Autumn in Waiting

I am officially on maternity leave and officially more pregnant by about a week than I ever was with Grady! Today is my official due date and it is really weird to be here. I don't think I quite appreciated how nice it was to not have to sit around and wait and wonder when Grady would be born (my water broke the day after my last day of work).  Although with every day that passes I feel like I am more likely to be a C-Section candidate as this baby grows and I am not particularly fond of this waiting period, I am also trying to enjoy the time at home, especially my days with Grady boy.  It is so nice (and strange) to just be home when Chris gets home from work.  I usually haven't prepared dinner or done any things that a better wife would have already done, but I am home and our nights are much more relaxing and simplified because of that simple fact. Add a baby into the mix and this simplicity will fly out the window so I will take my couple days or even couple weeks of our simplified time together and just enjoy it.

This past weekend we took full advantage of the beautiful fall weather.  We debated about whether the weekend or the coming week is the "pinnacle" of fall goodness.  Most trees have at least started to turn with some past their prime and others just taking off.  All I know is we are somewhere in the middle of my favorite time of year. The mornings are crisp, the days are warm, the trees are the colors of fire, and life is good.  What a cool time to have a birthday!  You hear that baby?!  You don't want to miss the pinnacle do you?

Here is a glimpse of some of the things that we've been enjoying as we wait this baby out and take advantage of the wonderful fall.

We took a long walk on the Greenbelt enjoying the fall colors.  Someone was not enthused to be confined to his stroller.

Hands down THE most beautiful season in Boise.   Grady has taken on my enthusiasm for pointing out all the fall colors on our drivea around town.  He often says, "oh look at that one, it is RED, mommy's favorite!"  Yes, buddy the maples are my favorite.  I just love how every day drives are transformed into scenic routes this time of year. 

Grady goes out to "plant carrots" almost every day now.  He pulls his so-called seeds from some fill in a concrete crack, places them on his shovel and explains that he is planting carrots.  I have no idea where this ritual comes from, but it became part of our routine this week to go out and plant carrots every day. These are the simple things that I appreciated about being home with my sweet boy this week.

And I didn't mind the view from the yard during these carrot planting sessions.  

These buddies got in their last few fishing days of the season.  They are the cutest together and ended the season on a high note with a catch on the last cast of the season.

We are right in the hot air balloon path jet stream and Bella is a good alarm system for when one is very near.  This one went right over our house close enough that we could waive at the pilot.  Grady and I then followed him down the way for a bit.   Grady very observantly pointed out "Wow mommy that hot air balloon has fire."  All was well until the balloon didn't actually land in the neighborhood. An epic fit of two-year old disappointment ensued until we decided it was best to come home and ask Bella if she'd seen any more balloons.

We've enjoyed daily trips to the park or zoo and trips to meet daddy for lunch or afternoon treats. I've mostly just enjoyed our time together and not acted like a paparazzi, but these boys at the zoo were adorable.

Successful high five.

In the summer the animals just sit panting in a corner.  It is pretty sad.  When we went it was a little cooler day there was a noticeable difference. This leopard in particular was all about his pumpkin and was jumping around like crazy much to the boys' delight.

This was a playful roar despite how it may look. 

love love love these two together!

Grady and I enjoyed an afternoon at his dream place filled with bounce houses and huge trampolines. When daddy got home he told him "Grady want to go back to jumping place."  I am sure we will spend many winter days here.

We topped off the week with a favorite family treat.  Since my fruit delivery service has overloaded our house with apples this season we made a huge batch of applesauce.  We almost had epic toddler metldown number two until Grady was appointed with the very important task of stirring the apple peals with a melon ball scooper and pastry brush.   He was quite proud to take such an important part in the applesauce making process.   When he got up from his nap and I showed him the bubbling crock pot filled with the fruits of our labor he said "but where is the sauce?"  He is so literal it is adorable.

Go Giants!   The Johnson boys were/will be born in years where the Giants headed to the World Series! Lucky for me, that means we get to watch almost all of the games and enjoy the excitement with Grady's cheers of "get in the hole" and "touch down" and "GO GIANTS!!!!"  Hey, one out of three isn't bad.  Congrats to our good friend Becky on another thrilling post season so far.  If those games didn't put me into labor I am not quite sure what will!