Like I said, "Pumpkins, anyone?"

The title refers to this post, where I told of our dominating pumpkin plants. After harvesting them, the count has come to 18, I think. Julia thought it was great to have a pumpkin patch in her own backyard. I bet she'll love it even more when we carve one next weekend. If anyone wants a home-grown pumpkin, don't hesitate to stop by. We'd love a visit if you'd like a pumpkin!
I'm not sure what she's doing in this last picture. And, although the pigtails aren't pumpkin related, I couldn't help posting a close-up of her golden curls that we adore. Gabe didn't make it into any of the pictures because he was napping like a good little boy. Sorry, no close-up today of his sparse but spiky hair.

happy birthday, mommy

Gabe's birthday present to me? His first tooth. Thank you, my thoughtful little boy.

welcome to my crib

Julia loves it when Gabe accompanies me into her room after a nap. ("Hi, Daaaaaay! I see you!") She loves it even more when he joins her in her crib. Gabe loves it most of the time. (He doesn't look too thrilled in the last two photos.) Julia always makes sure Gabe has a teddy bear for head support and then they play and giggle. I wish I could join the crib party.

P.S. Gabe is five months old as of yesterday - all 20 pounds of him.

We're off to see the Triplets!

In less than two weeks I will be holding Emily and KC's triplets at last. It turns out that I don't have to wait until December as originally planned. On Saturday night Em called me with news that at least one of the babies will be home within ten days, and that I should come this month and not wait any longer. I agreed! Minutes later my flight was booked. (There happened to be some decent deals, plus Em and KC had some reward miles for Mom and me to share. Thanks again, you two!) Unfortunately Mom and I aren't on the same flight. So Gabe and I will have some fun (hopefully!) Mommy-Baby time on our non-stop flight to Maryland. Is it weird to start packing now? I am so excited.

Concerning the previous post...

Luckily, we girls have these two brave boys to protect us from the evil voles. Julia now shares my fear, after Daddy took her down to retrieve a dead one caught in a trap.

The worst has happened. Well, almost.

Several times on my blog I have mentioned by borderline-irrational fear of mice and any other scurrying rodent. When Jonny discovered voles in our garden a few months ago, I didn't step foot near it for weeks. (And I still shiver when I go to pick some parsley.) When we moved here a year ago we discovered an eroding vole carcass in a window well. I can hardly look down that or any other window well without flinching.

But I kept telling myself, "As long as they aren't in the house, I am okay." Well folks, they have arrived. Down in our under-the-porch cold storage room, I discovered a nibbled corner of a chocolate chip bag. What seemed to be tiny poop pellets were nearby. I couldn't run upstairs fast enough. The voles are eating us out of house and home - or at least chocolate chip cookies.

Jonny has caught three of the intruders and thinks that may be all there are. I am having a pretty hard time with this. I really am terrified of rodents. Jonny and I tried to discuss my phobia. I really can't explain why I can hardly breathe when I think of those ugly things down in my storage room. I just don't like them. It could be worse, though. They could be mice. For some reason that would be much worse. And what would be the worst? To find a rodent in my house, on the main floor, would have me packing.

Tonight I had Gabe on my lap as I read a Beatrix Potter book about Johnny Town Mouse. He's darling. As are Stuart Little and the animated mice in Cinderella. I adore Little Bitty and his mouse family in one of Julia's favorite books Picnic. So why can't I even tolerate the sight of a mouse or vole or, dare I say it, rat, in real life? I don't even want to think about it any more. It is giving me the chills.

And please don't comment with rodent horror stories of your own. I really am that scared.

"A Delightful Person"

At Julia's 4-month appointment, I remember her pediatrician saying, "Well, she is just a delightful person." Two years later, his observation of my little girl still holds true. Lately she really has me laughing. Sometimes I think it's just unfair that I am the only one who gets to enjoy her most of the day! (Well, I suppose Gabe also benefits from her silliness.) Here are a few recent Julia-isms:

Today I found her kissing and hugging Gabe and saying, "My sweetheart."

At lunch she said, "Mom, me hummus too, pease (please). . . and batten (napkin)."

When I said, "Julia, do you want to go to preschool with me today!?" Julia nonchalantly answered, "No, thanks."

After I hung up a phone call with Emily, Julia said, "Oh! Mimi's babies, so tute (cute)!" When I asked how many babies Mimi has, she said, "One, two, three . . . six!"

She saw Jonny's used-up deodorant in the garbage can and said, "Oh no! Daddy's bo-ten (broken)! And she put it back up on the shelf.

Julia is kind of obsessed with blueberries. (She loves the book Blueberries for Sal and was thrilled when Jonny brought home some fresh blueberries. She talked about the blueberry pancakes for days.) Because of all the nursing going on, she is aware of her own "boobies." I guess she realized the similarity between the two words, because she pointed to her chest and laughed, saying, "Mom, my boo-berries!"

She woke up from a nap, crying. Jonny asked, "Julia, are you okay?" She immediately stopped crying and said, "Yes, a-right (alright) too."

She saw the Ensign magazine on the couch, still there from when we used it for Family Home Evening the night before. While I sat there nursing Gabe, she proceeded to go through our entire FHE routine. After a song, prayer, and flipping through the magazine, she announced that it was time for "Rosie!" (Ring Around the Rosie.) Luckily she didn't make Gabe fold his arms for the prayer, like she did the previous evening. And she was content playing "Rosie" with a doll.

At dinner Jonny and I were talking about how exhausted we were. Julia piped in, "Me ti-ud (tired) too. I go seep (sleep)." Surprised because she had woken up from a long nap only two hours earlier, Jonny said, "Really!? You want to go to sleep now?" She laughed and said no, because it was obviously a joke.

Yesterday when I went to get her out of bed in the morning, she said while pointing to her diaper, "Mommy, poop . . . riiiiiiiiiiight dare (there)!"

And when I retrieved her from a nap, this "delightful person" welcomed me with a pointed finger, saying, "Mommy, a bu-der (booger) for you."