tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714013121481679542024-02-02T09:13:16.450-08:00Fran's KitchenNever Trust a Skinny CookFranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.comBlogger342125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-91069652948678661462014-03-10T15:17:00.000-07:002014-03-10T15:17:57.647-07:00Gumbo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Laissez les bon temps roulez.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Avery has been going through a big Princess and the Frog phase, and there's a scene with delicious gumbo and Tabasco within the first 10-15 minutes of it. Since we rarely make it past the 20-minute mark before something happens to make us stop the movie (potty break, snack time, mailman comes, whatever), I've seen this scene probably at least once a day, every day, for the past two weeks. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I needed some gumbo.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I derived this recipe from <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/chicken-and-smoked-sausage-gumbo-with-white-rice-recipe.html">Emeril at the Food Network</a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ingredients</span></div>
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">1
tablespoon plus 1/2 cup vegetable oil (NOT OLIVE OIL)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">1
pound smoked sausage, such as andouille or kielbasa, cut crosswise (I used Country Pleasin') into </span></span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1/2-inch
thick pieces</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">4
pounds chicken thighs, skin removed (I just used 2 pounds boneless skinless thighs, then added a pound crawfish tails and a jar of crab when I put the browned chicken back in)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">1
tablespoon Essence or Creole seasoning (I just used Tony's)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">1 cup
all-purpose flour</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">2 cups
chopped onions</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">1 cup
chopped celery</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">1 cup
chopped bell peppers</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">1
teaspoon salt</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">1/4
teaspoon cayenne</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">3 bay
leaves</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">9 cups
chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth (I just used 2 32-ounce boxes)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">1/2
cup chopped green onions</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">2
tablespoons chopped parsley leaves</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">1
tablespoon file powder</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">White
Rice</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Hot
sauce</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Directions</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">In a
large enameled cast iron Dutch oven or large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of the
vegetable oil over medium-high heat. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Add the sausage and cook until well
browned, about 8 minutes. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and drain on
paper towels. Set aside.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Season
the chicken with the Essence and add in batches to the fat remaining in the
pan. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cook over medium-high heat until well browned, 5 to 6 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Remove the
chicken from the pan, let cool, and then refrigerate until ready to use.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Combine
the remaining 1/2 cup oil and the flour in the same Dutch oven over medium
heat. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Cook, stirring slowly and constantly for 20 to 25 minutes, to make a dark
brown roux, the color of chocolate.</span></span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br style="text-align: start;" /></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Add
the onions, celery, and bell peppers and cook, stirring, until wilted, 4 to 5
minutes. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Add the reserved sausage, salt, cayenne, and bay leaves, stir, and
cook for 2 minutes. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Stirring, slowly add the chicken stock, and cook, stirring,
until well combined. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="text-align: start;">Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low
and cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally, for 1 hour.</span></span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br style="text-align: start;" /></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="text-align: start;">Add the reserved chicken (and crawfish tails and crab) to the pot and simmer for
1 1/2 hours, skimming off any fat that rises to the surface.</span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="text-align: start;">Remove the pot
from the heat. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">(If you did boneless skinless thighs, you can skip this part!)Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken thighs from the gumbo
and place on a cutting board to cool slightly. Remove and discard the bay
leaves. Pull the chicken meat from the bones and shred, discarding the bones
