Books are kind of a big deal at our house.
So it's a pretty common occurrence to happen upon a baby lost between the pages of some of our favorite board books.
But it doesn't make it any less amusing when you catch them "reading" out loud.
And just in case you would like to hear it with your own ears...
Little Readers from Kate Anderson on Vimeo.
Look who has learned a new trick.
He finally has the muscle to hoist himself up into the swing.
It doesn't sound like it should be a big deal but for my little guy, this is something that has frustrated him for quite a while. He may not be that tall, but he sure is determined.
I wish I could provide audio with this shot, he was giggling so hard that he kept falling off, which only made him laugh more!
ta-da!
I have a feeling that my days are numbered as his swinging companion, it won't be long before he figures out that he can go much higher without me... and so it begins... or continues
Whichever way you want to look at it, for me it's just one more mama moment that feels bittersweet.
Yesterday I turned thirty-five...or as one of my best girlfriend's says....yesterday was the 6th anniversary of my 29th birthday.
However you want to slice it, I'm feeling a bit conflicted about this one. I really don't feel any older than two days ago, and most of the time I feel about the same as I did when I was about 18... well in my mind anyway.
But for some reason, 35 sounds like the opposite of young ( I will not say old ). It also isn't too far from 40 and for reasons I can not articulate, 40 is a number that I have always dreaded. Not that 40 is bad, I'm sure it really is the new 20, but in the crazy recesses of my mind, I have just always imagined if you could equate a smell with 40 it would be something like stale cheese. You know, you can still cut off the moldy, crusty edges but it is Definitely past it's prime, and by prime I mean that firm, well rested 26 year old we all were, once upon a time...
Anyway reaching this milestone has made me realize that the ominous 40 is indeed creeping, slowly but surely closer and closer. I know I need to snap out of it, really, I am a 35 year old mother of 4, words like firm and well rested simply don't apply to girls like me. But there's the rub, because I still feel like a girl, certainly not a grown up, although I'm pretty sure most people would say I probably qualified about a decade ago.
Somehow, I forgot to notice.
Well, 35, Bring It!
I welcome you and all that you signify. I'm reasonably sure when I am 75, I will look back on 35 and feel like it was actually the uphill slope rather than the down hill slope of my life.
And if life is indeed measured in seasons, I'd say that 35 feels like mid-summer, Bright and fragrantly full of life! Yes, that's exactly like what this life of mine feels like right now!
Look who has joined the rest of the family in their fancy little chairs...
Yes sir, time marches on and the babies have moved beyond the world's most perfect food.
Look at that chubby little hand, don't you just want to bite those little fingers? I sure do.
In case you are interested, I highly recommend this resource when it comes to introducing table foods to infants. I bought the book when Samuel was a baby and return to it time and again. It is chock-full of important tips on making and freezing your own baby food. It has a comprehensive monthly timetable which spells out the appropriate time to introduce each food group. It is full of super healthy and easy recipes for babyhood and beyond. But more than that, it is just brimming with great tips about home organization and household management. Reading it feels like sitting in Ms. Yaron's kitchen, sipping a cup of tea and gleaning a million tidbits of mama wisdom.
These pictures actually date back to early July on the day that they really did have their first crack at it. At this point the babies have enjoyed rice cereal and oatmeal, avocado, sweet potato, bananas, pears and peas. Although I'm not sure I can really say they enjoyed the avocado or the peas? It might be more accurate to say that they tried hard not to gag too badly on the avocado and peas. So, maybe greens won't be their thing. Well, we will continue to slowly introduce other options.
Yes indeed, slowly is the key word here.
I find it funny that with each subsequent baby, reaching this milestone in particular, seems to loose it's luster more and more. Rather than an exciting right of passage, this tends to feel more like just another task to work into an already busy day. Not to mention the fact that lately, milestones generally speaking seem to scream at me in a shrill and annoying voice, your babies are growing up and you can't stop it... yea, yea, I know.
Believe me, I know.
Look who has taken to stealing Papa's reading light to continue reading his chapter book past bedtime. I think this might be the only instance when breaking the rules might be OK, maybe more than OK actually. The first time I happened upon this scene it stopped me in my tracks, where has my little guy gone? But what a treasure to find him lost in a story, read by himself.
Finn
Oliver
Finn
Oliver
Finn...he might be the youngest, but he was the first to sit on his own!
I can not believe they are 6 months old...where has the time gone?
Which is which, can you tell them apart?
The first weekend of May was a full and happy one. Warmth and sun provided lots of outside play with nature and friends.
Some of it was welcome, like this gracious toad, who amused the boys for several hours before he was released to continue on his way, wherever he was headed.
Hopefully he wasn't headed for this guy....
Yes, that's right, it wouldn't be May without a snake sighting. This time IN A TREE. Nice. Now not only do I need to remember to look down as I walk, but also up, for fear that one could drop out of the branches right onto my head.
I swear I would die a thousand deaths.
Look what happened to my boy's mouth. Man, that is one huge gaping hole.
This was the first sight that met my eyes the minute they opened this morning. He was standing by my bedside overflowing with excitement.
I screamed out loud.
It felt like someone had come in the night and snatched up my boy only to replace him with this k.i.d. I was torn between excitement for him and overwhelming sadness that my baby boy's smiling face has been forever altered.
Look at these guys who now don fresh haircuts at the tender age of 4 months. They were working the comb-over so bad I just couldn't take it any longer. Now they look like shrunken up old men. But come on, the tie-dye, those are some cool old men!
Some other things that made us incredibly happy this weekend were...
The familiar sounds of the ice cream man as he surprised us with his first visit of the season on Friday evening.
Rediscovering the joy that is Nestle Tollhouse pan cookies...all of the yum for about a third of the work.
The arrival of strawberry season in the Carolinas. We got our first gallon on Friday. Nothing beats the amazing taste of fresh, local berries. Yippie, bring on the pie!
Hope your weekend was a good one too!
