a video of life in a snowy October weekend

another first for Mabel

Snow!

(That is, assuming she doesn't remember all the snow we shoveled together last winter, when I was five and six months pregnant.)

We're having a freak, early snowstorm today, predicted to get 6-10". Wow! We'll see . . . But it sure is strange to see snow coming down on colorful leaves on trees and still-blooming mums!

We're staying warm inside today!

I'm still new at this . . .

Annie and I were having a little discussion about Jesus' death and resurrection this afternoon. You know, really light, easy-to-talk-about stuff. A little ways into the conversation, I realize Annie might not be quite ready to talk about death, even if I'm focusing more on the joyful, resurrection part. But there was much more to it than just that. Here's a part of it . . .

Annie: (becoming sad and little upset) I don't like dying, Mommy.
Me: (trying to steer us into a better place) It's okay. It won't happen for a long time, not til you're much older and your body will be tired. You'll be excited to see Heavenly Father and live with Him again!
Annie: (sadder still) I don't want to live with Heavenly Father! I want to live with you!
Me: But you can! We'll all be there together with Heavenly Father! Daddy, me, Mabel, and you!
Annie: (convinced now) Okay. That sounds good. After my nap, we'll go see Heavenly Father. Can I wear this shirt to see him?

She's now keeping that shirt in a special place in her dresser and reminded me tonight as I was cleaning up her clothes just what it is for. :)

thus it begins!

the coolest new hang-out in town

Another Adventure in Naptime, or, The Blessing of a Big Sister

Today I desperately tried to get our overly-healthy lawn moved in the precious time when the girls' naps overlapped. I reiterate, this is really, really precious time for me, and I never quite know how long I'll have, since Mabel's nap schedule seems to change every few days. Anyway, I had about 10 or 15 minutes left of mowing to do when I turned off the lawnmower to listen to the baby monitor. Sure enough, Mabel was crying. Not really bad, though, so I thought, I can finish really fast. She'll be okay for a little while longer. So, feeling pretty guilty, I finished up the lawn, then when I turned the mower off, I was expecting to hear the full-fledged wails of a four-month-old who is totally sick of being stuck in her crib and wide awake. Instead, I hear silence. Then, I hear the sweet little voice of a three-year-old chatting with her baby sister. I hear Annie saying something to Mabel, then Mabel cooing back. It was the sweetest little moment to get to listen in on. Annie was asking her about her nap and what she was thinking about. I come in the house, and this is what I find!

mabel chews on things . . . and sits up!

Hello, everybody! It is chilly here in PA this week! All of a sudden we went from air conditioners to space heaters . . . how did that happen so fast? We're being stubborn and not turning on our furnace yet . . . Brant is sure it's going to warm up again in just a few days. So, fall is in full swing! I dug up most of our rotting garden remnants over the weekend. Wow, it was Little Shop of Horrors in there! With all the crazy rain we've had over the last month, stuff was growing like wild! I must have had at least 60 tomatoes still on the vine, all green and ready to turn red, if only it wasn't so cold outside! And I've picked two pumpkins from our impromptu pumpkin patch, with a third almost ready. We hit up what will probably be the final yard sale of the season on Saturday, too. And, good thing--I found so many fall pants and long-sleeve jammies for Annie! 

Mabel is growing like wild, too! She's still so obsessed with gnawing on everything, but no teeth yet . . . 

Her current favorite toy by far is the crinkly-crackly, reflective, sparkling water bottle!

And I discovered this morning that she can legitimately sit up by herself! I think over the last week or so I've been having her sit up in my lap, or in front of me on tabletops, but I just haven't noticed it. Poor second child, just doesn't get much attention. ;-) So, while Annie was taking her wonderful, long afternoon nap, I thought I'd dedicate some photo time just for Mabel and her sweet, sometimes under-appreciated, adorable-ness.

See? She can sit up while holding her monkey toy (a close second in faves) . . .

And she can sit up without him, too!

We love our Mabel so much!!