Innervate (in er veyt)

We are closing in on the end of summer. I'm not sure I'm prepared for that. I had so many plans for this summer - wanted to camp more, wanted to garden more, wanted to have a camp fire.....but time slipped out of our hands a bit. We did get some things canned this week  thanks to good neighbors who have a huge garden. We canned carrots, pickles, and cinnamon pickles. We are starting to see the garden come to a close.

Life has been crazy at work... I'm in full conference planning more and am a bit in the weeds with where things are at. I'm glad this is my third conference and I'm not completely lost. I'm less than a month away.

On the Eleanor front, we've had a couple big milestones. I can't believe how much she's growing as we go. Next week will be her second big aviation endeavor - she will go on her first plane. She's already spent time in an airport. We spent the weekend preparing for our trip west to PA. We plan to celebrate our anniversary as well as see Judy's wedding.

Beat meal: Matt bought grouper - my favorite fish and we had it styled two ways.

ALR: We'll get her dressed and then can go.
MJR: Is something laid out?
ALR: No, I didn't have time yet, do you want me to pick something out?
MJR huffily: I can dress our daughter.
ALR: alright, you dress her.
5 minutes later, ALR sees EER: She needs pants.
MJR: Ahhh, why?
ALR: because.
5 minutes later, ALR hears from the next room, MJR: You look amazing.

Day in the Life: Other baby

We like to check in on that "other baby."

Everybody is in agreement that the other baby is pretty good looking. 

Waning (weyn ng)

August is almost over... I'm trying to figure out where it went and also with it, where did all my plans go? The garden hasn't gotten the attention that we like to give it. We have had a few harvests and my favorite thing is to do is sneak in a garden walk and check out the progress. Beans are coming to an end. Carrots are coming strong. Peas are over. Zuccs may still be a surprise. Peppers are happening as they please. Tomatoes are slllloooowwww. We have had a great run of herbs, which we did last year too but this year, I'm taking full advantage of them and dehydrating them. I've got the chives done as well as the oregano and a run of basil. 

Someone has had a big week, she's had a few milestones worth noting but there's also the Mommy milestone that I've hit. I was rocking her one night before bed and it hit me that only a couple months ago, she was laid out across my chest sleeping. Now I'm filling a second box of clothes that she can't fit in anymore. This realization worked itself into a conversation with Matt that started with "our baby is growing so fast"
 and ended with, "And what will I miss when she's at daycare?"

We had her three month pics too this weekend. This wasn't as intensive as her newborn shot... We only had 2 outfits. I'm so excited to see what she's come up with and was able to capture. That's how we started our Saturday and had a wonderful day together - not doing too much, just getting stuff done together as a family. 

Best meal: Matt made a crab boil for me to celebrate three months. I've been dealing with the Pupps rash since before Len was born and was told that until we were done breastfeeding, it would keep flaring up. The crab boil was a celebratory meal. He did such a nice job making it for us! We let Eleanor watch the meal happenings as a encouragement for meals in the future!

Second runner up was our Friday date night where we started off at TJ Maxx and followed up with La Carretta shrimp cocktail and dinner.

MJR: I need shampoo. I've been using your Paul Mitchell stuff.
ALR: I replaced it already, and you've been what???!!! 
Glares at him.
ALR: You've been using my Paul Mitchell stuff?
MJR: Uh, no, not at all.
ALR: I only use that stuff sparingly. I've had that bottle for over a year.
MJR stares back sheepishly.
ALR: I use it for special stuff when I need to have a good hair day.
MJR: Well, I didn't think it was that great.
ALR fumes.
ALR: And I suppose you've been using the shampoo and now the shampoo to conditioner ratio is off.
MJR: No, one day I used the conditioner because I didn't realize that it wasn't shampoo.
ALR: Quit. using. my shampoo.

Tertiary (ter SHE air re)

It's been a crazy week! For everyone in the house! 

On Wednesday, I participated in United Way's Day of Caring. I helped the local animal shelter set up for their rummage sale fundraiser. Holy crap - there was so much stuff. I was in charge of holiday items. I'm proud to say that I didn't acquire anything despite some light shopping on my end. They raised over $5500 just the first day, before end of day too! 

While I was busy, Len went to work with her Dad. This was his first time and for the most part I think she was on her best behavior. I gave him the schedule run down, packed the bag, let him pick out her outfit, had everything set out... and he and her had a wonderful morning. 

About 11, I texted and asked how it was going, this is the picture that I got back. It brought a smile to my face. Later he told me that it was her idea for the bowtie because she moved her hand across the screen and in doing so selected and placed it.

At night, we also swung into canning/harvest mode. Matt and I have canned a few pickles including refrigerator/fresh pickles, a few waterbathed pickles, and due to our beautiful jalapeno crop, he has also pickled some of these to be used later on. I think he was looking at beans too. The hard part with our garden is that we don't get a huge patch to can but little batches. We've been enjoying cherry tomatoes too as "Rapunzel" our cherry tomato bush, doesn't disappoint.

During the weekend, we had our first "date" sans Eleanor. Matt and I went to the Northern Neighbors Air Show. We dropped her off with Randy and Michele- who were excited to babysit, and then we headed to the base for the show. I always love the smaller war planes and Kent Pietsch's runs but this was the first time I saw the A-2 and the fighter planes. I loved when the quick zoomed air show center and broke the sound barrier. The only bad thing about the time was the amount of energy we wasted in the food truck line!   

