I'm a bad girl

Yes, here it is October, and I'm posting. This blog has been one of those things that hangs over your head and you say, "Oh, yeah, I've got to do that, but it's been so long...what will I say? Maybe tomorrow..."
But, right now I'm just going to face this blank canvas and post, for Pete's sake! I'm not going to try to catch you up on what has happened in the past 2 and 1/2 months, I'll just start right into the present.

Callan is in preschool for the first time, and he has a friend. A very sweet friend named John Mosby (said all together as a first name, according to Southern tradition like Mary Kate or Billy Bob). We had our first play date last week and Callan keeps talking about John Mosby. I love that he has friends, and he is starting to say "hi" to our next door neighbors and ask direct questions of our friends. His social repertoire is just blooming!
And simultaneously, his need for motherly nurture is at its peak. He pretends to be a baby, talk like a baby and have needs like a baby. He also often refuses to hold his grandparents' or daddy's hands if mine is available, and indicates his clear preference for Mommy in other things. One day last week he sat at the kitchen table and pleaded, "Please, don't leave me, Mommy! Please, don't leave me!" So, I can tell that this social blooming is taking it's toll on him. He's just not ready to grow up all at once.

Thatcher is talking like he gets paid a dollar for every new word. My favorite word lately: "hug," which he says and then comes over to get one from me. Could he get any cuter? Of course, he's also learned the word "yuck" (which I use when he mouths something disgusting), and he used it quite appropriately, but not politely, at the dinner table tonight when he refused to eat his pasta and veggies.
Thatcher is also quite the personality, with an infectious laugh and an impish gleam in his eye when he requests something he knows is off-limits. Example:
T: "ni-ee" ("knife")
Me: Yes, that's a knife.
T: "oh-ee!" ("hold") [insert impish gleam here]
Me: No, Thatcher, you can't hold the knife.

Matt is teaching biochemistry, writing grants, supervising his lab, and lots of other things that more than fill his time at work. We just bought a new/used car (2007 Kia Rondo) and are getting our old one (1992 Volvo 940) ready to sell. I also just painted my kitchen Blackberry Wine (deep eggplant-y purple) and our dining room has been Paradise Valley, a lovely shade of pear/lime/honeydew. I love how it has turned out.

Okay, I'm going to stop for now, but will try to be more faithful, especially with pictures, since I know some of you care about those. Thanks for your patience!