Speidi, KCav, & and Whit...OH MY!!!!!

Image borrowed from The Insider.


It is gloomy outside today. The kind of gloomy that really makes you want to do nothing but simmer autumn potpourri on the stove, drink hot tea, and mull over how delicious both are. I am also pouring over the latest Better Homes & Gardens and MS Living for fall decorating ideas.

Becks is napping {thank the Lord} and I'm repeating a dinner we had recently again tonight, completely understanding why the Diva has this dish repeated on her monthly menu. I tell you what, BFFs, you truly are a source of inspiration for me.

Speaking of Mr. B, that child is really testing my patience lately. He has learned the word no. And uses it frequently. It's very entertaining to see him developing into this headstrong little man, no-no-ing us as he protests being picked up or defiantly pointing to the electrical outlets while repeating this phrase. I actually think he thinks they're called no-nos.

All things electronic are still of great interest to him, and not a day goes by that he doesn't snatch our cell phones and dial insane number combinations and babble to the Verizon lady as she says, Your call cannot be completed as dialed. We've managed to lose three of the four remotes that we have for the downstairs TV. And by lose, I'm mean completely disappear without a trace. They're not even in the deepest depths of the couch cushions or in the toy bins. Completely lost. This is very frustrating when we want to adjust the volume, which now must be done manually on the actual TV. Ah, we are a world of convenience...

Lastly, while the outdoors may be cold and gloomy, my mood is not because...
THE HILLS and THE CITY are on TONIGHT!

Oh, sorry, got a little excited. Had to erase twelve a couple exclamation points there, lest you think I'm even slightly obsessed with either of these shows. Which I'm not. At all. I would never plan to "work at school" tonight around 10pm so that I could take advantage of their cable TV while "prepping my room" for tomorrow. Nope. That wouldn't be me.



Come back tomorrow {or tonight if I feel like posting} so that we can dish about these not-favorite shows of mine, mmmkay?



[That's not me you hear singing Unwritten as I type. Promise.]

My Little Muffin Eats a Muffin (and mom bakes again!)

My little muffin eating, no less, a delicious pumpkin muffin baked in the new oven!


While Beck attempts to non-nap (i.e. reading Goodnight Moon or The Very Hungry Caterpillar in babyspeak instead of napping), I'm going to entice you with a delicious fall meal prepared by your's truly.


I wouldn't say that I'm a superb cook by any stretch of the imagination. I wouldn't even say I'm a good cook. I can just follow a recipe, that's all.



My mom is the chef of the family, and I'm really content to let her be so that I don't have to learn how to cook a Thanksgiving turkey any time soon. Thus, it was by her recommendation (and many taste tests of her leftovers) that I came across this recipe for Butternut Squash Soup.


And, you all, it is a-mmmmmm-azing.



Ingredients

• 6 tbs chopped onions*
• 4 tbs butter/margarine**
• 1 whole butternut squash peeled and cubed
• 3 cups water***
• 4 cubes chicken bouillon
• 1/2 tsp dried marjoram
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper
• 2 8 oz pkg cream cheese****

* I used pre-chopped frozen ones from a bag

** I used butter

*** I would recommend more since mine was the consistency of cheese sauce, but still delish.

**** I only used 1 pkg otherwise it would have been OVERLY rich. Promise.

Serves 4.

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, saute onions in butter until tender/translucent.
   
2. Add squash, water, bouillon, marjoram, black and cayenne pepper.
   
3. Bring to a boil and cook 20 minutes until squash is tender.
4. Puree squash and cream cheese in a blender or food processor until smooth.
   
5. Return to saucepan and heat through. Do not boil.
6. Serve! Mmmm!
   

The critics say...

Abby = I could eat the entire pot by myself!

B = Bleh! I hate any type of vegetable that isn't corn!

Beck = Mmmm! I'll share a bite with you!

I am totally baking this afternoon!

