Falling for Fall

We took advantage of really gorgeous weather to make our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. We got there later in the morning on Sunday, before the after-church crowd showed up. We paid one dollar each to ride in a tractor-pulled wagon around the grounds. We bumped along the dirt tracks and made stops while people with the $8.50 wristbands were dropped off at the corn maze, the apple cannons, and the Back Forty, which included steer-roping (sitting on a sawhorse and throwing a rope around another sawhorse), a petting zoo (one mule and two miniature horses), and Corn Hole (tossing bean bags through plywood targets). I do not profess to know much about measuring acreage, but I'm reasonably sure the Back Forty was two acres, tops. 

Tip: Always have someone standing
in front of you for post-baby pictures.

Farm-made doughnuts, fresh from the oven.
We totally ate all six right at that table.

Harper slept the entire time.
She has no idea she went anywhere.

False advertising aside, we had a lot of fun. We ate delicious doughnuts, snagged a second ride on the tractor, and brought home our Halloween pumpkins. And we did it before NFL kickoff at 1:00. 

Tea Party

My sister brought her adorable family to visit this week, and our last hurrah was a tea party at a local shop I love that specializes in loose tea and gourmet chocolates. Lucky for the kids, they also do a pot of hot chocolate that is delicious and only four bucks and big enough to share.

Harry sipping cocoa on a 90-degree day, on the outdoor patio, of course.

I assure you, these children actually had a very good time, despite this picture.

 

Harry smashing cookie pieces into his mouth.

Me -- operating on five hours of sleep and seven months pregnant -- my mom and my sister.

It's That Time of Year Again

Autumn is here, and we made our third annual trip to the pumpkin patch.



The tractor-pulled wagon dropped us off in the actual pumpkin patch, and Harry searched high and low for a pumpkin that he liked and wasn't too heavy: success!

Fiber Festival in 100 Words or Less

It's Michigan Fiber Festival weekend, people! It's my fifth summer living with in a 40-minute drive, and something like my 12th year knitting, but I'd never been to Fiber Fest: until now.

Harry, tickled by the sheep:



He kept asking them to smell him, and told me which ones had boogers.

Just one of three dozen adorable sheepies:



And yarn:

It's even more lovely in person, and the woman who dyed it has a Ph.D in chemistry. She uses a spectrophotometer! My knitting world is colliding with my medical science world, and I love it!

Spur of the Moment Summertime

Harry's modus operandi lately is to ask to go outside mere moments after we've woken up in the morning and not stop asking until we've put our shoes on and ventured out into the backyard. Today, though, after checking the weather to find that it was in fact not going to rain, we packed up the car, drove through McDonald's for some pancakes to eat in the car, and headed off to Lake Michigan. Forty minutes later, this:



And this:



And this:

We spent a couple wonderful hours at the beach, especially its playground, chasing sea gulls (or "sea eagles" if you ask Harry), getting wet up to our knees (me and Kevin) or shoulders (Harry), and watching sailboats come in and out of the channel. We're so glad we let Harry talk us into going outside.

2

To celebrate Harry's second birthday, Kevin took the day off of work and we all went to the zoo. It was a gamble, since Harry was diagnosed with croup and an ear infection yesterday, and as we were having a power struggle over pushing the stroller in the zoo's parking lot, Kevin and I both had second thoughts. It turned out, however, to be the only bump in an otherwise perfect outing.

Harry feeding the giraffe:



We bought snacks for the giraffe. Last time it was weird rectangular "giraffe biscuits" but this time it was lettuce. Harry tore off little pieces and held them through the fence, saying "c'mere" and "treat" because that's how we do it with cats.


Kevin and Harry after getting off the tram:



Doesn't Harry look like he's walking the red carpet? Perhaps looking for his entourage behind him?

And the goats in the petting zoo:

This combined petting animals and washing hands with liquid sanitizer, so Harry was one happy little boy.

All in all, it's been an incredible year watching him grow and learn and do a million things I never dreamed. Happy birthday, Harrison!

My Ears Are Still a Little Foggy

Finding babysitters on short notice (tip of the hat, Mom and Dad) and a quick stop at the ATM made it possible for Kevin and me to have a night out. If you're up to date on Nothing Fancy then you will have guessed, Dear Reader, that we went to check out Brighton, MA last night.

We actually saw Brighton, MA way back when, in the pre-Harry days, when they opened a show for Mason Jennings in Ann Arbor. It was the first show I'd ever gone to where didn't want the opening band's set to end, and when we did the awkward shake-hands-with-the-band-on-the-way-out thing I think I told them as much.

So there Kevin and I are last night, wrists stamped, sitting around listening to a local band, when two members of Brighton, MA drop a suitcase on the table behind ours and start spreading out T-shirts, CDs, and the mailing-list sign up sheet, which we actually signed, lo those many years ago. After a minute's debate, I turned around and introduced myself, told them we'd been at the show in Ann Arbor and really enjoyed it, and were really excited that they were in Kalamazoo. They were very gracious, introduced themselves, asked us about the live music scene in Kalamazoo, etc. All in all, a pleasant five-minute exchange.

