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Sunday was gorgeous, if unseasonably warm and we spent some of it outside. Daycare tells us that Noah really likes playing in the leaves out on their playground. We don’t have leaves, just pine needles, but we did enjoy the sunny weather out on the needles.

Later that day, we left our pine needles behind and went to the playground for the first time! Noah isn’t old enough for much beyond the baby swings, but Nathan and I had fun pushing him back and forth and watching the older children play. I suspect we’ll be seeing more of this park in the years to come.

After the park, we were pretty tired, so we came home to read some books. Reading is interesting, sometimes so interesting that Noah forgets he’s sitting up. Falling isn’t so bad when you’re only two feet tall though – the ground is nice and close.

We don’t really have a bedtime ritual yet, but there are some evening activities that seem to be turning into traditions around here. Once Noah is in his PJs (preferably fuzzy PJs with feet, as long as it is cold enough) he likes to cuddle up with us and listen to music or stories. He gets very serious while Nathan plays the guitar – he never cries, but listens very intently, brow furrowed. I wish I knew what he was thinking.

He is getting into board books as well. I’m not sure he likes the actual story part, but he likes the cadence of the words, the way the readers chest moves as they speak, and he loves to turn pages. I’m getting reacquainted with some of my favorite board books – Barnyard Dance, Goodnight Moon, Sheep in a Jeep, Is Your Mama a Llama…

This has been a crisp fall weekend, perfect for getting sweaters out of the attic, lighting a fire in the fireplace and visiting the pumpkin patch! Our newest milestone is outgrowing our bucket carseat – this photo is the last outing before the installation of the enormous new seat, since Noah is now a whopping 27 inches tall. We were on our way to Nihtila Farm, where we introduced Noah to the joys of pumpkin patches. He was mostly interested in the dirt, and in grabbing at the long grasses that grow all around the pumpkins. We’re cooking down a sugar pumpkin as I write, although Noah isn’t old enough to partake in the pumpkin-y goodness this year.

The next step is to learn to roll back onto his back. So he can, you know, actually sleep.

I brought my camera to Noah’s naming ceremony on Sunday, but I didn’t actually take it out of the diaper bag. Hopefully the family of the other baby being named got some ceremony pictures.

I did get a few photos back at the house. Noah was especially impressed by his new Noah’s Ark book and by some crinkly tissue paper that a gift came wrapped in. Any day with crinkly paper is a banner day.