Fall Fun

We took advantage of the beautiful weather this weekend, and spent most of Saturday out and about in the yard. Mike was busy with winterizing while I was lucky and got to rake, have fun with my baby and do some fall decorating!

Eleven Months

Wow -- we're into double digits here; doesn't seem possible!

At eleven months, Ethan:

• keeps working on his motoring skills. He can pull himself to his knees, can't quite get to his feet yet, though I bet we are only days away from that...
• eats anything and everything...seriously!
• now more that ever he lights up when his blonde fur ball of a friend enters the room. Layla on the other hand, still prefers life the way it was 11 months, 1 day ago.
• talks and talks and talks...non-stop!
• still doesn't sit still for very long periods of time, as evidenced by the pictures here. This was the best photo I could get this month.
• LOVES daycare. I swear that he senses when we arrive in the parking lot each morning because he starts kicking his legs and gets a BIG grin on his face. Fortunately for us, he also LOVES when Mike picks him up each day!
• has started to enjoy books more and more. He will actually sit with us and let us read a few books to him. His favorite books are the ones with peek-a-boo flaps.
• loves spending time outdoors.
• is super careful and very gentle.
• even allows us to sleep in till almost 8 am on weekends!

First Sign of Fall

There are many thing that happen each year to signal the arrival of fall for me: cooler days, leaves changing, daylight shortening, etc. But one thing threw me into October this year; the return of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte last Saturday (in an airport nonetheless).

And, new this fall, my own pumpkin!

We Did It!

It was cold -- 45 degrees at the start to be exact. And it rained. For a very long time. We ran in cold steady rain the last 4 or so miles. At the finish, we could see out breath and in addition to water, they handed us chicken broth. Still, it was the nicest course (now I know why they call it The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America). I saw so many people along the way that I trained with all summer long and saw friends, neighbors and Ethan and my parents cheering us on.

My biggest supporters were my fellow runners. Thanks to Mike, Christy and Stan for sticking with me and suffering with a slower finish time.

Needless to say, I can't wait for next year's race!

The starting line was crazy -- that gun went off and all of a sudden it was real!

Look at that rain!
Look who we saw along the way!
Christy and me at Mile 5...still feeling good...
The fab four at the finish. It was amazing.

Walking for Liz

A few months ago, I was introduced to Matt and Madeline via his blog and was moved to tears in less than a minute. I sat there for what must have been at least 3 hours, reading every post, every comment, and stared at every picture. I cried a lot at first. But I also laughed out loud at Matt’s wit. In spite of the tragedy he and his family suffered he writes humorous tidbits at times that makes you smile for a second as you wipe the tears out of your eyes. Very raw emotion. Very real. You see, Matt and Madeline lost Liz 27 hours after Madeline was born.

As a Mom and a wife, I have been touched and I am striving to make our lives that much better. His blog is worth following. His journey is changing day by day as his little girl continues to grow and he continues to embrace the changes that he has had to endure without his wife, Liz.

Last weekend would have marked Liz's 31st birthday. In honor of her, I packed Ethan in the jogger and headed to Lake Calhoun to run the Liz Goodman Logelin Memorial 5k. It was heartwrenching, moving, yet amazing. There must have been 200 people united in remembering a woman most of us never knew.

And, it was really great to meet someone whom I felt I already knew so much about. And Ethan loved little itty bitty Madeline too.

Ten Months!

Hard to capture the chair photos, as he wouldn't sit still very long!

At 10 months old Ethan:

Talks (babbles) all the time. He Says "Dadadadadada" and "Mamamamama" and a bunch of other gibberish syllables, but no words are directed at anyone in particular. It's fun to hear him talking to himself. I still think Layla will be his first actual word.

Loves bathtime -- it's a for sure way to get him "off the ledge."

Feeds himself a lot of finger foods. In the last month we've included cheese, pancakes, diced peaches, sliced banana and tortillas.

Has some signs of stranger anxiety, but isn't too bad about it. I'm glad he's a momma's boy for now.

Has seven teeth. Four on the bottom and three on the top that finally poked through.

Loves to be outside; on a walk, at the park, in the yard and especially loves sitting in grass!

Is still a sound sleeper from 7pm on and takes 2 naps a day.

And the most important milestone for last: At 10 months, Ethan is *almost* crawling!

Cubs Fever!

Even Ethan is exciting about our Cubs clinching the division!