Apparently being a friendly face in a sea of 50 people who may not have known about Brighton, MA gets a person some extra attention. Like, for instance, when the lead singer pointed at us towards the end of the show and asked, "Is there anything you guys want to hear?" Pretty cool.

Parade: Highs & Low

Let's get the crap out of the way first thing: these four teenage girls. Yes, these girls standing in the street, where normally only small children looking for candy stand. I took this picture from where I was standing, which was the side of the street. You know, where adults stand during a parade. Kevin, my dad, Harry, and I arrived about 20 minutes before the parade was due to start and found a nice spot where Harry would be able to see. I had my back to the street before the parade so I could talk to my dad, and when I turned around a few minutes later, these four girls had made camp directly in front of me. Once the parade started, they all jumped up, moved several yards into the street, and actually collected the candy, stickers, etc. that were intended for children. I was not the only parent to be a little irritated by this, but my favorite comment had to be this: "What, you didn't get enough candy at Halloween?"

Onto more fun. . .

The Rudolph balloon, which Harry hardly even noticed. I can't decide if the deflated ear happened at a previous parade and our parade rented a "discount" balloon or if this is something that occurred earlier on the parade route. There were an awful lot of telephone lines and street lights. . .

And Kevin, Dad, and Harry. Doesn't Dad look a little bit like a weird stranger poking his head into my photo? Harry did a great job, other than refusing to sit in his stroller. His favorites were probably the dogs from the ASPCA and, of course, the fire truck. My highlight of the day is when Kevin asked a police officer how to best avoid the parade when driving home, and she said, "You know, I really have no idea."

Unexpected Pleasures

It's just been that kind of day. I was at the grocery store today and ran into a friend of mine from our knitting group. Since we both have husbands and kids and housework, neither one of us makes it to Saturday knitting all that often, but it was just fun to actually see someone I know, to talk to an adult for a few minutes.

Harry and I also went to the hospital pharmacy today (employee discount!) to pick up what we hope will be the silver bullet for Kevin's migraines, and one of the little old lady volunteers said, "Doesn't that baby look just like his mommy?" After hearing that Harry looks just like Kevin about one thousand times, it felt pretty good to think that someone believes my adorable child favors me, even in the slightest.

I also finished knitting Christmas Item #3 this afternoon, which means I can get back to working on The Dude this weekend!

Edited to add a few more bits of wonderful:

Pumpkin pancakes: I made these for dinner and only wish your computer came equipped with Smellovision so you could understand how unbelievably good my kitchen smells.

AND my sister and brother-in-law were informed today that they will be traveling to Ethiopia in December to meet their son and bring him home!

Night Out

WARNING: This post is link heavy. Prepare your mouse for a workout.

Kevin and I went to a concert this weekend, our first in almost a year: Andrew Bird with special guest St. Vincent at the Kalamazoo State Theatre. I went into this totally unfamiliar with St. Vincent, knowing only that the singer was a woman and there would probably be some expiremental jazz involved.

Andrew Bird, who Kevin has been fairly obsessed with lately, primarily plays violin and whistles. I know: Weird, right? Every time he opened his mouth to whistle last night, I thought about the episode of 10 Items or Less in which Leslie releases a CD of himself whistling well-known songs, and then plays it in a loop over the store's PA system.

Anywho. . . Andrew Bird played 80% of the show solo. He records loops of himself singing, whistling, clapping, and playing violin. He has this elaborate system of foot pedals that he taps, once he's pulled off his shoes and is comfortable in red socks. Once all this is done, and it only takes a minute or two, he plays along live, either with his violin or a guitar. He's (dare I say it?) a one-man band. See for yourself:





This song, "Sweet Matter," was probably my favorite of the night. It's a combination of two songs, "Sweet Breads" and "Dark Matter," and pretty much any song that mentions neurons is going to be a hit with me.

The Bluegrass State

I'm happy to report that nine hours in the car with Harry was not that bad. Having another adult in the car to share the driving and child-entertaining responsibilities with was definitely the deciding factor, and I cannot say enough good things about portable DVD players.

We rolled into Kentucky late enough that my niece had been in bed for hours and I couldn't actually tell what my sister's new house looks like, but all was revealed in the morning. Lydia is as adorable as ever, and Kristi has done a really nice job decorating.

The whole family (minus Kevin, who stayed home to have a bachelor weekend of beer, fried chicken, football, and home improvement projects) went to a pumpkin patch on Saturday. (Can you spot my pumpkin amidst the sea of pumpkins?)

Harry and Lydia in the rare photo when they're both looking in the direction of the camera:

On Sunday we went to the Lexington Explorium, an amazing children's museum. Harry, of course, headed immediately for the truck. Below is one moment when Harry and Lydia weren't competing for control of the steering wheel.



Mom and I drove home with Harry yesterday, and I made my first ever stop at IKEA. I realize how provincial this makes me look, but I hope I get some credit for spending less than $70 and eating only half of a cinnamon bun.

Lazy Sunday

Another weekend trip to the local nature center, which always produces some good pictures. . .

The (expensive) backpack carrier we bought last spring. Harry did eventually get in, but Kevin carried it empty half the time.




