the not-so-endless days of fall 2011

Summer has always been my favorite season of the year.  I love the long days, the sunny, warm weather, the beach, the heat, the hiking, camping, bon fires, ice cream, tank tops, sandals, no socks, parties, bbq's, icy cold beverages on patios.......  Have I made my point?  I love summer.  Fall has always been a close second however and I dare say that it's inching its way up on summer as we endure the humid, sticky heat waves without air conditioning.

This fall in particular has been lovely.  Shorter days of course, but warm and colourful!  We haven't had to wear snow pants since Halloween (yay!) and Ruby's really enjoying the great outdoors.  She stepped in dog poop the other day, but I was the only one who seemed to mind. 

Playing on the stairs. 

Playing in the leaves.

Cheese. 

It was 18 degrees and sunny yesterday so we ventured across the river for a visit with the Jorgensen gang.   The kids played outside for almost 2 hours!!   Aimee and I sat with watchful eyes and occasionally had to go retrieve one of the kids before they escaped too far down the cul de sac, (or toppled over).  

Kate and Ruby.

The huge cul de sac. 

Ruby was on a mission and walked head down for about an hour!

You would think that all this fresh air and exercise would make for restful, wake free nights.... but our dear Ruby has other plans.  She's always had challenges with regards to sleeping at night and hasn't exactly been a champion napper either.  (currently, her typical nap is 1 and a half hours - per day!!!)  As far as night time sleep goes, she just started sleeping through the night at (approximately) 12 months!  The first few months of life with a newborn are crazy.... up every two hours, which is normal, then it gets better (for most people).  To put it in perspective, between the ages of 8 and 12 months she was still waking up at least once every night and usually twice.  Recently, we had an amazing six nights in a row where she slept through until morning.... but it didn't last.  The next few nights were awful.  She's unpredictable, that's for sure.  Cute, but very unpredictable.  And I guess she just doesn't like to sleep much.   So, the days aren't endless but the nights sometimes feel like they are.