I love fall for...

the ever changing scenery....something different to see everyday. I love how one day there are just a few golden trees dancing across the mountain, and the next, they have invited all their friends out to dance. The Place: the mountainside and valleys below, The Costume: your favorite color of leaves for the fall.

raspberries!! Sheets and sheets of raspberries and their plump, juicy goodness! I now have my very own raspberry patch thanks to Granny and her fabulous raspberry canes. I probably have close to 40 cups of these fabulous berries in my freezer, and my bushes need to be picked again. This means jam, muffins, pancakes, fluff, crepes (I could go on and on.) all winter long. Is your mouth watering yet?

I could go on and on about fall. I love it for football and sweatshirts. For snugly sweaters and comfy jeans. For new backpacks and the site of the big yellow school bus. For hot cider and caramel apples. For pumpkins and hayrake rides. For bonfires and smores. For leaf piles and mittens. For the crispness of the air and the starkness of the sky against all of falls beautiful colors. For Halloween and kids running amuck dressed like their favorite ghoul or goblin. For the anticipation of the first snow and the silence that follows it.

Thank you Mother Nature for the beauty you spread and the excitement you bring. A new season is here. Fast closing in on the following season. I will soak up every ounce of fall you have to offer.

She's Back??

Do I dare say it? She looked very composed last night at the VMAs, albeight a little nervous even. She was pretty and appeared to be very grateful. I turned on the awards show only to see her introduction b/c it had been so talked up.

I admit to being a Britney fan back before her K-Fed days. I don't agree with what she has put her boys through. Thank goodness they are young enough that they won't remember most of the circus. I think she is a girl who grew up way too fast in the limelight and was swallowed up in Hollywood. I hope she is on track to a better life than she has been leading. I hope her Dad has taken her under his wing and led her on the right road to a clean and happy life. Those two little boys need their Mommy. Good luck Britney!

Go Speed Racer!

How did you get to be such a big boy so fast Monkey? You are crawling like you have been doing it your whole life. Nothing holds you back. You love, love, love your new found freedom. Everything is within your limits now. If Mommy or Daddy leaves the room, you can follow and follow you usually do. It was led to more bumps, bruises, bloody fingers, and tears than you had probably expected, but it doesn't seem to slow you down.

It is leading to adventures in beginners climbing. You are experimenting with pulling up on things, such as the coffee table, kitchen chairs, and your crib rails. Hmmm, thank heavens Daddy lowered your mattress. We don't call you Monkey for no reason at all. The name is showing its true colors these days!

You are growing faster than your Momma is ready some days. You don't want to be snuggled as much anymore, so when you give me that opportunity, boy do I bank on it. You are such a boy in all your funny ways. You could sit there and get licked over and over again by the puppies and never shed a tear....only utter many giggles. You love to play "rough" with your Daddy and play "King of the Sky". Everything you touch needs to be banged against something.

You are the king of jabbering right now. Always telling some story about your day. Often, I will come in to get you after your nap and you are sitting in your crib jabbering away to your monkey and puppy. I only wish I really new what you were thinking and saying. You are talking away in there as I type. Although, right now you are suppose to be going down for your nap...hmmm.

I truly love all your independence but my heart does flip flops to think that you are only going to continue to grow and test that independence. Part of me wants to trap you in this moment forever, but the other part knows that it only continues to get better and better. Isn't life funny like that?!

My civic duty postponed...

A couple months ago I was disappointed when I received jury duty notice in the mail. "Yuck" was my initial reaction. "What a pain in the keester that is going to be," I thought. I was due to be up Aug. 29 through Sept. 29....calling each night to see if I have to report the next day. Last Friday I called and the inevitable happened, my group was called to report today at 10 AM. I was bummed!

A funny thing happened though....I actually kinda started to get intrigued by it over the weekend. Which was a surprise to myself....one who avoids conflict, debate, you name it at all costs. I was kinda, dare I say, excited to see what it was all about! Maybe it's the great presidential race that is going on right now that makes me feel more patriotic and excited about exercising my rights and liberties. Maybe it's just plain curiosity at what trial I could take part it in. Whatever it was, I was ready to serve.

