The Brown Brick Road

Capturing our adventures one photo at a time...

Week in Review

We’ve had a great week around here.  I’m just trying to tie up a few final things to get ready for BBB2 and soak up some good time with BBB1!

I’m still feeling great and hoping this little guy stays put for another week.  Here I am one week ago today at 38 weeks…

I still made it up to work out with my trainer this week and plan to go next week too – unless we have a baby this weekend!!  🙂

We had some really nice weather this week.  Some chilly, fall days but also some warm, sunny days.  We did plenty of playing outside…

and also plenty of snuggling inside…

Maxwell actually had his first dental appointment this past week – more to come next week! – and he’s becoming quite the expert toothbrusher (ha! more like expert toothpaste eater!)…

He also loves those new fireman PJs from GJ and Daddo!

Maxwell came home from school Wednesday looking like he had gotten in a fight!  The teacher doesn’t know what happened but he got several big scratches on his face and neck on the playground.  Who knows how it happened?!  It doesn’t seem to be bothering him though so that’s good.

We also made our front porch look like Fall and Maxwell is loving the “pump-choos!”

Here’s to a great weekend ahead for us and all of you!

Camera shy

Not in the mood for pictures…

Thinks about making an escape…

But then decides to just hide…

Think he’s getting a little tired of momma’s camera!  🙂

School Open House

Last week, Maxwell’s school had a little open house during the evening.  It was just a chance for us to go up there and see his classroom, meet his teacher and meet some of the other kids and parents.  I obviously see his classroom every week when I take him and drop him off but this was Robert’s first chance.  I think Maxwell liked having us up there and showing us his favorite part of school…the train table!

We also got to check out some of his “pat-pat”…

A true artist, don’t you think!

We’re so grateful for Maxwell’s school and his sweet teacher Ms. Juli!

The Great Pumpkin Patch

On Saturday we went to The Great Pumpkin Patch in Hayden, AL.  Despite the drizzly, COLD weather, we had a good time and I think Maxwell had fun.  It was a bit of a drive out there but definitely worth it to let him run around, check out the “pump-choos” and do some fun stuff.

We really should have had on long sleeves but I didn’t realize it was going to be quite as chilly as it was!  We survived!

I’ll give you all one guess as to what Maxwell wanted to do first…and second and third!

Ride the “train” of course!

And he, of course, picked the “lallow” car to sit in!

We also walked through the petting zoo area.  We didn’t do any petting, just looking, and that was totally fine with me.  It stunk over there!

We then took a little covered wagon hay ride out to the actual pumpkin patch.

Once we got to the patch, Maxwell was on a mission to find the best “pump-choo!”

He thought he found the one…

But then changed his mind and off he went!

He then found the perfect “baby pump-choo!”

It was a great little pumpkin but we actually ended up getting back on the covered wagon without a pumpkin.  They were all pretty wet and muddy and Robert and I decided our pumpkins can just come from Home Depot again this year!  🙂  Luckily Maxwell didn’t seem to mind leaving all those “pump-choos” behind!

I then tried really hard to get Maxwell to pose for a picture in front of the hay bales but he wasn’t having any of it.  Robert even sat down to try and coax him over…

He wasn’t biting but then a big dog came over and sent Maxwell running for Dada…

I thought I was going to get my picture but he still wasn’t up for posing.  Oh well!

I then tried to get Maxwell to pose with me but was unsuccessful.  Oh well, I still smiled for the camera!  🙂

It was a fun, chilly fall day at the Pumpkin Patch!  Something we’ll definitely do again next year!

ps – can we all agree that Maxwell is too cute in his red vest and overalls!  🙂

Birthday recap

We’ve had some fun birthday celebrations around here the past several days.  It all started on Thursday with Robert’s birthday.  As I  mentioned, I made him a special from-scratch yellow cake with chocolate icing.  We’re trying to recreate his grandmother’s beloved recipe and, while I don’t think we quite did that, this one was pretty good!

The recipe came from Smitten Kitchen – a favorite of mine.  Yellow cake recipe here and frosting recipe here.

I was pretty proud of how it turned out!

The afternoon of Robert’s birthday, Maxwell acted as my sous chef and helped me get everything ready…

He also practiced blowing out unlit candles all afternoon.

We had everything ready when Robert got home – and were particularly festive thanks to a “Dada’s Juice” balloon from Susan!

We had a great little party for 3 and ate our favorite pizza.  Maxwell was doing great…until it came time to light the candles and sing Happy Birthday.  Just like on his birthday, he didn’t like the lit candles one bit and definitely didn’t want to blow them out the way he had been practicing all day!  These 3 pictures that I took while we were singing “Happy Birthday” might by my favorite ever…

ha!  poor guy!  Totally makes me think of Robert’s birthday 2 years ago…

After Robert blew out the candles (please look at Maxwell’s pitiful face!)…

Maxwell got over his fear of fire quickly and devoured some cake!

I think it was a great 36th for Robert!

and just some proof that I was there too!  🙂

On Friday night, Robert and I went out to dinner to Highlands Grill to celebrate our birthdays.  We hadn’t been there in years and it was delicious!  We should definitely go there more often!  (which I’m sure will be happening with a new baby coming in 2 weeks!  ha!).  And, just because I was pretty proud of myself, here’s a pic of me actually dressed up in heels (well, wedge heels!) at 38 weeks pregnant ready for a night out!

Too bad I didn’t get a picture of me and Robert together because he was looking sharp!

On Sunday we celebrated my 34th!  First, a BIG thank you to everyone that made it special!  I loved all the calls, emails, texts, Facebook posts, etc.  Birthdays sure do make a girl feel good!  Susan – the “cu-cake” was delicious and the scissors are so “me”!  I love them!

The day started off right with this post from my brother and sister-in-law.  Please check it out because it is awesome!!  They were at Disney recently and…well…let’s just say I felt the princess love!!  The day also brought some gloriously cool cool fall temps – I love having an October birthday!  We didn’t do anything special, but getting to spend the day with Robert and Maxwell made it the best birthday ever.

Robert and Maxwell gave me some rose gold star earrings – perfection!  And this awesome, pink vest came from Susu and Dodo!  I loooove it!

Maxwell liked it too!  🙂

I also got a great necklace from the Browns and lots of Starbucks cards from others. score!  You all clearly know me well because there is nothing I’d rather have!  thank you!  I think 34 is going to be a banner year.  How can it not when I get to get loved every day by Robert, Maxwell and this new little baby on the way?!

Here’s to a new year for me and Robert!!