He Also Said He Invented Aluminum Foil. He's Delusional.

Since none of my normal human pants fit me (yes, I'm only 11 weeks) and things labeled "maternity" make me look like I knocked over John Candy and stole his clothes, I'm living vicariously through Andrew's fashion these days. Doesn't he look smashing in his little silk Chinese wambones? Phil got those for him last summer during a missions trip and he's finally grown into them. I'm so afraid he'll leak wetties on them during the night that I haven't let him sleep in them, which seems like such a shame. Perhaps I should lighten up. I mean, what's worse - letting them get wet or saving them for the grand purpose of hanging in his closet?

Andrew's snake shirt gets multitudinous complements whenever he wears it - fabulous birthday gift from his friend Spartacus. Though he usually just stares down at the shirt when people ask him what's on it, he will oblige with a great hiss when asked what the snake says.


While Phil was traveling for work last week, I spontaneously decided to meet up with my parents and Bradley in the Great Smoky Mountains. Nibblet's first road trip! We only got to stay for about 24 hours, but it was such a lovely spot and wonderful to spend even a little time with the family. My mom and dad are thoroughly enjoying having Bradley home for a spell before he flys out to Iraq in a couple weeks (we're trying not to think about that much).

Here's The Precious watching some good old Andy Griffith with his Pa (that's what he's calling my dad now) after a spectacular bubble bath in the mountain cabin.


We hiked to a small waterfall - it was all so beautiful and peaceful. Made me want to pack my bags and leave city life in the dust. This picture was taken after Uncle Bradley climbed to the top of the fall, then unceremoniously slid down that super steep rock face (right behind my head). A man approached as this was happening and ran up trying to catch him - I'm sad I didn't see the whole thing (Mom and I were trying not to watch him as, oddly, he tends to make us nervous), but I'm pretty sure it was hilarious. In the end, Bradley wasn't bleeding much and appeared to be quite pleased with himself.

Oh my heavens, I look like a man. Why don't people tell me these things?


Here's Andrew with his Nana (or Nina) sipping on some cranberry juice and taking in all the glorious nature.


Inspired by his first viewing of Andy Griffith, Andrew decided he absolutely had to take his shoes off and put his feet in the cold mountain stream. He didn't enjoy the water quite as much as he'd anticipated, but he did not want those shoes back on and so walked the trail for while like the hillbilly boy he is in his heart.



In other news, Andrew has been eating much better - trying new foods and everything! And I'm feeling much better, so much so that I went in to see the doctor to make sure my sweet Nibblet was OK. He is! My paranoia scored me an extra ultrasound, and I got to see him jumping around in there - the best.

And I'm really excited about autumn. I'm going to make myself wait until the weather drops below 85 degrees before I run out to buy pumpkins and fall leaf arrangements, so until then I guess I'll just have to enjoy watching the creepy spiders spin themselves all over the yard.