Changes in Weather?

I wonder if weather and seasons affect everyone's outlook and mood like they do mine. After surviving the very hot and humid summer in the South, I've very much welcomed the fall's recent below 70 highs (except for not today---80) and the evenings' 60s temps. Our first few months of North Carolina-living pretty much suffocated me every time I stepped out the door or just looked outside and thought of the beautiful, dry Colorado summer I was missing. The thousands of fire ants and other lawn creatures prevented me from letting Caleb crawl around the yard, a seemingly assured summer activity, and this trapped me even more. Did the 10, 11, 12 month-year-old feel as home-attached as I did? Probably didn't even know what he was missing.

Autumn is my favorite season. I was probably born to love it--my hair even resembles a deciduous leaf in the middle of losing its chlorophyll. Besides the colors (which I've been told explode here in North Carolina--I'm still waiting for this amazing show--this leaf picture was captured in our beloved Summit County, CO), the cooling air with that crisp-to-the-nose-and-skin feel, the promise of coziness brought by fleece jackets, and all the traditional smells and tastes fill my being during this time of year.

I think I posted earlier this year during spring's beginning...sharing how much I love that season's promise of growth. The promise of fall lies in change--(and NO, I am not responding to the current political slogans and all!)--that life and such will continue to cycle in the rhythm of centuries past and to come.

This summer, I felt like one of those huge green leaves stuck on a tall backyard tree--now, I want to be freed to actually enjoy something or someone (or maybe find some beauty) in this ugg place that I cannot yet call home. If Caleb could talk (and think in similes and metaphors), he probably would say he's felt like a freely flowing leaf his whole life (I might have a hippie child after all--then add the tie-dye, Smartwools, and eating mulch...)

New "colors" have already appeared inside the Hobart household. So far, Fall, 2009, has changed our crawler into an almost 14-month-old walker. It has changed a two-toothed mouth into a 7-almost-8 pearly cutter mouth. It has changed the whiny table communicator into a sometimes "more" and "all done" signer. It has begun to change (slowly, but surely!) the non cow milk drinker into an at-least-10-ounces-a-day sipper (hopefully to turn into a gulper soon). It has also brought the first toddler thrown-up meal (at least oatmeal looks like throw-up to begin with...), the first major toddler diaper rash, and the first bit finger (the mom's finger---bit intentionally by the teether who didn't want his nails cut). Summit the Cat would also like to add that fall has changed a hitting infant into a somewhat aware toddler who's trying to learn "gentle" (often petting his own head instead, after hearing the verbal reminder).

I have big expectations for the next few months...beyond the weather.