There's no place like home...

This past weekend was full of more fall activities. On Saturday Mommy celebrated her birthday! On Sunday, Gabriella attended Pi Phi's Children's Halloween party at the chapter house. In the evening, Mommy and Gabby made pumpkin bread for Gabriella's school's Halloween carnival cake walk and Gabby and Daddy carved a pumpkin. We also baked pumpkin seeds. It was a lot of fun!

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Mommy. Daddy made her birthday cake - yellow cake with chocolate frosting.

Here's a recent photo of Adriana laying on the kitchen table. She loves to stare at the lights so we tried to use the lights in order to get a photo with her eyes open.

It's Dorothy from Kansas! Gabriella loves the movie "The Wizard of Oz." She saw this costume at the store and immediately wanted to dress up as Dorothy. Here are a few photos from before we went to the Children's Halloween Party at Mommy's sorority at KU.

Trick-or-treating in the halls of Pi Beta Phi.

There were several activities for the children, too. Gabby is decorating a cookie in the dining room.

Gabby and Daddy carving a pumpkin.

The final product on our front porch.

The pumpkin bread and pumpkin seeds. Yummy!

Getting into the Fall Spirit

We spent much of the weekend getting into the fall and Halloween spirit. Below is an assortment of photos from the last few days. The weather has definitely felt like fall, if not like winter, the last week.

Adriana spends much of each day sleeping. We only wish she would relax this much at night. She's getting so big and changes each day. She has already bypassed her birth weight. As of Friday, she was 6 lbs. 14 oz.! She was 6 lbs. 7 oz. at birth and left the hospital at 6 lbs., 1 oz.

Friday night Mommy and Gabby made pumpkin bread. Gabby was an excellent assistant.

Doesn't she look like such a big girl?! We can't get over her maturity and verbal skills over the last few months. She talks non-stop, and if we must say, she is so smart! She blows us away with her ability to reason and recall stories and events. She is still doing awesome in her big sister role.

On Sunday we went to Schaake's Pumpkin Patch. It's such a neat place for the family. We all wore orange or our fall/Halloween outfits to get into the spirit. Above is a picture of the girls before we left the house.

Riding on the trailer out to the huge pumpkin patch. It was a windy yet beautiful fall day.

Trying to find the perfect pumpkin!

By the corn field.

We found a great pumpkin (in Daddy's arms)!

How funny!

Sliding into a hay pit.

Settling in

We have been home from the hospital for more than a week now. Adriana has been such a wonderful addition to our family. Gabriella loves her to pieces and can't seem to get enough of her. We haven't had any issues with jealousy or acting out - yet! We are keeping our fingers crossed! Below is an assortment of photos from our first week as a family of four. It has been so much fun getting to know our new baby girl.

~ Sisterly Love ~

There aren't many other things as cute as a father-daughter bond. David is already in love. Gabby and Adriana are two lucky little girls.

Adriana heading to her first KU football game. It was a cold day. Mommy and Adriana watched the game from G-Pa's office - what a great view! Gabriella spent half the game in the press box suite with Nonna and then took her nap and watched the second half in G-Pa's office. Daddy watched from his usual spot - the KU sideline. KU defeated Iowa State 41-36!

After the game in G-Pa's office.

Sorry this one is so dark. I set my camera to twilight so that the flash didn't make her eye close. (above)

This weekend Uncle Matt, Aunt Julie, Markie and Melina visited from New Castle to see the game on Saturday. Gabby really enjoyed spending time with her cousins. Here they are having a snack together. (below)

She's Here!!!

On Friday, October 2 at 8:09 a.m., we welcomed Adriana Mangino Hardy to the world!

6 lb., 7 oz. & 18 inches long

Labor and delivery went very smoothly and we are all doing great. Gabriella has handled the big sister role wonderfully so far. She adores Adriana and is always asking to hold her and loves to give her kisses. It just melts our hearts. Adriana is doing very well her first few days in this world. We came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon and our first night at home went well. Our family is truly blessed. Below are pictures from Adriana's birthday!

Early morning hours of Oct. 2 - waiting for her arrival.

Happy Birthday, Adriana!

Gabriella and Adriana's first meeting. This was such a special time for us.

Proud Big Sister!

Now a family of four - we are very blessed to have two healthy and beautiful daughters.

Leaving the hospital on Sunday, Oct. 4.