Here Duckie, Duckie

ONE OF THE PERKS OF LIVING ON THE FAR WEST SIDE OF MADISON IS THAT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY FARM LAND. JUST DOWN THE STREET LIVES ONE OF JEFF'S ATTENDINGS, AND HE RAISES DUCKS. RECENTLY, WE WERE INVITED OVER TO "PLAY" WITH THE DUCKS. CHARLOTTE TOOK NO TIME INVOLVING THE DUCKS IN A GAME OF "CAT AND MOUSE." YOU CAN IMAGINE WHO WAS THE SCHEMING CAT.

THE DUCKS FALL VICTIM TO THEIR PREY...

ON THE PROWL.
THIS PICTURE MAKES ME LAUGH.
"I KNOW THEY ARE AROUND SOMEWHERE."

TARGET IN SIGHT.

"READY OR NOT...HERE I COME!"

HER STRATEGY WORKED EVERY TIME. SHE WOULD CHASE THE DUCKS INTO THE BARN, WHEREBY SHE WOULD QUACK AND TAUNT THEM INTO HYSTERICAL HONKING. THEY WOULD HOVER IN THE CORNER, WAITING FOR THEIR TORMENTOR TO STEP OFF TO THE FAR SIDE. THEY WOULD THEN MAKE A MAD DASH FOR THE ENTRANCE. WITH WINGS FLAPPING, CHAR'S EYES WOULD LIGHT UP IN ANTICIPATION FOR ANOTHER CHASE. WE WATCHED IN GREAT AMUSEMENT AND LAUGHTER.

WE DO HAVE VIDEO OF THIS SCENE. STAY TUNED...

Random Shots of Cuteness

DELIGHTED TO HAVE A BIG BOY CUP.

HER QUIET TIME.

THIS CONTINUES TO BE A SPECIAL AND NEEDED PART OF HER DAILY ROUTINE.


ENSURING HER BABIES ARE WELL CARED FOR.

RESTING AFTER A LONG DAY.

FIRST TIME PLAYING WITH ACTIVITY TABLE. FUNNY...CHARLOTTE TOOK A KEEN INTEREST IN THIS TOY AND ENJOYS SENDING EMAILS FROM IT'S COMPUTER.

FASHIONISTA.

DRESSES ARE HER CLOTHING OF CHOICE THESE DAYS.

BEAUTIFUL LONG LOCKS.

PLAYING IN THE TENT.

CHARLOTTE CREATED A "ZOO" FOR HIM TO ENJOY.

CUTE STORY.

CHARLOTTE RECENTLY ASKED TO WATCH "MOMMY, DADDY GETTING MARRIED." (BE STILL MY HEART) AFTER PRESSING PLAY, I NOTICED HER FACE LIGHT UP AS SHE SAW HER MOMMY IN A PRETTY WHITE DRESS. SHE IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME SHE NEEDED A SPECIAL DRESS. THANKS TO OUR DEAR FRIEND ADRIANA, AND HER FASHIONABLE DAUGHTER, ANNALISE, I WAS ABLE TO SURPRISE HER WITH THIS NUMBER. SHE CALLS IT "THE EGG DRESS." I TRULY BELIEVE SHE FEELS LIKE A BRIDE WHEN WEARING IT.

FROM WEDDING VIDEOS TO ART SESSIONS.

BATH TIME WITH BLUE EYES.

TWO CLEAN BABES.

CHARLOTTE FINDS MOMMY'S OLD PRESCHOOL ART SUPPLIES -

WINDOW MARKERS.

LET THE CREATIVITY BEGIN.

HOPEFULLY, MY TUTORIAL ON WINDOW MARKERS VS. REGULAR MARKERS MADE AN IMPRESSION AND WAS FULLY UNDERSTOOD.

Everybody in the Pool

THE KIDS AND I HAVE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF LITTLE DAY TRIPS TO MILWAUKEE, AS JEFF HAS BEEN TRAVELING. LAST WEEK, WE WERE ABLE TO JOIN OUR FAMILY AS WE CELEBRATED MY SISTER'S BIRTHDAY. IT WAS A GREAT AND MEMORABLE DAY AT THE POOL. THE KIDS LOVE THE WATER AND I APPRECIATED HAVING MANY HANDS ON DECK TO HELP THEM ENJOY THE POOL!

JOE'S FIRST TIME IN A FLOATATION DEVICE. HE WAS CONTENT TO ENJOY THE POOL FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT ALL AFTERNOON.

ONE COOL DUDE.

CHAR TAKES A TURN AND WHILE SHE PREFERS THE FREEDOM OF SPLASHING ABOUT UNAIDED, SHE ENJOYED THE EXTRA ATTENTION FROM WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE FLOATY.


THIS IS MORE HER STYLE.

SHE ADORES HER OLDER COUSINS, AND I LOVE WATCHING THEM TAKE CARE OF HER. IT REMINDS ME OF WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE GIRLS AND I WAS THE BIG AUNTIE.

MY BATHING BEAUTIES!

ME AND TY

I COULD NOT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME THE TWO OF US TOOK A PICTURE TOGETHER.

SPLISH, SPLASH

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO SPEND A HOT SUMMER DAY!

