less than 2 months to go...

Halloween is right around the corner and there is no way I am buying the candy early. Even if I purchased the varieties I don't like, I am sure I could talk myself into enjoying them. I will be one of the people at Wal-Mart on the 30th looking for discounted candy and hoping I have the willpower to make it through the 24-hour period before the trick-or-treaters appear at my door. Maybe I should just give out pennies and stickers. Wouldn't that excite all of the neighborhood kids (and immediately seal the deal for our child!)?

Thanksgiving comes next...another event focused on food - and all homemade! My brother from Virginia's family is coming up to celebrate with us, which will be a lot of fun! The day after (or maybe before) will be spent putting the Christmas tree and all of the holiday decorations up and out. We didn't do this last year since we had just moved in, so I am looking forward to this. I say that now, of course.

Less than 3 weeks after this time, we will be in "get her out" mode! Though the painting has yet to start at the house, we are getting projects accomplished. The tree is finally out (not an easy ordeal), the electricians have been here to change out fixtures and add new elements to our interior, and once the painting is finished (great timing for home improvements, I know), we will be ready to accept any and all guests -- and small children!

Today was the first real day of fall -- rain, windy, icky. We have had nothing short of exciting in our weather over the last week (Owensboro was even featured on CNN, NBC, and CBS because of the tornadoes that came in a pack of three last Thursday night). We are now starting to cool off and the grass is even starting to show life. Drake no longer has to play ball in a dirt field!

This coming weekend, my dad and Susan arrive for a short visit on their way down to Florida. We look forward to a fun dinner with them - and the time change that accompanies the weekend. Other than that, we don't have many plans.

A few of pictures to accompany the blog -- one of the tree that has been removed (and the screened in porch that took 3 hours to clean) and the other of the fantastic little girl hidden in my belly (and Drake, who appears in most pictures like Waldo. You can even find him on the porch in the first picture)

10 weeks to go

Fall is supposedly here though it is difficult to notice due to the 90 degree days - and 80% humidity. I have a lot of fall maternity clothing though I am still wearing the summer duds (and am NOT the same size I was when they were purchased)! We are slowly getting the house put together for the arrival of baby m, and soon we will consider names for her. Her crib is ready, which is one less thing to stress about, but now that nesting is part of my ritual, I am frantically desiring to have her diaper bag ready and everything else.

Matt left for Florida today to spend a few days of fall break with his parents. I was going until I realized that 6 hours of sitting at school isn't fun and that 12 hours in the car -- 24 total -- would probably make for divorce proceedings. We have also had a week of bad omens: a tree was being removed from our backyard and a rope broke that was holding the branch, allowing the branch to bounce off the roof, bend the gutter, and land on the porch furniture below, and the same day I took my SUV in for routine service and was told that some part of the transmission was cracked so they were going to put in a new transmission -- under warranty, of course. I picked my car up yesterday and Matt is heading south in it, so let's hope for the best. The tree service is coming back Monday to finish the job (and hopefully provide replacements for the damaged items). An ongoing ordeal that adds humor to life??

Baby m is growing quite a bit right now, which allows me to justify pedicures, naps, and milkshakes; all three making me a much nicer person! She is also highly active and enjoys the music that accompanies dance videos in class - and she especially likes to do dances!

Drake, Ezra, and Abby are hoping for cooler temperatures, too. Drake spends much of his time on the tile or wood floors while the cats snuggle on the bed. Drake is also learning that some of the new toys are not for him, a tough lesson at any age.