Joey is 6 months old!

THIS BOY COULD NOT BE SWEETER!

THIS HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE AGES, AND JOEY IS NOT DISAPPOINTING US. HE CONTINUES TO BE A VERY CALM BABY AND ENJOYS WATCHING THINGS GO ON AROUND HIM. WE CAN TAKE HIM ANYWHERE AS HE IS CONTENT TO SIT IN HIS CAR SEAT OR IN OUR LAPS WHILE TAKING IN THE WORLD AROUND HIM. HE READILY SMILES AND COOS FOR JUST ABOUT ANYONE WHO STOPS BY TO ADMIRE HIM. HE IS A BIG FAN OF HIS VOICE AND USES IT OFTEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN HIS SISTER IS AROUND. THIS PAST WEEK HE STARTED TO PRODUCE HIS FIRST VOWEL SOUNDS - "DA" "BA" "PA". IN ADDITION, HE ENJOYS SITTING UP ON HIS OWN AND PLAYING WITH TOYS. OF COURSE, EVERYTHING GOES DIRECTLY INTO HIS MOUTH! HE ALSO GOT HIS FIRST TASTE OF RICE CEREAL. WHILE HE WAS MORE THAN READY TO EMBRACE THE SPOON, I BELIEVE HE WAS LET DOWN BY THE BLAND TASTE OF THE FOOD. THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WAS PRICELESS. I'M SURE HE WAS THINKING, "THIS IS WHAT I'VE WAITED SO LONG FOR?!" I KNOW HE WILL BE A MIGHTY EATER AS WE PRESENT HIM WITH MORE SATISFYING OPTIONS. HE HAS BEEN SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT FOR THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF, AND CONTINUES TO TAKE WONDERFUL NAPS. AND WHILE HE IS AN EARLY BIRD, WAKING AT 6:15 MOST DAYS, MEETING HIS SWEET GAZE AND SMILE IS THE PERFECT WAY TO JUMP START MY DAY - THAT AND A CUP OF COFFEE!

CHAR, ALWAYS EAGER TO GET IN ON THE ACTION.

WE LOVE YOU, LITTLE MAN!

Big Girl Sheets

THIS MONTH WE DECIDED TO SPRUCE UP CHARLOTTE'S BED. EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS NOT OFFICIALLY TRANSITIONED TO A TODDLER BED, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO GIVE HER BED A MAKEOVER. WE WERE GOING FOR MODERN COMFORT WITH A TOUCH OF SOPHISTICATION.

CHARLOTTE AND I ENJOYED SHOPPING AT OUR BELOVED SUPER TARGET STORE IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT SHEETS. WE WERE THRILLED WITH OUR FIND - NATURE INSPIRED SHEETS. SHE LOVED HER NEW BLANKET SO MUCH, SHE LAID DOWN IN THE CART RESTING HER HEAD ON IT FOR THE REMAINDER OF OUR SHOPPING TRIP. WE RACED HOME TO MAKE UP HER BED AND SHE COULD NOT WAIT TO JUMP IN! SHE WAS ESPECIALLY PLEASED SHOWING THEM OFF TO DADDY UPON HIS ARRIVAL HOME. IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE THAT MAKE THIS LITTLE LADY SMILE!

READY FOR HER NAP, IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT IT IS 10 AM.
WE HOPE YOUR BED MAKES YOU FEEL THIS HAPPY AND CONTENT!

HAILA/LARSON FUN

JUDE, JULIET, JOEY & CHARLOTTE

IT IS ALWAYS A SPECIAL TIME WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO GET OUR FAMILIES TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT JUDE AND CHARLOTTE PLAY TOGETHER. THEY LOVE TO CALL OUT EACH OTHER'S NAMES AND CHASE EACH OTHER AROUND THE HOUSE. JULIET AND JOEY ARE FOUR MONTHS APART IN AGE, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE JOEY ALREADY HAS A FEW POUNDS ON HER. WE LOVE OUR DEAR FRIENDS AND CANNOT WAIT TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEM!

Mother's Day 2010

I AM MY MOTHER'S ONLY ONE

ITS ENOUGH

I WEAR MY GARMENT SO IT SHOWS

NOW YOU KNOW

ONLY LOVE IS ALL MAROON

GLUEY FEATHERS ON A FLUME

SKY IS WOMB AND SHE'S THE MOON

SHE'S THE MOON

"FLUME" - PETER GABRIEL

MY LITTLE LOVES...WORKING HARD TO GET A MOTHER'S DAY PIC.