If you're not aware already, our house is in a constant state of remodel and upgrade. Only weeks ago did we finishing ripping up carpet that we started pulling up almost a year ago. It's difficult to do anything with a one-year-old on your hands, and since we try to be DIYers our time scale is s...l...o...w. We take our time (accumulating funds) and recruit lots of help for our projects that don't cost more than our great company ;) Except for the installation of our new AC, my father-in-law is usually present for anything we tackle. And we couldn't thank him enough.

Anyway, this past week we added a new ceiling fan to our new old bedroom and I am forever grateful for its installation. I am totally a fan sleeper, and need at least the noise to lull me to sleep every night. Since we moved rooms three weeks ago, we've been fanless so I had to rely on Becks' monitor to channel his noisemaker noise into our room. It worked well, but now I have noise and a breeze. Perfection.


Several months ago I talked about our Granmother Range. Besides pop out chocolate chip cookies and meatloaf, her main objective in our kitchen was to really enhance the ugly. And that she did. I don't think any other appliance could pull off Harvest Gold quite like she could. She provided us with two years of great service, along with the 30+ that she gave to the previous owner(s). However, it is with great glee sadness that I inform you of her passing. She bit the dust and left us for that Great Gas Range in the Sky about a month and a half ago. Fortunately, we've supplemented by grilling out and just decided to wait to purchase a new one until fall rolled around.
In the meantime, B's parents decided to gift us this beauty as an early Christmas present! We were so pumped! And while she hardly fits into our waaaaay dated kitchen, she adds a little glimmer of hope for what's to come. Visions of stainless steel dance in my head...

Anyway, hope y'all are having a fantastic Saturday! Go Cats & Wolverines!

Goodbye, Baby B

I'm having a hard time calling him Baby B these days.

When he does big boy things like place very important phone calls. Probably to China, running up my minutes without me even knowing it. And look at him. I mean, he's not a baby anymore. Despite what his mama says.

I read many blogs where parents call their kiddo by his/her real name. And, if you looked hard enough through archives, or took the many hints I've given that lend themselves to discovering what we call him in real life, then you probably already know that he's at least named after a famous soccer player.

And, no, it's not Ronaldo. Or Pele. Though, there is a certain ring to Ronaldino. Maybe if we ever have another son...

So, anyway, I'm stalling. And I don't know why. Like it's a big reveal or something. I mean, I blog. I can't be too private, right?

His name is Beckham. Named after, no lie, the delightfully charming and delicious David Beckham. B and I picked out that name my junior year of college. I remember the phone call specifically. It was snowing. I was holed up in the ADPi house with one of my two roommates, and I think we were both on the phone with our significant other since we couldn't see them in person due to the treacherous conditions. We somehow got on the subject of children, and both agreed that Beckham was a fantastic name for the son we might have together someday. And then, four years later, we signed a birth certificate and gave that name a real meaning and permanency in our lives.

So, there you have it. And just like that old Beanie Baby you have from 1995, Baby B is now retired. He will, from this point forward, be referred to lovingly as Becks. Since, that is what we call him on a daily basis when he's being cute or getting into trouble or snuggling in our laps. And I no longer have to backspace every time I write his real name in a blog post.

And let me just throw it out how weird it is for me to even see his real name on the screen. It's like I've suddenly changed the main character in a novel.

Am I over dramatizing this a smidge?

Sorry.

So, without further ado, our life in pictures as of late. Or, Becks' life in pictures, at least.

Because no toy box should be left un-sat in. Of course.

Flashback

So, have you ever been listening to a song that you're pretty sure that you've never heard before, only to find yourself humming or singing along to it as if you've obviously heard it many times before? Oddly enough, I was watching SNL last night while I was detoxing from a weekend teaching conference, and there I was singing Do you know your enemy? along with Green Day. It's bizarre, really, since I didn't even know Green Day had a new song out, nor do I profess to be the biggest Green Day fan. {Also, does it not seem that Billy Joe is perpetually 20something? Maybe it's the eyeliner, but that dude hardly looks almost 40.}

Anyway, a similar effect occurs when, say, Spiderwebs by No Doubt is recirculating on the radio, and there I am remembering every word and suddenly having flashbacks to eighth grade when I received Tragic Kingdom as my Very First CD Ever for my 14th birthday. Then I have one of those moments where I'm like HOW DID I REMEMBER THAT? Weird.

