4 Halloween Firsts {Camden's First Halloween}

 

 

{ONE}

Being able to dress up our little man in a Halloween costume! 

I know I sound like a broken record here, but is there anything better than babies in costumes? JUST as good and fun as I imagined it to be! When we were trying to decide what Camden should be for Halloween, we saw this monkey costume and thought it fit his wild and all over the place personality perfectly! He looked so adorable in it and loved the banana rattle that came with it. I wish I could say I had planned the whole time to dress up as a banana to match him, but I actually randomly found this youth sized costume a few hours before trick-or-treat when out shopping. It was the last one left and I knew I had to get it, no matter how ridiculous I looked! Gone are the days of dressing up to actually look cute...ha.

We had so much fun dressing him up for trick-or-treat, even if the whole experience was mainly for our benefit. We took Cam to about 6 or 7 houses, went on a long walk in our neighborhood so that he could see all the costumes and kids, and then we all (Rocky too! he got a pass at wearing a costume this year) sat in our driveway and passed out candy to all the kids in our neighborhood. I know that I can speak for both me and Billy when I say it was our most memorable (and most rewarding) Halloween yet...so special.

{TWO}

When you're a first time mom and have a baby that can fit in a pumpkin, you take the opportunity to cut two holes for little legs to fit through, strip your baby down to just a diaper, and laugh and photograph like crazy for the next 10 minutes (or until said baby is completely over sitting in a pumpkin.) 

And this is how he really felt about it...

 

Nailed it! "Look at my muscles, ma!"

OK, we actually got a pretty cute one too...

Definitely going in the baby book. I'm sure Cam is going to love me for those later on in life...

{THREE}

Baby's first trip to the pumpkin patch!

It has always been a tradition of ours to visit at least one pumpkin patch every year, so of course this year we were more than excited to have Camden with us. He was particularly interested in standing on all of the pumpkin's and trying to climb over them...

 

We had a pretty good day for it but it was still pretty chilly with the wind, so we used our JJ Cole Collections Bundle Me on our stroller to go for a long walk through the patch afterwards. It's the perfect cover for the fall/winter to keep Camden comfortable and warm! He really likes when we put him in it as it's so soft! (We actually used the original Bundle Me on our car seat all the time last year when he was much smaller.)
I wanted to share/show this toddler version because it fits onto the stroller perfectly and zips up easily around him to keep him warm. I highly recommend either of them, depending on the size of your little one, for the colder months! We plan to use it all winter so that we can still take our walks outside and give Cam (and us) some fresh air!

(this is the Urban Ice color, I believe! #bundlemegood)

{FOUR}

Attended our first trunk or treat! A church just a few minutes away from our house hosted this event last weekend and my parents decided to come with us. They had food, beverages, candy, and a hayride - it was so much fun!

Basically, it gave us another reason to put him in his Halloween costume and swoon over it...

 

Such a memorable Halloween for us as parents, and hopefully for Camden too! Loved every minute of it and let's be serious, I'm already looking forward to next year...

And dare I say it, Christmas. (I KNOW some of you are with me on this one)

Hope everyone had a great Halloween! 

Hunter Boots On Sale for $80

Happy Friday and almost Halloween!

Last night was trick-or-treat for us in our neighborhood, and honestly it gave me all the {good kinda} feels that come along with parenting. Yes, Camden is too young to remember his first Halloween but the enjoyment and pictures we got from it was enough to last us for the next year until we do it again. We've always loved Halloween, but this year it was just so special with our little man. He brings us so much joy I could just burst. Or eat him up...whichever comes first. Pictures to come on Monday! (including me in a giant banana youth sized costume...)

Anyway, the point of this post. THERE IS A POINT. A BIG ONE...

(back during the bump days! scarf is from Target last year but this one is identical)

Last night I was persuing Twitter and heard about how for a limited time Nordstrom is price matching these Original Tall Hunter Boots to Costco's price of $80!! That's almost HALF OFF! I had to share with you guys because hello, deal obsessed over here! and I know the normal price of $150 isn't ideal for rain boots. Everyone always ask me if they are worth it (they are), but now is the time I would definitely buy them if you've been on the fence!