Let it Rain

WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING SUMMER THUNDERSTORMS FROM OUR WINDOWS. BETWEEN CHARLOTTE'S NARRATIONS OF THE STORMS, "BOOM THUNDER, CRASH, PLOP!" AND JOEY'S INTEREST IN THE FALLING RAIN WE HAVE A LOT OF FREE ENTERTAINMENT ON OUR HANDS.

JOE'S NEW FOUND STRENGTH HELPS HIM GET A FRONT ROW "SEAT" TO ALL THE ACTION.

"DID YOU SEE THAT, MOMMY?!"

I HEART.

A NEW PERSPECTIVE.

THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE GIVES ME INSIGHT INTO THE WORLD OF TWINS. IT WOULD BE SWEET TO HAVE TWO LITTLE JOEYS. :)

OBVIOUSLY, HE FINDS HIMSELF TO BE QUITE CUTE, TOO.

Joe's Nine Month Shots

THESE MONTHLY PICTURES ARE AWFULLY CUTE, BUT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CAPTURE. OUR LITTLE MAN'S PATIENCE FOR THE HAT IS ON THE DECLINE. BUT, I WILL CONTINUE TO SNAP AWAY, NON THE LESS.

AT NINE MONTHS JOEY:

~ PULLS HIMSELF UP

~ PICKS UP DICED FRUITS, TOAST, CRACKERS, CHEERIOS AND WHATEVER ELSE HE CAN GET HIS HANDS ON TO EAT

~ (FINALLY) HELD HIS BOTTLE TO FEED HIMSELF (I THINK HE LIKES TO KEEP ME INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS. IT IS GUARANTEED ALONE TIME WITH MOMMY. AND, THAT IS HARD TO COME BY.)

~ PRODUCES A VARIETY OF CONSONANT SOUNDS INCLUDING "DA DA" "BA BA" "PA PA". HE ALSO PRODUCES A MANY SOUNDS WITH HIS LIPS.

~ HAS ONE TOOTH WITH TWO MORE ON THE WAY

~ TRANSITIONED FROM ARMY CRAWLING TO TRADITIONAL CRAWLING (AT WARP SPEED)

~ TAKES TWO NAPS A DAY AND SLEEPS FROM 7 PM UNTIL 6:30 AM

~ ENJOYS THE VIEW FROM HIS "BIG BOY" CAR SEAT

~ MAKES THE SWEETEST SHY FACES AND BATS HIS BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYES

~ HATES HAVING HIS FACE AND HANDS CLEANED AFTER EATING (REALLY THE ONLY TIME HIS SPUNKY SIDE KICKS IN)

~ ATTEMPTS TO CRAWL UP THE STEPS

~ LOVES LISTENING TO MUSIC AND LIGHTS UP WHEN HE HEARS HIS DAD'S INCOMING CALL RINGER - KINGS OF LEON'S "NOTION"

~ PLAYS "SO BIG"

~ HAS STARTED TO WAVE AND POINT

"WHY THE HAT, MOM?"
"AH, THIS DARN THING AGAIN."

"LOOK LADY, AREN'T I CUTE ENOUGH FOR PICTURES WITHOUT THIS HAT ON?"

FEELING RELIEVED AND QUITE JOYFUL WITHOUT THE HAT.

"I'LL CONTINUE TO FLASH YOU CUTE SMILES IF YOU HIDE THAT HAT."

OUR BIG NINE MONTH OLD BOY!

MAYBE IF I (BECKY) COMPOSED MY EMAILS IN THIS FASHION, I WOULD HAVE KILLER ARM MUSCLES. MUST TAKE NOTE.

ONE HAPPY, LITTLE DUDE.

WHAT A CUTE BUM.

The Little Fella

AH THE LITTLE MAN...

HE IS GROWING UP SO FAST, AND THIS PAST MONTH HAS BEEN FILLED WITH A VARIETY OF NEW MILESTONES. WHILE I'M SAD TO SEE HIS DAYS OF INFANCY GONE, HE IS GROWING INTO SUCH A SWEET AND DELIGHTFUL BOY AND EACH DAY IS PRECIOUS!

PLAYING WITH THE LITTLE LADY'S SHADES.

THOSE BABY BLUES WILL BE THE END OF ME.

NEW TRICKS.

CHARLOTTE AND I LOVE GETTING JOEY AFTER HIS AM NAP. THEY SPEND A FEW MINUTES CONVERSING, WHICH IS PRICELESS.

FINALLY ENJOYING THE SWINGS AT THE PARK.

THE TIME HAS COME TO MAKE THE SWITCH FROM INFANT CAR SEAT TO UPRIGHT.

ENJOYING HIS FIRST BITE OF CHEERIOS AT NANY AND PAPA'S.

THEY WERE A BIG HIT.

"SOOOO BIG!"

LOOKING AWFULLY BIG IN HIS POTTERY BARN CHAIR!

LIFE AS A "BIG BOY" IS GREAT.

STEALING A SWIG OF BIG SISTER'S JUICE CUP.

GAZING UP AT HIS SIS. THEY CONTINUE TO ADORE ONE ANOTHER.