I AM SO VERY BLESSED.

Oh where or where has my little girl gone?

THE PAST FEW WEEKS I HAVE BEEN AMAZED AT CHARLOTTE'S GROWTH, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND BEHAVIORALLY. I'M NOT SURE IF IT IS HER LONG HAIR, HER FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, OR THE OVERALL WAY SHE IS CARRYING HERSELF, BUT I REALIZE MY LITTLE GIRL IS ON THE FAST TRACK FOR ADOLESCENCE. I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY SO MANY PARENTS BEFORE ME TOLD ME TO ENJOY EVERY MINUTE BECAUSE THEY ARE FLEETING. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THESE MOMENTS WHEN I TAKE SPECIAL CARE TO OBSERVE, CONVERSE AND APPRECIATE MY DAUGHTER. I CAN ALREADY SEE THE SPECIAL AND UNIQUE BONDS SHE IS FORMING WITHIN OUR LITTLE FAMILY. EACH RELATIONSHIP IS PRECIOUS AND MEANINGFUL TO HER. IT IS SUCH AN IMMENSE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE A PART OF HER LIFE, LET ALONE BE HER MOMMY. I LOVE TO HEAR HER SWEET VOICE, "HEY MOMMY..." AS SHE RESTS HER LITTLE HAND ON MY SHOULDER, OR HEAR HER BOUND UP TO HER BROTHER WITH A HEARTY, "BIG BOY, JOEY!" HER JOYFUL ANTICIPATION OF JEFF'S ARRIVAL EACH NIGHT BRINGS ME A SWEET SATISFACTION, AND I LOVE TO SEE THEM LAY EYES ON EACH OTHER AFTER BEING APART ALL DAY. SHE CONTINUES TO BE DARING AND FEARLESS IN MANY SITUATIONS, BUT IS ALSO DEVELOPING A TENDER SHYNESS AND SENSITIVE HEART THAT CAUSES HER TO RELY ON ME A TAD MORE THAN SHE USED TO. HER DEDICATION TO JOEY AND HIS CARE BRINGS ME GREAT JOY AS A MOTHER. WATCHING THEM TOGETHER, OBSERVING THEIR BOND FILLS MY DAYS WITH SERENITY AND GRATITUDE. I KNOW THAT WITH HER MY JOURNEY IN MOTHERHOOD WILL NEVER BE ONE THAT IS DULL OR PREDICTABLE!

CHAR'S DARING SIDE. SHE TALKS ABOUT THIS PURPLE SLIDE AT LEAST 10 TIMES A DAY. IT IS ON HER MIND FIRST THING EACH MORNING AND ONE OF THE LAST THINGS SHE MENTIONS BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP EACH NIGHT.

READY, SET, GO!
WHAT A RUSH!

"LOOK, A PLANE!" (IT IS AMAZING HOW SHE IS ABLE TO SPOT THE TINIEST OF PLANES IN THE SKY.)

A BIG FAN OF SWINGS.

HOT TO TROT.

A FEARLESS MOMENT.

...AND HER TENDER SIDE.

SINGING LULLABIES BEFORE BED.

Farmer's Market

THE FARMER'S MARKET HAS STARTED, AND WE MADE OUR FIRST TRIP TWO SATURDAYS AGO. WE COULD HARDLY WAIT TO INTRODUCE JOEY TO ONE OF OUR FAVORITE MADISON ACTIVITIES. WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS, ARRIVING AT THE FARMER'S MARKET BEFORE NINE IS PREFERABLE (FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED - A DOUBLE STROLLER DEMANDS PRECIOUS SIDEWALK SPACE). THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH OUR SWEETIES. OUR LITTLE SONGBIRD, JOEY, IS UP AT SIX EACH MORNING AND CHARLOTTE IS UP AND AT 'EM BY 7:30. JEFF AND I WERE PLEASED WITH OURSELVES WHEN WE PULLED INTO THE PARKING STRUCTURE PROMPTLY AT 8, AND PLOPPED BOTH KIDS INTO THE DOUBLE. WE PICKED UP WITH OUR ROUTINE RIGHT WHERE WE LEFT OFF LAST FALL - B LINE TO THE COFFEE HUT, STOP BY THE CINNAMON ROLLS FOR JEFF, AND PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO THE CHEESE DANISHES. LAST YEAR, CHAR STARTED TO ENJOY OUR TASTY TREATS AND THIS SATURDAY SHE GOT TO ENJOY HER VERY OWN - A SPRINKLED DONUT! WE ALWAYS PARK OUR STROLLER TO ENJOY OUR COFFEES AND DANISHES BY THE CAPITOL AND TAKE IN OUR SURROUNDINGS. IN MY OPTION, THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO START YOUR WEEKEND. WE ANTICIPATE MANY MORE SATURDAY MORNINGS AT THE FARMER'S MARKET!