and skin. Return the meat to the gumbo.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="text-align: start;">Stir in the green onions, parsley, and file powder.</span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="text-align: start;">Spoon rice into the bottom of deep bowls or large
cups and ladle the gumbo on top. Serve, passing hot sauce on the side.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">A note about the oil: olive oil, though perhaps more healthy, has a lower smoke (burning) point than vegetable oil does. So when making a roux with it, you're much more apt to burn your roux than if you use vegetable or canola oil.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Also, when it comes to crab, be sure you pick up the real thing at the grocery store. I was distracted and picked up Krab with a K. Wasn't aware of it till I went to stir the pot and was greeted with a horror show of unraveled pollock in what looked like creepy crab noodles. I picked that out and called it a lesson in kitchen presence.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DJFARm0FgRnCwyKPRjxpGiMmUVrucME1-vRmg6aDIaHR98fROj4wpu44EnoT4_CkFu0jd7EFnH9qhq5c28ECkrmflDIn07OrFAJsi3vMUBGvbmTQrVeRfgdZwmzyxn7F2eWOaGGErnf7/s1600/iphone+132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DJFARm0FgRnCwyKPRjxpGiMmUVrucME1-vRmg6aDIaHR98fROj4wpu44EnoT4_CkFu0jd7EFnH9qhq5c28ECkrmflDIn07OrFAJsi3vMUBGvbmTQrVeRfgdZwmzyxn7F2eWOaGGErnf7/s1600/iphone+132.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWy6XgK8jyCmMr4iA20yRM746Rf51_oJFxxXZdIcuDyRoI2Oheabl5IJ1zieehdcy7y05h4_Yuq6d8bdteiy6fqotitlrU15IkVGi1LLyCfp4vC7JLnjsqJcyrTm-iQTfHCTYrjQxD_Zv2/s1600/iphone+333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWy6XgK8jyCmMr4iA20yRM746Rf51_oJFxxXZdIcuDyRoI2Oheabl5IJ1zieehdcy7y05h4_Yuq6d8bdteiy6fqotitlrU15IkVGi1LLyCfp4vC7JLnjsqJcyrTm-iQTfHCTYrjQxD_Zv2/s1600/iphone+333.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmI-v6cuXnXNkxKmGsRjx5mPRWIV_znWSRCI0EtNyzxqyb56-nWvaQ64R_Kqyi2l47fnMuHCaOb4KyEyW4eUY9174EvChdP2O8N81s9MdE3SQa5R978_pYMY7izN7VwuN4YvhPCyAusot/s1600/iphone+337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmI-v6cuXnXNkxKmGsRjx5mPRWIV_znWSRCI0EtNyzxqyb56-nWvaQ64R_Kqyi2l47fnMuHCaOb4KyEyW4eUY9174EvChdP2O8N81s9MdE3SQa5R978_pYMY7izN7VwuN4YvhPCyAusot/s1600/iphone+337.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-67913966705346568042014-01-29T18:07:00.003-08:002014-01-29T18:08:41.804-08:00Crock Pot Party & My New Favorite Chili<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffa7pk681bZJT49ZjI6pThuc0dOCMlkhyphenhyphenxmH3TUXDXoiITMJl5b0gG5IqjxA0x6oFPcRKGFnRoyiNMEsLpncIaZJ8kiuXjMnAxAsZU2fOAQ3Ygb5KtQtxRJQBbGzbXgyctyDWGId4PQ38/s1600/DSC_0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffa7pk681bZJT49ZjI6pThuc0dOCMlkhyphenhyphenxmH3TUXDXoiITMJl5b0gG5IqjxA0x6oFPcRKGFnRoyiNMEsLpncIaZJ8kiuXjMnAxAsZU2fOAQ3Ygb5KtQtxRJQBbGzbXgyctyDWGId4PQ38/s1600/DSC_0300.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
My cousin Edie had the BEST idea for a winter party - everybody bring your crock pot with your favorite wintery soup, chili, chowder, whatever in it AND BRING YOUR TUPPERWARE. After everybody eats, divy up the dishes to take home, so you never eat the same leftover twice. And it tastes even better because somebody else made it!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BRILLIANT.</b></span><br />
<br />
Not only did we have a great time, we're still enjoying the spoils! Enhancements to this party might be to assign desserts or side dishes like oyster crackers of just plain Saltines, or Fritos. OR a crock-off contest and a vote to see whose recipe is the best. I really hope to have one of these in the future. All the hostess might need is some paper bowls & spoons, shredded cheese, and chopped up green onions.<br />
<br />
And Tabasco. <br />
<br />
Though all the soups were delicious, my personal favorite was venison chili prepared by my cousin Trotter from his wife Laine's recipe. I adored the new twist to chili, the different textures and colors contained in the same pot, and the fact that it's really good for you. Though I never actually asked for the recipe, I went home and did like my grandmother Cha-Cha would - improvised until I came up with it!<br />
<br />
<b>Chili Chowder</b><br />
Olive oil<br />
1 head celery, chopped<br />
2 onions, chopped<br />
1 pound ground beef or turkey<br />
1 13-16 ounce bigass sausage (beef or turkey), cut into bite-sized pieces<br />
Chili powder to taste<br />
1 large can crushed tomatoes<br />
2 16 ounce cans diced tomatoes with chili seasoning<br />
1 can light red beans, rinsed<br />
1 can kernel corn, rinsed<br />
Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste<br />
<br />
In a large pot, sautee the celery and onions in the olive oil.<br />
Add the ground beef and sausage until browned and cooked through.<br />
Add chili powder to taste.<br />
Dump in the tomatoes, beans, corn, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.<br />
Simmer as long as you want.<br />
<br />
BAM. Dinner. Garnish with green onions, cheese, sour cream, Fritos, saltines, oyster crackers.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDkxtrj0PuiZvY3EOSTmb_CRaoU6KX-iVymp4Q3dUmjAmDteOUcPh7RAUfmj8SI_eZcEVPDJ-Rch0HKlN2TOTesYoX2qByNRgwCUbmaPU3GWZwS7WdKVVDNdU4zDjcBGEu658nuTNszqJ/s1600/DSC_0184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDkxtrj0PuiZvY3EOSTmb_CRaoU6KX-iVymp4Q3dUmjAmDteOUcPh7RAUfmj8SI_eZcEVPDJ-Rch0HKlN2TOTesYoX2qByNRgwCUbmaPU3GWZwS7WdKVVDNdU4zDjcBGEu658nuTNszqJ/s1600/DSC_0184.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
And Tabasco.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-41678297087535795132013-11-30T20:04:00.001-08:002014-02-17T12:18:17.003-08:00Praline Yams (Sweet Potatoes) with Orange Sauce<br />
<br />
