8 Months

You know what I have realized in the past month... its a miracle your 2nd (in our case 3rd) child survives once they are mobile. Hannah Kate is always always on the go. Aside from naturally picking up the smallest piece of dust, food, etc. she can find on the floor, she can also find Parker and Emma Jane's smallest toys despite my attempts to hide them! 

She is such a happy baby 95% of the time. We went to Jason's parents house for Thanksgiving which had lots of carpet and Hannah Kate was in heaven. She pulled up to stand on every piece of furniture in sight and would just fall down and laugh. She was even able to stand on her own for a few seconds. 

In the past month Hannah Kate has also learned how to drink from a straw cup. She has an unhealthy obsession with Parker and Emma Jane's water cups. They are.her.favorite. And with this obsession she has learned to drink from them- so we will just skip the sippy cup! 

An attempt at a group shot

"Oh... I'm not supposed to play with that??"

More Fall Fun

Between May and this coming December (including our upcoming Christmas trip) the Broges will have traveled 7 times to places at least 5 hours away. This doesn't include the 4 extra trips Jason or I  have had to take without the children.... thats a whole lotta car time for some little people. No one can say we don't try :) Anyway, at the beginning of November my brother's little girl Lily turned 1 and this was a party we definitely couldn't miss. Off to Chattanooga we went. Lily had a great party. It was good for Parker and Emma Jane to experience a birthday party where they weren't the center of attention and they didn't get to open presents. Hannah Kate and Lily also got to have some bonding time which involved sticking their fingers in each other's mouths. 

Lily was a master cake smasher!! 

This was one of many attempts to get a group picture... Lily thought jumping on the couch would be more fun. 

Fall also means leaves! The girls once again "helped" Jason rake some leaves and were rewarded by getting to jump in them. So much fun! 

Halloween

This year for Halloween the girls were the three little pigs. My mom made their costumes and did a fantastic job. They even had curly tails. We had a good time. Parker and Emma Jane even said "trick or treat" this year. Hannah Kate didn't really care for the experience... but she was a trooper :) 

She smushed her nose

Henri the zookeeper and Graham the tiger came with us!

We survived! 

Enjoying the fruits of their labor and watching Charlie Brown.

7 months

7 months!! This happy redhead is crawling, can get into a sitting position all by herself, loving all her stage 2 baby food and has even sampled some delicious vanilla wafers. I am going to hope month 8 brings a baby who sleeps through the night consistently :) Isn't she adorable?! 

She is trying to take a picture of herself... 

Apple Pickin

Back in October we went apple and pumpkin picking with our St. Louis family the Hagans. While it was ridiculously hot, we had a great time. 

An expert apple picker

Emma Jane loved the ponies!

Parker wasn't too sure how she felt about this experience

6 months

My crazy brain forgot that I had already taken 6 month pictures of Hannah Kate and took them again the other day. Then when I went to load the pictures on the computer... I realized I had two sets. So here ya go. I can't believe 6 months have gone by already. It has gone by so fast. Hannah Kate is almost crawling, sitting up by herself (with pillows surrounding just in case), about to have two front teeth, eating every amount of baby food we give her (current favorite is bananas), and loving any toy or person that lets her jump!! 

Again, Parker and Emma Jane were my ever "helpful" assistants with the photo shoots.

The Beach

At the end of August, we were fortunate enough to get to go to the beach for an entire week. We have been once before in November for a long weekend when the girls were a year, but have not been on a true vacation since then. We had a wonderful time, although I now know that going to the beach without children and then with children are two entirely different things. Resting is not on the agenda... but we still had a great time.

We went with my Mom and Stepdad, my grandparents, and my brother and his family. It was a full house. The house had a pool which was the best part by far and it was just a very short golf cart ride to the beach.

Lily and Emma Jane 

We got a daily concert from Parker and Emma Jane too.... this is no different than at home! 

One tired Parker

The best we could do

The girls had a daily popsicle break by the pool

We had a great time. The bonus part of the trip was a stop in Auburn on the way home. I repeatedly told the girls this is where they want to go to school... we'll see if my brainwashing works...