Oh, and I totally wanted my very own phone line so that I could say "Hey! It's Abby! I'm walking into spiderwebs. Leave a message and I'll call yooooou back!" on my answering machine in 1996. Instead, I might have practiced and recorded this hypothetical voicemail greeting on a cassette tape just in case.

Ah, the beauty of adolescence.

FYI, my Second CD Ever was the single by Fr*ak N*sty Put Your H*nd Up On My H*p. I totally rocked that dance at eighth grade formal. I don't even think my mom knew I bought or owned that totally awesome cringe-worthy hit. Which I'm sure I purchased on one of the many weekends I spent at the mall, pounding the pavement in my Nike Air Maxxes and stinking to high Heaven of Tommy Girl or Country Apple by Bath and Body Works.

Other songs that send me right back to the 1000 or so days I spent being awkward are:

1. Anything on the Jock Jams CDs. I think I owned pretty much all of them.
2. Ironic by Alanis Morissette.
3. The Macarena.
4. Foolish Games by Jewel.
5. Any song associated with the death of Tupac or B.I.G.
6. The Freshman by Verve Pipe
7. Semi-charmed Life by Third Eye Blind
8. No Diggity by BLACKstreet
9. It's All Coming Back to Me Now by Celine Dion
10. I Love You Always Forever by Donna Lewis

What song takes you waaaaaaay back? Or, at least back to eighth grade? Do tell!

Sad face.

I'm away. On business, believe it or not. And I miss this.

Sending kisses and lots of love to my boys...

Happy Hump Day!

Tonight I made a trip to that one store where we all spend way more than we intend to. You know, the one symbolized by the bullseye? Ah, yes. That one.

I believe the French call it: Tarjay. Or maybe that's just me impersonating the French.

Anyway, what was supposed to be a quick trip to return a few items, suddenly turned into, Honey, do you mind if I just briefly browse the sales racks while you chase after our restless, footy-jammied 15-month-old through seeming endless places to play hide-and-go-seek?

I promised to be fast. But the sales were plentiful. And nearly everything I pulled into our cart was my size and {gasp} $5 or less. I couldn't pass it up. And, I just knew that if I waited until another day, everything would be gone. That's how it always works. So, while B played baby corral, I skipped and flitted with glee in and out of the dressing rooms with just one more thing.

It was great fun.

As was the resulting photoshoot where I tried to impersonate Beyonce's Single Ladies music video. Um, let's just say, FAIL. But B and I were both cracking up, and it's always fun to laugh with your husband. I did, as a matter of fact, break out a couple pair of my Ugglies just for the fun of it. Even with my workout leggings, I was trying really hard to rock them. (Workout? Who am I kidding? I should have said lounge wear leggings instead...)

Here are my new $5 wardrobe addition...

Maybe you wouldn't know unless I told you, but I believe that this first piece is totally a swimsuit cover up. I don't think I really care. Paired with some leggings, a black tank, and some heels, I think I could pull it off :)

I lie. This one was $10. But it might be my favorite. I am loving me some print tees these days . Oh, and that one was more like $12. But I bought it the other day. So it doesn't count toward the frugal buys from today.

Obviously, I was never meant to be a model. The hands-on-hip pose is pretty much the only one I know. And it was really very awkward. And my husband, who already knows what a big dork I am, is further questioning his choice to marry such a loon.

Before I forget, I must, must, must plug Duet Diva's fantastically simple recipe that she shared on her blog the other day. I made it tonight and it was divine. The bonus is that B ate it! Spinach, you all, B ate spinach! This is the man whose palette is only pleased by all things bland and blander. It's pretty too. Thank you, Duet Diva!

And, so that we could enjoy our delish meal, I gave Baby B a pudding cup and we tried real hard to hold an adult conversation that didn't center around our darling son, but when he's covered in chocolate, it's really hard to discuss anything else.

SOMEONE did get their haircut today...

First of all, thank you for being supportive of a) my blogging habit & b) that I should let nature continue to take its course when it comes to Baby B's hair. (Did the title fool you??? It wasn't Baby B!) I really do have some great BFFs. Thanks, thanks, thanks!

