Picking Our Perfect Pumpkin

From the day we began our lives together as a family, I knew exactly what I wanted: the vivid memories of my own childhood- going strawberry picking in farm fields, sledding down huge snow mountains, spending countless hours making sand castles at the beach, etc. I know Preston won't remember any of our family adventures at this age, but I find joy in building these traditions as a family. So, naturally, visiting a pumpkin patch was high on our to-do list this season.

The pumpkin patch we took him to was one called Tina's Pumpkin Patch in Sherman Oaks. One day, we'll get the purist experience of going out to a real farm pumpkin patch. For our first time, we really didn't mind that this was just a dirt lot off a busy intersection 

There were so many different pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, we had a hard time choosing THE one. Finally we went for the one that most resembled our sons head. Is this mean? Hahah. I think someone mentioned one time he looks like a little pumpkin, and I totally see it.

 

Instilled in my memory from this trip is Preston's look of bewilderment as he was examining this giant orange orb. In a short amount of time, he was decidedly dissatisfied with sitting next to a pumpkin and, in usual fashion, had to let his feelings be known with loud grunts. After much coaxing, dissatisfaction gradually ripened into tolerance and then fascination.

 

The day was so hot. We felt like eggs sizzling in a frying pan. Understandably, Preston looked like Mr. Grumps in 90% of the photos we took of him.

What I love about Preston at this age is how engaged he is with the world. His endless fascination with everything around him is amusing to both of us, but also a good reminder to not just look but try to really see and listen to the world in that untarnished way. 

Right now I am so smitten with the three of us. One day, probably in the near future, I know that I will want Preston to have other siblings to play with, but  at this instant, I'm smitten with our tiny little family. Pretty sure Preston relishes the attention too, hahah.