Busy days!

It is beautiful here in the East in the Fall. I have been enjoying the changing colors over the last month and the cooler weather. The fall has been good, very busy, and challenging for me. I am sorry I have been absent here but shortly I am sure you will see why.

This is from my kitchen window one morning when I was up early with Eleanor. 

Though my current study on spiritual disciplines, and motherhood I am being constantly reminded of my shortcoming and my capacity to do nothing in my own strength. The study has been great don't get me wrong, but a complete failure in my goals for myself in regards to spiritual disciplines. But its a good lesson and I won't give up, I need to discover how to fit these things into my new normal.

Speaking of normal, most days I have another baby here just Eleanor's age, so its a very full day even if we do "nothing". I say in quotes because doing nothing involves, 6 feeds, at least 8 diapers, much bouncing, crying, fussing and constant movement to keep everyone happy, and don't forget picking up pacifiers at least 50 times, I am sure more. Many days they do both nap and I can run a load of dishes or feed myself if I am lucky.

The best news in the last month is Eleanor is now breastfeeding! I can't say how thrilled I am, even more than I thought I would be. We were making it work before, but its so wonderful to leave the house without having to take the pump along like a third child! I was told if I wanted it to work I would have to bite the bullet and just do it non stop for a week and after much screaming an latching for all of 30 seconds the first few days, magically she would nurse for a few minuets longer each day.  Its still day by day, and most days she takes one bottle of formula to supplement but its a huge step forward and I can't be more happy.

Parents take ages to pack! 

One thing you can not do with a pump along is backpack! So it was first on my list before it got much colder, and so Baby's first backpacking trip was last weekend. We went to a wonderful spot called St Mary's wilderness, We will go back when we can swim, we camped right on a river, where we could here the water all night! It was wonderful and renewed my soul, as backpacking always does, particularly when I can hike in and just sit for a day before hiking out whitch I did this time. To make it better we went with a couple from church so we had sweet fellowship also, and more baby holding arms! It was a great success and I do hope we can go again. 

Can you spot the baby napping? 

And now the Holidays are around the corner and I just booked my flight home, so I can tell you I will be in Seattle area South (Gig Harbor) Dec 17-24 and Seattle North (Lake Stevens) Dec 24-Jan 4. So let me know if you want to make a date with us while we are around. I do hope to see as many of you as I can!

Lots and Lots of other things happened this month! Here is the rest in a snapshot!

She liked her first food!

Hanging at the ball field for Dad's fall season

We love bathtime!

Visiting a local marine museam

Mark Bevin and cousin Ally came to visit!

Big enough to sit at the table

Brian turned 30! We were a couple a kids at the theme park for the day!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Cutest Giraffe ever!

At the babies at the meeting I go to for nursing mothers

Trick or treating with her first Alex

Mmmmmm candy!

Butterfly!

That's a sloth bear behind her!

And to round off a great busy time Grammy came for a visit!

Fall

Fall is in the air. I found myself drooling over fresh new #2 pencils in the store over the weekend. Alas I am not in school and have no need. But it was a blissful 72 degrees here today and rainy all day, I was euphoric all day! Though the three hour nap Brian allowed me to have yesterday may have played a roll in that also.

You may have seen our area in the news lately. We are all well and safe and here is the highlights.

Hanging out watching the hurricane blow in, without electricity, it was hot and stuffy inside with no AC, so we sat on our dear neighbors covered porch. That's Brian enjoying a cigar. 

Thankfully after a earthquake, hurricane and tornado all in one week, this was all the damage done, that's our house in the background, this tree uprooted and fell right across the front yard during the hurricane. That corner of the house is our bedroom. We feel very blessed and grateful that we were all safe and sound and only without power for three days.  

Many new things starting now that the school year is here, I am starting a new study with my home bible study ladies on Spiritual Disciplines, I am very excited to dig into this topic. I had also planned on starting to study with Community Bible Study in town, they also have kids bible study for every age as the kid/kids grow up. I like to attend a study when I lead one, but I have been asked this week to lead a discussion group for this also, so I am praying over this further commitment. We will see, but I have heard nothing but great things about the organization and I think it would be a great thing to get involved with, they are all over the country, so you should look into it if you are looking for a study this fall. This year is Acts, should be a great topic.
I have also agreed to watch another three month old girl starting tomorrow, 4 days a week. It will help me to raise the money aside from Brian's income to pay for us to all go home to Seattle for Christmas, I am very excited I can contribute towards that trip. I met the woman through a local nursing support group run by the hospital, and she works on the same base as Brian, and lives just a few miles from us. Her daughter was born 3 days after Eleanor, and is on the waiting list for the base day care. So it won't last a long time but should be an adventure basically having twins eight hours a day. Thankfully she naps well and is as easy going a baby as Eleanor.
Lastly Eleanor is three month old today and doing very well, changing all the time. She is not very interested in toys yet, but she is starting to look at them a little more if not grasp them yet. She has discovered her hands this week and has been chewing on them non stop. She is now drooling, and most excitedly smiling the last few days!  She was ten and a half pounds today.

Unofficial kinda first smile on camera

August 23rd is Grandad's Birthday thats why the fancy onesie. 

We had a great time spending the labor day weekend with our great friends from Germany who we did ministry with when we all lived there, then with no kids. It was such fun to now get together with our gaggle of kids, them with twin boys and a little girl, and both our husbands now civilians, how life has changed. 

With Dad's hat, hiding from the sun

Fun with Dad

Swimming in the river testing the new life jacket