Fall

Fall is lovely here in Virginia.  The weather has been sunny and cool, and the changing trees are just gorgeous.  This one is right outside my dining room window, and it's changing in a gradient from one side to the other.  It's been neat to watch the colors shift.  These photos are of the same tree, and they were taken at the same time!  I didn't know one tree could sport so many colors at once.

We're still working on getting the house settled.  Of course.  Most recently, we've been hanging pictures Brandon's been hanging pictures and I've been organizing and finding homes for things.  I don't remember this process taking quite this long last time.  Maybe time has dulled the memories?  Or maybe it didn't take as long, because we had less stuff? Or because we didn't have a toddler to keep track of?  Or because I wasn't pregnant?  Hm. Maybe all four. There is a lot of stuff I'd like to do around here, including getting some color on the walls, but for now I'd be happy with getting rid of the last of the boxes and settling all the clutter. 

We still have not found the hardware for Elora's crib.  I can't imagine what could have happened to it, but I am placing all of the blame on the terrible movers who packed up our house in Germany.  (Seriously, don't even get me started on what a terrible job they did.  I could go on for a while.)  We already have a toddler bed for her, though--thanks again, Rebekah, for snagging that for us!!--so I got that put together.

 

She loves it!!!  It just too bad that we can't keep her in it long enough for her to fall asleep.  She's still sleeping in her pack'n'play, the poor thing.  If we ever do find that hardware, we'll have to get another mattress for the crib, since Elora's crib mattress is now Elora's toddler bed mattress.  (If we don't, then we'll need another crib to go with that new mattress!!)

She's loving having her toys and such back, and it is so wonderful to see her settling in here.  She's back to being able to entertain herself for longer periods of time.  I can tell that she likes having a space that's all hers, with the option to bring her toys out into the rest of the house.

This is actually the last thing that I did at the shop before leaving Germany.  I got a set of frog note cards in high school, and I have been hoarding, them ever since.  When I got down to just 2, it finally occurred to me that I could just frame one, and then I would have it to look at and enjoy, forever.  So with the help of the wonderful and talented Paula-in-the-Frameshop, I got it framed!  (Translation, Paula did all the hard stuff, and I did the things that wouldn't potentially cost me an untrained finger.)  It survived the move and is now hanging above my night stand.  It matches the colors in my bedroom perfectly!  I love, love, love it!  Thank you so much Paula, you're amazing.  :)