Fall with the foursome

Most of the leaves have fallen, we've already had a halloween party or two, we picked out our pumpkins just in time for carving and pumpkin bread making!  Emeline is now 8 months - crawling, climbing, standing, shuffling, cruising...mostly smiles, lucky us!  However, no longer content to be watching the world go by, she is all up in it, and protesting loudly when not holding what big sis is holding, standing where big sis is standing, or eating what big sis is eating!

 

It was pretty chilly and windy for our pumpkin hunting!

Super Dad

Teeth chattering but still searching for the right pumpkin :)



2012's pumpkins :)

Our "bird" feeder

Emeline - 8 months, the ONLY shot where she wasn't crawling away at warp speed....not sure we'll get a 9 month photo.

Why we have kids...

Why do we have kids?

Not a day (probably not an hour, if you're of the stay-at-home types) goes by that we don't think of this question as parents - sometimes googly eyed and gushing with love, and other times, resisting the urge to send our kids off to live with Ms. Hannigan.

But recently, I read this:

http://drinkandswear.tumblr.com/post/30738364693/tips-from-the-childless?og=1&fb_action_ids=3685612107543&fb_action_types=tumblr-feed%3Apost&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582

Good stuff from an old friend.  And brilliantly written for someone without kids, although, a professional uncle and big brother, so that helps.

And, I always follow cousin's blog here: http://www.lateralmovements.com/  who lives the complete opposite life, in various parts of the world. 

This cousin, Lauren, will likely be coming to visit us this winter. 

Lauren knows a lot of sign language.

Our oldest is fond of sign language.

The other morning while I was getting ready, Annie was asking me what the sign for something was.  I had no idea (and can't remember what the word was).  I told her, you can ask cousin Lauren when she is here to visit us this winter, I'm sure she will be able to show you.

Annie:  Where is she?
Me:  Lauren is in Argentina right now.
Annie:  What's her babies name? (because everyone has a baby)
Me:  She doesn't have any babies.
Annie:  Why doesn't she have any babies?  (as if this was absurd)
Me: (pausing...)  Well, not everyone has babies...  (and I went on to describe reasons people might not have babies, as if I needed to...)

What I wanted to say was:  Well, maybe she doesn't want to give up her body for 9 months, her life for the following 18+ years, and her heart forever, maybe she enjoys pursuing her own dreams vs those of little versions of herself, maybe she likes to sleep when she's tired, eat when she's hungry, bathe when she's dirty, exercise, take a class, work, play, travel...  The reasons for not having children are endless.  Actually, Annie and I have a pretty open relationship for a 3 year old and a mom, so I really didn't censor much of what I just mentioned when I explained it to her.

But of course, we're of the reproducing folk...so her question has been burning in my mind for a bit.

If you asked me at 18 if I would ever get married or have kids, I would have said no way.  Of course, throughout most of my 20's I flip flopped from hopes of marriage one day and maybe kids, to thinking, nah, the single, free life is the way to go.  Either way, I got to a point, I was happy.  Happy being me, or happy with someone - but I didn't need one way or the other.

Then I got to know him.  Now, I know people get married for all sorts of reasons, much like they have kids for many different reasons.  But my experience went hand in hand.  I would never have wanted to get married if I didn't really find "the one" that was going to satisfy my twosome desires eternally, I'm not one for empty promises.  So once I found someone better for me than anyone I had ever met, nor would ever meet, someone I felt made the world a better place just by breathing (and consequently convinced him that I was his other half ;) - the best thing I could do with my life from that point on is make more of this guy. 

I'm not saying I got married, quit my job, and got busy all Duggar style.(http://www.duggarfamily.com/content/home) 

When I say the best thing I could do is make more of this guy, I don't mean as many of this guy as physically possible.  I mean, more like...I can't let the gene pool end here entirely. 

When I looked at what was really important to me once I became part of our team, what would mean a hill of beans when I looked back on my life...I knew it wasn't going to be climbing the corporate ladder or learning to knit.  (Although, if I ever find the time and desire, I might try to knit.)

I had an opportunity to build something entirely different and to take on a position that I couldn't be fired from, would never get a raise from, and would challenge me in ways I had never imagined.  The only business-like perk possible with this position is potentially a promotion, to Grandma...one day...long from now...with a lotta luck...

