Fall...

is here! And, let me tell you, I am happier than a pig in you-know-what. It has been SIX years since I have lived with seasons, SIX years since I saw leaves change, smelled the scents of fall, went to a real pumpkin patch, rode on hay in a wagon, WELL, you get the picture! I am such a seasonal person and I am SO happy to be back east again. (And yes, I know our seasons here in NC are a bit less dramatic than you lucky ones up north, but I'll take what I can get!)

Life is mach 4 with our hair on fire most of the time. These minis keep up running. We are VERY lucky to have a wonderful babysitter who comes 2x per week, so we actually do get a bit of grown up time now and then. I think I'd eat mac and cheese every night to afford her. (well that wouldn't be too much of a stretch, since I actually love mac and cheese, possibly even more than my kids do.)

My life seems to be settling in to something of a routine. I'm really thankful to have several old friends and a few new ones around these parts, most that are just as crazy as me or are at least entertained by my antics! Our new church is nice, (the kids love it and Charles is clearly comforted by the preacher's words, since he is comfy enough to fall asleep there pretty regularly...) As for me, I'm surprised every day how much I actually like living here again. Never thought those words would come out of my mouth (or from my rapidly typing fingers.) Guess it's the slower pace of life, the lack of plastic people, the salt of the earthness of the locals and the simple weekends that make my heart smile. (Now, mind you, I am still in mourning for my CA shopping and pining for Nordstrom, but I am holding out for a trip home to satisfy my "how may I kiss your butt" shopping experience.)

As for my minis....
Oh boy, oh boy. Is Max a real boy! Truly a caveman, he has hamhocks bigger than my biceps, not a shred of neck, cheeks that are incredibly kissable AND the most devilish eyebrows I've seen since my brother Mark was a baby. (And he really favors Mark & he favors Charles too, so the best of the handsomest men in my life!) He has his bottom 2 teeth now, and seems to be chewing his way across the house, so i'm guessing a few more teeth are inbound. He has FINALLY started to figure out how to get his hefty self mobile, so he is "sort of" crawling/scooching/rolling his way around.

He is truly the happiest baby I have had and could spend hours chewing on some random object while staring at the ceiling fan and laughing. My personal fave is when flips onto his back and "stiffly" waves his arms and legs all over the place. He looks like a bug stuck on it's back, trying desperately to flip rightside. It is hysterical! (It's also reminiscent of boot camp for me, when they would yell grenade and if you didn't dive for cover fast enough, they'd make your roll over and act like a dead bug. Ah, those fondly humiliating memories...)

Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. The littlest estrogen member of this clan is most definitely the DIVA. Mostly a very happy little bean, she is prone to random silly crying, all the while staring at Mommy (or occasionally Daddy,) like, "can't you see I'm upset here? PICK ME UP!" This does impede my ability to multitask and do all my maidly duties. So, the laundry and dirt does pile up a bit more than my freakishly clean self would like. She is incredibly mobile, exploring EVERY nook and cranny of this house, squeezing her tiny self through every blockade I attempt to impose.

And tiny she is. Just now 17 lbs, she is still solidly in 3-6 mos and mostly feels like I'm holding air when I sweep her up. (Now, Max on the other hand...that's like holding a bowling ball. or two.) She is also VERY curious and wants to be aware of what's going on in every corner of the house. She has a little loop she makes around the downstairs to check everything out. She is not going to be pleased when she wakes up and discovers the new gates the handy hubby has set up. :-) I really enjoy watching caveman and the diva fight over toys now. Super cute and very entertaining. I also love watching them grab and smoosh each other. AND, finally... imagine my umm.... shock? when I walked into her room and discovered her standing up, holding on to the side of her crib yesterday. Oh, yeah. little terd. Oh, and she does FINALLY have her first tooth, lower left!

As for my bigs? WELL...................

that will have to wait for the next post. I am out of steam and need to attack the 154 piles of laundry awaiting my attention.
stay tuned for more fall adventures and the trick or treat update....

love,
tiff