Fall favorites as a fam of THREE

Hello. Here I am.
Yes. I'm surprised too.
Not necessarily bad surprised, just surprised.

We are still a family of three.
Just waiting on our sweet little nugget to arrive.

Oh the waiting.

Good thing I have a cute toddler to keep me entertained.

The most frustrating part is that I still have 5 days until my due date. So I really have no right to have ants in my pants just yet. And I *annoyingly* feel better than I have my entire pregnancy - like I could carry this baby for 3 more months. {Heavens mercy me, let's hope not}.

It's just that I (and many others) truly thought I'd be snuggling my newbie by now. I had Lyla at 38 weeks, my doctor has told me over and over that it's historically common for mamas who have their first early will have subsequent babies early, I've been measuring ahead, and I've had signs of imminent labor for a couple of weeks now.

Not to mention all the lovely texts and messages that are messing with my head asking if I'm still pregnant. Or if there's a baby yet. It really means so much having friends and family check on us. But, I promise we are not keeping our baby a secret, and I promise you will know once he or she has arrived. :)

It is just a bit surreal because this past weekend was a milestone in my mind. Way back in the summer when I was planning out my calendar, and when I finally decided on a last day date for my job, I specifically remember penciling in events on my calendar for this past weekend. I did so with a smirk on my face because I knew Gabe and I probably would not be participating in any festivities this weekend because we'd have a newborn.

I was just sure of it.

Well. Here we are. The weekend has come and gone. And I'm still pregnant.

Very pregnant.

But quite honestly, I really am okay with that. We've had amazing family time, I've had so much fun with Lyla, and this baby is doing his/her job by staying put and growing. Plus, baby is quite cozy in there, and we are all cozy getting our sleep on. Who am I to wish that would end?

But let's be honest. All of those things still don't take the ants out of my pants...

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We really have had the most delightful fall-filled weekends as a family of three. And I am so thankful we've had the time together.

Two weekends ago, we spent our Saturday morning at Entz Apple Orchard. This is absolutely one of my most favorite fall traditions. I love supporting this family-run orchard, and Lyla has the best time picking and snacking along the way. She thinks she's the biggest of kiddos.

This year, I made the mistake of dressing like my toddler. So awkward. I swear it wasn't planned...it's just that Ly looked so darn cute, and I was 37 weeks pregnant and had really run out of options. {I've pretty much been on a 3 outfit rotation for the last 3 weeks.}

The tacky matching cheese-factor is almost painful. But we still managed to get some cute pics regardless.

Our last picture as a family of three? 

Nope. 

And then this past weekend, while I anxiously anticipated labor, we hung with friends for the K-State game, celebrated a good friend's 30th birthday (and even stayed out past 9:30...whaaattt???), and went to the pumpkin patch.

For the past 2 years, we've always gone to Walter's Pumpkin Patch with our "crew" - a near and dear group of friends who have kiddos the same age and who share the same love for fall traditions. We had it on the calendar for months {even though I was sure we wouldn't be joining}, but it was our plan to go with them IF I wasn't in labor or IF I didn't have a newborn.

Well, I had neither and we still didn't go with our crew. Thanks to my Mother-in-Law who scared the bejoobies out of me by reminding me that I'm 39 weeks pregnant, and that driving over 45 minutes away with our toddler in tow may not be the best idea. I wasn't exactly prepared to deliver a baby on the side of the highway.

So we opted for a more local patch and ended up meeting up with some of our good pals anyway. And Lyla was pretty stoked because she got to hang out with her best bud since birth.

And for the record, Gabe always likes to point out that these two tots are "just friends". But I'm not so sure...

Just a couple of "friends"

Going to the patch almost trumps my weekly pumpkin spice lattes every fall. Ironically, I was begging the baby to stay put through the weekend so we could in fact make our traditional stop at the patch. I didn't think baby would actually listen, but I'm so happy he/she did. Lyla loved chasing Dad through the corn maze, continuously begged for "Cal hold muh hand", fed the animals and then proceeded to suck her thumb before I could sanitize it, and felt like the biggest of kids walking away with her prized pumpkin.