On Sunday, Matt and I split up. He headed out to the farm to help Dad and Mom get the place ready for the All Breeds Tour and I busted behind to clean the house that has quickly gotten away from me! I felt very productive and touched pretty much almost each room in the house! And when Matt came home, my work was noticed too!

The other big thing that happened this week was Eleanor turned 3 months. It's hard to believe how much she's changed over the past 13 weeks. She's gone from the little lump that would fall asleep cuddled on my chest to this sassypants spitfire that is quick to give me a smile at 4:00am and still scream like a siren when she's hungry. 

We are starting to see her personality bubble out every once in awhile but know that it's going to show itself more and more now.

Best meal: Sunday night, I got so busy in cleaning that I didn't even make supper... Matt took me to Qdoba and I scarfed up street tacos!

While grocery shopping...
ALR: We need bread.
Turn down the bread aisle.
MJR stops in middle of aisle and stares
ALR: Use your words, is there a kind you specifically want?
MJR: That kind, right there.
ALR: Well, I'm not a mind reader.
MJR: You should work on that.
ALR: Can you read my mind?
MJR: Yes, you are saying "Explicit"
ALR: Yes, you are right.
MJR: See, I work at it.

Assiduous (uh sij ooo us)

Can't believe it's August... where has this summer gone?
I feel like things are flying by and getting neglected. Like my garden. We haven't spent near the time out there that I like. Mostly we both take turns running out to water. We have had a few things to harvest. Surprisingly a couple zucchini and some cucs, but some have gotten sunburnt. Our peppers are looking beautiful and we've eaten a handful of cherry tomatoes. Our tomatoes are rough as we've had blossom rot so we are hopeful that they come along a bit better as we get further into the season.

This past weekend was busy... we hardly saw the house! Saturday was a day at the lake. Matt logged some lake dive time with the fire department. It was so good to see old friends not only to catch up and introduce Len but to also see how things have changed in their lives. Children have grown, lives have continued to change, but some things still say the same and it's days like that that we miss the best part about Dickinson - the friends that we made.

On Sunday, we went out to the farm and Matt helped Mom and Dad set forms for concrete. Will be good to see the finished product. I couldn't believe how dirty he was when we left!

Best meal: Matt says he's burned out on ground beef smileys... he can blame Eleanor for that. His taco compromise to me is street tacos.

MJR sets EER on her blanket on the table.
6 minutes later.
ALR: How did you get like that?
MJR walks over.
EER has moved and is now at a 45 degree angle with her feet in the fruit bowl and her baby mirror knocked over.
MJR: Um. How did you get like that.
EER gnaws on hand looking pleased with herself.
ALR: I think you better bring the playpen up.
MJR: Yep. I think we are done with the table.

Caravan (kar UH van)

It was our first full-day week back at work and with that I've determined the most heartbreaking thing is picking my beautiful sleeping baby up out of her crib and have her melt into my chest in a deep sleep and then to cram her into her little car seat and cart her off to work. She takes it like a champ with little fussing and often sleeps in the morning, but it doesn't mean I like it any.

We spent the weekend in the camper again. Last week was the dry run, this week it was for real. She didn't do quite as well as last weekend but overall we can't complain. She even enjoyed the campfire a bit this time. Matt enjoyed the maiden fishing trip of the Blue Fin and even put a fish in the boat but us girls stayed on shore. He felt bad that we weren't able to go with him and I felt bad that he was alone, but next year will probably be better for us to spend time together on the water.

We were camper locked a bit because of Eleanor but we did pass the time with cards.

 Len is starting to show off some cute behaviors. She's started watching "another baby" in the mirror. She'll laugh and watch that baby but my favorite is how she imitates her father when he shakes his head and blows his lips at her. I wasn't aware of the copy-catting until the two of them showed me. I love watching the two of them at play. It's amazing how much she's changed in such a short time.

I will say her father and I weren't so impressed with her though as she was a handful while we were trying to get things ready to go. JUST as we were finally loaded up and ready, we looked at her, laying on the table, with her bunny blanket... sleeping. Same thing happened when we were packing the camper to go home. Someone wanted to be held while I was getting everything ready to head back. I finally set her down in the booth to grab something and when I looked over....sleeping. Just as Matt stuck his head in saying we were ready to pull out. 

Best meal: Pepperoni Pizza Pies at the fire... with fresh garden basil. This is my camping favorite. For dessert it was nutella banana pies.

ALR, MJR, and EER sitting at campfire.
ALR and MJR are eating pizza sandwiches fresh from the pie cookers.
MJR sounding defeated: We are those people.
MJR sighs.
ALR perplexed: What people?
MJR: The ones with the campfire going before it gets dark.
ALR looks at EER who is eating her hand in her car seat carrier: I hate to tell you it may be the new norm.
MJR sigh again: I know.
5 minutes later
MJR: It is easier to cook when it's not dark out though.
The next night....ALR and MJR at campfire.
ALR: Do you feel better? It's dark out.
MJR: yes.
ALR: Hand me the fire poker for my s'mores.