Winter/nesting/packing - all in full swing

This is the season of full swing. Here are pics from our trip to California. Now that we are back in NJ, we feel winter in full swing: we bundle up to leave the house. I walked with Micah to the post office and library yesterday and felt so very accomplished after those chores were checked off. My pregnancy is in full swing: I'm absolutely showing, am well into my 2nd trimester, we are preparing for our second little boy. I'm nesting in full swing: we're preparing for a move, probably to California for a few months then off to Josh's professor post. All of these details are working together to create a chaotic household state. My goal in life of late is to downsize because it means living more simply, and transporting less bulk cross-country, and really enjoying what we have. So everyday while Micah naps I scurry to the basement to sort and clean. I'm trying to refocus these efforts on giving to those who need them rather than having the selfish motivation to carry less around.

St. Basil wrote: "The bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold that you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor. If everyone would take only according to his needs and would leave the surplus to the needy, no one would be rich, no one poor, no one in misery."

Wonderful Christmas

Yesterday Micah woke up late, so we received the good fortune of sleeping in until 7:30 on Christmas morning and then we made a big breakfast together. Micah likes to help cook - so he stirred empty bowls and taste-tested his creations while we flipped pancakes. You see Micah here in his pajamas; I just love the way those make him look like a baby super hero! If it weren't for social expectations, I would fill his closet with all baby super hero pajamas.

After present-opening, we enjoyed our unusually lovely weather (which melted every trace of snow) and went for a walk. Good friends of ours invited us to their place in the afternoon and they shared food and family and basketball with us.

Gearing up for Christmas

We set up the Christmas tree last week. The nostalgic smell of pine fills the air and makes me smile when I pass by. Micah was old enough to get involved this year, so we enlisted his help to hang (well, it turned out he liked more to remove) the ornaments and watch the lights sparkle. This Christmas we'll be carving our own traditions here in New Jersey.

Signs of Winter's Coming

Since winter is well on her way, and outdoor playtime is limited to however long we can stand the cold (and my tolerance in particularly low), my friend Ruth and I take our kids to the malls in our area to walk around and let them play where we can all be warm. Santa was there last week and we tried to encourage them to visit with him, but none of them were thrilled about it. In fact, Micah was downright depressed about it. On another mall excursion, these silly kids sprawled out on the floor and tumbled over each other. Micah loves Isaiah and Leorah.

Thanksgiving Joy

On Thanksgiving morning we woke up, and brushed our teeth, and made cinnamon rolls together. Micah makes us laugh, here he looks like a little old man with that toothbrush hanging out of his mouth! We're undecided about who he looks like, but Josh says he looks like his dad in this pic.

These other photos are taken after Thanksgiving dinner at our good friends' house. We're so thankful to have our NJ friends!

Halloween photos

We dressed Micah up for Halloween last week and took him out with some friends. We didn't dress him up last year; I can't even remember what we did, which leads me to believe we didn't do much. He was a monkey this year and was a trooper about it. I have a feeling this was my last chance to get him to dress up in a cute costume. The older boys in our trick-or-treating group were Batman and a transformer. In the meantime, though, we seem to be winning battles like these and he continues to put up with silly outfits like dino pajamas and sweater vests.

Autumn joys

Before we took off for the East Coast, we were told again and again that autumn is the best season. Though Josh argues spring (despite his newfound vicious pollen allergies) is a fierce competitor, I find the fall season breathtaking. The leaves are vibrant and carpet the sidewalks with unbelievable shades of reds and oranges, while the wind is brisk but not too chilly to keep us indoors.

Last week we had the honor of having super friends Maaren and Andy visit us from San Diego. Both of them inspire us with their creativity and love. It was great to have them here.

And did I ever mention potty training? Lofty goal of mine, I know, but I'm ready to be done with diapers and we're making great strides. I figure we'll divide and conquer: we've accomplished potty training at home so he gets to rock his big boy underpants around the house; we're still working on me remembering to take him when we're out of the house; and he still sleeps in diapers. I'm so proud of Micah.