Nesting, pumpkin patching and giving thanks

I love October, I love autumn, and I love experiencing those two things right here on Canada's West Coast. In these parts Fall has been magnificent. Days of cold crisp sunshine, colours changing from summer green to vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. Even the nutty browns look beautiful this time of year over here. I love the raking Fall demands, the leaf piles, the slow cooker stew and soup recipes that find their way back into the kitchen.

And I love Thanksgiving, especially this year when we have so very much to be thankful for. Our October blessing is coming soon, and we Boyds are excitedly preparing for the arrival of baby Boyd in our own ways. I am washing tiny clothes, receiving blankets, and spending lots of time in the baby's room trying to make it cozy and welcoming. Matt is installing car seats, putting together the crib, and finishing up lingering home projects. Jake is testing out old baby toys to make sure they are up to snuff for his new sibling. We are in nesting mode, and what better time to nest and make cozy than autumn.

We wanted to take some pre-baby family photos so we chose a pretty spot in the garden on a sunny day. About three dozen photos were snapped, with Jake making a funny face in each and every one. So at the very end, tired of begging him to smile nicely and say "cheese", we decided to join him and make silly faces too. Can you believe that turned out to be the best one? The new baby doesn't know what she's being born into! 



Rest assured sweet baby of mine, we can be normal... at least your daddy and I can be. Sometimes.

I'm huge, I know. I feel as big as I look.

I know that crazy, busy, routine breaking times are ahead, along with a sharp learning curve for all of us, but we are ready. Or at least we pretend we are.

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In the meantime, we have been enjoying autumn in our town starting with one of Jake's favorite October activities: leaf pile jumping. With the ancient oak tree in our front yard he's not left with a shortage of leaves, and he's been in heaven. 

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Unfortunately, we missed Thanksgiving with my side of the family for possibly the first time ever. We normally make an effort to be with both sides over the holidays, but this year I just couldn't make it to Vancouver. So we missed one Thanksgiving meal we always love to be a part of. But we were by no means deprived. Thanksgiving turkey at the Boyds was delish, and memorable, and plentiful. 

Gramps slicing the bird. It's his job.

I made a pecan pie from scratch for the first time. It was good. But next time I'd use chopped nuts. If there is a next time.

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But today was a highlight in our October for sure. We made a family trip to the pumpkin patch at the farm just down the road. Train rides, hay rides, and pumpkins for all. What more could a three and a half year old ask for.

For all the pumpkins in the patch we went home with this one.

And yes, Matt intends to carve it. 

Happy October everyone, hoping you are enjoying the change in season wherever you are.

September

I don't know what it is about September, but it gets away from me every single year. Before I know it September is over, and October is right there showing off her beautiful colours and crisping up our air. So before we launch into one of my favorite months, I thought I would get a quick September post in this year.

Mostly I can sum this last month up with one word: cookies. I've been baking cookies like it's nobodies business (and eating them all too, but we'll gloss over that part). Ginger, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin. Yum! Cookies are great because they are a small and delicious and for some reason I feel less guilty scarfing down a pile of cookies than I do downing half a cake to satisfy my sugar cravings. And oh how strong those cravings have been these last few months.

Chewy gingers snaps, but they don't really snap. Therefore, chewy ginger cookies they shall be called.

Peanut butter chocolate chip. And yes, we snack in front of the computer around here sometimes. That's how we roll.

Side note: the oatmeal raisin didn't make it long enough for a photo - oops.

That all said I switched gears today and have a pumpkin pie baking in the oven. Pumpkin's healthy, right?

Another highlight of our September was the start of Jake's preschool again. Three mornings a week, Yo! Three. Mornings. A. Week. Do y'all know what that means, a total of seven and a half hours of Jake-free time each week for me to whip my rear into gear before baby comes. Not that I don't love every minute I have with the little guy (most of the time), but all you mamas know what I mean. Seven and a half hours to myself in a week equals a whole lot of productivity. And we all know what's going to happen to those hours once baby comes, so I am trying to use my time wisely now while I can.

I just love the beginnings of Autumn, it makes me happy. And since my sister and I have the whole "summer is my least favorite season" in common, she's not the only one with increased serotonin levels. Let us revel together, Fall lovers.

Looking forward to all that October can bring!

What are those you ask?

Well those, dear friends, are my feet poking out from under my ginormous belly. I can barely see them, I sure as heck can't reach them, and I wouldn't change a thing.

Yes, we Boyds are happy to announce that we are expanding our family. We are excited and looking forward to meeting the newest little member of our clan come Fall.

Grateful and happy,
The Boyds.

Something Different

Warning: If topics such as bird poop and/or toddler poop offend you this is your cue to move on to the next blog.

With that out of the way I'll start by saying that we potty trained Jake a year ago. He was just shy of two and a half. He didn't show any "signs" of readiness but I thought he was of an appropriate age and moreover I was ready as I'd ever be so I took the bull by the horns and much to my surprise Jake was trained before the week was out. He took to it really quickly and never looked back - to peeing that is. Poop was a whole other story. It took months, and when I say months I mean pretty well almost a whole other year before he built up the courage, or the maturity, or whatever it was he needed to build up before he confidently pooped in the toilet. Until then he waited to do his deed until he was safely tucked in bed at night with his pull up on. Around February I sat down with him at his little crafting table and we put together a sticker chart to motivate the pooping in the toilet.

There was about three stickers on it by the time he turned 3 in mid March. Maybe eight by April. Then in May something clicked in his body and brain and the stickers started flying onto the chart. By mid June we didn't even need the chart anymore, but I left it on the wall next to the toilet out of sentiment, or laziness, I'll never know which, and every once in a while Jake still likes to toss a sticker up there after a poop he's particularly proud of. Anyway, I thought I'd take a picture of it before I finally take it down because it goes very nicely with this next gem of a story I have for you.

And when I say story, I mean a story, written by Coral Vass. This book proudly sits in our child's library courtesy of Jake's fabulous Uncle Jon who visited Australia a few months ago and brought this home as a gift for my three year old. Ever since this hilarious, slightly graphic but a lesson in kindness nevertheless, book has become a favorite bedtime story around here. True, bird poop may seem a bit odd a topic for bed time but it brings a smile to all our faces every time we read it. It's funny, and there is a lesson in it about getting along, and being kind, and accepting differences - so it stays in the book shelf. And if you ever feel your child's library is in desperate need of a unique and fun Australian story then we Boyd's highly recommend this one. But remember, it requires an open and hardy sense of humor.

Go for it, try something different.