So I got everything ready that I could last night. Got up this morning and got Monkey and I ready and out the door. We were off to Grandma's when I realized I had forgotten his milk. Good thing I was for once in my life running ahead of schedule. I turned around and headed back for the milk. I walked in the house, grabbed the milk, and was about ready to head back out when the phone rang. It was the courthouse saying they didn't need my services today because the trial had folded. Hmmm.....bummer! So I will call again tonight to see when I will be needed again. Until then, my clothes are neatly hung back on the hangers and Monkey get to spend the day together.

To my dear gentleman patient that I admitted last night,

I'm so sorry that there was nothing I could do last night for you when you were experiencing the nightmare stroke that just minutes before we had been joking about never having. I hope that I was able to reassure you during such a frightening experience....being trapped inside yourself and not be able to voice your feelings. Your words were coming out all garbled, and I was trying with all my heart to understand what you were trying to tell me with your gentle eyes. I know there were lots of people around you all of a sudden, and we were talking over the top of you. It wasn't because I didn't want to include you. It's b/c I wanted to make sure that everyone knew as much as they could about you, so that we could treat you as quickly and as effectively as possible. I can't even imagine what it had to have been like to wake up and not be able to talk or move your entire left side when just 15 minutes before you walked to the bed from your wheelchair, undressed yourself, and joked with me.

I'm so sorry that I took that exact time to leave the room and get you a warm blanket and your IV fluids. I stopped real quick and told my supervisor that you were the kind of patient I want to take home with me. You remind me of a gentle, fun loving Grandpa! If it's any consolation, I'm so glad that you were in our care and not at home. At 10:15 PM, when your body decided to create this awful, frightening experience, you may have not been found by your daughter until sometime the next day! It makes me cry just to think of the possibility! Life's not fair....I didn't even get the chance to ask you who had the honor of being your wife. Too quickly, you were unable to tell me all those fun details and stories that I love so much from my patients. I do know that you have 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, and not to bump that right big toe :)....oh and we got you that beloved taste of Coke that you were craving....I knew we were going to get along good when you said all you wanted was a pizza and a Coke!!!

Through it all, you were reassuring us....unbelievable!!! The gentle pat you would give with your right hand told me that you were right there with us! I hope and pray that God blesses you and helps you to come back from this horrible nightmare. Doctor said it wasn't a good prognosis, but you are a strong one and I think you'll fight with all your might! It was an honor being your nurse for that short 90 minutes. My husband tried to reassure me this morning by telling me that this was the downfall to my profession. It doesn't make it any easier though. I hope I provided you with the reassurance and respect that you so deserve. My God bless you and watch over you.

Slacker

Yes, I've been a slacker when it comes to my blog this last month. I don't have an excuse, so I'm not going to try to make up one. I'm just going to try to be better at this b/c I really do enjoy getting my thoughts out. I know not many view my blog and that is all right. It's really an outlet for me and my journey through life and mommyhood. The comments here and there are just an added bonus. Would I love to have the network of support and friends that my beautiful friend, Lisa, has....yes.....maybe in the future! I've always been one who has attempted to keep a diary, and it only lasts for a few weeks. Then it ends up collecting dust on my nightstand or taking up space in the drawer. This is easier than writing! Here's to trying to keep up a little bit better....no more taking a month off.

Game Update

Score: Mommy & Daddy ~ lots, Monkey ~ A couple

You are doing so, so good at putting yourself to sleep now little one. You only cry when the lights go out and the fan comes on. You are pretty smart and have figured out that this means sleepy time. You fuss for a couple minutes or more. BUT, last night, I was able to nurse you, sing you a few lullabies while we rocked, putted you in your crib wide awake, and you fell asleep on your own without a fuss!! You are such a big boy!! Momma and Daddy are so proud of you!!

Another big boy achievement.....Mommy doesn't remember the last time she had to wake up and go to you in the middle of the night. You are such a little slumber man!! Love you so much!