pumpkin carving and independence

We carved pumpkins on Tuesday. Adia was really excited to have her pumpkin indoors, but wasn't so sure about my sanity when I cut the top off. She just looked inside it and at me, trying to figure out what was going on. We showed her how we had to scoop the guts out, but after touching the inside, she was having none of it. She does NOT like to get dirty, especially when it's gooey too. Eventually she enjoyed using a spoon and scraper. She really liked helping us cut the faces and was overjoyed with the finished product.












Adia couldn't get enough of the finished pumpkins and was even more enthralled when we put candles inside them. She just stared and stared. One big problem though, she kept trying to pick her little pumpkin up while it was lit! We eventually convinced her it was hot so she left it alone, but every time we go on the porch, she points at each pumpkin and says who they belong to. Then she tries lifting the tops.


Earlier in the day we tried to take her outside for some Halloween pictures. She was having none of it. She wouldn't hold still and kept running off. She also didn't want to wear either costume, alligator or pumpkin. She was a real pill.






This independent thing is tough. She fights every little thing we try to do, even when it's stuff she wants to do. She fights naps and bedtime, getting in and out of her car seat, stroller or cart, what she's eating, where we're going. It's insane! It doesn't help that she's definitely too smart for her own good. She keeps trying to bolt at the play area because she wants to go see puppies and kitties and possibly pick up an Orange Julius on her own. Part of me doesn't even want to take her back. She can also be incredibly sweet, giving tons of hugs and kisses and you can honestly tell she loves you. I know she's just learning to be her own person, but it would be nice if she just listened every once in awhile.