Fall is here!

Well, it's almost here.  The cooler temperatures haven't exactly arrived (should be here Wednesday) but we did have a weekend full of fall festivities!  On Saturday morning Shane and I got up early and took Gray to breakfast and a pumpkin patch.  We were semi forced to leave our house early because we found out a few days prior that our neighborhood was along the route of a half marathon which happened to run down the street adjacent to our house.  We drove up to Flower Mound to a pumpkin patch I had heard about over the years from various people as being one of the better ones in the area.  As you can see, Gray is starting to stand and spent most of his pictures standing around the pumpkins.

Always smiles, even in a field of pumpkins!

We aren't sure why he is yelling at this pumpkin...

Me and my little "pumpkin"

Daddy and his baby boy

Later that evening we went on our first official date as mother and son to the Mother/Son Monster Mash.  It's an event that is put on by the Carrollton Police Officers Association to help raise funds for police and their families in the event an officer is injured or killed in the line of duty.  Obviously it is a group that is close to our hearts.  I actually helped get this event off the ground a few years ago and even helped them start the Daddy/Daughter dance 7 years ago that has over 750 attendees every year.  Never did I think I would actually get to attend one day with my own son.  :)  Gray and I went as pirates.  I saw a really cute pirate costume at Old Navy and still had a pirate costume for me that I wore when I took my nephew a few years ago to this same event.  My attempts to return it failed so it has been at the top of my closet waiting for another opportunity to wear it again.  I wasn't sure Gray would like his costume but he didn't seem to mind being dressed up.  Although he wasn't a fan of his hat (which was sooo cute).  We met my sister-in-law and nephews at the event along with my friend, Jill, and her son, Miles.  The night was filled with pictures, games, dancing, hanging out on the SWAT vehicle and fire trucks.  Gray seemed to have a really great time and passed out not to long after we headed home.  I know I'm going to look forward to this event for years to come and hope it turns into a night we can spend together as a regular little date starting with dinner at his favorite restaurant.  

Arg!  Lock up your booty and surrender to cuteness!

Our attempt to get a photo of him with the hat on.

He's a natural pirate.  

My sister-in-law and nephews were minions!  Such great costumes!

Uncle Jay Jay was a volunteer at the event.  

Chillin' in the back of the SWAT tactical vehicle.
Grandpa doesn't want him getting any ideas...

Front of the SWAT vehicle.

Someone liked being on the firetruck.

And trying on their bunker gear.

Me, Gray, Jill and Miles.
Miles was more interested in the bounce houses than
taking a picture with us.  Obviously Gray was, too.

Our next big milestone this weekend is that Gray is starting to stand for longer periods of time and has taken more consecutive steps!  We are so excited for him to be walking, although many people tell us that is part of the development process they dreaded because it meant a toddler running about the house.  Shane and I couldn't be happier and love watching him learn these new skills.

Standing like a boss!
And yes, that is a total of 4 schnoolies he has
in his possession.  

So proud of himself!

Our new favorite game is taking all the books off
our shelf.

He also learned how to stack his blocks.

And that he has a new best friend when it's dinner time.
Aspen loves that Gray feeds him.  

Here is a video of a few consecutive steps he took yesterday (he's been doing this for about a week but I finally caught it on camera).  

We had a great weekend together and are looking forward to taking Gray to the state fair for the first time later this week!