The night before I was to prepare our Thanksgiving meal this week, I cuddled in bed with Mike and listed out the dishes for the next day: turkey in the doufeu, dressing, gravy, <a href="http://franpeacockskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/11/spinach-madeline.html">spinach madeline</a>, cranberry sauce, <a href="http://franpeacockskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/12/cha-chas-yeast-rolls.html">yeast rolls</a>, and pumpkin pie. Then this happened:<br />
Me: What was your favorite Thanksgiving dish growing up?<br />
Mike: Sweet potatoes. <br />
SWEET POTATOES. The one dish I didn't even THINK to include. Of course. It just so happens that Riggs is on a big sweet potato kick, so I had the ingredients for this dish in the kitchen. I rattled around and found the recipe in one of my old standbys: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1893062449/ref=rdr_ext_tmb">Best of the Best from Mississippi Cookbook</a>. I also happened to have the ingredients for the orange sauce, and let me just say.....that stuff is FINE. It has completely revolutionized the way I think about sweet potatoes, and I'll never again be able to make this casserole without the orange sauce. <br />
<br />
4-5 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered (I chopped into 1/2 inch cubes)<br />
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar, divided<br />
2 eggs<br />
1/2 cup butter, melted, divided<br />
1 teaspoon salt<br />
pecan halves<br />
<br />
Cook potatoes in water to cover until tender (about 25-30 minutes).<br />
Drain.<br />
Add 1/4 cup brown sugar to hot potatoes.<br />
Add eggs, 3 T butter, and salt.<br />
Beat until smooth.<br />
Pour into a greased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.<br />
Lay pecan halves end to end, covering the entire casserole. (I just roughly chopped pecans and sprinkled liberally on top.)<br />
Sprinkle with remaining brown sugar.<br />
Drizzle remaining melted butter over top.<br />
Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.<br />
Ladle Orange Sauce over individual servings.<br />
<br />
Orange Sauce<br />
<br />
1/3 cup sugar<br />
1 Tablespoon cornstarch<br />
1/8 teaspoon salt<br />
1 cup orange juice<br />
1 Tablespoon lemon juice<br />
2 Tablespoons butter<br />
3 dashes Angostura bitters<br />
<br />
In saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, orange rind, orange juice, and lemon juice.<br />
Bring to a boil over medium heat.<br />
Cook until thickened.<br />
Remove from heat.<br />
Stir in butter and bitters.<br />
Serves 8-10.<br />
<br />
Great Performances Cookbook<br />
<br />
Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.bakersroyale.com/holiday/sweet-potato-casserole-with-a-pecan-and-gingersnap-praline-topping/">Bakers Royale</a>.Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-51444263821863407022013-11-25T13:44:00.001-08:002014-02-17T12:18:53.985-08:00Chocolate Chess Pie<br />
<br />
So the other day Riggs and I were playing as Avery was at Mother's Day Out. I was craving something but didn't know what. Then it hit me..... like a bolt from the blue.... CHOCOLATE CHESS PIE. I absolutely HAD to have it. And I was willing to risk being a teensy bit late to pick up Avery so I could bake it. Fortunately from start to finish, this pie only took a little more than an hour and a half, and that's with a 60 m<span style="font-family: inherit;">inute baking time, so I was able to finish it AND go pick up our little monster.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/chocolate-chess-pie-22421">Food</a>.com has my favorite recipe:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 1/2 cups sugar</span></span><br />
5 tablespoons cocoa powder<br />
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour<br />
1/4 teaspoon salt<br />
1/2 cup evaporated milk<br />
3 large eggs, room temperature<br />
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla<br />
1 partially 9-inch baked pie crust<br />
Directions:<br />
<br style="outline: 0px;" />
1 Preheat oven to 325F degrees.<br />
2 Combine sugar, cocoa, flour, and salt.<br />
3 Blend in milk.<br />
4 Beat in eggs 1 at a time.<br />
5 Add butter and vanilla, beat until smooth.<br />
6 Pour into prebaked pie shell.<br />
7 Bake in 325* oven for 55-60 minutes.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I whipped up my <a href="http://franpeacockskitchen.blogspot.com/2013/11/new-pie-crust-recipe.html">new pie crust recipe</a> and baked it for ten minutes at 375 while I mixed the pie filling in the same bowl in which I prepared the crust dough. So easy, so delicious. Don't even try to taste this stuff without some whipped cream on top. And it's even better the next day. </span><br />
<br />
Thank you to <a href="http://www.foodinmouth.com/restaurant-reviews/2009/04/hoosier-mama-pie-in-chicago.html">Food-in-Mouth</a> for the above photo.Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-57322332622143307302013-11-25T13:33:00.002-08:002013-11-30T19:50:29.139-08:00New Pie Crust RecipeIt's a rainy, rainy Monday afternoon. Both babies are napping, as should I be, but I wanted to jot down my new go-to for a pie crust before I forget:<br />
<br />
Makes 1 pie<br />
1/2 cup shortening<br />
1 1/2 cups flour<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
Water<br />
<br />
With your fingers, crumble the shortening into the flour and salt until it resembles coarse cornmeal.<br />
Do not overwork.<br />
Add water - it works better very cold, but that's not necessary - until desired consistency.<br />
Roll out onto floured surface.<br />