Anyway, I am trying desperately to do school work while Baby B is napping, but I keep getting sidetracked by the absence of Diet Coke in my life and therefore my mind is consumed with thinking about it. I just couldn't justify spending $4.59 for a 12-pack! That's outrageous. But, I might have to fork over the $5 just so I can, you know, resume life as normal. Until then, I shall blog, which requires less concentration than deciding whether the letter of the day should be B or C.

*UPDATE: Diet Coke fix achieved. Downed entire can enroute from Walmart home.*

Here are some other things you should know about today. In a very, very random order.

1. The mail today consisted of a Pampers mailer (i.e. coupons!), a full sized package of Nature Valley Nut Clusters plus coupons sent to me from the Pssst! program, a sample of Kashi Honey Sunshine cereal, and a $3.79 check from a Gerber rebate I entered. And zero bills. I love a good mail day :)

2. It's a debate I haven't visited in awhile, but since Kate was on The View this morning, I was thinking again about the Gosselin's soured relationship. And how Jon brings the other woman around the kids. I don't know about you, maybe you've experience something simliar, but I would be FURIOUS. Red hot flames, kind of furious. I mean, I think punches would fly - and I'm not even the punch-flying, confrontational kinda gal. That would push me to the limit though.

3. Is anyone else ready to unpack the Uggs from their seasonal storage bin yet? Not to mention the tights and sweater dresses. I am all over that trend like I was florescent socks and stirrup pants back in the early 90s. (And, if you hate Uggs and/or sweater dresses and tights, I'm okay with that. But, I, however, adooooore them.)

4. Guess who's getting her hair cut and highlighted tonight?????? (Hint: me me me!) So can't wait. It's been awhile and my locks are looking a little frayed and fuzzy. Isn't it amazing what your hair alone can do for your life outlook and attitude? Seriously, I'm a much happier person as a blonde sans four inch roots.

**Update: Color and cut achieved! Yay!**

5. B's car is going to be paid of in December and I think I'm going to throw a party. A party where I will take the former car payment and apply it to pay down some other debt I'm trying to terminate from our budget. I guess the air conditioner and I will be the only attendees. Ugh.

6. Baby B stuck his hand in the toilet today. We washed. We rinsed. We repeated. Repeatedly. He's been wanting to do it for awhile now, it's just that I've caught him every time. And usually the door to the bathroom is closed or the lid to the toilet at least. Not today. Today curiosity killed the cat, and I was thankful that the last person to use the toilet flushed.

7. We had to upgrade to a pair of Big Boy shoes recently. Shoes with velcro that save mommy lots of time wrestling pudgy baby feet into confined spaces. I'm all about some high top Converses, but geez Louise those things take eons to put on! I think they make him look a lot more grown up. Sigh. Next he'll be asking for the latest pair of Jordans. Get a job, son, get a job.

8. Forget the new Little Tikes waffle blocks I bought Baby B at a yard sale this weekend. Coffee cans are waaaaay cooler. And hold mulch and flowers. A bonus. 9. I have made my bed for a week in a row. This is a record. I don't think I've ever done such a thing in, like, years. Maybe since I lived at home and my mom made me.

10. Only a picture of Baby B meticulously putting his milk into the cup holder on his high chair. Just to even up my list, you know.

Tomorrow is Wednesday! Wahoo :)

Hair today, gone tomorrow?

So, we're approaching a pivotal point in Baby B's life: the first haircut.

He's sporting a small, very small, barely even noticeable kindermullet. I do not want to cut it. Not only because it signifies a small part of babydom that I'm hanging onto, but also because I just think he still looks super cute - even with the business in the front, party in the back he's got going on.

B says cut it. And, I believe he would have already taken him to the barbershop had I given him the go-ahead.

So, what are your thoughts? To cut or not to cut? That is the question...

Here's the latest photo of the grandkiddos: Sutton, Baby B, & SophDogg

This is Baby B's first ride on Papa K's ATV. He was a little nervous. So was mommy.

Papa, on the other hand, thought it was great fun.

