John Patrick, this afternoon, as we walked across Belmont University's campus on our way home.

J.P.!

I took this photo a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday morning, when Jude, John Patrick and I walked down to Bongo Java for breakfast. Afterwards, we played at the soccer field on Belmont University's campus.

John Patrick and me.

A Boy and a Bike

John Patrick is fascinated by bicycles. Here, outside Bongo Java on Belmont Boulevard, he's playing with a bicycle.

A Time to Give Thanks

It's late on Thanksgiving. Jude and John Patrick are upstairs, fast asleep.

We had a nice, albeit rushed, meal at my mother's house this afternoon, before driving over to the Walkers' condominium in Franklin to have dinner with Jude's family. Although he missed his afternoon nap, John Patrick was in high spirits all day. He was a bundle of energy. At my mother's house, he was particularly interested in a miniature vacuum cleaner she has, spending the better part of an hour pushing it on the carpet and making what passed for a vacuum cleaner noise. At the Walkers' condominium, he walked up and down the stairs, repeatedly.

On a night like tonight, after such a full day spent with family, I can't help but think how lucky I am and how God has blessed me.

I have a wonderful wife, who has dedicated her professional life to serving others. She walks the walk, every day. As accomplished as Jude is professionally, she's an even better mother. She's given me the gift of learning to be open minded and to do and experience things that take me out of my comfort zone.

I have a healthy, beautiful, loving son, around whom my world revolves. I can't remember life without him. I learn more about life from him every day than he possibly learns from me.

I have a mother whom I talk to daily, or nearly so. Her zest for life is unmatched and rarely a day goes by that she doesn't make me laugh or I don't make her laugh. My sister, Tracy, and my cousin, Alice, are married to good, decent family men who treat them with respect and love. Tracy's children, Kaitlyn and Matthew, are bright, happy, well adjusted kids.

I have been accepted into and become a part Jude's family, which means the world to me. I couldn't have selected better in-laws or a better brother-in-law. Jude's extended family has become my extended family. It's been such a blessing to watch Jude's younger cousins grow into adults and begin to make their way in the world.

I have a thriving law practice, started from scratch more than 12 years ago. My law partners, Mark and Chas, are accomplished, well respected lawyers with whom I am privileged to go to work every day. More importantly, they're my friends and there's nothing I wouldn't do for them and them for me.

I have a house in a neighborhood I love. I have books to read and music to listen to. I run. I am healthy, happy and I laugh every day. Even better, I make other people laugh every day, too.

I am thankful for all these things. God is good.

Peek-a-boo!

John Patrick, playing peek-a-boo with Jude and me after dinner Friday night.

Ghost Story

Earlier this week, before I got him ready for bed, John Patrick and I were playing upstairs. When I put one of my t-shirts on him, I couldn't decide if he looked more like a ghost or a priest or friar of some sort.

Yard Man

Okay, this is the last photo from Leaf Party VII. John Patrick, as you can see, is raking leaves Sunday afternoon, after the Baines family departed for their drive back to Florida.

Dirt Dog

John Patrick, playing in the dirt in the garden.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

A week or so ago, John Patrick noticed the black, ornate wolf heads on each end of the mantle, above our fireplace. At first, we weren't sure what he was doing, as he walked from one end of the mantle to the other, looking up, waving and making his sound for a dog barking. Then, laughing, we realized he was waving at the wolves. Funny kid.

Kiwi Fruit

It's breakfast time and John Patrick and I are in the kitchen, shortly before I head to work. We're listening to his favorite cd, the Barenaked Ladies children's album, "Snacktime." He's moving his head from side to side, in time with the music. It's a good morning.

There's something amazing about watching him hold the plastic fork in one hand and, concentrating, carefully spear a piece of kiwi fruit, then place it in his mouth. It's a new trick. Every time he does, I clap and laugh, then he looks at me like, "hey, Dad, what's the big deal." Pretty cool.

Today, the menu was a slice of toast, bacon (he loves bacon), cheerios (which he insisted on fishing out of his bowl of milk) and kiwi fruit. Now, he's leaning back in his high chair, contentedly drinking a bottle of milk. One of our cats, N.C., is scavenging around the floor underneath his high chair, looking for scraps of food.

That's it, that's our morning. Now, I'm off to work.

Teamwork

John Patrick and Finn, playing together (sort of), on Sunday after breakfast.

Twins Chase and Lily, my law partner Chas' children, riding in the John Deere wagon after the Leaf Party.

I'm not sure why I like this photo so much, but I do.

