That's right - ferocious.� Or maybe just adorable.� Either way, Emmett's costume is awesome.� Too bad he's a little young for trick-or-treating and we have no place to show it off.� I'm actually thinking of taking him to the supermarket today for some grocery shopping, because at least some people will be able to see him costumed in person.� That is, if he can tolerate being in it for more than 5 minutes (the current record).

[caption id="attachment_1064" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Ferocious Blue Monster"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1049" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption=""Too Cute to Scare" shirt from Aunt Sara & Uncle Shawn"][/caption]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YtgOWxIT8k&hl=en&fs=1&]

For mischeif night last night, I carved a pumpkin, toasted the seeds (which are DELICIOUS) and James built our first fire in the apartment's fireplace.� Needless to say it was a nice little fall evening.� I'm also pretty darn proud of how well my jackolantern came out.� It's an owl!

[caption id="attachment_1046" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Owl Jackolantern"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1047" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="James and Emmett cozying up by the fire."][/caption]

In past news, Emmett had his 9-month checkup the other week.� He was a super champ through the bloodwork.� He didn't even make a peep -� it was incredible - though he wailed when they gave him his shots.� He's now a whopping 20 lbs. 4 oz. (46th percentile) and 30.5 inches "tall" (97th percentile).� Again, one of the tallest kids in his class!

We� had a couple of fun visits this past week.� My best friend Niki stayed with us last weekend, and we had a visit from my good friend, Lauren, from high school last Wednesday.� More aunts for Emmett!

[caption id="attachment_1051" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Crazy Aunt Niki - "We're drying our hair!""][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1052" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Aunt L"][/caption]

I'm also convinced that Emmett is extremely close to saying "mamma."� In fact, it sounds like he's already saying it (although he might not exactly know what he's saying)!� Check out this video for evidence.� What do you think?

Age Timer: 9 months, 2 weeks

When Emmett has a bad day, he goes straight to the bottle.� I guess it's never too soon to have that "Don't Drink and Drive" chat with your son...

[caption id="attachment_1041" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Drunk Baby"][/caption]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VamvdhGY7bs&hl=en&fs=1&]

Good thing it's only formula.

Age Timer: 9 months, 2 days (In two more days, Emmett will have spent the same amount of time outside the womb as he did inside!)

What a busy weekend!� My parents were in town, which is always fun.� Saturday we headed down to Providence, where we enjoyed the last night of WaterFire, a sculpture of bonfires on the rivers of Providence.� It was really cool and entertaining.

[caption id="attachment_1032" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="WaterFire man playing with fire"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1034" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Lit WaterFire braziers"][/caption]

On Sunday, we took Emmett on his first pumpkin picking excursion.� We stopped at Shelburne Farm in Stow, where Emmett seemed to thoroughly enjoy the farm animals, a big mound of hay, chewing on pumpkin stems (ugh) and riding tractors like a true farmer.

[caption id="attachment_1036" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Mmmm ... pumpkin stems. Nom nom nom."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1037" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Playing in the hay with GranD"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1038" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Farmer Emmett on his tractor "][/caption]

For more pictures of Emmett on the farm, check out the Pumpkin Picking set on Flickr at http://bit.ly/14BsjK.

Age Timer: 8 months, 3 weeks

Benjamin Alec finally graced us with his presence yesterday afternoon, following a 2-day long induced labor and subsequent C-section (phew!).� Mother, father and baby are all doing well despite their excruciating exhaustion.

Congrats to new parents, Sara and Shawn - you two were definitely troopers!� Ben clocked in at 8 lbs., 11 oz. and 21.5 inches long at 2 weeks late.

Now for a look at the handsome little fellow ...

[caption id="attachment_1024" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Baby Ben"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1025" align="aligncenter" width="538" caption="Daddy Shawn with Son Ben"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1026" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Uncle James (Officially!)"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1027" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Me and Little Ben"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1028" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Cousin Meets Cousin (An Attempt)"][/caption]

Age Time: <1 day