We built a home (not a house people, that's the shell, I'm talking about "home") and proceeded to reproduce.  Not only did I feel like I was reproducing a piece of our marriage, but each little baby is a  product of the past.  Maybe that new baby will have great-grandma's eyes, laugh like great aunt so-and-so, or have great-great-grandpa's sense of humor, and how often do we even know where these little traits come from?  Yet, when we recognize it, that flash of familiarity, is comforting and refreshing.  It's like a fresh start and a continuation all in one, to see your family grow.  Meeting someone for the first time, made from a long line of people we've known and loved all along, probably the very reason we "love them from that first breath".   A little bit of me and a little bit of him, and the mixture of our past, combined into one tiny little life with an entirely new future ahead. 

And we are honored enough to be a part of this experience?

That's reason enough for me to miss more sleep than I'd like to admit, sport a few (er, many) stretch marks, and never again use the bathroom alone.

To the best of my knowledge, my Grandma Fitzpatrick was a professional Grandma.  Before then there are rumors she was also a wife, mother, daughter, and sister, but as far as I was concerned, she was a GRANDMA.  At Grandma's funeral, my cousin, Kate (cousin's are really getting the publicity from me today), said:

 "...as I look around this room, I see all of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and I can see that her life's work, was us, and I feel very proud and thankful to be part of her life's work"  (and I can even hear her voice crack as she said that last part)

I completely agree, Kate.  I'm so proud to be part of her life's work, and the work of my family before me.

And that is why we have kids.

Fall Begins!

It's Fall here!  Annie started her first dance class (Mommy and Me Dance...more of a buffet of dance styles introduced to a group of toddlers who prefer interpretative dance, ok, maybe my kid is more in favor of interpretation, but whatever, you get the idea.)  Emeline has turned 7 months, she has a mouthful of teeth (nothing like her gummy-smile sister at this age) and has eagerly started crawling (about a month ahead of big sister - thinking she doesn't want to waste any time as she watches Annie bustle about on two feet).

We've been busy visiting with Grandma Fitz who has been sick.  We celebrated Grandpa Fitz's birthday out on the farm.  We visited Great Grandma Metzka's Memorial Garden.  Grandma Meek has been here helping us keep up from time to time.  And we have been trying to soak up our own backyard as much as possible -- every time I pass by a window, I am blown away by how gorgeous fall is all of a sudden.  Unbelievable we live here...it's like eternal vacation (minus housekeeping ;)

Our tiny dancer at her first day of class.

Visit to Grandpa Fitz's Farm

Remember that Memorial Garden we installed May 10th of this spring?  Here it is a few months later - Annabelle & Emeline warming up the swing while checking in on Great Grandma's Garden.

Smiley, toothy, Emeline - 7 months on September 28, 2012

This is our BACKYARD - Happy Fall!

There are many gifts we give our children, love, of course being number one.

Among the other potential gifts we can give, more people to love and be loved by, must be up there somewhere. Today – high fives to all those siblings out there.

I am half oldest child, and half only child. These past few weeks, I have been the only child mostly. When my Momma is seriously sick – it’s me with that pit in my stomach, the head pounding nerves and general concern about doing the right thing, at the right time. It could be a lonely feeling, being an only child at times like this.

Unless of course, Momma has siblings. While I may not be one of two, or more…my mother is number five of seven. When she needs help, she has an army of sisters, a team of family, right there with me making sure all is well. I can never get over the power of numbers, and seamless way everyone immediately appears to stand in, pick up things, make phone calls, run errands, and generally love in all those ways beyond flowers and chocolates.

"Many hands make light work...."  (I heard that over and over growing up watching my Grandma and Aunts bustle about the kitchen.)

I am so grateful, while my very immediate family is small, my general immediate family is huge. I have an “aunt hill” on both sides, and have repeatedly been blown away by the security of everyone working and caring together when someone is sick.

It makes me equally as grateful that Annie has Eme, and Eme has Annie. You’re welcome girls – instant partners in crime, bestfriends, confidants, and of course, someone to lean on when you need them. You’re still so small with so much ahead, but already I know you will be incredible buddies and I’m so proud of you! Almost makes me want to make more of you…almost ;)

Grandma Fitz is going to get healthy very soon and get back to these two cuties!  :)