Lastly, here's my SophDogg making herself byoo-fee-al (read: beautiful). She is such a spicy little character.

I heart Taylor Swift!

I can't even believe it's been three days since I've posted last. I think I've run out of material. Besides Baby B, of course. He provides lots of material. Probably too much, to the the point that I might bore you if I continually discuss his ever-expanding vocabuarly, obsession with throwing things away in the garbage, and how cute he looked in his long overalls today.

But, this is my blog. And if all I want to discuss is my kid, so be it, right?

I don't know. Maybe I'm just going through a blogging slump. Maybe it's finally lost all its shimmer and shine and I need to take a break for awhile. Which, honestly, I've considered.

I expressed this to B, who reminded me that I'm still chronicling our lives, specifically Baby B's life, and that's kind of important to us. Especially since I'm not very good at keeping up his baby book. Hmmmmm.

In other news, CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT *THAT RAP ARTIST* DID TO TAYLOR SWIFT?! The NERVE. However, part of me wonders if it was a sick joke on MTVs part to drum up attention to the VMA's reputation as each year is more outrageous than the last. And, no, I wasn't watching it via a live internet feed in my cable-less house, but instead watched it on real, live cable while I was working at school at 10pm. My sister was with me, so it was all very safe for me to be up at school that late. {Not really. I totally shouldn't do that, and my husband doesn't hardly approve, but I had to get up there to organize and such before another week begins. And I'm not a procrastinator (except sometimes), we just were really busy this weekend. Swear.)

I also took Baby B to Tarjay with me today for a little clothes shopping. Me, not him. But I did buy him a florescent yellow Halloween tee for $4. I spent XXX and need to return three-fourths of what I bought so that the total is more like only an X. Which is going to happen, since I now need to return three-forths of what I bought seeing as it fits a lot differently in my home mirror (which isn't as forgiving as the store mirror, I guess). Plus, half of what I bought I didn't even get to try on since Baby B was clawing at me with cookie crumb hands, and I was having to dance around the dressing room to avoid him dirtying up clothes that didn't belong to me. At least I remembered to actually bring him something to eat, since I usually find myself grabbing Goldfish off the endcap and letting him eat them before I even buy them. I'm sure that's illegal.

Also, I would like to admit that I think I've run the same load of clothes through the wash three times now, and dried the load in the dryer just as many. This happens for two reasons: A) I forget to fold and transfer loads for more than a day, resulting in stinky, mildewy, wrinkled clothes & B) If I finish this load it just means I need to start another, which I'm ultimately avoiding. I don't think I will ever get along with laundry.

Alright, BFFs, have a great Monday and let me know if anymore craziness happens on the VMAs since I'm now at home and no longer have instant access to the madness.

PS. My camera is dead and that is why there are no current pics of Baby B to grace you with. Hold out until tomorrow. Sorry, Aubs and Mom.

This is not an important post.

Man, I feel so boring lately. I really don't have anything of substance to post, so I might have to bring you into the boredom and tell you that everything around here is pretty even keel. Not that I'm complaining, it's just not like we're jetsetting across the country or teaching Kourtney Kardashian how to change a diaper or anything. Changing diapers is just as interesting around these parts, though, I'm sure.

So, we're almost a month into school. And I'm adjusting to the fact that these little darlings are pretty much fresh out of the womb, apron strings still attached. It's hard to regress from almost-first-graders to basically-preschoolers. Then there's the attachment that I have to my very first class whom I heart, heart, hearted. It's really hard to quit saying but my class last year this... and but my class last year that... I just need to move on, ya know? I am. Slowly. I still find it endearing when my now-first-graders stop by my room and profess how boring first grade is ;) It makes me love them even a little more...even though I know how much they adore having recess and staying for lunch this year.

And, before I forget, I've decided we need to form a club. A club that will formally meet on September 30th after I've been given the chance to watch the first episode of The Hills & The City online. We can all discuss what drama K-Cav is stirring up, how much we miss LC, and that, no matter what, Spencer Pratt will always be _________ (fill in the blank). I can think of many things to fill that blank in with, none of which would be appropriate to blog about. Then, we can further discuss that Whitney Port is amazing and Olivia is a touch spoiled and snotty (but only a touch). If you haven't watched the trailer, go see it here. Drama! Actually, I might just truck it over to someone's house who actually has cable so that I can watch it that night. I'm not going to lie, I can't wait (!!!).

