What's getting me by...

Happy Saturday, gang! 

I haven't felt like posting in a while but today I figured I'd pop by for a few. I hope you are all feeling well and able to enjoy some of the weekend. It's rainy here but I've always been a fan of the gloom. It's a day of laundry and cleaning and organizing ... much like every other single day of my life.  

I am writing this by the hum of the dryer and the welcomed sounds of Christmas music playing from my iTunes. That's right. Sing it, Mr. Como. 

Lately, I've been in a pretty good groove. Sure, things around me are exploding and crumbling to the ground but we are managing this household with grace. HAHAHAHA. Sorry, I cannot pretend that I have one ounce of grace. Not even for a second. But we are muddling through as best we can. We have been keeping our circle small and finding allllll the ways to keep the girls engaged, active, creative and happy. Thank you, Intex, for your weird yet adequate pool. It is the only way we can stand the unacceptable heat of the summer in our backyard. We all know I'm not traipsing through a forest until every last bug has died and the temp drops below 60. It will come. It always does. 

The idea that Fall is on its way is just enough to propel me through this insane hurdle that is "Back to School." We have opted to continue with distance learning and I feel good about that. I empathize with every teacher out there. These are titanic decisions to be made and are no doubt exhausting. Thank you for giving up your summer to do your best as always. I only hope that seeing a chunky, rust colored sweater in Target will bring you a fraction of the joy that it brings me. 

In just a few days I will be switching out my most dreaded calendar block (May, June, July, August) for my absolute favorite (September, October, November, December). I know, it seems insane to even bring this up in a blog post but I've done it. And I've probably done it in the past as well but we all know how polished my memory is. I cannot wait for the crisp mornings. Being able to sit out on the deck without sweating and buzzing sounds. NOT watering flowers. Can we just accept the fact that I don't enjoy plants. I feel like they try to please with their beauty and benefits but it's just not enough for me. I don't know what I'm doing, I kill them... or stunt them... overwater or underwater. I find myself sneering at them. They know they're unappreciated and they act accordingly. It's mutual really. Give me some mums on the front steps for a month. I can do that. 

I have spent a LOT of time watching Christmas and Winter themed Hallmark movies. I'm a changed woman. I know now that I was meant to live in a mountain town with kind folk and a super charming Main Street. I should be wearing fair isle sweaters and scarves and spending all of my time baking goodies for my little shop on my husband's tree farm. Traveling only by horse-drawn sleigh and having at least one spontaneous snowball fight weekly. Warm drinks in my hand all day and night. Hygge forever! Seriously though, I am hooked on the dreamy idea that people really do live that way. And I really do dream of being one of them. 

I'm off to crank the central air, make some hot chocolate and throw some ice at my kids. Gotta start somewhere, right? 

Have a great weekend! 

xo 

Fall, into the third trimester...

Let me start by saying, Hooorayyy for cooler temperatures! I am finally feeling the lovely, sweet relief that used to be brought by September and is now barely swept in by October. Time to start lighting my dozens of adorable Halloween candles without having to put the central air on. And, while this will quickly turn into a ho-hum challenge, I am enjoying the task of choosing a jacket, sweater or hoodie for Scarlett each morning. It really is the little things.

Right around this time of year I start to get antsy for all things Christmas. I know! I KNOW! I wait all year long for Fall and am practically daydreaming it away when I see so much as a candy cane candle in the stores. Red and white and silver and green ... it's commmminnnnnng. Hee Hee! I just hope I'm able to enjoy all of my favorite things as I always do ... while being nine months pregnant. Waddling around the tree farm will most likely result in a You Tube video.

I'm into my third trimester, folks. It may seem like it came quickly - and it sorta did once those pesky first fourteen weeks were behind me. I did regain my energy for the most part in the second trimester but lately am back to feeling tired and already getting uncomfortable. My belly now, at twenty-eight weeks, is comparable to my belly at thirty-six weeks with Scarlett. I'm in good health, thank God, and just have minor complaints. Mostly, the numbness/tingling in my hands and arms, the four hour gaps in overnight sleep and the crazy heart-racing and shortness of breath when the baby is pressing on a main artery. I remember the same with Scarlett, I got way less sleep in the third trimester than I did once she was born.

I had Scarlett in late September and wore flip flops throughout the entire pregnancy. It's a different ball game heading into the cold weather - I have just one option for footwear these days, a pair of brown boots. I can't squeeze into anything else, so any upcoming events require a trip to the shoe store. I have just two sweaters and one long sleeved shirt so you can get used to seeing them because I refuse to spend any more money on maternity clothes. (It's tough when your husband wears a size medium shirt).

