Sunshine, Baby

Baby was successfully replaced yesterday after finding an identical one at a different nearby Target. I will say there are some advantages to living in suburbia; there area about five Targets within reasonable driving distance of here, and I knew that one of them was bound to have a suitable Baby replacement. We walked down the doll aisle and I spotted the bin of little dolls. Only one was wearing purple and its hat was removed. I had to turn my back to Lily, sneak the hat onto its head, and then I turned around and offered it to her. She quietly asked, "baby?" and I replied, "yes, Baby..."

"BABY!"



Hooray!

We're having a crazy awesome Indian summer around here. I'm sure some of you are experience this sun and warmth too. I didn't have much planned today other than some mundane errands and I blew off half of them in favor of a leisurely stroll through the nearby nature sanctuary.



I let Lily lead the way and we toddled down random paths, looked at rocks and bugs and sticks, and just took it slow. She's going through a very shy phase right now so I was thankful that it wasn't crowded there and we only encountered one field trip (which she was okay with because it was kids) and two older gentlemen (who she was terrified of and hid her face in my chest until they were well out of sight).

I'm eagerly awaiting the crisp fall weather which I know will be gone in a blink and we'll be onto snow and slush in no time, but I'll still bask in this uncharacteristic sun and warmth just a bit longer. We honestly could still be in shorts and skirts, but I've packed away all the summer clothes and refuse to shave my legs :)

Missing: Baby (doll!)

Baby went MIA. Here she is last pictured being worn in the mei tai I threw together for Lily when she was begging to wear Baby and I couldn't find her the pouch I made a few months ago. Baby has been missing since Thursday night.



Of course today I win a doll ring sling for her at the Lake County Baby Wearers "Baby Wearing Week Event". I also won myself a Sakura Bloom linen ring sling in a GORGEOUS green. I don't really need it though, and I'd rather have money to buy groceries, so I'm attempting to sell it along with the Sleepy Wrap I won at the Chicago Area Breastfeeding Coalition conference. I'm totally on a winning streak!

Anyway, Baby is missing. We tore apart the house tonight after attempting to replace Baby at Target. They only had babies in pink, and Baby wears purple; Lily was totally put off by these imposters. She left with a little Magna-Doodle type toy and an airplane :P

She has Blue Baby that I made, but he's apparently not good enough, what with his only having balls for hands and a hint of a nose for facial features. I'm hoping Baby turns up soon, or she grows fonder of Blue Baby. I just have no idea where Baby could have gone! I keep trying to think like a toddler and have checked literally every cabinet and drawer and under every piece of furniture to no avail.

Home is where the crap isn't

A goal for this coming year? Purge the stuff that has no purpose or sentiment, and fill our home with beautiful things. I want to hand braid a rug. I want to display the things I'm working so hard on in my pottery class. I want to finish the cross-stitched family tree I started when I was pregnant and frame it. I want to hang a quilt on these walls, empty all the drawers/cabinets/shelves/closets of their crap, and give this space a feeling of home. Even if it's not our forever-home and we could be moving in as soon as a year, I don't want to feel like we're just making do any more. It started yesterday with a good sweep through my big bookcase, and today I tore through our kitchen cabinets and drawers. Now the kitchen table is covered in things I need to Freecycle or donate, but that's a good problem to have!

Autumn Harvest Festival

I'm so thankful to have this working farm less than a mile from our home :)

Saturday morning

Art made a delicious breakfast which consisted of eggs over-medium, sausage, toast with homemade raspberry jam, coffee, and orange juice. Since I've vowed to take more photos of us simply *living* in this house, I plopped the camera off in the corner and snagged this shot of us all still in our pajamas enjoying a wonderful Saturday morning breakfast. It feels corny and weird to take pictures of yourself like that, but whatever, I want to remember these mornings.