Baby Season...
Is it just me or does it feel like everyone around here is having a baby?

My best friend, Julie, just had baby number 2 earlier this week. My cousin, Jennifer, is expecting as well as a few other folks I know.

Must be something in the water.
Or the Halloween candy.

Anyway, I am in need of doing something fun for my BFF's newest edition (photos to come next week!!). To protect their privacy, I won't give away all the details, but his given name is Ezekiel, but is going by Zeke.

I want to do something a little fun for the baby. It isn't like baby #1 where you need everything. So, there is no need to stock up on passies, socks, burp cloths and the like.

For Julie's baby #1, I made a very cute counted cross stitch growth chart.
Needless to say, I'm a slacker and did not do this for the little man.
Besides, baby #1 was a girl and that's more fun. Baby #2 will look at that and say, "really?"

I want to do something special (more than my standard gifts of onesies & books).

Give me some ideas people....

Meet My Friend, Pave...
This is a story about a cute blue box OK. It looks grey, but it's not.



With a cute white ribbon with the store name printed on it.



That cute box is wrapped up with a pretty, little bow

Inside of that cute box sits my new wedding band.

A band that has to sit in this little box for the next 7 months until I say "Yes, I'll spend my life with you even though your dirty clothes don't make it to the laundry basket, you don't rinse your dishes, and who knows what else I'll be surprised with after I change my name."

*sigh*

Getting in Touch With His Girlie Side....
When the Big Guy says, "You can't blog about this", I listen.


Sometimes.


In this case....ha! NO WAY! This is too good to pass up. Besides, that's what you get when you go to California for a vacation and don't take me with you.


OK. I confess. I'm happy to have him out of the house so I can have the place to myself.


We're watching TV last weekend and the conversation goes like this (as he's flipping through the guide feature to find something to watch).


BG: Any ideas?
Me: No. I don't care. Just nothing with guns, cars or Mythbusters
BG: You know. I hate you for this.
Me: What?
BG: I really like this show....


I look up and see the TV on this:


Oh. REALLY!?!


I like this show. It's fun. I love the sassy side of the sales people at Kleinfelds. But never in my life would I have guessed that my Big Guy would like this show.


If he starts dipping into my moisturizer or mineral makeup to cover up a blemish, we're going to have to have a chat.

Life in a Small Town....
I was out taking some pictures of the fall colors recently (they are almost at peak here in MN). Here is a picture or two....






Anyway, on the way back into town, I noticed a sign: Pumpkins & Squash ahead.


I saw the two hay racks on the side of the road and decided to stop. The racks were filled with acorn squash ($1 each! A DOLLAR!), gourds and mini pumpkins. The big pumpkins were gone.



The best part about a small town?

The honor system.


A small box to drop your coins.


No cashier.
No farmer watching the stand.

Just a hay rack and a yellow box with a hole drilled in it for your coins.

I walked away with 3 mini pumpkins and 3 gourds all for $1.

Yes. I paid. though it is tempting to just help yourself, isn't it?

Isn't it Still Fall?
Yep. We've got snow.



Granted, it will melt, but it means that winter is just around the corner.



I'm still not breaking out the winter coat until at least November.

Engagement Photos (the Official ones)....
Because our photographer took over 400 pictures, it's not uncommon for the photographer to weed down the list to a cool 100 and give those to you on a disk. I am not posting all 100 photos here.

But, I did pick out some of our favorites.

Engagement Photo Preview....

Last week, the Big Guy and I went over to a park in downtown Minneapolis and took our engagement photos. While the "official" photos won't be ready until this week, Tracy came along and took a few shots. These are from her camera. When the official photos come in--I'll post some here.

31 Breast Cancer Survivor Stories....
Whoooo!

Remember this post...when I talked about Amy doing the filming of her breast cancer story? The one where Amy and I decided to color coordinate without actually planning it?

Well...it's October.
It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
And Amy is a big ol' celebrity!

Amy? Can I have your autograph? On a glossy 8x10?

Anyway, it's being run on various news outlets across the US--mostly your local news station's website (some have a header about Breast Cancer). But I've found a few online today and you can check it out here:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/breast-cancer-awareness/index.html

On the 26th, Amy's video will be the featured video. But you can view it now!

From the news page above, find the group of standing people.
Amy is in the 2nd row, 4th from the left.
Click on her face and you can read and hear her story.

I love you, Amy.
You are my hero.

Even if I won't eat chicken that was defrosted on the counter.
Or spinach from a bag.
Or tootsie rolls.