All I did was blink. I closed my eyes for a single second and when I opened them a budding little girl sat before me. Those delicious round cheeks still intact but somehow a little less baby-ish. Untamable, swift curls of ever-lightening hair springing out from behind her ears. Her big bright eyes brimming with the same curiosity and wonder as the day she was born but also a touch of wisdom. And all I did was blink.

Alex and I went back and forth on a couple Halloween costume ideas for Dakota but since she loves animals so much (and because babies in animal ears/hats/bonnets are irresistibly charming) we knew that was the right route to go.

What is it about babies and pumpkins that are so irresistibly cute? This weekend we drove out to Easton to explore the pumpkin patch at Councell Farms with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Justin, Aunt Julianne and baby cousin Jaxon.