John Patrick, sitting in a chair full of leaves. And liking it.

Jude and John Patrick, playing in a pile of leaves at the Leaf Party.

Nannies

John Patrick's original nannnies, Carley and Denise. We were especially glad Denise was able to come to the Leaf Party, as she's due to give birth to a son in two weeks.

Wolf

Wolf Baines, playing in the leaves at the Leaf Party.

Wide Awake

After waking from his nap, John Patrick was ready in a great mood and ready for the Leaf Party.

The Golden Girls

John Patrick, visiting with Margaret, Grandma and Great-Grandma.

Elena Rollins and our nanny, Carley Meade, at the Leaf Party.

Jude's aunt, Margaret McCutcheon, and her grandmother, Rita White, arriving at the Leaf Party.

My niece, Kaitlyn, and Scout Baines on our back deck at the Leaf Party on Saturday.

J.P. Loves his Mommy

This is a photo I've been meaning to post, of Jude and J.P., after she returned home last weekend from "A Women's Thanksgiving," Renewal House's annual fundraising event.

Vandy Fan

My nephew, Matthew, after I told him that Vanderbilt has to play Tennessee in football EVERY year.

Leaf Party 2009

Keeping me company as I post, just before midnight, are the last three remaining guests at the Leaf Party 2009. They rode home with Jude, John Patrick and me from the Farmer's Market a couple of weeks ago. They went to work with me and greeted clients as they came in the front door of our office until yesterday, when they returned to our house for the Leaf Party. I'm pretty sure they're set to leave tomorrow.

I'm sitting on our front porch, enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures for early November in Nashville (72 degrees today!). It's quiet - Jude, John Patrick, Troy, Cyndi and Finn having gone to bed earlier tonight. Wolf and Scout are staying with friends, before the Baines clan heads home to Florida tomorrow morning. I've got Paul Burch playing on my laptop, setting the tone for my mood, which is a little melancholy.

As I look up at the majestic maple tree looming protectively over our front yard, I realize that Halloween is officially over, fall is nearing its end and winter is just around the corner. Only a few gold leaves remain in the lower branches of our tree. Most of its branches are bare, a sure sign that colder weather is coming soon. It's a little sad, really.

Another Leaf Party, our 7th, is in the books. As always, the kids had a great time playing in the leaves our tree blessed us with this year. I'm smiling as I look out into the front yard and remember that just a few hours ago, it was full of kids of all ages, yelling and laughing, jumping into piles of leaves and, then, throwing them into the air. They took turns pulling each other in our green John Deere wagon through the front yard, into the back yard, then back to the front yard as their parents -our good friends - talked contentedly with each other.

As always, it was great to visit with the Baines family, although the weekend went by too quickly. After the Leaf Party, Wolf, Scout and I reenacted our walk together from last year. This time, we walked through Belmont University's campus to Bongo Java for coffee and popsicles. On the way home, as darkness fell, we threw a frisbee together on the soccer field on campus. They're getting so big - Wolf is 9 and Scout is 7. It's hard to believe I once pushed Wolf in his stroller around the block in his old neighborhood, while Cyndi lay inside their house, sick during her pregnancy with Scout. Wolf was probably 18 months old then, about a month younger than John Patrick is now. Boy, time sure does get by you, doesn't it?

Jude and J.P., with the pumpkin he "helped" her carve for Halloween.

"Trick-or-treat!"

Jude, J.P. and Grandpa, as we prepared to go trick-or-treating.

Trick or Treat!

Last night, Jude and I celebrated our second Halloween with John Patrick. Jude's folks were in town and kind enough to stay at our house to hand out candy, while we trick-or-treated with our neighborhood friends, the Elliotts. The trick-or-treating was hit or miss, really, as we went early and not a lot of houses in our neighborhood were participating. Also, John Patrick was a little on the shy side and since he doesn't eat candy yet, it wasn't a huge deal for him. Next year, I think, he'll really start to get into the Halloween spirit.

John Patrick was dressed as a dog (very cute) in a costume Jude made for him. He was wearing brown overalls with white spots and a tail sewn on. He wore a collar, as well, although Jude refused to let me attach a leash to it.

The temperature dropped pretty quickly after it got dark, so we returned home about an hour after we left. I had made a pot of white chili and a pot of red chili earlier in the afternoon, so we ate dinner with Jude's folks and watched the Vols spank Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks. After dinner, we all got into Jude's Honda Pilot and drove to Belmont Boulevard. There, we trick-or-treated at a house or two, then finished up with coffee at Bongo Java. A nice end to a nice Halloween.