friends, but thanks to Directv, we also got to enjoy a couple Sunday + Monday night Bears games outside too!  Want to throw your own Bears tailgate party, Glambanners style?  Here's how! :)

9 + 10 months!

10 Months!  Our baby girl is becoming less and less of a baby every day, and while it makes me sad, it is equally as exciting to see her personality develop!  She's still a great sleeper (7:30pm-7:30/8am + two 90-120 minute naps a day), an even better eater (this chick may be small, but don't let that fool you!)  and she is just getting so stinkin' fun!  Loves to explore around the house (the dogs' water bowl is her favorite), take baths (lots of splashing) and her new favorite trick - waving!  We've officially hit fall in Illinois, so as it gets colder outside, reality is setting in that it's almost time for Harper to turn 1!  Let the party planning begin!

Preschool, here she comes!

It's still a hard pill to swallow, but Miss Avery just started preschool this week!  The whole "3 year old preschool" thing is a new one to me.  I have an August birthday, so I had 1 year of preschool and then went right to kindergarten, but apparently all non-August birthday kiddos in this town actually start preschool when they are 3, so here we are! :)  Any of you that know Avery, she is not quick to warm up and is quite shy until she really gets to know you.  I was very anxious to send her to school and so nervous that she would sit by herself sad the whole time.  But, also in true Avery fashion, she surprised us!  When all of the mommies ran in to get their kids, they were greeted with hugs and happiness. This mom was greeted with "I don't want to go home. Why are you here?"  Happy to see you to, A!   UPDATE- I'm happy to report that when I picked her up after the second day of school, she got up to greet me and even reached for my hand to hold.  She was even happier when she left this day and was laughing about all of the fun things she did!

A little preschool present - Elsa shoes + "The Night Before Preschool", which she has now requested at bedtime 4 nights in a row!

A little first day of school treat for her teachers Ms. Amy + Ms. Mandy

If you give a teacher a cookie...

A's backpack ... I die.  Bag from J.Crew

 First school picture .... tear!

 

 

PreK photo prop by Glambanners

 

 

So proud of my shy girl for being so excited for school!  No tears, no fears from A!

 

 

 This was the best I could get :)

 Her teachers are so awesome that they put up daily photos on Facebook!

Meet Me at the Fair: 2014

I'm officially a month behind in picture posting, but I'm on a mad mission to catch up!  This August we loaded up the car and headed to Iowa for another Iowa State Fair weekend!  As you remember Avery and I went last year (Harper was still in my belly + daddy had to work) and since Shane + Cat live in Iowa, and Avery had a great time at the fair, we decided to make it an annual thing!  And just like last year, Avery preferred talking to the animals over riding rides - maybe we should move to a farm?!  Nick + I savored our hot beef sundaes (yup, that's a real thing) and Harper did great, even with a crazy late nap!  Only fail - Chris the Bachelor was there and I couldn't stalk find him. :)