September was a big month for our family! We moved into our new house, got settled, and about a week later welcomed my parents for their extended stay. It's been wonderfully helpful to have "Mirma & Poppa" here to care for NLW, run errands, and hold the fort down during my doctor appointments. I love that they are getting all this special time with NLW - playing trains, reading books, learning his routine and demeanor, deciphering his phrases, teaching new words, and going on daily walks. It makes me really happy :)
WATCHING | The new Netflix film Enola Holmes introduces you to Sherlock Holmes' clever younger sister and her adventurous journey to locate their mother. It's got that great combination of playful writing, solving mysterious clues, and a well-paced (clean!) story. Not only does 16-year-old Millie Bobby Brown star as the protagonist - she's also the producer! Overall, this one's a winner in my book. EATING | A highlight of the month was a joint baby shower friends threw for me and my former coworker, JS. It was SUCH a treat to be with friends in an actual party setting again, complete with stylish decor, Baby Jeopardy!, and delicious bites! There were homemade enchiladas, a nectarine + tomato + mozzarella + basil salad, and honeycomb rice krispies to correlate with the "Sweet Ba-bees" theme :) It doesn't get much better than that!
READING | As part of book club, I recently finished Why We Can't Wait by Martin Luther King Jr. MLK goes into great detail about the historical backdrop and setting for the 1963 Birmingham campaign as well as the rationale and components behind their non-violence approach. He highlights the organization, strategy, and leadership involved in coordinating the lunch counter sit-ins and retail boycotts as well as the vetting process and signed agreement required by participants to ensure and uphold the commitment to peaceful protests. It was a timely read and a provided a great reference point to compare and contrast the 1960's movement to what's happening across the country today. Other topics we discussed in our group included the role of the church, social media, scope and impact, and a desire for greater clarity amidst all the muddied noise in today's landscape. 
LISTENING | Unexpectedly, I spent a couple nights in the hospital this week, being sent there directly for monitoring and blood tests following a regular doctor's visit. It shook me up a bit and was a very real reminder that twin pregnancies are automatically higher risk and require greater precautions. While there, I spent a good amount of time listening to both heartbeats(!) of our children - such a reassuring and happy sound! I also listened closely to all the explanations and instructions the doctors and nurses provided, a good practice round for whenever I'm back for labor & delivery. So while getting poked and prodded for shots, blood draws, and IV hook-ups is not my cup of tea, it made me incredibly thankful for the care and expertise all these essential workers provide!
More changes, celebrations, and children around the corner,
- SJW
