We don’t get into the scary ghouls and goblins side of Halloween, but we do enjoy dressing in costume and handing out candy to the neighborhood kids. Jeff and I have been known to dress up for work Halloween parties and for the aforementioned candy distribution. I’ve enjoyed being Dr. Watson to Jeff’s Sherlock Holmes and Hermione Granger to his Ron Weasley. This year, however, Halloween costumes are even more fun with a baby!
Meet The Littlest Dragon:
“Rar!”
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/31405293]
(Be sure to click the button with the arrows for optimal baby cuteness aka full-screen mode.)
I may have had a little too much fun with his pumpkin hat from Grandma Marsha (via Two Scarves and a Mitten):
The fun continued at a local pumpkin patch, which will hopefully become a yearly family tradition:
Note: He is actually about two feet tall these days, but the ground is rather sunken in this popular spot. 
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/31397580]
Lisa over at The Army Chap’s Wife does a weekly thankfulness post (like many other bloggers) and I thought it would be fun to play along today, though I suppose the real benefit comes on the weeks when it’s harder to be thankful. It is a cold, gray, rainy Fall day here making it the perfect time to focus on more pleasant things.
Without further ado, today I am thankful for:
- My new robe and slippers that keep me warm and cozy during middle of the night feedings.
- Jeff’s new job that starts next week. It isn’t a pay raise or anything, but it will hopefully be a better fit and more stimulating for him.
- The freedom to stay home to raise and care for my son myself.
- Fluffy mail (aka new cloth diapers) in fun colors.
- God coordinating Sam’s dedication at church with my parents’ visit from out of state. I had nothing to do with the picking of either date, but Someone did.
I checked another item off The List this weekend: Grow out and donate my hair. Yep, that’s right, folks, I had 10 inches of hair cut off on Friday.
My pony tail will soon be on its way to the Beautiful Lengths program, a partnership between Pantene and the American Cancer Society to provide free-of-charge wigs to women battling cancer.
But let’s back up for a moment, shall we? Here’s the before:
And now the after:
It’s a bit poofy in the right after shots so I took more later with it flatter and pinned back:
I really like it and am slowly starting to love it. I’ve had short hair before, but it’s been a while and it was never quite this style. I’ve been growing it long with the intention to chop it all off so it’s not like this was a total shock. I went back and forth about when to cut it. Long hair is nice in the cold winter months, but Sam made my decision easy in the end. He’d started to get his little fingers stuck in it, and I was either wearing it in a pony tail or constantly flipping it out of the way while caring for him. Hair grows back so why not have fun and experiment sometimes? That being said, I felt decidedly lighter when I stood up for the first time! The muscle memory associated with the shampoo bottle hasn’t quite faded yet either.
I’m looking forward to trying out fun accessories for short hair like adorned bobby pins and headbands and taking advantage of showing off earrings. Yes, I think I’ve always been a short-hair girl at heart.
Just for fun, let’s finish with a side-by-side before and after:
Today I am…
tasting: oat flakes and dried blueberries and milk; soon: tea with memories of England
seeing: dark limbs showing through thinning, amber leaves; pumpkins and mums on neighbors’ porches; grass spotted with brown leaves; infectious, toothless baby smiles
smelling: traces of tea tree oil in my still damp hair; dogs in need of a bath
feeling: damp hair against my bare neck; a slight chill in the autumn air; warm, soft baby skin; the smooth, polished wood of a rocker used by generations of women in my family
hearing: Jeff’s voice on a work call coming through the floor boards; dogs barking out the window at some perceived threat; the hum of the baby monitor, and now the hiccups and squeaks that let me know a certain little boy is awake and in need of his mama
*Please note: I am not trying to downplay the seriousness of latex allergies. I know it is a big deal, especially among healthcare workers. I’ve just always seen the humor in balloons listed between tobacco and concealed weapons, and finally snapped a picture.
One morning last week I sat in my warm bed after Sam had drunk himself into a milk coma and just held him, his soft, velvety head tucked under my chin and his warm little body rising and falling against my own. As I gazed out the window and watched the squirrels run through the neighbor’s giant oak tree in the weak autumn sunlight, I wanted to freeze time. I wrapped my arms around him and drank in the moment.
My little boy will only be a baby for a short time, and yet I imagine he will always be my baby in a way. I thought of how it must feel to be my parents: seeing their youngest all grown up and caring for a little one of her own. I thought about how I can hold my son tight for a time, but sooner than I like I will have to let him go. I thought of Sam all grown-up and imagined the man he might be. I thought of the things I needed to accomplish that day and how they could wait a few minutes more.
Linking up today with Just Write at The Extraordinary Ordinary.
I’m temporarily turning Wordless Wednesday into Mostly Wordless Wednesday. Also, someone is two months old today! How did that happen?
We have been very blessed with multiple beautiful baby blankets and quilts handmade by family and friends. Not only are the designs and colors gorgeous, but it means so much to have a handmade gift made with love for our little boy. Plus, I have a thing for blankets. They are one of my favorite things about winter!
From Grandma Alice:
From Great Grandma Marjorie (via Grandma Alice), originally made for Jeff:
From Aunt Laura:
I should have done a scale picture for this one as it’s actually a small lap blanket, perfect for the car seat.
From Debbie, a church friend:
Sam is 1 month old in this picture.
From Jen, one of Jeff’s co-workers:
Again, Sam is 1 month old in this picture.
From Aunt Marsha:
This one is large; it’s folded in half here, but is about crib size. She also made matching burp cloths!