Goodness I love fall. And I love that baby hung on for one more weekend so that we could enjoy fall.

But now, I'm ready for you, Baby. Go ahead and make your debut. 

Who am I kidding? At this rate, I'm sure I'll be blogging about our Halloween...with a babe still in belly.

The Local Challenge: Stearman Field

Oh, the weather outside is frightful.
But this girl is finding it quite delightful.

I can't help but be positively jolly this time of year.
And it's not just the anticipation of our upcoming Christmas movie all-nighters or our annual cookie-decorating marathon.
I actually like winter.
Or at least I don't mind it.
{Until about February 1st, that is. When it's time to bust out the mint skinnies and boat shoes.}

But winter definitely has its place.
I love me some big chunky sweaters, morning coffee in fuzzy jammies and slippers, and hearty "comfort soups" in the crockpot  at least three nights a week.
And I love that winter has a way of nudging me to embrace my inner-homebody and allow me some time to hibernate on the couch with my pups and endless episodes of Revenge on Netflix.

It admittedly helps that my super-hubby put up insulating plastic on our 60 year old kitchen windows. 

It no longer feels like I'm walking into the North Pole every time I load the dishwasher. 

So, I can enjoy the comfort of my warm home while it's chill-to-the-bone arctic temps outside. 

However, winter's harsh winds and dreary mornings do make it a bit more difficult to get out as much. 

Thus presenting a bit of a challenge for Gabe and I to fulfill our Local Challenge, where we committed to getting out and trying new local things at least twice a month. 

We've actually done pretty well so far. 

And we have a few things on our list to really get us in the Christmas spirit in the upcoming weeks. 

But I'd like to highlight a little gem of a place that we visited awhile back. 

A place that is absolutely perfect for a casual lunch after church with the fam or a celebration of sorts on the patio {a patio that has some hefty heaters for winter too}. 

We went with friends to Stearman Field in Benton, KS, where you can fly in or drive in. 

What an absolute treasure of a place!

I have no idea how I grew up only 20 minutes away and never visited Stearman Field.

Seriously, how? 

It's a tiny little airpark lined with beautiful homes, each with an extra garage.

*The extra garage being a place to park personal airplanes, of course.*

And you get to watch the takeoffs and landings of these planes up close and personal while you munch on fried pickles and sip on Boulevard Wheat. 

How cool is that? 

The kiddies absolutely LOVED it.

And there's even a nice little playground if the planes don't strike your fancy {or your super girly toddler's fancy *ahem*}. 

We had such a great time. The service was great, and the food was quite delish as well. 

This would be such a fun casual date or a nice get-together with friends. 

Can't wait to go back in the spring!!

Local Challenge: Entz Orchard

I will never forget my first trip to Austin, Texas.

We had been living in Dallas for nearly a year.

Where I was used to big malls and big-name chains.

Big everything, really.

Then, I made a little road trip to Austin to see a good friend.

Where I no longer felt like I was in Texas.

And I liked it.

Boutiques, markets, and quaint little restaurants.

Local artisan handiwork on every corner. 

People-watching and line-dancing on 6th Street. 

But my interest for this unique city was piqued further as I saw the same slogan everywhere we went.

Keep Austin Weird, it said.

I pried a bit deeper.

Only to discover the brilliance of this slogan.

Austinites are committed to keeping things local.

Or keeping things weird.

It was a completely foreign concept to me.

Growing up in Wichita, Kansas.

Where everyone's favorite restaurant is Olive Garden.

After our quick stint in Dallas, we moved to Rhode Island.

Where hardly anyone goes to a chain anything.

Starbucks is a bad word.

Everyone knows someone who owns a local business.

And some of the most authentic restaurants that you can't find anywhere else in the world.

Because they're all local.

It was a whole new world for Gabe and me.

We made it our personal mission to try as many unique and local festivals, boutiques, restaurants, and events while we lived in New England.