Also, for a random thought of the night, I hate the football term pump fake. There is something about those words that is the equivalent of running fingernails down a chalkboard. I also file the word pimple into this category. Eeeeeeh. (This thought is not entirely random since husband is watching football on our cableless TV.)

Tomorrow is Friday. Yay!

Gobs and gobs of catching up to do...

Oh, for Heaven's sake. I've been on a blog hiatus. Not for any real reason. Other than we spent the weekend being crazy busy and I hadn't a spare second to so much as breathe (or take two tylenol to relieve the sore muscles from moving gobs and gobs of furniture).

So I finally have a spare sec. Or twelve. Or a hundred at least. Since Baby B is in bed and B is reading something or other. And I have nothing else to do but scoop out gobs and gobs of guacamole onto tortilla chips and blog about it. (Admission: reading this post reminded me that I had two ripe for tonight avacodos waiting for their guac-y fate. So I haaaad to indulge. Though Kari's recipe trumped my store brand mix and was probably infinitely more tastebud friendly.) Maybe I should be filling out scholastic orders or at least thinking about filling out Scholastic orders so my kinder kids can have their fill of Fancy Nancy or Skippyjon Jones. But I'm not. I'm just sitting here trying hard not to do any of that. And being successful.

After we moved everything this weekend, I had gobs and gobs of creative energy just swirling around in my brain. Ooh, let's move this here and Ooh, could we hang that there? (Well, I have a fear of hanging things, so I've yet to actually hang anything. But, don't think I haven't at least thought it.) I think I get this creative energy burst like every three to four months.

Anyway, remember this room? The one that we made into an office after finding that sweet desk in the garbage? The one that we prepped and poured over trying to make it suitable for our Very First Houseguests? Oh yeah, well it's totally not an office anymore. It is now our bedroom. For the second time since we've lived in this house. This room has gone from bedroom, to baby storage room, to office, and now back to bedroom again. I promise, we're really not that fickle. It's just that we are just trying to make the best use of our space and we were sacrificing Baby B's sleep time in the morning when we had to pass through his former nursery when we were getting ready in the morning. So, Baby B is in our former room. (Not to be confused with our former-former room, which is now our newish bedroom. Again. ) And we're in our old room, now new room. You're not confused, are you? I am. Sigh.

But, now everyone is happy. And I can at least sleep on the same floor as my husband since he insists on falling asleep on the couch night after night after night. That's when he usually drinks gobs and gobs of milk. But, since the Milk Police (i.e. Me) is now sleeping on the same floor as the aforementioned milk drinker, I can catch him in the act and prevent our grocery budget from being consumed with dairy.

Where was I going with that? I think it was just another chance for me to say gobs and gobs.

Oh, yes, our new room. Here is a teaser...

And here is Baby B being cute. He loves that giraffe. If anyone could locate this Gund animal, I would greatly appreciate it. Though, I highly doubt subsequent giraffes would have quite as stinky of a tail as this giraffe, so Baby B probably wouldn't like a new one near as much.

Alright, BFFs, the guac is gone and I'm out of things to say.

Titleless

We've been super busy at the Babbling Household this weekend. In fact, to compensate for an action-packed Saturday, the entire family napped for about two-hours today. This is becoming a necessary Sunday afternoon routine.

However, why is it, that an afternoon nap sometimes has the opposite effect of making me feel refreshed and renewed? Instead, I woke up in a haze and still quite a bit tired. Maybe because we moved 80% of the furniture in our home the day before? Highly likely.

I'd love to update with pictures, but I've been too busy to whip out the camera and our house seems to be a constant work in progress. I still think I owe you pictures of the infamous Mint Room from back in May. Maybe you'll just have to think of it as the Mythical Unicorn - imagined and admired from afar, but no one's ever actually seen it...

