3x12

sweet october, how quickly you flew by! but thanks for the good weather and sunshine, the rich fall colors and crunchy leaves, the one snowstorm, and for giving us a perfect, warm halloween.

and yet, when i look back on it, it seems i can barely remember it. it went by so fast. i guess it's a good thing i blog so that i have some sort of documentation of our lives. otherwise i may forget everything.

here's what i did take note of this month:

beth's vocublary somehow tripled this month. she's starting to say words where i look at her and say "where did you learn that?" but my favorite thing about here lately is that she talks to me in full sentences. not english, mind you, oh no. it's all baby gibberish, but it's definitely full sentences. she will grab my attention by saying "mommy!" and of course i will say "yes beth?" and she will point to something or make some hand gesture while sharing her thoughts with me. and i just look at her totally clueless and say "what honey?" and she'll say the EXACT same thing. same gibberishy syllables. i mean, she's really trying to tell me something! that's when i just smile and say "okay, sweet pea". and she goes about her business, satisfied that i gave her the okay. it's so very amusing to me. so often i think, i would kill to get into that girl's brain. oh, and btw? she made me (yes, made me) put that peacock costume on her again tonight. she loves that thing! wore it around the whole house until i made her take it off so she could eat. can't get enough of it. i had to hide it later so that she would forget about it and we could give it back to the dear friends who lent it to us... crazy peacock costume.

hank has been working dilligently on the bronco. and he's made good progress friends. it's happening. and it's awesome. still needs a lot of work. but we are definitely making progress. she'll be ready and waiting for me to drive her on those early 70 degree days in march.

and i am just getting fatter. i don't dare say i'm uncomfortable yet (even though at times i am), because i still have over two months to go. so i try to remain positive. but i will say that i'm on the verge of uncomfortable. like, permanent uncomfortable. not there yet, but i am verging. i am really glad the holidays are coming up - they will surely keep me busy and in good spirits, and undoubtedly the time will go faster as it always does during this jolly time of year. (i think i may break out the christmas music soon... is that bad? i LOVE it!!!)

we also had a spectacular visit from grandma and grandpa van orden. they came out for a long weekend and we had the best time with them. beth was lovin all the love she was getting from them. and we loved that they could be here when it wasn't snowing and enjoy the fall with us. i so wish they were here more often...

and well, that about covers it. i am seriously looking forward to the coming months. thanksgiving and christmas are the absolute best as it's all about family, food, giving, and straight up jolliness. even in discomfort, one can't help but be in good spirits. it's the perfect precursor for that next addition to our little family.

signing off...