<br />Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-9035160363385116532013-11-24T10:59:00.001-08:002013-11-30T19:50:42.381-08:00First Tooth and Toddler Bed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wow, it's been a big night at the Peacock Coop. I don't know why, but for some reason I absolutely HAD TO set up Avery's big girl bed. Maybe I figured it would be like ripping off a Band Aid - do it quickly and don't make a big deal of it, and it won't be a big deal to her. She loves it and took to it great, particularly enjoying jumping in it and climbing in and out, in and out, in and out.... and repeat. She hadn't taken a nap in three days straight, and I thought perhaps the nap era was over, but now that it's a big girl bed, she puts herself to bed.... and my heart breaks a little, missing that sweet weight of our little girl in my lap as I read her bedtime stories. Surely my snuggling days with her aren't yet completely over.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Meanwhile, Riggs has been having a sleep regression, waking up every two to four hours. Last night was an every other hour night, and when he woke at 3:30, I told Mike, "Either this is a huge brain blast or teething." Sure enough, this morning his first tooth has popped out, bottom front left, AND he's pulling up on the coffee table. Two birds with one stone! Maybe with the help of a little Motrin, we'll all sleep better tonight.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
First tooth and first night in a toddler bed. I sure know how to pack in the milestones. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
These babies are SO much fun right now. It's exhausting, hard, heartrending work, but incredible. Avery is really talking and telling us the most interesting things. Her vocabulary is huge, and she doesn't bat an eye at four-syllable..... and -letter..... words. Riggs is crawling all over the place, particularly to electrical cords and Dante's food dish. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiImDSN4wsrWm0m5KlFEeFPzC9WAdm8qlqZ2qjktcuTO55nQXfirAgpvvUG-LxVsvA0e4z4nh4uKsksv6mLchEpqH0JHWjS2jj1TjPF-9SUOqcCuQv4fNr1lsisC6lcm7U2HQZQJUo_dI/s1600/DSC_1429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiImDSN4wsrWm0m5KlFEeFPzC9WAdm8qlqZ2qjktcuTO55nQXfirAgpvvUG-LxVsvA0e4z4nh4uKsksv6mLchEpqH0JHWjS2jj1TjPF-9SUOqcCuQv4fNr1lsisC6lcm7U2HQZQJUo_dI/s320/DSC_1429.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnnFEYbjw1O1SQOZ890nSA3OF2lS2TGUKaABztY1jJOGMytpFCcbRbHhu_WuKZUbKL1FTae9DkZmQbY7Jb8WpEXzTGxlPbfHZHDdAwLfW1ya9wQ1CY6uNe5Tpoyay0vdltltYbU30ToZD/s1600/DSC_1462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnnFEYbjw1O1SQOZ890nSA3OF2lS2TGUKaABztY1jJOGMytpFCcbRbHhu_WuKZUbKL1FTae9DkZmQbY7Jb8WpEXzTGxlPbfHZHDdAwLfW1ya9wQ1CY6uNe5Tpoyay0vdltltYbU30ToZD/s320/DSC_1462.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l-syGtfF0H1PiRj8fgZE_LLieuRYq0b0zwQgt5l6SpedKYKfvDt7ITdb9SBkzc2P_pMN8jaUVRf1wSg8ePrTmRj_Geto2U2OZU9a7wD-fcIoIH_9jur3e8oVJFm7cBX1LLZU0m3J_BCl/s1600/DSC_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l-syGtfF0H1PiRj8fgZE_LLieuRYq0b0zwQgt5l6SpedKYKfvDt7ITdb9SBkzc2P_pMN8jaUVRf1wSg8ePrTmRj_Geto2U2OZU9a7wD-fcIoIH_9jur3e8oVJFm7cBX1LLZU0m3J_BCl/s320/DSC_1515.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVdZAiNTr3F44y96AxurLV95TO94LqQEh0FWpn0qRf4hX9Q0B0xnfGUGPh2sNSt-kVskuXQTOTC_qJfmwM37T8LGYI-pAdo5OtmIrJzPw9wegb4FME6XEuCGelGu3sUTlsp4QRMOJKpls/s1600/DSC_1550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVdZAiNTr3F44y96AxurLV95TO94LqQEh0FWpn0qRf4hX9Q0B0xnfGUGPh2sNSt-kVskuXQTOTC_qJfmwM37T8LGYI-pAdo5OtmIrJzPw9wegb4FME6XEuCGelGu3sUTlsp4QRMOJKpls/s320/DSC_1550.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ebIJIFKU9ov7zXzlTcHpz-YqXkoVVtSEsYM8Uc3LAU1WemuTbt9ni6hgfMBNUK8TIQhtJVhVGSFNz8MwPMFgeXBsHh2tKhx9Nj5sUq8kckjqoLWS2HYek7OImFfC4rVeRUdIIfbJBw8t/s1600/DSC_1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ebIJIFKU9ov7zXzlTcHpz-YqXkoVVtSEsYM8Uc3LAU1WemuTbt9ni6hgfMBNUK8TIQhtJVhVGSFNz8MwPMFgeXBsHh2tKhx9Nj5sUq8kckjqoLWS2HYek7OImFfC4rVeRUdIIfbJBw8t/s320/DSC_1279.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKUAaxRVLO9gWoHuVFIbD1Rmtu7Cj7zLovNgKl9pZatyqhAP8i2vhb7o8_SfsLZt1CcJa3-643VBNqBZuJqyL13npS8Ilq_DAez38GtoJ3LNQmr4h6YVdjU9D0KHMnpfrxPVYwS99kXfk/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKUAaxRVLO9gWoHuVFIbD1Rmtu7Cj7zLovNgKl9pZatyqhAP8i2vhb7o8_SfsLZt1CcJa3-643VBNqBZuJqyL13npS8Ilq_DAez38GtoJ3LNQmr4h6YVdjU9D0KHMnpfrxPVYwS99kXfk/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qOE8MzbgSRMQ096Gn2AbGvGy297rtAoLpktd6RjLJjzbggA_1pUrnvYn6Ekb6pHVWQbl5yb3SfdnE2b6TtmPmulavPFJ34fcZWjrcZK3fufYzc5TDuzlKdAbo5OmAzFU-z0Rx6nVjKtc/s1600/DSC_1011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qOE8MzbgSRMQ096Gn2AbGvGy297rtAoLpktd6RjLJjzbggA_1pUrnvYn6Ekb6pHVWQbl5yb3SfdnE2b6TtmPmulavPFJ34fcZWjrcZK3fufYzc5TDuzlKdAbo5OmAzFU-z0Rx6nVjKtc/s320/DSC_1011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IiaZAhjnn8broDpfQ4wLA-cgAJNy9o8vorLUmw-DNR1BO_fLS8m2D2ozuj6fPBKiEkcQ-SJBJAoX1v7ej-6igMXHjGSOPun9JgCye-C-z4bZLcPQERMFdc_V9MxiLHdgappxWus8OfHr/s1600/DSC_1104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IiaZAhjnn8broDpfQ4wLA-cgAJNy9o8vorLUmw-DNR1BO_fLS8m2D2ozuj6fPBKiEkcQ-SJBJAoX1v7ej-6igMXHjGSOPun9JgCye-C-z4bZLcPQERMFdc_V9MxiLHdgappxWus8OfHr/s320/DSC_1104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MVFK79oNfysi1pTMJFUhNZnGTzjeIteB208qXrxQTIuEmz6I_iNhyphenhyphenXcDRfvBopIUQ-Amu5BKdh8sHzyUDYjk6wmuuWlXeoDHh3dnXyjuCUfCg-9_TcctKzO3Zp9wkKFF81Z1FIreaJs0/s1600/DSC_1178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MVFK79oNfysi1pTMJFUhNZnGTzjeIteB208qXrxQTIuEmz6I_iNhyphenhyphenXcDRfvBopIUQ-Amu5BKdh8sHzyUDYjk6wmuuWlXeoDHh3dnXyjuCUfCg-9_TcctKzO3Zp9wkKFF81Z1FIreaJs0/s320/DSC_1178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Gosh. I'm