We spent the month of October having lots of fun getting ready... getting ready for Halloween and for a new baby. Every day at school, Vita was engaged in Halloween books, art projects, songs, and sometimes she'd come home from school painted up like a pumpkin, a ghost, or a bat. This was the first year Vita really participated in the enthusiasm leading up to the holiday, because she remembered last year and she couldn't wait to go trick or treating again.
We went to a pumpkin patch. Can you find Vita in this picture? She blends right in.
At the pumpkin patch Vita climbed through the straw maze.
We carved pumpkins, and Vita got to enjoy pulling out the squishy goo inside the pumpkins and got to design her own jack o lantern. (Unfortunately, it rotted before we got to take a picture of the finished product.)
Vita has also been performing her own one woman shows... where she sings and dances and makes up stories, etc. Here are two links to one such performance. We call it Vita's Opus, part one and two. At the end of part two, Vita looks up at Ernie and I and says "now let me see YOUR dance".
Finally, on Friday October 29th at 3:52 pm Vita's little sister was born! Anabelle Lauren Hardy weighed 9 lbs and 15 oz, and was 21 inches long. She's a big, healthy girl with a full head of curly brown hair and beautiful grey blue eyes. We are so thankful that she is finally here with us!
Anabelle's birth kicked off an action packed weekend for Vita. On Friday at school, Vita participated in a Halloween parade. Grandma Victoria attended the parade since I was busy going into labor... (therefore, I don't have pictures of the parade). Later that evening, Grandma Victoria took Vita to the hospital to meet her brand new baby sister. It was a stormy night, but when they arrived at the hospital, Vita said to her Grandma... "Today is a beautiful day." Awww.
Here's Vita getting a first look at her baby sister Anabelle. Vita has been so gentle and so sweet with her little sister. She always wants to give her hugs and kisses and hold her, and help cover her with blankets, etc. She's doing a really really great job.
That night Ernie and I stayed in the hospital and Vita had a sleepover with Grandma Victoria. They had a blast. The next day, Vita attended a birthday party at an indoor heated swimming pool for a classmate who is turning 3. Vita and her dad had so much fun in the pool, that Vita didn't want to get out of the pool at all (even to eat pizza and cupcakes)! She was the very last one out of the pool. We've got to get her in some swimming classes!
After the pool party, Vita and dad came back to the hospital and we all checked out and headed home with the baby. Here's Vita at the hospital, holding her baby sister for the first time. Also, here's a cute little video of Vita saying how Anabelle is happy because Vita is holding her. So cute!
When Halloween rolled around on Sunday, Vita dressed up in two different costumes. First, she was a pirate...
Then she was a scary green dragon! Here she is all ready to go trick or treating with her dad and some neighborhood friends with kids around the same age.
And here's an action shot of Vita waiting her turn to say Trick or Treat. 
With the festivities over (for now), we're gearing up for a few quiet weeks of just hanging out at home bonding, enjoying lots of sweet moments like this one... two sisters checking each other out and getting to know each other.
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