November Rain?

Hi, howdy do, and how in the world are you? I must apologize once again for my neglect to you, my faithful reader...I squeezed an extra post in for October and I have almost missed the proverbial boat to wish you a Happy November!! I hope you are doing well, staying warm, and bedding down for the upcoming winter months. Let's hope the weather stays as temperate as it has been thus far. If it gets any colder I can personally assure you both Dad and I will freeze to death. In case you didn't know, the two of us are living with a walking, talking, hot flash. If you have these similar symptoms, we will gladly send her your way. While the two of you hang out in your t-shirts and flip flops, Dad and I will work on rewarming our extremities! Bless mom's heart, all she keeps saying is what a great time of year it is to be really pregnant (for some of us anyway)! I have posted some pics from the wild Halloween party we attended at the UB fire hall. There are also a few extras from my trip to the pumpkin patch with my daycare friends. We are still visiting them once or twice a week, and both mom and I look forward to our playtime at Ms. Michele's. She drinks coffee and chitchats while I play to my heart's content, definitely a win win situation. We are both so thankful for Ms. Michele and her family; we honestly do not know what we would do without them! By the way, have you been raking leaves? Well, I certainly have and I hope you are not forgetting the best part of the job is jumping in the pile. I had poor mom out there raking last week and I wasn't sure she was going to make it. She's quite a trooper, but I honestly thought she would cry when she looked out the window later that day and they were all over the back lawn once again! Pesky hormones! Good news...mom finally got a few Christmas presents ordered. I think she is really starting to feel the pressure (both figuratively and literally) of our upcoming arrival. There's been quite a bit of hustle bustle here in the Bryant household and you should see how my new room is coming along. Dad has been working his fingers to the bone painting, hanging, putting together, you name it, and I will have to say it is definitely paying off. My only concern is that the two of them will be moving into my room when it is finished. They are both obviously jealous of how utterly cool it is and I am not ashamed to say, I'm not quite sure I trust those two. Furthermore, I can't say what's worse, mom eyeballing my storage bins, or dad's outright lust for my new alligator mirror. For my next post, I will take some pics of the finished product so you can see what they are up to and what all the fuss is about. Mom said today my room is the only one in the whole house with matching curtains (read curtains period). All I can say is that I guess they really do love me. Dad has to paint the crib and dresser Ms. Michele so kindly gave to us for Baby B., and then they are almost all done. Poor mom is worried sick she'll wait too long for all the tasks she has in store; don't tell her I told you, but she is waddling already and can barely get herself out of our chair, forget the floor! Yet she drives on...you know we only have one more swimming class left! Can you believe it has been four weeks already?! I LOVE IT!! I talk about it non-stop to dad at dinner every Tuesday and Thursday evening. Heck, mom has even heard me talking about it in my sleep. Friday she asked me, "how about we go see Ms. Michele?" I answered right back, "how about we go swimming?" She doesn't know what she'll do next as she isn't quite sure she will be swim-ready for the next four weeks but she hates to see yours truly landlocked. She is trying to recruit Dad for Saturday mornings, but we can't sign up for this class for another four weeks. I know we will figure something out...meanwhile, great news, I got to go swimming with dad on Tuesday and we had a blast. He was a trooper, singing songs, chasing moo cow (I throw my toy moo cow and then 'swim' to get it), don't you know he got an "A" in class participation from Ms. Susan. Don't tell Mom, but I personally think Ms. Susan likes dad best, something about him being less confrontational... Other good news, Uncle Bart is home for the holidays, and we are thankful to have him back safe and sound. Both he and cousin Robbie are heading out after Christmas, so please remember to keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers. While you are at it, please also add Mr. James' dad and Ms. Michele's dad to the list; we sincerely appreciate it. In fact, we appreciate all you do for us, especially checking in on me, Cooper B., when you have a spare moment. Oh...more wonderful news, Dad got his first paycheck for Crossfit Retribution, and you know if he wasn't watching so closely, mom would already have that baby spent! Lucky for him that he's already a shrewd businessman, and he'll get plenty more practice prying the plastic from mom's clenched fists! Between you and me, I think she is starting to go into shopping withdrawal. Her self-discipline has been commendable in that realm; I only wish I could say the same on the chocolate chip cookie front! Oh well, soon enough and she will be back to leaves (this is what I call lettuce) and nuts. I know I have told you how much I am talking, but I want you to know we have been having some serious conversations here in the Bryant household. You will simply have to come see for yourself to get the full effect. Please do so any time you have the opportunity. Before I forget, we spoke to cousin Stephanie and she is doing well; it's always nice when mom gets an opportunity to commiserate with a fellow mom-to-be. Oh, two more items that deserve attention...first of all, HAPPY BELATED 2ND BIRTHDAY to the Smell triplets and a big thank you to aunt Helen for mom's birthday package and for not forgetting I like presents for mom's birthday too! Also, don't worry too much about the swimming situation; I always have my fallback in nerdville at the local library. And hey, I don't mind mom using me for an excuse to fulfill her need to read. Let's face it, she could have worse addictions although I will say probably none quite as geeky! She dreams of me growing up to be a voracious reader and lover of board games. There are worse hobbies you know. Anywho, now that you know mom's deep dark (dork) secret : ), I guess I should be running along. Please take care and let me know how you are doing by posting a comment or two. Better yet, give us a ring or come by and we will put you to work on one baby's room or another; there's more than enough work to go around! We'll be thinking of you, please think of us too. Much love to you from me, Cooper B.