blessed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGYph42E9NvxbbNo0lfzyiXU9y95rsrrAGcC8GpAe9JrVSwpTd_bMF-zJkOTocz-R0v-l_5WLKGmPhwJekCIt1o3K8ETHc5aW5spzzo-XWoEetu42w-kyU1egzTotUO0qkB7n6RIS9R0b/s1600/DSC_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGYph42E9NvxbbNo0lfzyiXU9y95rsrrAGcC8GpAe9JrVSwpTd_bMF-zJkOTocz-R0v-l_5WLKGmPhwJekCIt1o3K8ETHc5aW5spzzo-XWoEetu42w-kyU1egzTotUO0qkB7n6RIS9R0b/s320/DSC_1204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-46080655188150296562013-06-09T12:39:00.001-07:002013-06-09T12:39:27.099-07:00Just a few here and theres<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I don't even know where to begin, so I'll just start typing. Right now both babies are napping and Mike's sleeping off the midnight shift. There's a Diet Coke on the table next to me, surrounded by crumbs from the last brownie. The washer and dryer are performing their usual hum and tumble in the utility room, and all is right with the world.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We went blueberry picking the other day. Riggs snoozed in the sling while Avery picked every green blueberry she could find. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJENXuW9raa9v7AOhOxVizpRKjBuacpLd86EErkMCkEuBDtrcORV2yjhqN45ifo8DPn4Jh4K5nrXWYs1GHsZDH6r9EE34m6_mt9phR_gCnKRg-E1O5dB9z7GnUHmieAk0_d689OxVxWK_/s1600/DSC_0834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJENXuW9raa9v7AOhOxVizpRKjBuacpLd86EErkMCkEuBDtrcORV2yjhqN45ifo8DPn4Jh4K5nrXWYs1GHsZDH6r9EE34m6_mt9phR_gCnKRg-E1O5dB9z7GnUHmieAk0_d689OxVxWK_/s320/DSC_0834.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8IkSjYDaNM7XtPwupmSEom1vf0Xf4Ss9lQ7Kz6Yrp2JbFkt0GgKzMbl1KZDyv6Zr2yQZTKPu-zX3WkWC0KeHdZ6gQ_d-XlLEhYLPjKJAeI0-wwYzceevqjl744QDTH2Ffj-fTGvLoxWH/s1600/DSC_0836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8IkSjYDaNM7XtPwupmSEom1vf0Xf4Ss9lQ7Kz6Yrp2JbFkt0GgKzMbl1KZDyv6Zr2yQZTKPu-zX3WkWC0KeHdZ6gQ_d-XlLEhYLPjKJAeI0-wwYzceevqjl744QDTH2Ffj-fTGvLoxWH/s320/DSC_0836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAeA4KPyt7x2Unu77oKpyF-NAcsGdHw2LO06ySa1KCO79zGbMiuBTfUfFf2Y-YqsMGbxYPdWzDe551t7gWHF40_YJK1gtCgJgjSTrAiJVmBtZpd-Glb4i09kdWIA_nTeDgPu-3wL8Jv8d/s1600/DSC_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAeA4KPyt7x2Unu77oKpyF-NAcsGdHw2LO06ySa1KCO79zGbMiuBTfUfFf2Y-YqsMGbxYPdWzDe551t7gWHF40_YJK1gtCgJgjSTrAiJVmBtZpd-Glb4i09kdWIA_nTeDgPu-3wL8Jv8d/s320/DSC_0838.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkav4xV9LbqB18dW6mL_sM8iVOtGgAFvtv6jK7AqHLf9dmvu7GDu5aHh4W1WEpNq4VYTYWVD4B5sDEj2larPB5g_K11uVHahk6Ca3biMoj_cJo7vnu4DdYbfT0ssq9Mx4WUnksOgNtfDY/s1600/DSC_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkav4xV9LbqB18dW6mL_sM8iVOtGgAFvtv6jK7AqHLf9dmvu7GDu5aHh4W1WEpNq4VYTYWVD4B5sDEj2larPB5g_K11uVHahk6Ca3biMoj_cJo7vnu4DdYbfT0ssq9Mx4WUnksOgNtfDY/s320/DSC_0840.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And Avery adores the zoo. It was such a hit we decided to buy a family year membership. Maybe once the kiddos wake up we'll take everybody to the splash pad. The tiger slide is a big favorite, as was the train. When we went through the tunnel, Avery insists she wasn't scared, but her eyes became so big you could see white all around the iris.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsaQQyuWv4dt7tXkNxzCJJzWqC32kq2wXHuVwKNO7v_yPRTOIjGLvP3i3_uCSZqoK4HredrUtolehhXIDTfC1xSPn5wW2y9hydSN0vDet1qovs19QGZfuU5v4gLBGVZd7EZ1PRNa4XMeX/s1600/DSC_0758_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsaQQyuWv4dt7tXkNxzCJJzWqC32kq2wXHuVwKNO7v_yPRTOIjGLvP3i3_uCSZqoK4HredrUtolehhXIDTfC1xSPn5wW2y9hydSN0vDet1qovs19QGZfuU5v4gLBGVZd7EZ1PRNa4XMeX/s320/DSC_0758_01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQhznr5-F7yn4gc-Cr_MiT8BLK2nvJlJ6JEdIDTvSDm33dnfl1XGowZWTexx4-IRmiGepg7ULuUP1F2qSK0fUMQZrVEHuW1Aq_p5KFCpUGu5khnmYKqZpvNH1XuzUfrtXeAf73KbyoyL2/s1600/DSC_0761_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQhznr5-F7yn4gc-Cr_MiT8BLK2nvJlJ6JEdIDTvSDm33dnfl1XGowZWTexx4-IRmiGepg7ULuUP1F2qSK0fUMQZrVEHuW1Aq_p5KFCpUGu5khnmYKqZpvNH1XuzUfrtXeAf73KbyoyL2/s320/DSC_0761_01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBq-maBlz1iDQkTWRNq1BcshA4W-jjjnuhWSIlX5YmeQSUEexOmiuwWcT1hDA-d98_SoBxsoUtt_oI9bdvBoURfGSJ4vlPfyROpXB0Rhn-NEy9fhuWPa60Jd4mqNd0xexjhj1mFw5PjIP/s1600/DSC_0768_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBq-maBlz1iDQkTWRNq1BcshA4W-jjjnuhWSIlX5YmeQSUEexOmiuwWcT1hDA-d98_SoBxsoUtt_oI9bdvBoURfGSJ4vlPfyROpXB0Rhn-NEy9fhuWPa60Jd4mqNd0xexjhj1mFw5PjIP/s320/DSC_0768_01.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHafW2sn3mIMm7-KhDp08KiiOxXivdibmEkBKky8kHHArlaYI5OjMsGiv4tQ0P6kOH6yGWkbrtOHh8XCGubcL-ovQsTlENOFm6xtQHr5ypfIJApZeDDTv3ySixjtDLEEoZp-EtTCxMHBH/s1600/DSC_0778_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHafW2sn3mIMm7-KhDp08KiiOxXivdibmEkBKky8kHHArlaYI5OjMsGiv4tQ0P6kOH6yGWkbrtOHh8XCGubcL-ovQsTlENOFm6xtQHr5ypfIJApZeDDTv3ySixjtDLEEoZp-EtTCxMHBH/s320/DSC_0778_01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mafXhtnQB04BDelDdVzH5qy0JKxVXJ406XnSSYs12Wi9GVf8wTUcvSbuehb5nbZ2PBtRzaEHjvGU6ad5cmmt-KFy5ybftzXq0GKfBgJLKXqClJgyW3-0fRM6WGOkxR9V5Hw1R94gBKKY/s1600/DSC_0780_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mafXhtnQB04BDelDdVzH5qy0JKxVXJ406XnSSYs12Wi9GVf8wTUcvSbuehb5nbZ2PBtRzaEHjvGU6ad5cmmt-KFy5ybftzXq0GKfBgJLKXqClJgyW3-0fRM6WGOkxR9V5Hw1R94gBKKY/s320/DSC_0780_01.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsRPFxjGbLZ1zi8se2vj_RF5vTv2C0O-cjhckhWX106LhCcDfaEAARkdqto9xSej0X4wSchUWSppx0Vossn3E2KxRJ7m7KRq81Qbi2qWND_VB-w6FxUizl5obXz5fum2IrlUUyy1K29kp/s1600/DSC_0791_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsRPFxjGbLZ1zi8se2vj_RF5vTv2C0O-cjhckhWX106LhCcDfaEAARkdqto9xSej0X4wSchUWSppx0Vossn3E2KxRJ7m7KRq81Qbi2qWND_VB-w6FxUizl5obXz5fum2IrlUUyy1K29kp/s320/DSC_0791_01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumuNuvRlUJpbslhKrSjfpvQiW6bL7_J5Qx-G5d0VxRm6hexE5fRje9Z_9UX-GoEabxxbALAQYpOgCD2_3qHUafYZJqgTuxuPKLDh6VK6P_wOdfn9RnCpbnoWv_JJQhnUW-SCn7kRYPIMt/s1600/DSC_0797_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumuNuvRlUJpbslhKrSjfpvQiW6bL7_J5Qx-G5d0VxRm6hexE5fRje9Z_9UX-GoEabxxbALAQYpOgCD2_3qHUafYZJqgTuxuPKLDh6VK6P_wOdfn9RnCpbnoWv_JJQhnUW-SCn7kRYPIMt/s320/DSC_0797_01.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
