I'm Running Out of Autumnal Post Titles...

... But I mean it when I say I love this time of year. Chilly breeze on chilly cheeks and walks over the green. That cooler air just feels so good in your lungs...

Peepo...

She kind of inhales the seeds up her nose... But right before then you can get a reasonable shot where it looks like she knows how it goes...

Little local knowledge... That barn in front belongs to Harry Enfield's inlaws... True story.

I need a family shot taken here, next year, on our wedding anniversary...

Happy Autumn! 

In the meantime we're still waiting. Our grip on our super natural, intervention free and "normalised" home birth is waning. The logistics of running around after a toddler and decisions regarding paternity leave are pressing. Oh to have a countdown clock for this baby! All the while anxieties are setting in where my perspectives can't be trusted right now. In short... This is hard. Really hard. There's nothing to learn here or anything profound to say... It'll just be one of those horrid times you scrape through with greasy hair and a bad diet until it's over, then I'll look back and say "cor... that was rough".

Until then I'm very grateful for friends and family who are tolerating my miserable face and a daughter who is happy to sit down and have books read to her.

Tick tock baby...

Autumnal Toddler Craft: Leaf Collages

Husband/Daddy lawn-mowing moral support turns craft activity... First collect leaves...

Then stick them down with PVA!

 Tada!!

October... A Little Look Back...

I have been thinking at the end of a month it might be nice to have a little summary. October feels like it's been a big month so here's a little recap in pictures about where we've been...

Her first jeans...

Change, change, change...

Old toys get some new appreciation...

Lots and lots of being outdoors...

Enjoying those big, hot, chilly-day dinners... (Butternut squash casserole)

Happy Anniversary us!

Happy Halloween! Her first...

My blogs first competition win and becomes an official Nuby UK Blogger... (and my first review of the freebies they sent me)

Cosy days with less than expensive toys...

Mushroom opera houses...

Getting into so, so, SO much mischief with her new moves...

Some wonderful quality dad-daughter and Euna-grandad time as we think lots and lots about family...

So here's to a fabulous November as we start a Christmas countdown and welcome the winter... Happy November!

Autumnal Balance

Every household makes it's own rules regarding domestic chore division.

Couples take into account their shared interpretation of a "clean home". They consider factors such as hours spent out at work, hours children and pets demand, skill sets, chore satisfaction and where chores lay on their individual and shared priority lists. Some couples label jobs as "pink or blue". Some would say men cherry pick the "glory chores". Sometimes there's a "chore martyr". Characters come in to play. It's complex. 

It's complex and by the time you think you both have your rules and roles defined... You go and have a baby. Then you may have a party on maternity leave. You may have one "at work" more than the other. You may have jobs the other PHYSICALLY can't do (like breast-feeding). You also have a whole pile of activities that both parties are defining differently, you might think it's a "chore", he might think it's a "pleasure". Some things are a pleasure if they're only done once a week, as opposed to twice a day and then they become chores. 

The integrals are endless. The negotiations are difficult. Investments are emotional. Communication becomes more essential than ever and at the exact same time you loose all your time, patience and energy for communication. 

There's no point in me going in to the specifics of our domestic chore division. It won't apply to any other couple in the universe because every couple is different. 

Suffice to say this weekend represented two things;

1. Steve and I hitting our balance in domestic division. Like when you change gears on an old bicycle and you get that clunking and clicking and the resistance behind the pedals staggers, all followed by a last snap in to place and wheel find their stride. Like that. Feels ace. High 5 Mr. A.

2. Total immersion in to Autumn 2012 and all the joys of autumnal activities.

Missed this off my list... Blowing and counting the "o'clocks"...

 Rope swings...                                    Muddy puddles...

Locking down for domestic chores is always more welcome when it's chilly...

Star bursts, way better with low winter sun...

It'll be a sad day the day she is too big to be carried...

HATS! (Sainsburys 25% off clothes, this was £3!!!!)

Pulling out old jumpers from last year...  Leaves JUST turning...

I'd like to claim domestic goddess status with this veggie patch, but it was the allotments on our walk...

The crawling has LITERALLY come along in leaps and bounds...

Lessons:

Some of the most wonderful things are found in the ordinary. Especially when there's balance.