Nesting

There's a tree just across the street from our house that every night fills with . . . well, Ask.com and Google tell me they are called Cattle Egrets.  So we'll go with that.  They are pretty white birds and they congregate nightly in this one tree.  They seem to ignore all the other trees.  It makes that one look pretty magnificent as the sun is setting. 

 

 

Conclusion:  It is easy to forget that what is familiar is often also spectacular.

Leather. Or Crystal. Or Glass.

Recently Wonderman and I celebrated our three-year anniversary.  It was a quiet celebration, but a wonderful day.  It is such a joy just to know what an awesome choice we made and how lucky we are to be here, together. 

The coolest thing about marrying your best friend (I know, blah, blah, blah - that's what all lame people who are "so in love" say about getting married, but hear me out) is that you really do get to spend a ton of time hanging out with the person you most want to hang out with - in the whole world.  That's pretty awesome.  Plus, when you're hanging out, you also get to make out whenever you want, which is also cool.

Conclusion:  Marriage rocks.

Neuf - [That's French for "Nine"]

That's right.  Ze bebe' is nine months old.  Intense, right?  She's getting so grown up.  For example:

Bean's basic stats are as follows:

• Weight: Heavy
• Length: Long
• Head circumference: Really?
• Percentiles:  Off the charts, I'm sure.

Can you tell we don't really go to the pediatrician here?  Meh.  She's fat and happy, so we don't worry about it.  She has one tooth that has broken through just barely, and one that will be this side of the gum-line any day now.  She is REALLY close to crawling and every day I think she's going to just start going for it, but she's still just a scooter.  However, she is an expert scooter and gets around quite well.  She often eats (nearly) man-sized portions, but is still nursing with regularity.  She is laughing harder and more often every day.  She is starting to assert some independence as she tries to get me to stop doing what she doesn't like (such as me trying to wash her arms during her bath.  She hates it.  Not sure why.  Probably because that means she can't grab stuff.).  She is very busy and is always exploring and reaching for everything she can.  In the bath (read: kitchen sink), she can pull herself up to a vertical kneel (which makes me quite nervous some days), but she still seems to have zero desire to pull herself up on her feet, or put her full weight on them.  Ever.  She babbles all day long.  She sleeps through the night, except for when she doesn't feel like it (teething has been a little tough).  She has some serious stranger anxiety and cries if someone new comes into our house and I'm not holding her.  She also cries (screams?) when anyone other than me or Wonderman holds her.  Still, in my arms she is quite the flirt and loves to interact with other people, especially other children (and especially when they should be being quiet during church.  Oops).

Oh, and here's a major milestone for this month:  She had her fist kiss!!!!!  Our friend's little boy was quite entranced with Bean and kissed her - twice! - one day when we were hanging out.  He kissed her cheek and her forehead.  It was sweet and adorable.  He's even an older man - two years old!  We're going to have to keep our eye on our little charmer. 

Conclusion:  We are blessed!

Counting Down

While we are very excited to get back to the states, and all that entails (TWENTY SIX DAYS!!!), there are some sad bits, too.  I am very excited to eat berries.  Berries of all kinds.  I really love berries.  I can't wait to introduce Bean to berries and berries to Bean.  However, it is more than a little sad that she is getting to love food like mango (and starfruit and pineapple and bananas [yes, they are better here]) so much, and realistically she may never again have the chance to eat so much (or such) delicious mango in her life. 

At least there will be berries.

Conclusion:  Everything is a trade-off.