As I sit holding one or both babies, I hope to have developed the habit of jotting down funny, sweet, good memories (there are so many it's hard to remember them all) on my cell phone to write in more detail. Here are a few of the latest goings-on:<br />
<br />
- Riggs giggles when we suck out his nose or wipe his face. He thinks it's hysterical and belly laughs so hard it's difficult to accomplish the task. Maybe that's all part of his plan. <br />
<br />
- When I ask Avery for a kiss, she always plants a big happy smiling one right square on my lips. I guess it's because she sees Daddy and me kissing like that, and I don't mind. My heart melts into a puddle when she then turns to Riggs and says, "Riggs kiss," planting one gently on his head.<br />
<br />
- I have to bathe both kids together. I could just bathe Avery, but if Riggs is in the bathtub, so must she be. After a few moments of sheer panic on my part, she's proven to be very soft with her brother, and I always let her help me bathe him. I'll sit him up and hold him while she scrubs his back, and he comes out squeaky clean every time.<br />
<br />
- Avery has an impressive grasp on the English language, but sometimes her enunciation could use a little work. A few months ago she and I were in the Kroger. I turned around to find her standing in the seat of the buggy and immediately said, "Avery! Sit sit sit!" which of course she repeated enthusiastically and loudly... only from her mouth it sounded like "Shit shit shit!" And of course one of my DAR sisters was right around the corner. You should hear her say, "fork."<br />
<br />
- She counts too: "One, two, fee, six!"<br />
<br />
- Her favorite songs to sing are Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, the ABC song, Jesus Muvs Me, and the Itsy Bitsy Speyter. She loves "speyters" so much she often asks me to draw one. There's a worn-out cardboard box in the living room right now with a spider army drawn all over it. <br />
<br />
- And to my surprise, she has memorized several of her board books already, including <i>Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, I'm a Big Sister, I am a Bunny, Happy Birthday Little Pookie</i>, and <i>Goodnight Moon</i>. <br />
<br />
- The other day Mike was in his underwear, looking for his pajama bottoms. He leaned over, and Avery's patted his butt with her little hand and in her sweet 2-year-old voice proudly said, "Daddy panties."<br />
<br />
- Riggs contentedly hangs out in my lap or his Moses basket and takes note. Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-13930937947405266002013-06-06T10:12:00.002-07:002013-11-30T19:50:56.733-08:00Life as of Late<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh hey guys. Guess what. I had a baby. It's a boy and his name is Riggs Michael.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRlJx8bnVr-T6Doi5ekCwtsAGycG9tV3rhACDo2ba1bVRGucPPUBg1mQBFOMercwsIb7Q-H0-qZlhmc2XF9HVDz5jBha4mAZhhJiJx6ig4eKcElKO5Q3yOt7KyxpGyKVPXMrZ_NdkLCJY/s1600/IMG_0228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRlJx8bnVr-T6Doi5ekCwtsAGycG9tV3rhACDo2ba1bVRGucPPUBg1mQBFOMercwsIb7Q-H0-qZlhmc2XF9HVDz5jBha4mAZhhJiJx6ig4eKcElKO5Q3yOt7KyxpGyKVPXMrZ_NdkLCJY/s320/IMG_0228.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We love him.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdePeJjJTvrTMPBdEMi0TOghuZPZByquj1xz5OKF3fCg-m2kQ8uH_OYL05ii-zQjmJIizSIGd36DnN4yY4n_bc8n9AVL1YdjbwF_gzizGHaKcWw4jBUjzm3UpRLvUYnZ4YCqzABOz_tsW5/s1600/IMG_0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdePeJjJTvrTMPBdEMi0TOghuZPZByquj1xz5OKF3fCg-m2kQ8uH_OYL05ii-zQjmJIizSIGd36DnN4yY4n_bc8n9AVL1YdjbwF_gzizGHaKcWw4jBUjzm3UpRLvUYnZ4YCqzABOz_tsW5/s320/IMG_0278.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
So does his big sister. Actually, she's more over-the-moon-completely-enamored-and-infatuated with him. We're eating it up.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0BxDMdq_fEqMiFaTApjo11Ms1OuIa-ma4dmUA3mVn589UbHzMLGSqfM9Vv08yKXH0B7FfcW1u6nX1j86ZVyG8kOsAOzR0p6gJFOKEfnYpEpPCJ9EceIZkswqgqHyVyVvca7gWd_iTdz3/s1600/IMG_0301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0BxDMdq_fEqMiFaTApjo11Ms1OuIa-ma4dmUA3mVn589UbHzMLGSqfM9Vv08yKXH0B7FfcW1u6nX1j86ZVyG8kOsAOzR0p6gJFOKEfnYpEpPCJ9EceIZkswqgqHyVyVvca7gWd_iTdz3/s320/IMG_0301.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Birth was completely natural and went exactly the way I wanted it. We arrived at the hospital around 9 AM, and he was here at 10:46. It snowed that morning, March 2, and it snowed on Avery's birthday as well this year. Snow on both my babies' birthdays in the year 2013.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQDdpsMAIdtNPMamozYDXL__4ThgxUDdc2wAsNX5760T4dSZXxoNqE4ZoIIAVuAMk-zqsb9HRyaLQDFs39Gh6KaUF1hC1K4unc1jqqjgjOSipMs0QVkgzAXzfjKI3r8fyMjSu3nZrsGGJ/s1600/Peacock_2025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQDdpsMAIdtNPMamozYDXL__4ThgxUDdc2wAsNX5760T4dSZXxoNqE4ZoIIAVuAMk-zqsb9HRyaLQDFs39Gh6KaUF1hC1K4unc1jqqjgjOSipMs0QVkgzAXzfjKI3r8fyMjSu3nZrsGGJ/s320/Peacock_2025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It was pretty hard work. I'm hoping to post the (extremely) detailed story here sometime when both babies are napping again. You can see more photos taken by the talented Jess Bollaert here:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7l3CVXkTr28" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
