September

So we went on vacation and then we settled down to normal life. Normal life is a bit hectic. And also, I think that the CONSTANT rain has affected the internet connection. So those are my excuses.

Anyway, I totally missed a 5 month post for Madeline. So here's the 5 month update: she's eating some rice cereal now. Apparently, when I took this picture, I was too tired to focus the camera. But you get the idea.

Of course the Levitt Shell shows are back on for the cooler weather, so we've been enjoying that a couple times every week. One of the best acts we've seen is Rattletree Marimba, from Austin, TX. I posted video of a different show below if you happen to want to check them out. One of the marimbas was taller than a tall man. Very cool.

Meredith and Julia

Mer and I are watching "Baking with Julia." Some young chef is making rum babas; Julia is commenting and instructing. Every time they add another delicious ingredient, Meredith says "bless their little hearts."

vacationland

One of those experiences that lets you know you're totally a grown up: putting a car topper on the car for a road trip.

Almost smiling.

Mer did some incredible swimming. Video at the bottom. Nothing like a little positive peer pressure from two very cool 7 year old twins to vastly improve a 3 year old's swim skills.

Happy girls at da beach.


Empty bottle, happy baby.


Nothin' like a round of Dora Memory to let you know you're on vacation.

Meredith directing Sydney and Skyler (the aforementioned twins) in the building of the castle.

Call me what you will, this thing went too fast for my taste.

Craft time at the condo.

And now...exciting footage of our little mermaid.

September at the Sea

In September, the beach is yours for the taking.

In September, the boardwalks are empty.

In September, babies can sleep at the beach, in the breeze.

In September, the gulls are sad and lonely. And aggressive too, little stinkers. Just all around bad personalities.

Summer Romp Retrospective

I've got time, so I'm going to show you my favorite Rock n Romp pics of the summer. I let Mer use the camera at the last one, so if you notice some interesting camera angles, that's my girl.

Thanks to all the Rock n Romp organizers. You help make life good.

Wee vans.

Adam and Walt. We are men. We gather sticks.

Happy dance.

Rockers rocking.

Miles hop scotching.

Madison mugging.

Chloe crying. Poor duck.

Gus hooping.

Walt's harbingers of fall.

Insane Arsenal fans and a baby.

The Cool Kids.

Mer.

Zee Artiste

Mer is coming into her creativity these days. I don't know what the developmental stages are in relation to creativity, but for Meredith it has seemed as though the ability to create things that are truly hers has strengthened as her ability to spend time alone has developed. More and more often these days, I find her painting, or tying things together with yards of ribbon, or dancing. I guess, before kids, I would have expected this to come earlier, but now I see that it's happened at just the right time for Meredith. Funny how that works...

I will say, however, that the dancing has always been there. She's enjoyed that since she could walk. She dances to everything--and surprises us when she comes up with different moves that are appropriate to the music. One night we were listening to swing music, and she was suddenly doing something that looked strangely like the Charleston. Put on jazz and she suddenly develops these very flowing, stretching, modern moves. Put on the Bonnaroo dvd and she starts grooving as though she spent her womb-time at Grateful Dead shows (like her dad). All this aside, her first love--because of the costumes and pink that are involved--is ballet. And last week she started ballet classes.


It was one of those moments that re-initiates you into parenthood; a moment when you say "I can't believe I get to watch this happen." She loved it. She was glowing the entire time. She didn't stop grinning for the entire 45 minutes. I know that, regardless of what extra-curricular activities Mer chooses, there will be times that it will frustrate her, or me, or times when I won't want to drop her off and wait for her to finish, or times that the cost seems exorbitant. But for now, ballet classes are nothing but joy--for both of us.

A Little Extra Love

Meredith has struggled a bit with the transition to big sisterhood. Sometimes she's great. Sometimes not. I googled older sibling adjustment, and one theme that came up continually was this: your "older" child is still so very, very young. And that's easy to forget, especially when the older child, as in Mer's case, has a pretty strong vocabulary and is good at expressing her emotions. I guess part of me expects her to say, "wow, I'm feeling jealous and left out right now," rather than to express that emotion by screeching in an ear-drum damaging way, or worse, squeezing Madeline's arm until she starts to cry.


But then there are times when she sits in the back seat between her cousin Hadley and her sister and sings "these are my girls and I take care of my girls and I love my girls" with a serious, sweet voice.


So I invited Keddi and Papa to come visit this weekend. I figured a little more love in the house wouldn't hurt anyone. And the extra attention did help Mer--they knew just when to pick her up, when to shift the focus to her...and I got a little break, too.


Mer was noticably more peaceful with more hands on deck. So now I'll just try to keep this good thing going...