The years keep adding up, and the bigger the number, the more excited I get! Nate and I were married 17 years ago today. It’s hard to believe so many years have passed, but I’m so very happy to still be with my wonderful husband after all these years! Happy anniversary, honey!

I’m starting to get some strength back from this horrible flu. I’m still weak and tired and can’t breathe sometimes, but I do feel like I’m pulling out of it slowly.

I’ve been down for the count. This flu has taken me out. I’m still so tired and weak, on a very slow road to recovery. I’m on my second round of antibiotics, and a steroid. Now Nate is getting sick, and Max seems a little warm and grumpy today. I don’t understand why we’re having such a rough time of this. Everyone in the family is dropping one at a time. It’s probably been over 2 months now that someone’s been sick in this house, and I just don’t see an end.

I don’t WANT to learn patience. I’m sick of being patient.

Dear sweet handsome funny brilliant hardworking thoughtful loyal husband,

I love you. Thank you for being everything that you are. Happy, happy birthday.

For a few reasons. First, it means that Halloween is completely, absolutely, indisputably, and totally OVER!!!! For an entire YEAR!!!

And that is awesome.

Second, I love November. I love the attitude of cozying up in my warm house through the yucky weather. I love Thanksgiving. I love the promise of Christmas right around the corner. It’s my honey’s birthday this month. It’s our 17th wedding anniversary next month.

November is just good, and I’m ready for it.

So here are some cute pictures of our trick-or-treating last night. We ended up in our old neighborhood and walked around with my best internet-shy-friend and her family. (Internet-shy-family not pictured. Photographed, but not pictured).

Veronica was extremely difficult to photograph, as she and her friend were dashing from house to house and never seemed to be anywhere close to me.

Max was “tired baby” for Halloween.

At the end of the night, they had their 15 minutes of candy trading…

…and that was it. All done ’til next year!

Product photography is HARD!!! I’m thoroughly humbled.

I think I have something good now. 2 or 3 out of, you know, 70 photos.

And now that they’re reduced in size, the last two look dingy and dark.

Pout.

It’s been real, but I’m afraid you’ve worn out your welcome.

Take off, eh?

Please?

It’s that time of year again! Nate’s pumpkin carving party. I had the fun task of carrying Max all night, except for the part when I took pictures, then he screamed on the floor and crawled around after me. Which was completely delightful.

Or not.

But, it’s always fun to see everyone and keep up a tradition.

I had Carol’s awesome camera last night, which doesn’t take hand held dark photos well at all, (we’re talking 4-5 second shutter speeds, and I’m not even kidding), so I brought my tripod. And the pics are fabulous!

I love how you can see reflections on the wet pavement, and the leaves….

so festive! Here’s Nate’s…

it’s Max the Vampire from the Scary Godmother books next to Abby’s haunted house.

And a few more…

‘Twas the night before sock hop, the local school dance
and each girl was excited to twirl every chance

said children were nestled, all snug in their beds
while mom stayed up primping their poodles instead

Is it possible to use a glue gun without burning yourself? I don’t think I’ve ever managed it.

We’ve had the same pediatrician for 12 years. More than once, as I’ve taken my 12 month old (whoever that happened to be at the time) in for their checkup, he’d say, “Ah, the honeymoon phase ends at 12 months.” I’d let it go, ’cause I never really understood what he meant.

‘Til Max.

Oh, my, word. He’s driving me nuts. Still not sleeping through the night, he no longer wants to be put back in the crib after nighttime feedings. Instead, he screams.

He screams when I try to put him in his highchair now, despite the fact that he really wants to eat.

He ALWAYS wants to eat.

He screams when we need to go in the car.

He screams whenever I put him down. If by some miracle, he’s content playing on the floor for a bit, I can’t make eye contact with him or walk past him or he’ll suddenly realize that he’s on the floor (heaven forbid), and he not only screams, but chases me down while he’s doing it.

This has resulted in my new habit of quietly locating him when I need to go to the other side of the house and picking a route that takes me as far away from him as possible.

When I am holding him (which as you’ve probably deduced is most of the time), he’s not a big fan of me sitting down.

Neither is he a fan of being held by someone other than me.

He wakes up about 3 hours earlier in the morning than any of my other kids did. Do you know how distressing it is to hear your baby stirring in the morning and finding yourself saying, “Dangit. He’s awake.” I HATE thinking that about my baby. But as I said, he’s driving me nuts.

I have a sister-in-law who once said in a blog post that when she looks at a certain child of hers, she feels tired.

Right there with ya’, sister.