Where do you keep the Magic Eraser?

Not words you want to hear. Ever. Right, Cora? I'm happy to report that permanent marker on vintage Formica is no match for Mr. Clean. If I was a celebrity I would insist on endorsing those things. I really think they have a little magic in them.

We're getting so excited for the holidays. Publix got us in the mood last night when we attended their "Holiday Fest." I didn't even have to make dinner. Samples galore. Good ones. Jumbo shrimp, stuffing, turkey, crab cakes, Christmas cookies, and on and on and on. The high point was when I tentatively let Harrison try the eggnog. I believe my exact words to Dan as I gave it to him were, "What if he's one of those freaks who doesn't like eggnog? I'm not sure I can handle that." Puh-lease. I didn't need to worry. I've never heard him squeal and smack his lips like he did last night. He's a fellow nog aficionado. I can rest easy.

13...the Magic Number

I think it was just a week or two ago that I reported Harrison's ability to count to three. Well, since then he'd gone a little higher and Dan and I have been shocked every time since we haven't been doing much counting with him. Yesterday morning, as we were lazily hanging out in bed (all four of us), Harrison just started happily counting. Dan's and my eyes locked and our eyebrows raised when he made it up to nine without any prompting; then we just sat there as he quickly and clearly kept reciting all the way up to THIRTEEN! We just silently laughed as he then proceeded to repeat "thirteen" at least five more times. I don't know where he picked it up, and he refuses to count at all if I try to join in or prompt him at all (he says, "Mommy, No!" while doing the Swiper, no swiping hand motion).

I had to call Mom right away to tell her about my Mensa-bound tot and she said that Grandma Dot claimed to be able to count to 100 before she was three. Is this true, Dot? I think Harrison's taking it as a personal challenge.

Fat and Sassy

That just seems like an appropriate post title after Halloween. And pregnancy. As you can see, though he occasionally gets slapped around a little by big brother, or left in his bassinet a little longer than he'd like by Mom, Tru is proving to be a man of pretty good temperament. His smiles are coming more often and he's starting to coo so sweetly to me. I love it.
Harrison has been cracking us up. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. The glasses that he got for Halloween are more of an unintentional thing. I think he likes to put them on cause they're like the glasses Mommy wears, and he'll just walk around with them for a while talking seriously to me. I have no choice but to try to take him seriously.



I don't have any actual trick-or-treating pics, but you can check out a couple great ones of Harrison hitting the neighborhood with Hunter here. It was only a matter of time before I started just referring people to Britt's blog to see Harrison's life. I can't help it. He loves hanging with his BFF.

As might be becoming more and more obvious, H-man wears his "Bones" outfit a lot. This shot reminds me of Mr. Mom when the dude is shot and falls on the chalked body outline, but then has to get up and realign himself.

As a second-time-around mom, I didn't get around to getting a "first bath" picture until now. But it's sweet anyway, right?

We went on a gorgeous family hike this morning. I just love Tennessee in the fall. And I love being married to Dan, because he drags me out for stuff like this that I wouldn't do without him but end up loving. The weather was beautiful. The scenery was beautiful. My family is beautiful.