JOEY ENJOYS OUR EARLY MORNING STROLL.

"YOU MEAN THIS IS ALL FOR ME?"


PROCEEDING WITH CAUTION. SHE CONTINUES TO BE A VERY NEAT EATER.

GIVING INTO THE SWEET TASTE OF THE DONUT.

TAKING A MOMENT TO SAVOR AND APPRECIATE THIS DELICIOUS TREAT.

AFTER THREE TURNS AROUND THE CAPITOL, WE ALWAYS CROSS THE STREET TO LET CHARLOTTE ROAM FREE ON THE SIDEWALK. SHE LOVES TO TAKE OFF AND APPRECIATE ALL OF THE STREET MUSIC.

CHARLOTTE'S NEW FAVORITE FLOWER - TWO LIPS (AS SHE PRONOUNCES IT.)

NOT THE BEST PICTURE, BUT I COULDN'T PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO DOCUMENT OUR FIRST TRIP OF 2010. JEFF ENCOURAGED ME TO LOOK PAST THEIR UNEMOTIONAL FACES IN THIS PICTURE, AND NOT TAKE OFFENSE. :) I'M CONFIDENT WE ALL ENJOYED OURSELVES.

Cute Kids

JUST A FEW SHOTS OF SOME SWEET LITTLE ONES. THEIR SMILES BLESS ME GREATLY!

SWEET JOEY

JOE COOL
OUR NIECE, KENDALL, CELEBRATING THE BIG NUMBER 2!

OUR LITTLE LADY

Splish Splash They Were Takin' A Bath

CHARLOTTE LOVES HER BATH. DECIDING WHAT COLOR TO TINT THE WATER IS ONE OF HER FAVORITE CHOICES OF THE DAY. JEFF HAS MASTERED THIS TIME WITH HIS GIRL. THIS PAST WEEK (AFTER DISCOVERING A GREAT DEAL WHILE RUMMAGING) WE ADDED A SURPRISE ELEMENT TO HER BATH... JOEY!

SOLO BATH

"DADDY, I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS MISSING. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SPICE UP BATH TIME, AND REALLY SHAKE THINGS UP?"
"THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAD IN MIND!!!"

"JOEY, YOU JUST WAIT...THIS IS GOING TO BE A ROCKIN' GOOD TIME. YOU SHOULD SEE WHAT DAD AND I DO IN HERE WHEN MOM IS NOT AROUND."

CLEARLY LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

"OH JOEY! CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!?"

JOE - "DOES THIS MEAN I NEVER GET TO BATHE (QUIETLY) BY MYSELF AGAIN?"

Rice Anyone?

ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW AND EXCITING THINGS TO STIMULATE CHARLOTTE'S MIND, I DECIDED TO CREATE MY VERSION OF A "RICE TABLE." WHEN I TAUGHT PRESCHOOL, THIS ACTIVITY WAS ALWAYS A FAVORITE. IT TOOK A LITTLE PROMPTING, BUT EVENTUALLY SHE BECAME QUITE INTERESTED IN THIS ACTIVITY. SHE LOVED TO GET HER HANDS INTO THE RICE AND PRETEND TO COOK.

INITIALLY, NOT IMPRESSED.

"YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT?"

GETTING INTO THE ACTION.

OOPS! PRETENDING TO COOK GOT THE BEST OF HER.

"SERIOUSLY MOMMY, THIS DOES NOT TASTE GOOD."

(SHE DID NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. SAFE TO SAY WE WERE DONE AFTER THIS INCIDENT.)

I THINK IF CHARLOTTE WERE TO RATE THIS ACTIVITY, SHE WOULD PROBABLY GIVE IT A C+ AT BEST. I WOULD AGREE; IT REQUIRES SOME TWEAKING. WE DID ENJOY PULLING OUT HER MINI HAND BROOM AND DUST BUSTER TO CLEAN UP OUR FUN!