Fall for a day :)

Yesterday morning was pretty chilly for our walk, almost "Fall-like," (I loooove it!) but this is Michigan, so I'm sure we still have a few ninety degree days ahead of us...Not to mention Fall doesn't officially start until September 22 at precisely 11:09 PM ET (I had to look that one up :)

The Birth Survey

Have you heard of The Birth Survey?   If you're interested in giving feedback about your prenatal and labor/delivery care providers, and about your hospital/birth center/home birth experiences take this survey: The Birth Survey from The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS).  You can also read the reviews that others have written about care providers and birthing facilities and view information about local hospital intervention rates...interesting stuff!

Leaf's favorite things of the moment

keys

dogs

skype

outside

bubbles

magnets

honeydew

stroller rides

throwing food

jumping in puddles

our little red rice cooker

climbing.......on everything

being chased around the house  

putting pots and pans on his head

drinking milk out of a sippy cup...finally!

checking out the contents of the refrigerator

trying on our shoes and walking around in them

stuffed animals, especially the bear he got for Easter 

clapping (especially to "if you're happy and you know it") 

making animal sounds (so far he's mastered: cow, sheep, horse, pig, 

chicken, dog, cat, owl, wolf, and thanks to his daddy, the tasmanian devil)

"brushing" his teeth (aka chewing on toothbrush, sucking toothpaste off brush)

pointing to body parts and saying their names (mouth=mau, eye=eya, nose=no, etc...)

throwing things in the garbage (we are missing one of his shoes and the lid to 

his favorite little red rice cooker...I'm thinking we won't be finding them) 

putting our hats on his head, which are too big and cover his 

eyes, and then walking around with his eyes covered

peaches, nectarines, blueberries, and raspberries 

throwing things in the toilet (he is quick!)

trying to bite our toes (i know, gross!)

books, books, and...more books

kissing himself in the mirror

giving kisses to mommy :)

all of his grandparents

other little ones

taking baths 

bike rides

avacados

running

dancing

music

rocks

birds

cats 

...and so much more...

We have a little statue of Leaf's foot (is that weird?)

Last year for Mother's Day, one of the things Ian gave me was a little kit to make molds of Leaf's hands and feet, and another little kit to make his hand and feet impressions.  We did the molds when he was about three months old and sound asleep.  The foot worked out perfectly...the hand, not so much (I was too tempted to touch it before it was totally dry, so, you know... :)

And we finally got around to making the hand/feet impressions this year on Mother's Day.  Again, we had Leaf's full cooperation with the feet, but not so much with the hands (that plaster was just way too much fun to squish around in)...so this is what we got:

He has the biggest feet ever.

Rocks

Sometime in the last few months Leaf discovered rocks.  He pretty much thinks they rock.  

Family time

Leaf and I had some fun family time this weekend at my dad's...

Leaf got to spend some quality time with his cousin Hunter (seriously, I want this kid to come live with me...he is AMAZING with Leaf.  They played together ALL night), 

and with his "Coco" (my grandma :) who of course was equipped with three adorable new stuffed animals for Leaf.

Hunter and Leaf swam in the lake together, played the kazoo, blew bubbles outside for AN HOUR, chased balls (and each other) all over the house, bounced on the bed, giggled A LOT, and indulged in some "only at grandpa's house food."

My brother was gracious enough to give Leaf an ENORMOUS chocolate cookie...he gave it to him 'secretly' in the kitchen and then sent him out into the living room--GIANT nibbled up cookie in hand--for all eyes to see, and for all to laugh hysterically at.  It was of course quickly confiscated. :)

We jumped on the boat before dinner, making our way lazily around the lake, with Leaf and grandpa at the wheel as usual.

and Captain Hunter at the front

My cousin Laura, fresh off the plane from a Brazilian adventure :)

♥ My Coco!!!!  :))))) ♥

Sometime during the course of the ride, Leaf tossed his hat overboard (of course)...thankfully we had Captain Hunter to fish it out :)

After the cruise around the lake we had a great dinner as always, too much dessert, and lots of laughter...and then Leaf bounced around (literally) for an hour after the rest of the house was asleep...too much excitement or too much sugar??? 
...and had a little kitchen fun time in the morning before we headed home :)

From the earth

Today our garden gave us:

We've been eating well around here.  We're up to our ears in tomatoes and collard greens (anybody want any??), our eggplants are among the best I've had (I can't get enough of them--on the grill, stewed with our tomatoes, in Ian's homemade babaganoush...), and even Leaf says, in a very enunciated way, "MmMmmMm" every time he takes a bite of this here broccoli :)

 And, of course, we have to make some time to play with our food :)  Eggplant soccer anyone?

Next year: More cabbage and broccoli, LESS tomatoes and collards (way less), better care for the cucumbers and herbs (oops, only the rosemary survived, and the cucumbers have been pathetic since day one :), less hot peppers, more sweet peppers, and I'd like to try my hand at some beans and peas and swiss chard and a bunch of other stuff...if only this garden thing could be year-round.