The baby is asleep after a day of walking in the forest preserve, playing with the dog, lots of snacks, a couple naps, a good book or two, and a splashy bubble bath followed by a warm bottle of milk.
It has been a beautiful transition into fall in Illinois. While the temperature change reminds us to start layering our clothes, the dark reds and browns of the autumn leaves begin to drop to the ground signaling the changing of the season. Less light during the day makes me appreciate it all the more, and I've been desperately trying to take my daughter and dog on walks whenever the temperature is acceptable and the rains are not spitting upon us. Audrey is absolutely fascinated by the Canada Geese that waddle around the man-made ponds in our subdivision. Soon, though, they will have flown to warmer climates, leaving us here to prepare for the impending blankets of snow and ice.
While pumpkins and skeletons find their places in doorways and yards everywhere, we've been savoring our time at home. We haven't traveled to Indiana for almost a month. While It is truly a treat every visit, there is something relaxing about not having to pack and travel for a period of time. My graduate classes have been keeping me up late some nights...although I have officially memorized all the major funding sources for both state and local levels of public education!
Kim works and works and is burying herself in the Twilight book series. While I am not the intended audience of the teenage vampire saga, I am happy to watch Kim devour every drop of the books and allow her mind to wander from her daily work obligations.
Audrey is walking more and more, although turning around and pivoting is still a challenge. She and the dog, Phoebe, are partners in crime at the dinner table, trading bits of pasta and green beans for licks and low-key growls. Audrey has transitioned well into her room and is sleeping through the nights in her crib completely, although we are now struggling with keeping her room at a comfortable level because the drop in temperature really cols her room now that it has the laminate wood flooring that does not retain heat well. A space heater is working for now, but is not a consistent nor permanent solution.
A final thought before I settle-into a movie for the evening:
Today Audrey, Phoebe, and I enjoyed a crisp Fall walk at a nearby forest preserve. Along the way we stopped and talked to a man and his seven children, ranging from teenagers to a six-year-old. They were missionaries and lived in Mexico, but the man was originally from Chicago and loved to take his children here every year or so to witness the changing of the leaves and the Fall season in the Midwest.
After some chatting about my sweet new baby backpack and their travels, we continued our separate ways. I thought about the encounter all day today, just marveling at what a challenge and sometimes struggle raising seven children must be. Ultimately, I felt a sense of happiness and reliefe knowing that there are strong, wonderful people in this world who are excellent role models who can raise happy, healthy children. In this age of reality television, instant news, and internet, where stories of child neglect and awful parents run rampant, it was a powerful experience to witness a beautiful family simply enjoying the company of each other and spending time together strengthening their bonds.
