13 months 3 weeks and 4 days

13 months 3 weeks and 4 days...
of nursing Elijah and now we're done.
For a little over a month now we've been down to just the bedtime feeding and I think its time for him to wean. He didn't exactly lose interest in it, but my Mommy instinct is telling me we're done with this phase of our lives. So for the past 2 nights I've put him to bed without nursing him. At first he struggled to settle; pulling on my shirt, turning his face toward my chest, whining, wiggling something awful. So I started off by giving him the passy and holding him in the same position, still rocking him and singing our bed time songs. He figured out pretty quickly that he wasn't getting it any more and has already adapted to our new routine. I'm actually kind of sad to give up that special time with him. Sure, I still put him down for bed and cuddle with him, but it's not the same. I guess this officially ends his "baby era". [sniff sniff] I am ok with it though. In a way it gives me more freedom too.

So, anyway...
Fall has really fallen here in Indiana. It's chilly in the mornings, though the days are still warm (70's - 80's). This is a very lovely time of year and as I get older I hate it less and less. Growing up I always dreaded it because it meant the end of Summer and the beginning of the long, cold, gray, bitter, drizzly, dreary Indiana winter. (brrr... I shudder just at the thought) But now I'm coming to appreciate the changing seasons - beautiful leaves, smell of fires, that crunchy sound when the wind blows the trees, a little nip in the air, and a perfect excuse to enjoy hot chocolate, hot cider, or a pumpkin spice latte. Ok, I guess its not so bad after all. :)

My Mom's brother and his wife are driving up from Texas tomorrow to spend the week with us. (actually with my Grandma) I am so looking forward to the visit. They come up every year for the Fall Festival week and we always enjoy our time together. This year they are bringing their 3-year-old granddaughter Gracie with them (my cousin Anthony's daughter) so it will be extra fun.

Speaking of fall stuff... today Elijah and I went over to my parents' property, which is about 2 miles from here, and played outside for a few hours. Oh, the weather was perfect!! We had a picnic lunch on a blanket under a big shade tree, took a ride in the back of the pick-up truck, gathered up firewood and twigs, and helped cut back the brush and undergrowth from the path in the woods and up the hill. Since the setting was so conducive to taking photographs, naturally I took several dozen. And here are a few...