I'm having fun these days working on the baby's room. Finally getting some ideas and it's starting to come together. I've sorted through Scarlett's old clothes and, although the seasons are a little off, I think we'll have a pretty good head start. It's nice to see all of my old favorites that I'd forgotten about. Even Scarlett is enjoying looking through her old shoes and things - I think she's getting excited! (I'd be more excited if she slept more than nine or ten hours a day).

Sure, I have moments where I think, how the hell am I going to pull this off? Another child? A BABY?? That needs me constantly for at least two years?? The bottles?? The bibs and spit-up rags? The witching hour/s??? The teething?? The extra laundry?? The poop?? The "Don't Touch That!!" stage?? The extra gear?? Getting out of the house with two instead of one??

Then I think, YEAH. I think I'm ready for that, I can do it.

We've had our struggles and we've waited a long time to create our family. I feel very, very blessed to be harboring another feisty little girl. I know it will be a challenge and I just hope I can keep my head about me, be as patient as possible and love my girls in every moment. As always I pray for a healthy full-term baby who is sure to become another beam of sunshine in our lives.

taking advantage of October

I wait all year long for weather like we have today. It's CHILLY. With a cloudy sky to make it feel even chillier. I took advantage of my free morning by packing up the car (with simply a tote bag and big pink ball) and heading to the park. I can't tell you how happy I am that I made that decision. 

Clad in our jeans, sneakers and hoodies, Scarlett and I had a ball...

We ran, we raced, we kicked that big pink ball, we searched for acorns, we chased squirrels, we threw leaves, we took a walk - we savored our morning together, for certain. While I still had my phone in hand to capture these moments in photos - I finally felt "disconnected" for a bit. I heard the tweeting text alerts but I didn't answer them. I was more focused on the sound and smell of crisp leaves, the chilly breeze fighting to enter my sleeves, the colors all around us and most importantly - my daughter's smile. The clarity of the pictures may not be the greatest but the memory behind each of them is priceless. Forever grateful for this day.  

the September block...

I am itchin' for Christmastime. Is that wrong? I can almost picture you guys crumpling paper and throwing it at my face... and did I see an apple core in there??

But I LOVE Christmastime! It's all so Robert Frost and Norman Rockwell. It's nice and chilly outside and there are hearty meals on the stove. The house feels even more like a home with it's festive red and green decorations, the fireplace lit and stockings hung - so picturesque. I can sit for hours watching holiday movies and cartoon specials or listening to the seasonal music channel. I try hard to push the stress of what gifts to buy, how to afford them and who is going where at what time for dinner to the backseat of these most treasured moments.

To be honest, I start getting excited when I switch the little wooden block on my perpetual calendar. Each time I flip it from May through August I see that September block lurking in the shadows ... it won't be long now. The last day of August is always exciting to me - knowing Fall is on its way and my favorite block will be on display for four whole months. I sound like a lunatic right? Who enjoys a calendar block? I think you know what I mean though - leaves a-fallin' ... bugs a-dyin' ... temps a-droppin'... it's poetry, really. I heart Fall and Winter. It's that simple.

So today, on our most majestic Independence Day, while celebrating our red, white and blue with the temperature into the humid nineties, I'm going against the grain and daydreaming of Charles Dickens and Bing Crosby.

annual festival hoopla...

Every year, on Columbus Day weekend, Scituate holds their Art Festival. It is very similar year after year but it is tradition... and I enjoy tradition. My mother and I normally take the ride together. We park in a lot for five bucks, to avoid any frustrating 'drain circling', and head to the tents. There are bands playing and tons of food vendors set up - the smells are overpoweringly delicious. A plethora of artists line both sides of the street with their paintings, prints, glass sculptures, antiques (my favorite), wood work, clothing, jewelry... crafts of all kinds. I pretty much never buy anything - but I don't go for the purchase, I go for the sights and smells. For a split second I debated buying a wind chime with little, glass strawberries hanging from it .. but seriously.. how is that a great investment??

One of the highlights of today's experience was running into my Godparents and my friend Amy and her family. You always seem to run into SOMEONE there and I couldn't be happier that this time - it was THEM. Another thing I enjoyed was viewing the insane amount of adorable dogs... I was actually overwhelmed. I barely looked at any crafts as I was too busy eye-balling the Great Dane and the countless ankle-biters in their festive, little sweaters. I kept catching myself saying "Ohhhhh, he's just a little babyyyyy!" "Look at himmmm!!" and pointing all over the place. My mother, on the other hand, was busy calling out the thousands of should-be-winners of the cutest baby ever contest.

I couldn't seem to keep track of how many Emo boys I saw wearing skinny jeans (thanks for the heads up on that, Chrilisha) or the countless pairs of Uggs scuffing the ground under the young ladies. We were outnumbered.

All in all it was a fantastic day. The weather was absolutely beautiful and couldn't have been more perfect. I can check this off of my 'Fall must-do's' list until next year.