Holidays

 We missed the last two holidays on this blog so here are some pictures to make up for that.

 But first let's start with two pics of Wes taken in the last day or two.

 

For Halloween we partook in the Del Ray Halloween parade (basically a bunch of kids and their parents walk down the main drag of the section of town and show off their costumes).  We, of course, forgot to bring the good camera and only had a few pictures on our phones.

Thankfully, we also went "trick or treating" (the quotes are there because you can't really trick or treat with an 18-month old - everyone knows who's really getting the candy) the next street over and remembered to bring the camera.

 Molly was very good about taking only one piece of candy when offered some.  It'll be interesting to see how long it takes her to grow out of that.

 The 'backpack' aka leash was extremely handy in this situation.  The city blocks off the street for about six or seven blocks and there are hundreds of people trick or treating.  Being able to maintain some control of Molly was essential.  As you can see, she a) doesn't mind it and b) is thrilled to have a Milky Way candy bar.

 Her costume was Pegasus, but because of the frog backpack most people didn't see the wings so they thought she was a unicorn.

 Here she's modeling for Grammie and Gramp via FaceTime.

 ...and then Wes showed up.  We managed to get a few good shots of him at the hospital, but not too many.  Overall the whole experience at the hospital was extremely different with Wes than with Molly, mostly because we had some knowledge of what to expect and were not extremely stressed/freaked out.  It also helped that Wes was a pretty good sleeper.  Let's hope he keeps that up.

 Once we got home it didn't take us too long to break out the baby wearing stuff.  Hopefully he'll get used to it and will allow us to do it often.  Otherwise I'm not quite sure how we're going to chase after Molly while holding Wes.  Our arms are strong, but not that strong.

 On Thanksgiving day Molly helped make an apple pie with Grammie.

 I'm not quite sure what caused this look.

 Helping Grammie roll out the crust.

And the final product.  We both expect Molly to be a master pie-maker now and hope to have her making them on her own by next year.

 A picture of everyone gathered around the 'adults'  and 'kids' table.  Unfortunately I didn't switch out the portrait lens.  Oops.

This year especially, we are thankful for family.  Both the newest addition and those who have been around a little longer.  This second time around with Wes has been less stressful by orders of magnitude both in part to our having done it before and to having both sets of parents down here to help.  I cannot imagine having to do all of this by ourselves from day one.

Hi. I am Wes

At 8pm sharp Wesley Matthew Magoun was born. He was 8lbs 7.2oz and 20.5 inches long. So far he is much quieter than his sister was at this age and he seems to have this whole sleep thing down. Let's just hope that continues.

A Hardie sling

For those of you who don't know, we're pretty into wearing Molly. It gives us the ability to contain her while still having both hands free. There are multiple ways to wear a child. One such way is with a ring sling.

For awhile I have been making offhanded comments to Katie about how it would be neat to gave a sling in the fabric of one of the Scottish clans I can claim. Well, after my cousins wedding in Nova Scotia (i.e. New Scotland) and my uncle's history lesson on how the bride and groom actually come from the same clan (hundreds of years removed), we finally decided to get serious about the ring sling thing.

So here it is. Likely the world's first clan Hardie ring sling (I claim Hardie on my maternal grandfather's side) The fabric was woven in Scotland and then turned into a ring sling here in the States. I would have shown a picture with Molly in the sling, but she was going to bed as it showed up.

Pretty cool.

All bundled up

It seems winter (or at least winter temperatures) has decided to make an appearance.

Awesome neighbors

We just got back from a baby shower thrown by our neighbors. The event was yet another reason we love our neighborhood. The pictures are Molly hanging with Audrey and Ann and a handmade quilt for the little one. The quilt is just amazing.

The Faces of Molly

U r a bus no more

It's time to say good by to a dear friend. Almost ten years ago is when we first met in the summers of the north. She was young and ready to impress. And impress she did. Over the ensuing years we traveled the country together. She was there with me for some of the best moments of my life. and now it is time to say goodbye

I am, of course, talking about my beloved Subaru Outback. She was able to survive two earthquakes, multiple hurricanes and blizzards. She drove through 15 states and two countries. She took me to see my future wife countless times, including to the church to get married. She took Katie to, and Molly home from, the hospital.

In short, she did it all.

Until she met her match. Two rear facing car seats and a 6'3" driver.

She will be missed.

Fall

It is in the 50s, raining and we have our first fire of the season. Fall is here.

4 more years! 4 more years!

Okay, so actually I'm hoping for many more than just four more years (we made a pact that we would reassess at 70 years, so we have 66 to go).

Anyway... four years ago two houses joined as one.  Unlike the fabled Montagues and Capulets, these were not two houses "both alike in dignity" nor was there an "ancient grudge [to] break new mutiny".  In fact, this story doesn't really have anything to do with Romeo and Juliet (save the true and everlasting love part) so I'm not really sure why I brought it up.

So, on with the story.  Four years ago we were married.  In many ways it seems like a long time ago (in a good way. No, seriously. It seems like there wasn't a time before we were together. Not because of some sappy star-crossed lover thing, but because - I like to think - we're best friends and once you marry your best friend everything just seems right and better).  In other ways, it is just a blip in time.

In that blip however, we've managed to do a fair amount:

Get married (obviously).

 Buy a house.

Add to our family by adopting Harry.

Go on our first international trip together (and first cruise).

 Renovate our house.

 Live through Snowmageddon.

 Live through Snowpocalypse.

Live through Snowmygod. There was a lot of snow that year.

 Have a baby.  It was a lot of hard work for me.

 Welcome Molly to the world.

 Introduce Molly to the Great Lakes.

 Have more work done on the house.

 Introduce Molly to the Atlantic Ocean.

 Bring Molly to her first political rally...

 ...which she promptly slept through.

Laugh constantly at the faces Molly makes.

Introduce Molly to her first Maine blizzard.

 Introduce Molly to the Gulf of Mexico. (there has been a lot of introducing lately).

 Celebrate Molly's first birthday.

 Celebrate Nate and Ellete's wedding.

 Catch up with college friends (and Molly's future roommate at Hamilton).

 And ponder what the future holds (hint: a baby brother).