Not to mention the beaches and mountains in close proximity. 

You better believe we spent every weekend for 3 years covering nearly every inch of that area.

Sort of like local tourists.

There is absolutely nothing like the thrill of moving to and exploring a new city. 

These explorations easily provided some of the best memories of my life. 

Then. 

A few years later, we moved back home.

Smack-dab in the middle of the country.

Landlocked.

But Home Sweet Home.

Don't get me wrong. 

We love the comfort of having our families close by.

And of course the friends we've known known since kindergarten.

And sometimes I actually feel like I'm in a new city.

With new friendships.

New interests.

New experiences.

New outlooks.

I guess that's what having kids and turning 30 will do to you.

But I'll be honest.

Every now and then, we get the itch. 

You know, the oh my gosh I might go absolutely crazy if I don't get to a mountain or beach in the next 30 seconds itch.

And don't even get me started on the absence of J.Crew, Crate and Barrel, Nordstrom Rack, and Trader Joes.

{Sigh}

However.

I can't think of a better place I'd rather raise our children.

And in all the places we've lived, I've never met people as down-to-earth as Wichitans.

When we lived in New England, I was desperate for just one friendly for-no-good-reason-except-I'm-just-happy-to-be-alive smile from a stranger.

I often have to remind myself of these things.

And that brings me to a recent Saturday morning coffee talk with Gabe.

We got to talking about how we missed the excitement of being in a new city.

To experience the local flavor. 

To go out searching for our coffee shop, our restaurant, our favorite weekend hangout.

So.

We decided that we can either whine about the fact that we can't just pack up the stroller, hop on a train and hit up Giacomo's in Boston, OR we can take on Wichita and all it has to offer.

And that is where The Local Challenge was created.

We decided that twice a month, we are going to try something new in the Wichita and surrounding areas.

And I, of course, hope to document our little galavants.

Bearing in mind that I'm no photographer nor eloquent writer.

Just a gal wanting to capture some sweet family experiences.

In hopes of rekindling a flame with our beloved hometown.

And we've already hit up a few new spots.

One of which just so happened to be where my surprise 30th birthday party was held.

I even brought my camera to try to get some pics.

But I was a little distracted with, oh-you-know, the whole surprise party thing.

*And with the wine.*

But we plan to go back.

And I hope to do a nice little review then. :)

Anyway.

Last week, we decided to take advantage of Gabe's day off and the perfect fall weather.

So we headed 20 miles northeast of Wichita.

To pick up our *broken* tradition of apple picking every fall.

{Something we did every year in Little Rhody}.

Our perfectly-autumn destination was Entz Orchard.

Where we were "greeted" by a napping orchard dog.

And a welcoming, "Hi, I'm Elaine. Welcome to Entz Orchard. What a cute little girl you have. Oh I love her moccasins! Here. Let me take a picture of your adorable family. Can I get you an apple picker?"

Sold.

A short-lived retreat from the go-go-go of everyday life.

Rows and rows of apple trees.

Homeschooled families learning about the life cycle of a plant.

Sweaty kiddos taking a break in the shade.

Freshly-bitten apples from curious little mouths.

After all. 

You're ordered to Come hungry as we don't weight YOU before and after, just the fruit you picked.

So hungry we came.

We stocked our bag {and our bellies} with Honey-crisps and Pink Ladies.

Ly snacked on a Honey-crisp while Mom and Dad used the nifty apple-picking tool to reach high up in the trees.

$6.00 and a bagful of the tastiest-apples-I've-sunk-my-teeth-into later, and we were on our way.

While Ly sat in the backseat crunching on a perfectly-Lyla-size apple the whole way home.

{I'm not sure I've ever heard a cuter sound Crunch.Crunch.Crunch.}.

I only wish we had discovered Entz Orchard sooner.

Because not only do they have apples, they have peaches in the summer.

And who doesn't love fresh fruit. 

That supports local farmers.

And is delicious to boot. 

Thank you, Doug and Elaine.

We will definitely be back.