A Baby Obsessed

Madeline rolled over a few weeks ago. Now it's all she'll do. Granted, when a baby plans out her day, there aren't that many options: blow spit bubbles, dirty my diaper, eat, roll over. So there's bound to be some repetition. But she's taking the rolling over thing to extremes and won't even stop when she's exhausted. I'd forgotten that about the tiny ones.

A Bad Day at the Lake is Better than A Good Day Elsewhere...

And it wasn't even a bad day...really. Just cloudy. So we started off with some chalk play, moved on to playing in the car, and then headed out in the boat. And then Sunday was gorgeous. And the whole weekend was utterly relaxing, despite the fact that our numbers have grown and there was a whole lot of humanity in that little lake house. God bless the lake, and God bless the Natural State.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Letting Go

I'm just guessing here, but I would bet that there are dozens--nay, scores--of times in a parent's life when he or she has to just learn to let go. We're not exactly dealing with the separation of college or the like here at the Lareau homestead, but we're learning to let go in smaller ways.

Letting go...of naptime. This is what I found when she called me for the fifteenth time to tell me she wasn't tired. She was fully dressed for a costume party. She said I could come too, even though I wasn't very costumey. Needless to say, I'm quoting here. And I should point out (because she did) that she was wearing her Easter egg socks under those lovely black boots.


Letting go...of safety. Just kidding. Of sanity. Not kidding. Chocolate all over the face, goggles because we're in the bath, and a desire to hold baby sister that will not be gainsaid. No infants were hurt in the taking of this photo. Believe it or not, Madeline was delighted with the whole fiasco.


I'll also add, just for verisimilitude, that I destroyed a perfectly lovely butternut squash puree today. It was lightly scented with orange and ginger, and had come straight from my parents' garden. I destroyed it because I pureed the little insert to the blender lid, along with my liquid gold. This is what happens when you're distracted by a three year old who doesn't need a nap and an infant who is hungry for the third time in three hours. HOW DO PEOPLE HAVE MORE THAN TWO? Thanks for listening. I always feel better after some cathartic blogging.

Hadley Comes to Visit

We had Hadley with us this morning. It kind of made me wish I was the kind of woman that could stay home with all three girls (mine and Hadley). I sure do admire those women. But I'm the kind of woman that works part time, and I think it's best for all parties if we don't tinker with that equation. But dang, I sure do love my niece.

3 Months and 3 Years 10 Months

Happy 3 months, Madeline Jane. You're sweet.

Meredith, you're funny.

Mer: I get to pick the movie. Mommy, you don't get to pick the movie. Daddy, you don't get to pick the movie.
Mommy: Well, we do get to help pick the movie.
Mer: Why?
Mommy: 'Cause we've got the money.
Mer: Well how 'bout this compromise? I'll pick the movie, and you can pay.

Arkansas for the 4th

Photography Field Trip

The girls and Robert and I went to South Main and the river this week and took some pictures. I let Mer and Robert have the small digital camera, and they took great pictures. Meredith did not choose to wear matching shoes on the outing.