Ah! I feel so contented right now! As I sit here at my computer, a cool breeze wafts through the window beside me, lifting my hair and cooling my neck.
Yes, the window is open!! And yes, it is cool outside!!!
I LOVE autumn. I love everything about it: the cool crisp weather, the scent of smoke in the air, the bright colors of changing leaves and the crunch of them underfoot, the feeling of anticipation for the approaching holiday season (not just Thanksgiving and Christmas, but also Birthday Season for our family!). Fall is, without a doubt, my favorite time of year.
And today, for the first time this year, I feel like autumn is really coming. All the rain the last couple days ushered in a cold front, and the temps dropped 20+ degrees overnight. While we had been enduring humid triple-digit weather, today had a high of 80 degrees. And it didn’t even reach that until late afternoon!
I hadn’t yet stepped outside this morning when my husband called. I almost didn’t believe him when he said it’s almost chilly out! But he was right…it was mid-60s and deliciously cool and crisp. Of course we had to take advantage of that gorgeous weather, so the plan was to spend most of the day outside; as soon as Nadia was awake, dressed and fed, we’d head to the park. And since Daddy was on his way home he’d join us! (he’s a land surveyor and the job site was too waterlogged from the rain to work …I’ll have to make a separate post about the oh-so-exciting project they’re working on now).
So about an hour later we pulled up at the park. I drive by this cute little duck pond all the time but for some reason we’d never been there, so we decided to check it out. And we had such a blast! Nadia was in such high spirits, laughing and running and jumping (well, a toddler’s version of jumping anyway, with neither foot leaving the ground!). She chased after the ducks calling “Hi, quack-quack!” and giggling away. I’m sure every mother knows what I mean when I say it made my heart sing to see that! I was a bit worried that the over-friendly/agressive ducks would bite her when she kept trying to feed them directly out of her hand, so I showed her how to throw the bread in the water. It was so funny – she’d toss that bread with everything she’s got, face furrowed with the effort….and it would land 2 inches away. LOL!
I already posted some pictures of the duck-feeding fun for Wordless Wednesday, but here are some more (because you know I always love to share my pics!)
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Oh, I have to comment on that outfit. This morning when it was unexpectedly cool, I had to go looking for some pants for her; the few pairs still in the drawer from spring are now much too small! She’s been growing so fast this summer that I’ve been unsure of what size she’ll be in come winter, and since I had this idea that cool weather is still months away I haven’t really bought any cool-weather clothes (I’m going garage sale-ing this weekend!!). Thankfully I had a box of hand-me-downs – clothes that seemed huge when they were given to me a year ago but fit now! So I pulled out those flowered pants, grabbed a t-shirt and got her dressed (without complaint for once – she likes new clothes!). And her Daddy said “I don’t like that outfit….it makes her look too grown up!” And he’s right. She looks like a big girl…no baby left at all. Look, she even has a waist!
So, we had a great “first day of fall.” Later in the day we met some friends at another park, and then we ended the day with a round of mini golf. The extended forecast shows it staying in the 80s and I’m really hoping this cool weather is here to stay (yes, 80s is cool in Texas!!). I’m ready to get out all my fall decorations and go buy some apple cider now!
September 12, 2007 at 10:31 am
Autumn – not really a fave of mine, tends to be wet around here (well its been wet all year so whats diffrent) . I love the outfit on Nadia, you right it does make her look grown up , Rebecca has been wearing alot of jeans/shirt combos lately and it always makes her look older.
The pictures are great, i love the one on the bench. She gets cuter all the time
September 12, 2007 at 11:06 am
Don’t hold your breath about the weather. You know how Texas can be. We loved it too last night. We were even out in jackets lookin’ crazy.
Love that last shot. She does look so tiny.
September 12, 2007 at 12:54 pm
I was just thinking how tall and grown up she is looking all of a sudden!
Cool here today, too, in New England–I don’t even think it is 65 yet!
September 12, 2007 at 2:06 pm
I am so thankful for the cooler temperatures here in the Midwest!
By the way, I really appreciated your comment on my BSM…I find it ironic that you’re originally from Missouri and I’m originally from Texas and now we’ve switched!
Do you have a Taco Cabana nearby? If so, I’m jealous!
September 12, 2007 at 3:26 pm
WOW sounds like a great day! We are not allowed to feed the ducks anymore
If you get caught you have to pay a fine. They said that the geese are not migrating in the winter because we are feeding them and there are just too many. Maybe they will migrate this year and we can feed them next year. Looks like Nadia had fun. I think her outfit is cute.
September 12, 2007 at 4:41 pm
I love the cooler weather, too. This past summer was way too hot so we have been enjoying getting outside, too.
I totally understand about the laughter AND her looking like a big girl. It seems to happen overnight where they turn from baby to little kid. 
September 12, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Oh she does look like such a big girl! It’s so scary to watch them grow into little people, but so satisfying as well.
Yay for cool weather! It was cooler here, too… Yay for 69 degrees today!
September 15, 2007 at 11:30 pm
And of course over here we are breathing in the balmy spring air! You write so evocatively Christina, I can see exactly how Nadia moves when you describe it! I can hear her excitement and her Daddy’s heartbreak as his baby transforms before his eyes. Yay for the duck pond.