Darling is expecting a wee bern . . .

To think, just the month before I had been complaining that I didn't have enough to do. October threw that complaint right back in my face. This is the start of Hallmark's busy season so I have been working rather long hours (4-7 hours a day is long for me). We put up the Halloween cards then pulled down all the summer cards and put up the Thanksgiving cards. Then, after Halloween, we took down all the Halloween cards and put up more Thanksgiving and Christmas cards. It takes a lot longer to do than those sentences make it sound. Plus I spent about 6 hours scanning the bar codes of every item that didn't sell and either boxed it up to send back to Hallmark or threw it out. While my job isn't exactly intellectually stimulating, we were happy to have the extra money though and it's always nice to be able to contribute monetarily to the family.

I also contributed in other ways to our family. I made a new member for our family (Jason helped). We are very excited and are expecting our new arrival before June 25th. I am actually due on the 25th but my uterus usually cooks on the high setting and finishes a little early. For those of you who thought I was pregnant before now I think that was just a rumor Adrienne started. We had talked about other people who have babies in their tummies right now and so she just added me to the list and told me the baby in my tummy is named Lollypops. So that's what we're calling the baby for now.

Since becoming pregnant I have ceased to function as food-maker, laundry doer, dish washer, or someone who doesn't want to sleep/eat all the time. Fortunately for me Jason has happily taken over, becoming known as Mr. Mom, or Super Dad or The Maid. He does all the laundry, cleans up any dish messes I leave for him during the week, makes his own food, and lets me nap whenever I want when he is home. My functionality has improved in the last week or so but it was major a relief to have such a great guy around to pick up the slack.

Before my downfall, I was able to make a lovely breakfast for Jason's team at work. I made some fantastic blueberry scones. It was the first time I have ever used lemon zest and I LOVE it. It smells so dang good I just might put some in my underwear drawer.

Besides bringing delicious things for his co-workers to eat, Jason continues to dazzle his superiors with whatever the heck it is that he does. We're still not sure which direction he wants to take in his career but we're pretty sure we'll be living around here for quite a while (sorry Mom and Dad).

The girls are cute as buttons and growing like weeds (button weeds, I guess). Adri is getting more brave and can be left by herself during her storytime. She even let me leave her at the daycare at our grocery store while Juliet and I shopped. It was strange not to have her with me but I guess I'll have to start getting used to that sooner or later. Juliet went in for her latest check up and is in the 25th percentile for weight. That's right, she's not as chubby as we thought. It's just that everyone looks big when compared to Adri. She is also ahead of her age group in verbal skillz, a great compliment for the ego of any parent. She repeats lots of things we say which can be surprising and hilarious. I can't think of any good examples now, but I'm sure there will be plenty in future posts.

One day I took the girls to Longwood Gardens for their giant pumpkin contest. The girls weren't too interested in the giant pumpkins though. Adri was more excited about getting her face painted, while Juliet just wanted to find a pumpkin small enough for her to pick up. It was a long day but lots of fun. I got Adri a donut on the way home but before she was half way done both girls had fallen asleep. I always take that as a sign that we've had a good day.

She may not look it but Adri thinks this is the best thing ever

Juliet wasn't quite as thrilled

and tried to wipe it off as soon as she realized what had happened to her face

Watching Thomas the train chug by

Apparently Thomas isn't as cool as she thought

We still take time to go on walks and the girls now love to crunch the leaves outside. Juliet is getting more brave at the pet store and will now pet the puppies if I'm not too far away. We even carved a pumpkin a day or so before Halloween. Being the awesome mom that I am, I took no pictures of the event. Maybe because my hands we covered in pumpkin slime and Jason wasn't home yet. Unfortunately, I didn't even take pictures of the numerous trick-or-treating events we participated in. Shameful, I know. On the bright side we did get our formal Halloween pictures taken again this year and they turned out great. Well, sort of. Juliet just doesn't like to smile for strangers.

Tinkerbell

Snow White