We've been blessed with weather lately that makes you want to open-mouth kiss Mother Nature.  It's that gorgeous.  

And it's making me accept that fall is here.  Which means #2 isn't far behind.  12-ish weeks to be exact.
 Photobombing at its finest.

(And I have to share when I was at the doctor last week, I read an article that casually hints at 7-months pregnant surely you should be busy finishing up the nursery and recommends that now is the time to take some time for yourself and for your marriage.  I snorted.  And then made sure to put the heat on Andrew when I got home.  

Magazine writer - give us a break.  We haven't even started on that dang room yet.) 

Scratch accepting fall. 

I want to plant a big one on fall too.  

(Yikes - who do I want to kiss next?)

 While Andrew was gone this past weekend at a hometown wedding, Henry and I worked, recuperated from traveling the past three weekends and being sick, and went on as many park dates as possible.  And maybe on Sonic dates too as Cherry Cokes are my jam these days.  

(I know, I know - caffeine.  Just a smidge here and there.)  

It was one of those weekends where the crisp mornings paired with the sunny, warm afternoons reminded me of what's to come - orchard trips, tailgates and football games where we don't start sweating the second we set foot on the asphalt lot, the pumpkin patch, fall-scented candles, cozy meals, babies in homemade costumes and daddies trying to scare six-year-olds trick-or-treating, chili and crock pot soups, more baking 

(it's for the baby),  jumping in leaf piles, boots for me and moccasins for Ham, fall foliage, fire pit nights, pumpkin carving.

Looking over our calendar this week and planning our dates with fall.  Maybe we'll get to first base.

We're all a little under the weather this week.  Okay, that's not accurate.  We're sick.  Bleh.  

Colds for everyone!
  

 If anything, it has confirmed what every woman has always thought, but just couldn't prove. 
Your husband is a big baby when he's sick.  Way whinier than necessary.  

We all have the same cold.  Got it from the same person at the same time.  

And Andrew asked me on Tuesday why he is so much sicker than me.  He even said maybe I'm not as sick as him since I'm pregnant.  Because that is logical.  Growing a human makes you a super hero and less susceptible to disease.   Goodness.  It makes me laugh even now just thinking about it.

But back to business.

I'm glad these sore throats, headaches and runny noses at least held off until after our big trip to the Kansas State Fair on Friday. 
 

We don't live near the ocean where our kids can have weekly beach adventures, or the mountains for daily breathtaking views and hikes, and we don't even live in a large enough city where there are new treasures and areas to be discovered and explored - aquariums, amusement parks, and an abundance of shops, restaurants, etc.  

No.  

 We live in a land-locked, small city where a new restaurant is BIG news for weeks (okay, months), but darn it, we are going to make the best of it.  

Ruth Burke nails it, "Only boring people get bored."

It's something I keep in the back of my head now that I stay at home with Henry.  For me, routine is such a necessary part of my job with raising babies, as little ones thrive on knowing what's coming next from even when they are mere months old.  But that doesn't mean we can't take advantage of little adventures to expand their minds and experiences as much as possible.

And for Henry, expanding his horizons at this point means driving an hour and checking out rows and rows of birds, bunnies, livestock and tractors.  And a bear show!  What is this place?  All of that was just the cherry on the top because he would have been content staying at the exotic animal petting zoo for two hours, except he was getting a little to friendly with the goats (I'm not sure they like being hugged), and mama wanted a corn dog. 
 
 And cheese curds.  

What?  

When in Rome.

Or Hutch.  Samesies.

All of a sudden last week I realized, we're almost to the third trimester of this pregnancy.

How did that happen?

And how does it happen all at once?

Both Andrew and I forgetting our five-year anniversary.  Shame!

Realizing I've got to break down and get some fall maternity clothes.  I thought I was pulling off the shorts I was wearing last week with a belly band until I looked in the mirror after wearing them all day and realizing you could totally see the unzipped zipper.  Below the belly band.  Clearly.

Anticipating of what's to come since #2's room has been cleared out, now needs to be cleaned out, and then we can start priming, painting and decorating.  So, so excited about pulling this together.  Not sure when it will happen between the nine weekend trips we have to Manhattan this fall, 

but somehow things always get done.  Or at least done enough.

Someone better get started on all of that.

Ahem.

Within the last week and a half or so, we've been to Manhattan twice, I've gotten through an onslaught of shoots and edits, and held a garage sale with a friend that included two babies - one that didn't want to be put down with strangers swarming the driveway,
and another that tried to eat chalk while running into the street.

I'll let you guess which was mine.

All this to say, I meant to blog last week and wrote several posts in my head, but never actually put the "pen to paper." 
(Or strokes to the keyboard?  What's the modern phrase for that expression now?)

Even though at times summer can be more than unforgiving, with it's oppressive, sweltering heat, it's my favorite season.  I'm a sucker for summer love (Andrew and I started dating in the summer ELEVEN years ago), Henry and I decided to go steady with the pool this year going on dates multiple times a week, family time seems more generous, and there are so many excuses to eat delicious grilled food and endless amounts of ice cream.  Particularly when you are pregnant.  And maybe I'm referring to the two ice cream Snickers bars I had a couple of nights ago.  I'm not ashamed.
 
 I'm having a hard time letting go of summer, even more so than usual.  (Surely the 100+ degree weather we've still had doesn't have a thing to do with it, and even though we promised to try the long distance thing with the pool, it sure seems like a long time until next May.  Or the fact that sooner than we realize, we'll have two babies to feed, diaper, bathe, clothe, etc., and we'll probably just recede to our house never to leave again.  Eek!)

So long tan lines and pruny toes.  I'll miss you so.