Topics: Weekly Updates

It may not be officially fall for another four days, but it sure does feel like it!� Today we spent the afternoon at Tougas Farm in Northboro after a recommendation from James, who'd taken his students there on a field trip a couple of weeks ago.

[caption id="attachment_1271" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="This is my absolute favorite picture of the day. He was so excited to be standing on that rock!"][/caption]

We� spent the afternoon drinking apple cider, feeding goats (video), getting heckled by roosters, playing on the playground and picking pumpkins.� Despite the fact that there were a million people there and it was basically impossible to snap a photo of Emmett on the tractor (which was very disappointing), we all had a blast!� We also learned, yet again, that a stick is always better than pretty much anything to little boys, even a patch full of pumpkins ...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJaC9tAgC_E&fs=1&hl=en_US]

[caption id="attachment_1272" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett the Flower"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1273" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Pumpkin Picker"][/caption]

Check out more photos from our afternoon in the Tougas Farm set on Flickr.� Happy fall!

Age Timer: 20 months

Topics: Weekly Updates, video, fall, farm, Outings, pumpkin picking

Traditionally, Labor Day marks the end of summertime. Usually, this is a major bummer. But this year, I think my family had a pretty awesome summer, making it a little easier to watch it go.

[caption id="attachment_1256" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett and His Shovel in the Boat"][/caption]

Some of this summer's highlights:

1. Emmett got his first buzz cut.


2. James and I got engaged and started planning our wedding. (Have I directed you to our wedding website yet?)


3. We visited with Cousin Gus, Aunt A and Uncle Mac in Michigan.


4. Emmett took swim lessons.


5. We had Emmett's first trip to the Jersey shore with Nana, Gran-D and Aunt Niki.

A couple of days in Maine with Gran Lucy, Grandpa Mac, Uncle Shawn, Aunt Sara and Cousin Ben were a great way to top off the summer.� We enjoyed a yummy lobster feast (and learned just how much Emmett enjoys corn on the cob), spent some time on the beach and the boat, did some shopping in Freeport for Emmett's fall wardrobe, and mainly just relaxed.

[caption id="attachment_1257" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett with Gran Lucy and Cousin Ben"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1258" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett Devours His Corn on the Cob"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1259" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett Confronts a Lobster With a Grill Lighter"][/caption]

Who else is looking forward to toddlers playing in piles of leaves in the fall and making snowmen in the winter?� I know Em and I are.

For more photos from our Labor Day visit in Maine, view the set on Flickr.

Age Timer: 19 months, 3 weeks

Topics: Weekly Updates, holidays, Labor Day, Maine

Admittedly, a lot of my free time lately has been taken up by wedding planning (awesome for me, not so great for my blog readers).� I'm sure any mom understands this, but having a kid (or kids) makes it extremely difficult to find time to do everything you wish you could.� Luckily, I've been able to motivate myself to squeeze running into my schedule (I used to be a pretty dedicated runner before I got pregnant), and as I said, with the wedding planning, unfortunately my blog has taken a back seat.� Not that I'm going to convert my blog into a place for wedding chatter in any sense, but for those interested, the wedding planning is going along quite swimmingly. We have the venue, the date, the officiant, a wedding website and I even found the dress!

[caption id="attachment_1238" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett and Dad"][/caption]

I've partially justified my lack of blogging by the fact that Emmett isn't hitting the milestones as freqently as he did as a baby.� Still, there have definitely been some developments:

1. He's been all about the babbling for quite some time, but he has also been slightly behind on his vocabulary.� Lately though, he's really been excelling on the talking front. He can now say hi, bye, dad, one, two, blue, choo choo, ball, wow, wee and eye.� Am I forgetting anything, James?


2. He's developing quite a little sense of humor.�� He fakes sneezes when we sneeze, and he's just a goofball in general.


3. He loves to dance. Like -- loves it.� He dances whether or not there's music, and I'm pretty sure he's already a better dancer than I am.� This kid's got moves.� I can't wait to catch him on video.


4. He now weighs about 28 lbs, and he's half an inch shy of 3 feet tall.


5. He likes to swim.� We've been taking parent-toddler swim classes at the Fitness and Recreation Center at Boston University, and he's definitely a fan.

[caption id="attachment_1239" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett the swimmer"][/caption]

Also, can you believe Emmett is already a year and a half old?� It's unreal ...

Age Timer: 18 months, 3 weeks

Topics: Weekly Updates, Milestones, talking, dancing, wedding, swimming