Anyway, B and I are watching Shark Tank while Baby B snoozles in his *new* bedroom. Hope y'all are having a super holiday weekend. Don't do anything too laborious tomorrow. Tee hee hee ;)

Cough, sniffle, cough

I laid on the couch for all of Baby B's afternoon nap today. Three hours. Feeling all why-me-ish. I cannot shake this cold. My head is like totally detached from my body and I feel like I'm constantly walking through a fog.

I'm thinking about calling in sick tomorrow and making a long weekend even longer so I can shake this nasty virus or whatever it is. Which I'm sure is untreatable by antibiotic. Because what can you treat with an anitbiotic these days besides, oh, imminent death? Seriously. Don't worry, it's only walking malaria. Take two tylenol and get some rest. Rrrrrrr. Do you ever feel like that after you visit the doctor?

Things are further complicated by the fact that I'm a busy body. I like to do, do, do. So feeling all icky combined with my motivation to get things done is really driving me bananas. Every time I stand up for a prolonged period of time, I feel like I might just pass out. I even put a post-it note in my lesson plans today that read: "Mrs. Babbling isn't feeling well. Students will watch a movie at 9:36am." Literally, I didn't think I'd make it through the day.

The resident doctor of the house (i.e. my husband) said I was dehydrated, hence the lightheadedness. So I drank some water and, shockingly, felt much better. Still a little foggy, but not so much pass-outy. Now I'm going to eat some chocolate brownie ice cream and then call it a night. TGtomorrowIF. And a three day weekend.

But, I'll leave you with some pics of sweet precious, tubbin' around the living room in the artist formerly known as the baby bath beverage bucket.

Fall weather, closet trolls, and hummus

I can't believe I'm actually excited that fall is thisclose. Usually, I'm hanging on to summer with a pretty tight grip, willing the first frost to pay us a visit in, say, December. Cold, gloomy weather does a whole lot of nothing for me.

However, the warm-but-cool temps we've been having lately, combined with blue skies and gorgeous sun has been absolutely amazing. The windows are open, allowing a perfect breeze in every now and then, sending the aroma of an afternoon pot of coffee wafting through the house. It's divine. Especially with my Pandora station playing a great mix of Kelly Sweet, Colbie Caillat, and Erin McCarley in the background.

In other news, I've spent the past two afternoons cleaning out closets. I don't think I'm a packrat, but maybe close. Maybe a packmouse. Perhaps it's not me at all and we have closet trolls that are secretly hoarding our stuff. Either way, the closets needed to be clean and I feel like my life is a little more balanced now. Who can focus when long forgotten baby items (I'm talking about you, Baby Bjorn) are spilling out of the closet and into your workspace? I can't concentrate when all those straps and snaps are preventing the closet door from shutting. Annoying.

No, seriously, all this stuff came out of that one small closet. Unbelievable.

As I began hurling things out of the closet, Baby B adopted a forlorn curtain rod as a walking stick. My little nomad plugged along through the mess, tapping things all the while and preaching about the importance of better home organization. Don't I know it, Baby B, don't I know...

Cleaning out the closets is really only a prelude for what awaits my husband and I this long, Labor Day Weekend. Some needed changes are taking place at the Babbling Household. Of furniture moving proportions. We'll be busy, that's for sure.

And, lastly, I'm all about making homemade hummus around this parts, after inspiration from MckMama. Baby B loooooooves it. And it cost me all of 99 cents for a can of chickpeas, as I only added water, garlic salt, and olive oil - all which were already on hand. We both enjoyed it for lunch the past two days, and I can hardly wait to make another recipe. Super scrumptious with crackers, tortilla, pita, and veggies. We like carrots, personally.

FYI: Hummus ranks right up there with mashed banana as the hair product of choice for the under-two crowd. I'll just let you take my word for it. Consider it a public service.

Staying Busy

Baby B has been up to a lot recently. Mainly just being plain cute. It's tough work.

Never too big for the Johnny Jump Up. Apparently.

Out for ice cream with Nana & Papa K. Oh, the anticipation...

Oh, the life of a little kid. Love, love, love him.