Someone's Following Me...

Toddlers are interesting creatures. One moment they're the babies we knew just a short time ago, wanting to cuddle and fall asleep on mommy or daddy's shoulder and the next they're too old for their age, wanting to do everything on their own, accepting no help from anyone.

That's part of the age, though: learning to be independent, knowing they can figure things out on their own. Thirteen or so years from now, Norah will be acting the same way, but exponentially worse.

But no matter what, there was a point in her life while she was working this out on her own: Why is this shadow girl following me?

Fun Times With a Hat

Not much to say in this post...I just thought I'd share some super cute pictures of my quick-growing little girl playing with daddy's hat.

...and we have touchdown!

We've just started our third month back in the US. As opposed to July, which opened up for us in Pennsylvania while staying with my parents and an August spent with Amy's parents, the month of September finds us in our very own place.

In the suburbs.

I grew up in the suburbs and thought it was all fine and dandy, but I'd rather be out in the country. Somewhere quiet with lots of hiking, climbing and mountain biking.

Until I came to reality. You can't get pizza delivered to you if you live out in the country.

Norah Grace and Mika playing in the backyard.

So I'm living in the suburbs and appreciating every bit of it, . We've got our fenced in yard, the park up the road, and go for walks around the neighborhood every day. The grocery stores and restaurants aren't far and neither are the baseball diamonds where Norah and I split an ice cream sandwich while watching an exciting game of t-ball.

While I have to admit I feel a certain bit of jealousy when I see planes high overhead, wondering where all those people are off to, I think I can live like this for a while.

I start most days drinking my coffee (in this case out of my mug I got in Venice)
while Norah plays on the back patio.