Life with two has its moments, but most are unbelievably sweet and wonderful. Avery is coming into her own, has a great vocabulary (including "octopust," "kaynket," and "pantyrolls" instead of ponytails), and has the sweetest, smartest, most clever and funny personality. The other day she insisted that the dog says "beep," and I could tell in her eyes that she was having a fun time kidding me. We're working on manners such as yes ma'am, please, and thank you, and potty training is slow but steady. I almost took a photo of her first, ah, deposit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv4j2-Lj3f5dqPaUKGALBNAXxsklXndOn9_n4igeKvbXLN_lQ8493kbnVxPUnU52YXCSEfBPTy29CK23DddSCXP4kQFJVFj8_Wdw6cZ2MtoD4yjjeTOVTfYxfnIPFF70HggFCGddffSjk/s1600/DSC_0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv4j2-Lj3f5dqPaUKGALBNAXxsklXndOn9_n4igeKvbXLN_lQ8493kbnVxPUnU52YXCSEfBPTy29CK23DddSCXP4kQFJVFj8_Wdw6cZ2MtoD4yjjeTOVTfYxfnIPFF70HggFCGddffSjk/s320/DSC_0592.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
She's <i>incredibly, </i>heart-stoppingly<i> </i>sweet with her little brother, for which I am eternally grateful.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRd0w45oiYy32UiAPl2QKNGlKUj6m8F5IrQka2NLhcAEeHexJXpVBEMzIz-ekGw6Sb-Ov3P8a7pQVqZB4MjfQ604JJLc6MeMVHJzhfEd23yiWDGNLCfhUkFksMh0qe57nmXBiy-zIz3su/s1600/DSC_0599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRd0w45oiYy32UiAPl2QKNGlKUj6m8F5IrQka2NLhcAEeHexJXpVBEMzIz-ekGw6Sb-Ov3P8a7pQVqZB4MjfQ604JJLc6MeMVHJzhfEd23yiWDGNLCfhUkFksMh0qe57nmXBiy-zIz3su/s320/DSC_0599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So many times I've thought to sit down and write about the cute, wonderful, funny, intense things that have happened in the past few months, but as you might imagine time to sit down is rare. I will try to make an effort, but in the meantime, please know that we're having the time of our lives.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZR7KF8d74py5stSipNDynBGuQuxnpwSDFtazaY6duCwKag2kL7WfSv4eiIgmfh_NdIb21dcbyvb6qjzgiYfte5aAsqcGsalT2tUIpOFiUo3ChJqNlzsqjkC-Z-eV20ocPaLGY29V7m3d/s1600/6+Sixth+Anniversary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZR7KF8d74py5stSipNDynBGuQuxnpwSDFtazaY6duCwKag2kL7WfSv4eiIgmfh_NdIb21dcbyvb6qjzgiYfte5aAsqcGsalT2tUIpOFiUo3ChJqNlzsqjkC-Z-eV20ocPaLGY29V7m3d/s320/6+Sixth+Anniversary.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-63121987824624655772012-09-18T04:53:00.003-07:002012-09-18T05:02:08.164-07:00Jaunt to Gulf Shores<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We recently realized that in her 20 months on this planet, Avery has never set foot on the beach. Neither has her daddy, for that matter, and so without further ado, we decided to make a last-minute last-ditch quick trip to the coast for one final summer fling. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mike was only off for four days, and we literally wrung every last drop of fun out of those four days as was possible. He worked Wednesday night, so he came home Thursday morning and slept for a few hours, then I threw everybody in the car and drove straight to <a href="http://fishrivergrill.com/Home.aspx">Fish River Grill #2</a> in Foley to have supper. Since <a href="http://franpeacockskitchen.blogspot.com/2010/05/ce-weekend.html">I'd been to Orange Beach</a> with the girls a couple of years ago, I was designated tour guide. Avery was a doll on the way down and behaved remarkably well during dinner. Mike had fried oysters, and I had the fried alligator - it might have been our favorite meal that weekend.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XvS0srsR7klGNAVOH1-lP5WnFwVxwrKCRDZ8GlbNg5_F5flPq42dVtRTp_9_QgmcqekXcX570TKRfBSYdEVc0pQyF5um6ElY31IaG6rqpT-VoVc9nh5LL5HIyIHn9Iwfa_G3nheO0Hll/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XvS0srsR7klGNAVOH1-lP5WnFwVxwrKCRDZ8GlbNg5_F5flPq42dVtRTp_9_QgmcqekXcX570TKRfBSYdEVc0pQyF5um6ElY31IaG6rqpT-VoVc9nh5LL5HIyIHn9Iwfa_G3nheO0Hll/s320/DSC_0008.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
Then we drove on down to #609 in <a href="http://www.crystaltowersgulfshores.com/">Crystal Towers</a>, our lovely home away from home. Mike had booked it last minute, and we were lucky enough to have an entire side of the complex all to ourselves. When we first walked in, Avery and I genuinely said "WOW!" back and forth to each other. It was awfully cute, and the condo really was that nice. Avery's room even had its own balcony with views of the Little Lagoon behind us. The kitchen and living room had huge picture windows of the beach, and the living room and master bedrooms had sliding glass doors that opened to a lovely, wide balcony. It was perfect.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2bqoNGdqzlavNaMMFiPk1RKYyvamLK-6_PfIpEPqCk74z8CSfYBASrTxluJTQwTRIU-DZbWA-K85WYm0yk6wTiNrIs0tZ2zX66o7LyxVWOdIge4OrWFIbAmGWFOEBd7QNWR3poIMHOJv/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2bqoNGdqzlavNaMMFiPk1RKYyvamLK-6_PfIpEPqCk74z8CSfYBASrTxluJTQwTRIU-DZbWA-K85WYm0yk6wTiNrIs0tZ2zX66o7LyxVWOdIge4OrWFIbAmGWFOEBd7QNWR3poIMHOJv/s320/DSC_0014.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