I wear mine all the time in the fall/winter (like every week) and they make the most adorable socks for them now, so your feet will be extra warm.

I never knew Costco sold Hunter Boots but apparently they do (you go Costco!) so Nordstrom is only offering this special price for the colors/type that are available on Costco's website. This includes the Tall Original Hunter Boots in Red, Navy, Hunter Green, and Black (in gloss or matte!) and also many of the Short version as well. Just make sure the ones you want are available on Costco's website (view them all here) before purchasing with Nordstrom.

Also, I did look into this just to make sure it was legit and it is! I "live chatted" with Nordstrom last night and they confirmed to me that all you have to do is place an order and send them the order # and they will adjust the price. If you feel more comfortable, you can "Live Chat" yourself on Nordstrom's website and they will give you the full instructions on what to do.

Update: If you want to know what sizes/colors Costco still has in stock to quality for the price match, I would highly recommend asking a rep in the Live Chat section on Nordstrom's website (shown on this page) - it only takes a minute and they will verify if the pair you want is available in your size / is eligible. :)

Hope everyone has a spooky Halloween weekend! My cousin Natasha (the one from my adoption post) is in town from Colorado so I will be hanging out with her tonight and tomorrow which has me excited! xo

Feeding The Littles: Zucchini Parmesan Crisps

It's time for the second installment of Feeding The Littles!

These zucchini parmesan crisps could not be easier...minimal ingredients and a short cooking time are my kinda things. They are such a yummy little snack for your little one! I fed these alongside some applesauce and fruit! Camden approved. ;)

Zucchini Parmesan Crisps:

+1 zucchini (use 2 if you want to make a big batch of them)

+1 tablespoon olive oil

+1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan 

+1/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs

+salt and pepper to taste 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Slice the zucchini into 1/4 inch rounds. In a medium bowl, toss the zucchini with the poil. In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper. Dip each zucchini round into the mixture so that you're coating it on both sides. Place on baking sheet. Cook for 20-25 minutes until they are browned and crisp!    

Don't forget to steal some for yourself, too. 

     

Enjoy this recipe? Spread the love and share it! xo

The Power Of Adoption

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Wendy’s for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

If there is one thing that most people don't know about me, it's that I was adopted (you can read the full story here, if you'd like.) Unfortunately, my Mom was never able to have kids herself but they knew they wanted to have a baby and expand their family so that's when they turned to adopting. And I couldn't be more thankful that they did! I love reading my Mom's letters back from when they first found out that they got selected and would be welcoming me into their family...I can only imagine the happiness and excitement that they felt. Supporting those who choose to adopt, or who have been adopted themselves, has always been so important to me. Parents who adopt not only have some of the biggest hearts, but they open their home to children who come to them from all over the world and I think that's pretty darn incredible.

Living in Columbus, I've always been a big fan of Wendy's (apple pecan chicken salad on repeat) and of the founder Dave Thomas, who was actually an adopted child himself! It was only until recently did I learn of the foundation he started in 1992 called the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. This foundation works to find permanent, loving homes for more than 130,000 children waiting in North America's foster care system. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption worked with Wendy’s to establish the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Program to focus on children who have been waiting the longest in the foster care system. How wonderful is that? It's truly amazing what they are doing.

Dave Thomas believed that children in foster care “aren’t someone else’s responsibility, they are our responsibility.” Wendy’s continues to support that belief through fundraising and collaboration with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. 

Through November, Wendy's is doing something really special to highlight the power of foster care adoption through a child's eyes. They are showcasing the artwork of four children who have been adopted through the Wendy's Wonderful Kids Program on cold beverage and specialty drink cups. The illustrations that the children do are of special "Family First" moments, such as a day spent at the park and so forth.

So, next time you order your beloved diet coke make sure to take a look on the outside of your cup for one of these stories! The family first videos can be viewed here (on Wendy’s adoption page) and will certainly melt your heart! I know that, for me, they also serve as a great reminder to not take the little moments with your family for granted. 

Does you or someone you know have a special adoption story? I would love to hear it! And be on the lookout for these family stories on your Wendy's cups!