Baby Love, A Visual Love Note

by Gramma 'Bearin and Mama

Owen, almost 5 months old

Happy Halloweening!

Presenting Sapphire the gnome!



And Emerald the gnome!

On Halloween we went to a fantastic outdoor festival. Michael was so excited to get dressed up early.

Mommy, Owen (4 months old) & Michael (4 years old)

Michael has neon teeth in his mouth and is being silly.

They had all sorts of fun activities at the Festival. Including decorate your own gourd, bowling with pumpkins & re purposed soda containers, a small haunted house,

a bean bag toss into this jack o' lantern, live music and more. All the activities cost tickets which were .50 each and the children got a free trade candy treat for participating. It was super fun for the kids!


It all ended however when Michael went to get his face painted. I think he thought she was just going to paint a little picture, but she did his whole face and he really hated how it felt. He was also afraid of it. He wouldn't look in the mirror when we came home to wash it off and he told me "I want to be a nice gnome!" That's my sweet little gnome.

So off we went to a friend's house to be nice gnomes. Our good friends Liam, Morgan & Marial were there. Liam & Morgan were both Bumblebees. Liam an actual bumblebee and Morgan the transformer named Bumblebee. And sweet Marial was a princess.

Monica and her little bumblebee.

Me and my little gnome.

The kids had a blast trick or treating. It reminded me of when I was a kid, remembering the frenzy of excitement! We got many compliments on our costumes.

Buddies Michael and Morgan.

Another fun-filled Halloween!

A Handmade Halloween

Lately, here at Chocolate Eyes, it looks like all we do is cuddle and stare at little Owen. While there is a whole lot of that going on, we do other things as well.


This year I've had a fun time making some Halloween play things. I made these adorable finger puppet bats. Two for Michael and one to give to a friend. I found the tutorial here at Domesticali.

And the easiest thing ever, this ghost. Michael and I made ghosts for our tree outside last year. We made them out of old fabric, newspaper stuffed inside for the head and painted scary faces. This year Michael wanted a ghost to play with. So in about a minute I made this one out of a gauzy fabric, bamboo stuffing and a cream colored ribbon. He loves it and has spent so much time playing ghost all over the house and yard.

So, when I asked Michael what he wanted to be for Halloween he said a blue gnome. I've been telling him a story about among other things a little mischievous forest gnome dressed all in blue named Sapphire. So a gnome he will be along with baby brother. Here are the hats made loosely from a pattern in "Living Crafts".


Then I made this cloak for Michael out of some old brown velvet pants. I love how it came out and it will be a great dress up garment as well.


I made a spare cloak as well out of an old shirt I had and never wore. I cut off the sleeves and sewed the sides up. It's a little shorter than the brown one. I'm going to wrap Owen in it to match his hat.

Then of course, we had to make gluten free Halloween sugar cookies! We made ghosts and leaves and are still working on them today.

My only complaint with gluten free sugar cookies is they expand so much in the oven that you can't tell what they are when they come out. I'll have to play with the recipe a bit. But, they sure are tasty!


And last but not least I've been working on this Fall banner. I'm making it out of felt and printed fabric. Right now it's pinned together and I still need to come up with a few more pictures.

Honestly this is way more work than I had imagined it would be at the outset and I've thought about giving it up. But, Michael LOVES it! Every time I work on it he's so interested and especially loves the pumpkin. It's so celebratory and fun and so I think I have to finish it.


It might be done by next year's Fall!

Happy Birthday to me!

It was my 35th birthday this week! Wow, bizarre. How is a 35 year old supposed to feel? Or act? I don't know. I don't feel 35, I don't even feel 30 or 20 for that matter.

Age is funny that way. I'm learning it doesn't really mean a thing. Anyway, I had a great day. My husband had the day off and we went for pizza as a family. It was fun! I received some birthday money and bought some Waldorf books I've been wanting, as I'm gearing up for home school.

I'm so grateful for my life! For my three guys, dear husband, love of my life.


And my two perfect little boys.


Michael, who seems so much older ("Time" the great illusion again) now that Owen's here, but is still my sweet little chocolate eyes.


And Owen who has completed our little family.

Life is good.

A laugh!

From October

Click for a video.

Rolling Over

Owen learned to roll over on October 13th at 3 1/2 months old. (for posterity) He was having diaper free time which he loves, loves, loves! What baby doesn't right?

He tried many times.

And finally he succeeded! The problem is he hates being on his belly. So now every time I put him down he immediately flips over like he's on autopilot and then fusses and frets because he hates tummy time. He hasn't figured out how to flip the other way. If I turn him over on his back he just flips over on his belly and then gets mad all over again. It's quite cute but frustrating for poor Owen. I imagine once he figures this out he'll be rolling all over the house. Yikes! I better start baby proofing.

Baking with Mommy

Well, brother said no to baking. He's been saying no a lot lately. Sad. I hope he gets interested in baking again.

So what could I do but make Owen help? No, it's not too early!

This was his first time in the high chair stuffed with blankets. It only lasted a few minutes, as ok, maybe it's too early.


He enjoyed the new view for a few minutes anyway. Can't blame a Mama for trying!

Sweet Brothers

Michael 4yrs old, Owen 3 months