Harry found the fountain in the butterfly garden. He was only mildly wet, so I consider that successful. He did scream bloody murder when we moved on, and I hope he doesn't remember how to find the fountain next time.





It was also the last day for the barn, so we checked out the animals. This is the only picture I took in which they sheep weren't ramming heads.





And finally a trip inside. I wanted Harry to color with me, but he had other ideas. He's been going nuts for colored pencils and sidewalk chalk lately, but this coloring session lasted about 30 seconds.




The best thing about spending the afternoon at the nature center is that there is no reasonable expectation that I will be cooking dinner. And everybody likes leftover takeout ribs, right?

Playdate #1

Okay. . . I actually pulled myself together and took Harry to the new playgroup. He had a great time, but we were at the park, so that was pretty much guaranteed. There were five (?) other moms there with one or two kids each, and while Harry was the youngest, there were two boys and a girl who were just a few months older. Harry didn't go out of his way to play with the other kids, but I got to talk to three of the moms, and we got beyond the usual "playground" chat: How old? Does he talk? Cute outfit!

Harry and I will definitely go back, but between school and work, I'm really going to have to push myself. And now that I've been to the group and realize that these moms are not just waiting to judge me for using disposable diapers or letting Harry watch TV, it shouldn't be too hard.

KIP

I made a little time this weekend to attend a Knitting In Public event. About a half-dozen of my regular knitting compatriots were there too, as well as about 20 other knitters. The point of today's event was to bring attention to the art and encourage others to try it out. During our three-hour public knitting four people asked to learn and sat down with us, needles and yarn soon pushed into their hands. The event organizers rounded up door prizes, including needles, books, and some really gorgeous yarn: I was totally coveting some bright blue yarn, but alas I did not win anything.

The KIP was at a local coffee/tea/chocolate cafe with a fabulous patio,which we filled to bursting with knitters, overlooking the creek. We ate chocolates and drank tea and drooled over the last cream puff in the dessert case, and pledged that we would return soon with more money and emptier stomachs.

I wish every day of my life involved this picture.

Story Time

I have a story about Story Time. Today was Harry's first visit to the library, and we were there especially for Story Time. I've heard really good things about Story Time. And I was assured that there were kids of all ages, even Harry's age, which I found remarkable because I cannot get him to sit still for one story unless I let him chew on the book, which I only sometimes do, and only when the books are ours.

There seemed to be an extraordinarily large number of children, more than 12 and possibly 20. (Ever tried counting moving children? Not easy.) There was a big age range, from the impossibly tiny newborn on my right to the probably 6-year-old to my left. And Miss Nancy, the children's librarian, had an impressive stack of books and a teddy bear puppet and a rocking chair. It looked promising.

Harry made it through the "Nice to Meet You" song and a book about a duck on a bike called, appropriately, Duck on a Bike. Then he spied the stroller on the opposite side of the room and immediately took off, hoping, I'm sure, to tip it over and play with the wheels, because he is All Boy. The stroller was occupied by a sleeping baby, and luckily I was hot on Harry's trial. Of course, being foiled again didn't please Harry, and he started warming up for a tantrum. I took him out of the room for a little break and to let him walk around, but the instant we left the Story Time room he was literally pressing his face up against the glass of the door, desperate to rejoin the group. We went back in for the Hokey Pokey and a story about the garbage truck, but we had to make another quick exit before the arts and crafts projects, which is probably okay, because if Harry is anything like his dad, he would have skipped the arts and crafts and just eaten his weight in paste.

I feel good that I made the effort and got Harry out there in a group with other kids, and I wasn't even really that embarrassed to have to swoop in and remove him twice, and I even managed to get a few books to bring home. The one I'm really looking forward to is Pirate Pete's Talk Like a Pirate, which I will make Kevin read aloud to Harry, and it will be hilarious because each accent Kevin does sounds exactly like every other accent in his repertoire: imagine Scottish meets Pirate meets Thurston Howell III.

I'm pleased to report that Kevin and I only got up once with Harry last night, so everyone felt much, much better today. So good, in fact, that we decided to take a hike at our local nature center. We got out our new, high-tech baby carrier and, after stopping for lunch with Mom and Dad, strapped Harry in for his first ride, other than the test drive at Babies R Us.


Kevin soon learned that being the wearer of the baby carrier comes with its own risks.


Like having someone play with your ears and sunglasses off and on for the duration of the hike.

And then there's this: a build-your-own nest exhibit. We kind of just poached the nest that the last kid built and dropped Harry into it: we're cheaters.

Clearing the Hard Drive

There are too many good pictures of Harry on my hard drive right now. This is Harry thinking someone is sneaking up behind him:


(No one is.)

This is Harry standing on the couch in his button-down shirt, which I think makes him look like a tiny old man:

And finally, Harry's first visit to the nature center:



It will be the first of many, because we shelled out the big bucks for a year's membership. After we realized that there are no paved trails, we decided to spend a little more money on a hiking baby carrier. I do hope Kevin realizes he will be the one hiking with another person on his back. And no, I don't have some horrible neck rash: Harry has learned how to pinch.