The Next Best Thing to a Dog

Oay, no photo to go along with this post yet, but until this family gets a puppy, we are enjoying the company of our resident groundhog, Digger (so named because 1. Patrick can say it and 2. It has dug some pretty good holes by my deck). He is too cute for me to evict before winter, so I am letting him squat, at this year. I can't seem to catch him out when my camera is handy, but one of the days you'll see his fat little face on here as an honorary Pohl.

Stay tuned for the three-month belly picture...

Patrick's New Shirt

A note from Patrick:

My mom got me this new shirt, I guess because she has been feeling bad about being so tired everyday and eating all my Sponge Bob cookies. Clothes? Seriously? How about she just needs to stay out of my cookies...She also keeps telling me that I am going to be a big brother. Umm, hello-have you seen me? I make jockeys look like Andre the Giant. Big I am anything but. Anyways, I guess I am getting a baby brother or sister in mid-April and a lot of people are excited about that. You know what else is exciting? A swing set (hint hint mom and dad).

Four Weddings and a Funeral

That about sums up our summer: four weddings and a funeral. We finished up our fourth wedding two weekends ago as we celebrated the marriage of my best friend Sarah's little sister (now I feel really old). Both Sarah and her sister looked beautiful and we had the best time hanging out with old friends I don't get to see enough.

Baby with Grandma = date night!

Sarah and Eric (get a room already)

The Mississippi Boys' Club

The first annual meeting of the Mississippi Boys' Club commenced this past weekend with the arrival of Patrick's birth buddy, Hudson, and his parents. Besides being neighbors while we lived in the South, Patrick and Hudson were born at the same hospital in Mississippi and we actually overlapped with their hospital stay since Hudson is only a few days older. Our dear neighbors moved to Virginia shortly after we departed for Pittsburgh, and this was the first time the boys were able to see each other since they were just a few months old.

Patrick showed Hudson around the Pittsburgh Zoo and the guys even managed to play some golf. It was a perfect weekend (minus the slightly cold-ridden moms and tots), and we hope they come back soon!

One Way to Look At It

Another first-he must of stayed on his head like this for a full minute (at least long enough to get the camera).

Thank Goodness for Guests

Besides documenting what will likely be the last time in the pool for the season, these photos capture what I hope will be the beginning of a lifetime friendship-our new neighbors have a little boy, Ben, who is only one month older than Patrick. That means they will in all likelihood share the same school, the same bus stop, and a lot of the same activities.

Also, if we weren't having out-of-towners later this week, I can't say for sure whether I would have just scrubbed my kitchen floor, or finally stripped the sheets off the guest room bed from our last visitors, or decided to finally hang my second set of curtain panels (word to the wise: when ordering curtain panels, measure them BEFORE ironing-two of my four 84" panels were nowhere close to being 84" and had to be exchanged, so I have to iron AGAIN).

Memory Lane

Nearly every year growing up as a child, my family went to Idlewild Park (voted the 2nd best kid's park in the world!) and I have great memories of Story Book Forest and picnicking in the park. With our lunch packed and perfect weather in tow, we took P for his first Idlewild adventure. Even though the park is geared towards kids and there are no "big rides", P was still too small to ride most. We did get him on the carousel (cried most of the time), the cars, the teacups, Mister Rodgers Trolley Ride, and his favorite-a real pony ride! After lunch we explored the part of the park known as Storybook Forest that contains all of those well known rhymes-more than you can possibly photograph. This will definitely be an annual tradition!

The Little Engine That Could

Patrick giving his best attempt to free Excalibur

Patrick and the cutest pony ever. He smiled the whole way...

Patrick was not impressed with his fake horse.

Mr. Rodger's Trolley Ride was slightly disappoining, but at least there was no line.

Patrick loved the little car ride-until it started to move. Then he froze (but at least no tears).

Let me tell you-not a lot of room in the tea cups.

We had just walked through the book marking the entry to Storybook Forest when Patrick tripped and cut his lip on a rock. Thank goodness for lifesize distractions.

The Little Old Lady who Lived in a Shoe

Peter Pumpkin Eater's House

The Good Ship Lollipop

Running Out of Steam

While I will miss scenes like these as summer starts turning to fall, this mom is ready for a change of scenery. I have lost that momentum I had when we first began tackling our to-do-list that comes with buying a new house. I lack the will power to unpack another box. I am tired of the ritual of picking up a roomful of toys every night like Ground Hog Day. I am exhausted with trying to feed the world's pickiest eater, who has only gained slightly less than one pound in three months.

But I am thankful for our beautiful house, all of our belongings (even the annoying toys), and the abundance of food so many families don't have. And just in time, God has sent me this fall-like weekend to revive my soul! I can't help but think of pumpkins, and Halloween, and warm sweaters. And just when I think I don't deserve more than what we already have, the most likeable neighbors keep popping into our lives. The first neighborhood playgroup has been loosely organized and with two morning playdates under our belts, I already feel like it will be a lifesaver once we are driven inside for the winter.

Happy Labor day Weekend!
Carol