Autumn in Northern Wyoming

October is my favorite month. It helps that it's the month I was born in, but I find October to be FALL. I love the changing of the leaves, pumpkins, the deep reds, oranges and yellows we all associate with this time of year, the crispness of the air and the way we all tend to reminisce. Somehow, I find myself reflecting more during October about the previous year than I do in January.

This October is different than any I've experienced before. First off, it snowed - like REALLY snowed - October 10th through the 13th. Secondly, our furnace decided not to work right at the beginning of this cold, wet weather. Thirdly, I have an infant to care for 24/7 and lastly, I'm home all the time.


Luckily, the first two points resolved themselves quickly. The furnace was fixed within a couple of days and the snow melted quickly once the storm passed. The third makes life wonderful and interesting and hard. The fourth makes me antsy a third of the time and makes me love my life the other two-thirds.

There are some things that are consistent about my October experiences from year to year, however, that hold true this year, too. One, I had another birthday. Two, we've walked and walked and walked and walked. Three, I've been able to enjoy the colors and the pumpkins and the crisp, clean air.


Ellie and I go walking almost every morning with a lady who lives across the street and down a couple of houses. Judy has lived in Sheridan for 35 years. She is a retired 4th grade teacher, has 2 Tibetan Terriers who walk with us and knows everyone on the street. Her presence and friendship are huge blessings. I appreciate being able to wake up in the morning and know I'll be able to have some adult conversation, will get to take a nice long walk, will give Eleanor some varied stimulation and will learn something new about this place we live. Judy has been wonderful about introducing us to the people we meet as we walk as well as helping us get acquainted with others who live down our street.


We are delighted to find that people in Sheridan are incredibly friendly. We have connected with many people on our street, in the church we've attended for a few Sundays, at the grocery store, at work and at MOPS. I have yet to say I've connected well enough with anyone to really predict where we might develop strong relationships, but during this time of slow settling we don't feel isolated. There really are still communities where your neighbors bring you cookies and flowers when you move in!


P.S. Happy Halloween! I was planning on adding a picture of Ellie to this in her cute Halloween outfit (no costume this year), but she's still asleep. (Yes, it is 11:00 in the morning). She is officially teething now and we had the worst night of her life last night. She slept fitfully only while being rocked or nursing... until about 7:30 this morning... and she's still asleep now. I could feel the tooth yesterday morning, peeking through. We'll see what it looks like today.

Pictures of the Day

I came upstairs from changing 2 loads of laundry to find Eleanor like this:


Do you think she's proud of herself?


I guess the days of happy, immobile, bouncer play are over. Too bad for me and my cleaning plans. :)

Everything is Difficult at First

My Aunt Dianne shared with me, while I was in Seattle for my brother's (wonderful) wedding, a sweet book she was introduced to by a friend in New York. It is full of great, important, simple sayings, but the one that stood out to her, and stands out to me now is: Everything is difficult at first.

I am strangely comforted by the fact that someone decided this concept was important enough to illustrate and share. I am grateful that Dianne's friend reminded her and that she in turn reminded me.

I am sad in little spaces here and there throughout each day that everything is difficult. I'm especially sad when things feel chaotic and overwhelming, I have a headache, my sweet baby decides not to sleep well and I miss my friends and family. I do find hope, however, as I continue to do the things that feel so difficult - even if it's just doing a load of diaper laundry in a space filled with half empty cardboard boxes - because at the end of each task and at the end of each day I see glimmers of order, peace and promise.

We like Sheridan. We like our home. We love our beautiful daughter and the joy she brings to each day. We are having a great time learning more and more about each other as we have to lean inward while working outward to make our place here.

Everything is difficult at first.

Picture of the Evening

Just because we can:

Here's a picture of Eleanor, all dressed up to go out shopping on this slightly chilly evening...

Good Morning!

We officially have internet! Now, of course, I just want to go crazy with emails, pictures and blogging... somehow I think I'll have to pace myself. :)

So, for now, we'll greet you with a "Picture of the Morning":



Isn't it great that I can share something so up to date!?

A Note From Eleanor

Well, we thought we'd update y'all a little bit about our current lives...

We're still working on moving in, painting and organizing the house. We're also working on getting connected to our community: walking with the neighbors, looking for a church, attending MOPS meetings, hanging out at the library for story times, working (Seth), etc. We just had a visit from Seth's parents (it was wonderful) and are still looking ahead to a visitor or two before winter really sets in.

We're still waiting for internet at the house... it'll be another 2 weeks or so... and then we'll have a TON of pictures to upload for you all.

We miss our friends and family a lot, but continue to feel excited about the new people we're meeting.

Here are some of Ellie's thoughts on the matter: uhikgy rejke n itrwejka

Peace to you all.

4 Month Stats

Ellie and I visited her new pediatrician's office yesterday for a slightly delayed 4 month check up. We happily walked to the doctor's office in the beautiful sunshine. The office is just on the other side of the fairgrounds for us. Luckily, I really liked all the people we met (nurses, PAs, pediatricians, office workers). We spent 2 hours there! The nurse and PA we officially had our appointment with were fabulous and did a great job of helping us feel welcome while getting all of Ellie's records up to date.

Here are her stats:

Weight: 14 lbs. 5 oz. (48th percentile)

Height: 26.8 in. (98th percentile)

Head: 16.3 in. (43rd percentile)

So, she continues to be quite long and fairly thin. People who meet her still use the word "petite" to describe her. Then we lay her on the floor and everyone says, "Wow. She looks really long." Who knows where she got these tall genes...