It's Beginning to Look a lot Like ... Fall?

Fall has always meant back to school time for me.  Even though I love a break from he summer heat, I've never really enjoyed fall all that much.  Fall meant early mornings, no more sleeping in, homework, and as an adult, grading papers.  Now that I stay at home with Barrett, fall means better weather to play outside, cozy mornings by the fire, answering questions about why a leaf is red, and cuddle times with blankies.  It ALSO means anticipation of the holiday season!  (Which if you know me, you know I live for the holidays.)

This particular fall means capturing a last few months with my only child before he becomes a big brother.  One particular morning this week we spent some time in the kitchen making Pumpkin French Toast.  (Which, again, if you know me, you know I don't do mornings very well.  I usually throw some Cheerios in a bowl and make sure he's got a cup of milk to buy me some time to wake up completely.)

These pictures remind me of pictures of my mom and I making cinnamon rolls when I was about 2 years old.   I wish I had one of those pictures to post next to these :) His favorite part was probably using the Spiderman spatula I bought for Matt, but I didn't actually get a picture of that part!

Measuring the Pumpkin

He Likes to Stir with a Fork in a Circle

Eating at "Barrett's New Table"

"Big Boh-NAN-ah"

In the past week or so, Barrett has become even more of a chatter box.  We Facetimed with Gamma the other night, and she couldn't believe how much Barrett was trying to tell her.  He was so cute trying his best to tell her about his day and all the toys he was playing with.  Nana and Papa noticed the same thing when they were babysitting him the other night.  It's so fun to listen to him try to put more and more sentences together.  

Things I Typically Hear During the Day:

• "Mommy, What you doing?"
• "How doing Mommy/Daddy?'
• "I play with (insert given toy here)'
• "Mommy, what this?"
• "Mommy, who is?" (Who is this? ~ While pointing at a picture or a book)
• "This-ah Barrett's BIG boy bed!"
• "Daddy go work ... at hockey!" (Matt WISHES!)
• "Oh! Oh! I/Barrett go get it"
• "He wants bilk." (I want milk)
• "He wants a snack" (I want a snack)
• "Here ya go Mommy.  This is for you" (as he's handing me an object he really thinks I need)
• "Barrett put up cups!" (while he's helping me unload the dishwasher)
• "Wear tennis shoes/Toms" (and Lord help me if I make him wear the "wrong" shoes
• "I-ah go shopping at-ah ... Target" 
• "Butter sandwich.  And bilk.  And chicken nuggets!" (His request everyday for lunch. Butter sandwich = PB&J sandwich)
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And then there's the after nap cuddle time that I can't seem to get enough of.  This is how we spend a good portion of our afternoons before Matt gets home from work.  For some reason, I think it's hysterical when he laughs at a show he is watching.  Maybe because it doesn't happen often.

This particular afternoon is was cold and overcast, so we had the fire going and the house was dark.  It was the perfect setting for a snuggly afternoon, and then he got a case of the giggles!

 Such a Sweet Sound!