Sibling Love

So far Bria's favorite thing about having a baby brother is "helping him." She adores little Wally so much, and sometimes cries when she has to go to bed because it means she can't be with him anymore. Seriously, this girl is the best. 

Introducing...

Wallace Boston Mangum

Born 20 November 2013

7:34 am

9 lb 15 oz 

21 inches

Fall in Fairfax

Until moving to Virginia, spring was always my favorite season, but it only took one year and now I love fall more than anything. The weather is mild and cozy. And I never get over the trees blazing like fire. (Ask Sam-- every walk, every drive I am constantly interrupting conversations to say "look at that tree! Look at those leaves!") We've loved living in a new neighborhood this year to see some new trees and enjoy new paths on many long, long walks. And we have loved our first year of raking! It will probably lose its luster in coming years, but this year we have loved every moment.  

All Hallows Eve

Bria decides months in advance what she wants to be for Halloween each year, and this was no exception: Catwoman. Even after some conversations where Bria learned that Catwoman is not exactly a hero, she was totally set. Sam and Bria watched the '60s era, Adam West Batman movie together and we took costume inspiration from there. 

Considering Sam and I dressed up as batman and robin when I was pregnant with B, we decided it was fitting for Sam to dress as batman this year. 

We trick-or-treated at the mall near our house for a warm up and I dressed as a ticking time bomb. Because that's what I am. After Sam and B left for actual trick-or-treating, I stayed home and eagerly anticipated all the trick-or-treaters we would get-- we had heard our neighborhood gets tons of traffic. Alas, we only got one!! Our house is the last on the street and kind of tucked back, so I suppose it didn't seem an obvious stop. I was so sad! (Especially because I bought pounds and pounds of candy.) 

Soccer Clinic with DC United

A couple weeks ago my friend Abbie texted and asked if Bria wanted to join her daughter, Ella, to go to a free soccer clinic sponsored by DC United. Umm, yes! So the four of us headed in to RFK stadium on an unseasonably warm Saturday. The girls ran around with 150 kids practicing drills with everyone on the United roster while I sat in the shade of the stands. (Luckily Abbie was willing to run the girls' water bottles out to them every 15 minutes or so.) After playing hard for about an hour, completely drenched in sweat, they got to go through a line and get autographed cards from each player.

 

Epic Final Weekend

Labor day weekend marked the end of our freedom. Bria started school the day after, and Sam jumped back into what will be a loooong stretch of working every weekend (often both days) until the baby is born. I started school the week before. We toyed with the idea of heading to the beach for the weekend, but then remembered all the baby stuff we have to buy and decided to stay local :)
We did have tickets for the BYU v. UVA game in Charlottesville, so we spent the day down there on Saturday. It was wildly hot before the game, but we chilled in the shaded areas outside the official BYU tailgate with our friends the Fewkeses before the game started. Once it did start, we were not deterred by the insane thunder storms and lightning delays! Bria was such a champ sitting around for so long, hunched in a corner. I'll admit to being pretty miserable by the end of the second rain burst, and had to find a ladder in a utility closet so I could sit down. Luckily people are pretty accommodating when it comes to hugely pregnant women. And I was really impressed by the camaraderie that emerged when both UVA and BYU fans were forced into such tight quarters together for so long. It was a bummer to lose, but still an awesome day.

This picture was taken when it seemed like we were going to win, so uh. yeah. bummer.

Sam had dreams of camping outside, but when he considered the logistics of having to be stuck in the tent from Bria's bedtime (7:30) until his bedtime (3:00am), this became less appealing. Thus we devised a plan to "camp" at home. This included s'mores, a bear hunt, and Sam and Bria sleeping on B's bedroom floor. (Then he was easily able to sneak out once she fell asleep and watch a movie with me.) And I got to experience camping just the way I like it: not at all.

 

 

Last fall Sam and I went paddle boating on Lake Accotink and had so much fun we've been looking for a time to take Bria back with us. Bria was rather disappointed she was too short to pedal, but we still had an awesome time.

And of course Bria got to ride the carousel by the lake, which she may have enjoyed more than the boating.

First Days of School

My first day of school in six years! I started my M.Ed. at George Mason University. So far I absolutely love it, and I am completely exhausted.

And one week later it was Bria's turn! She had been 98% excited, 2% nervous for this day, and it was finally here. After some confusion, we found out just a few days before that she is zoned for the bus. So I had to overcome all my fears before walking her to the stop that first morning. I worried she wouldn't want to get on without me, but she gave me a quick hug and kiss, a "bye, Mom. Love you." and walked right on without looking back. Riding the bus has been the highlight of school so far, which says a lot, because we absolutely love her teacher as well.