Seasons

Nehemiah suited up for a stroll to the pond

On the couch at home

At the pond

First time in the pack and play together

Our very own prehistoric creature

Our arachnoid with her Amish pal, Abby

Group photo at the library

Trick or treating at Canterbury's Town Hall

Nora entertaining her little brother

Nora has a book entitled Seasons by Anne Crausaz which beautifully illustrates the four seasons. The Northeast usually has well-marked seasons, but this year seems different. Before Halloween, Canterbury has already experienced its first snowstorm. We had a glimmer of fall and have been suddenly catapulted into winter, temperatures averaging in the high 40's/low 50's during the day and in the 30's at night. Like Hurricane Irene, our first snowstorm of the year knocked down a tree in our backyard. Some folks have even lost power.

Recently we started hosting Crossroads, a young adults group. This group averages about 10-15 people, some in college, others working, singles and married. We meet Friday nights to fellowship and study Ephesians. So far, Nathan and I (and the kiddos) are enjoying getting to know this group with much laughter.

The kids (unbelievable that I now say "the kids") and I have been attending Music and Movement at the library. I've connected with a couple of the moms in this class and have even had play dates outside of class. Both of these moms also speak to the their children in Spanish. One is a native speaker and the other, a non-native speaker, used to be a high school Spanish teacher.

Nora loves going to the library, taking walks and shopping with mami. Last Saturday, she suggested, "Vamos Aldi (Let's go [to] Aldi)!" Sometimes when Nathan tries to change her diaper, she requests that mami execute the job, but Nathan tells her that mami can't do it at that moment. And Nora responds, "Mami busy." Nathan echoes, "Yes, mami's busy." Nora continues, "Puppy dog busy. Baby busy. Labon busy." Sometimes everybody but papi is busy. When Nehemiah cries, she runs for one of his toys and brings it to him, leaning into his face to offer palliative words such as "No llores, Me-mi-a (Don't cry, Nehemiah)!" On a day when she's eaten chicken, she typically requests "Hilo dental (dental floss)" before bedtime. She derives much pleasure from having mami remove a small piece of chicken from between her two front teeth and then observing it with mild disgust.

Nehemiah is a dream. He has begun eating food. So far, avocado, butternut and acorn squash, and rice cereal. He sleeps well during naps and at night. We marvel at his falling asleep on his own in his crib. He soothes himself by sucking his thumb or making sweet noises. Sometimes in the middle of the night he starts talking to himself and when I check on him, I find that he has rolled onto his back from his tummy. So, I roll him back onto his tummy, his preferred sleeping position, and he resumes sleeping.

Happy Halloween!