I realize that on the internet it is already Christmas, because nowadays the world just flips the calendar straight to candy canes and christmas trees the day after October 31. But it is just now starting to even remotely feel like fall here in the south.
Last weekend we took the kids to a pumpkin patch. Ridley was not impressed.
We started the morning all bundled up and less than two hours later I had stripped the baby down to nothing but a diaper because it was literally eighty-five degrees.
I got robbed on the rubber duck race. I mean, look at that nonsense. If you recognize Scarlette’s dress, it’s because my friend Tracie made it for her two years ago and it still fits. This is why I am continuously surprised that Ridley keeps growing out of his clothes. Sometimes he wakes up and nothing fits over all his rolls and I am all, “What, I have to shop for clothes AGAIN?!” Because my preemie wears her clothes for years.
Also, I got new eyeglasses a few weeks ago and ever since Scarlette has wanted to wear these fake frames.
We went with my family because J was working and I still can’t manage two children on my own in corn mazes. If I have learned anything this fall it is that Scarlette is hard to contain in a corn maze. You’d think that it would be the opposite, being that corn mazes are literally meant to contain people and what not but no. Scarlette just darts off into the stalks of corn. We’ve been to three corn mazes this year (I might be a little overly enthusiastic about my love of fall festivals) and at one point I resorted to playing Marco Polo to find her.
(I am being facetious. I mean, I did have to play Marco Polo to find her but my stepbrother was with her so no worries, I’m not letting her just wander unaccompanied through fields of corn. I have to put disclaimers like this so that I don’t get a barrage of emails about my parenting.)
I was not, however, exaggerating about my love of fall festivals:
Every time I take Ridley out in that little hat people stop to ask me about it – it is from JJ Cole. It has matching little shearling booties that are the only things I can get this boy to keep on his feet. He consistently kicks off all socks and shoes, much to Mommy’s chagrin as I have amassed a very cute collection of tiny boots for him.
JJ Cole sent the set as a gift along with their new BundleMe that they wanted us to try out. I am obsessed with the BundleMe. It’s been five years since I last had a baby in the house and there are so many innovative new baby products. I ended up getting the Joovy Ultralight Caboose stroller* because I needed something with a jump seat on the back for Scarlette. The Joovy was the most compact sit & stand that I could find and I really love it.
(Unrelated: I think my baby’s eyes are going to stay the same color blue as my stroller. J’s eyes are a deep brown so I’m surprised I ended up with two blue eyed babies.)
The BundleMe is sort of like a sleeping bag for your stroller. It has spaces for the straps to buckle and then you can tuck your baby inside. It zips off and on for easy access and it’s water and wind resistant. I’ve found it so much easier to use than blankets mostly because Ridley kicks them off. And since he won’t keep socks and shoes on either, I know he’s feet aren’t going to be freezing on our morning walks.
I chose the Urban BundleMe in Graphite because it is easy to wipe clean but aesthetically I am also in love with the Knit BundleMe. The Urban was a good fit for our climate – it doesn’t get cold enough here to need the Polar but I wanted something warmer than the Muslin. Although here in the south we start most mornings all #BundleMeUp and then end up in shorts by the afternoon. The amount of layers I take off my children in one day is astonishing.
Now that the weather is turning colder I’m looking forward to a calendar filled with winter activities and morning walks with my bundled up baby and a steaming mug of hot chocolate. What are you looking forward to this winter?
Disclosure: BundleMe c/o JJ Cole Collections. Links marked with a * are affiliates.
