morning detox

july.                                                                                                     november
our praying mantis friend. he lives in the trumpet vine below the steps.
i love how he's changing colors with the season.  nix that. check out jen's comment. thanks for the info, jen. i love learning new things!

Hi. I think I say this every time I post here lately--how it's like coming back to an old friend. This morning what I really need is to collapse into your arms and could you rub my back a little? It's been a week of an overflowing to-do list with a side order of sick husband and children. Everyone's fighting the fall flu while I break out the prenatal vitamins again in an attempt to stave off the achy body, runny nose. Those prenatals pack a punch. I'm still healthy. I thought we were coming out on the other side of it all, but this morning Elizabeth woke up a little rattly in the chest.

I'm busting at the seams this morning with things I want to write about. Nothing special, just the kind of things I like to share here--how I look out my window and the sky is bright blue and the leaves are changing, and it's beautiful.

And how Elizabeth is making her way all over the floor of our house, picking up the dog hair and playing with the tools under the wood burner. It is going to be a long winter of keeping little hands away from the hot stove. I keep sliding her away, distracting her, but she's fascinated. We'll have to come up with some type of gate or I'll be sewing up potholder mitts in 6 month old size.

And how I'm singing this weekend at a conference that my mom is hosting and I did something weird to my jaw and it hurts to open my mouth. I must be clenching my teeth while I work through my to do list. I'm sure it will be better by tomorrow. But for now, the idea of it all is kind of making me laugh.

And how Emma is on a bird kick today. Last night she figured out how to draw a really good bird and now she can't stop. I wasn't there, but Dan said when she got to the end of the drawing she just started laughing and laughing because it was so good. She surprised herself.

There's more, but I'll save it for now. Elizabeth is rubbing her eyes and nose with her little pudgy fist. It's her sign that she's sleepy and ready for me to swoop her up and carry her away for a morning nap. Those moments of putting her down for a nap are my detox. What would I do without her? She brings such sweetness and peace and gentleness to my day.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. There's big stuff going on here at the farm this weekend. Let's just say it involves horses. Lots of horses. I think you all might know someone who will be  a teensy bit excited about that. I'll be back with pictures.

Happy Weekend, friends.