The next morning we had breakfast, slathered up with sunscreen, and headed to the beach. Our first unfortunate surprise: Avery. HATES. Sand. Despises it. Has absolutely nothing to do with it. Cannot tolerate the stuff and is quite frankly shocked and horrified that we would even consider walking on it. The photo below is the ONLY time she took a few steps on the beach, and even that was under duress. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhGxY0-YHCRX7tDTAm72Uu9PKLyyaxADn-GMXMjaH1miat6VM8fUCVIOZgVdBkj1yPSOYQEYkdjaI_NblJSSAkTDoniYpKl4cmZLMxGQHRqXER5AXEhyphenhyphenceAHcu54tINX7GfokEopKWdpc/s1600/DSC_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhGxY0-YHCRX7tDTAm72Uu9PKLyyaxADn-GMXMjaH1miat6VM8fUCVIOZgVdBkj1yPSOYQEYkdjaI_NblJSSAkTDoniYpKl4cmZLMxGQHRqXER5AXEhyphenhyphenceAHcu54tINX7GfokEopKWdpc/s320/DSC_0026.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLHzVfDmLLMFwDNiYVYq-BpQ-MdoGBHj9X9Pp0QyIgIOwjbysOhyphenhyphen4Om9iHKksR01MJyUsUmDCOicmdcoo1O5I9raaqN4-C1ptfDm_rV_iCiV26_VDLSSwBcnlKVozdcajrNfbslE6J3og/s1600/DSC_0996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLHzVfDmLLMFwDNiYVYq-BpQ-MdoGBHj9X9Pp0QyIgIOwjbysOhyphenhyphen4Om9iHKksR01MJyUsUmDCOicmdcoo1O5I9raaqN4-C1ptfDm_rV_iCiV26_VDLSSwBcnlKVozdcajrNfbslE6J3og/s320/DSC_0996.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8_lCQDeXc54eLQu4pmk1lVpXixPR1nKlb_T2cwrDaHEehbDQxR85cpywUeTlxm_QzjZSdXW0fwlXKB3NkadQQci1TxyjIgtbTy3KmczEaMN7LSM-AuW1uv8tmNJgF3ZLX6XU5HqpuDKr/s1600/iPhone+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8_lCQDeXc54eLQu4pmk1lVpXixPR1nKlb_T2cwrDaHEehbDQxR85cpywUeTlxm_QzjZSdXW0fwlXKB3NkadQQci1TxyjIgtbTy3KmczEaMN7LSM-AuW1uv8tmNJgF3ZLX6XU5HqpuDKr/s320/iPhone+041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So the morning was spent with either Mike or me carting the baby around on our hips or sitting in the water with her on our laps. We headed up to the condo for sandwiches for lunch and a nap for the baby, then headed back down for another try on the beach. Once again, sand was a no-go for the little monster. I found myself enormously grateful to Mike for having the foresight to book a place with such a fabulous pool. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-VIrcjqqHNrBIbCoXxMDNLN-PloPgDfyybdITC3jc1sUa6h-xWYkxQ9ZdHiMWR7h06_iochcJ1phOZ7VO3g7zPzWaYG5VT3DsL2xTpNQZtYAGOWjGPgEK9vJYdh6MlA2Er0NMycnxr1G/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb-VIrcjqqHNrBIbCoXxMDNLN-PloPgDfyybdITC3jc1sUa6h-xWYkxQ9ZdHiMWR7h06_iochcJ1phOZ7VO3g7zPzWaYG5VT3DsL2xTpNQZtYAGOWjGPgEK9vJYdh6MlA2Er0NMycnxr1G/s320/DSC_0036.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
We decided Friday would be our best bet to eat out, so we loaded up in the car and drove a little while Avery took a nap in the backseat. We decided on the <a href="http://www.theoysterhouse.com/">Original Oyster House</a> for dinner but had to take home to-go boxes after an hour and a half wait and complete meltdown from the kiddo. She had too big of a day and was done.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_WuxELJTsr90MXInEIBRlz6hOk2WRiSHzD-cRt6Qju6LENvUfwiK_pHDbJhd3FIttcgAIdV30Dpn788aEy7NyZCJnqqSc7Vmfbxw3v496CW1FtRUK8yuVeh4yPL5gUccJm0NwNJ8x5Te/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_WuxELJTsr90MXInEIBRlz6hOk2WRiSHzD-cRt6Qju6LENvUfwiK_pHDbJhd3FIttcgAIdV30Dpn788aEy7NyZCJnqqSc7Vmfbxw3v496CW1FtRUK8yuVeh4yPL5gUccJm0NwNJ8x5Te/s320/DSC_0039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Then Saturday we once again went through the sunscreen ritual and headed for the beach. On the way home, we noticed that though we had a little bit of sun, none of us burned at all. Mike and I contributed it to our being so careful with Avery. Friday afternoon I had picked up some little booties for her to wear on the beach in the hopes that would calm her distaste for sand, but no luck. We were able to distract her fairly well with snacks on our beach mats, so she wasn't literally on top of us the whole time, and she really enjoyed pointing at the seagulls. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9Efy4nqdpTNTzf8mCg8y0HscEKRNvGPcBXScbYQKEeRJsbdoHo9Y1pgAvrTgs1I_AR1qVZUpWePx6Kwz23y9s8ejEO7KwfjV5D6ZqXmZkgR38ijcE1oyBXLG8c3zJ1Ryzqpbsn4OiSd6/s1600/iPhone+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9Efy4nqdpTNTzf8mCg8y0HscEKRNvGPcBXScbYQKEeRJsbdoHo9Y1pgAvrTgs1I_AR1qVZUpWePx6Kwz23y9s8ejEO7KwfjV5D6ZqXmZkgR38ijcE1oyBXLG8c3zJ1Ryzqpbsn4OiSd6/s320/iPhone+065.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
For lunch we went to <a href="http://www.paparocco.com/">Papa Rocco's</a> for burgers, and Saturday afternoon was spent with the baby taking a nap back at the condo while Mike and I watched Georgia Tech beat Virginia. It was a really great game. Then we took a quick walk on the beach, where we took some family photos, and decided on takeout from <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/74/1675575/restaurant/Alabama/S-S-Seafood-Market-Gulf-Shores">S&S Seafood Market</a> for dinner. Wow. That was right up there with our top favorite places to eat. I had the creole snapper, and Mike had Greek trigger fish. The boxes were also piled high with onion rings, hush puppies, and fries. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEs2Qi0S6vJfcK7B1Uy7ojjVSTaGgVUhmj3KSEIOa07DJFAv3N5Zf8UTLfsTyQJwUjaYDSgrXGmMnR9iRrX7mUESDLlJJD9BllZ8lwNU_TPbXiarP0A_wJ-2zugQEKmy46MMSBitkBYkM/s1600/DSC_0998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEs2Qi0S6vJfcK7B1Uy7ojjVSTaGgVUhmj3KSEIOa07DJFAv3N5Zf8UTLfsTyQJwUjaYDSgrXGmMnR9iRrX7mUESDLlJJD9BllZ8lwNU_TPbXiarP0A_wJ-2zugQEKmy46MMSBitkBYkM/s320/DSC_0998.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After Avery went to sleep Saturday night, Mike and I stayed up to watch <i>The Woman in Black</i>, a chillingly terrifying movie with Daniel Radcliffe. It was the perfect beachside ghost story, and after it was over I just had to go check on the baby. But I was too spooked to go alone, so armed with a flashlight, Mike and I crept through the condo like two bad little kids ourselves. She opened her eyes and looked at us as if to say, "What are you crazy people doing?" and we scampered away.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGslppArcuU60HlzZMmI0VsRvfamTEmG_Qd-kKjGoDx4vNM070dKz_u98s1Oht7uBJopQ9rqxU2z4xsd6ZIAet-VDGeUZ90BqXTNGARgYvBp-40Y5atrLwCKSr8suL9ZbutSRPdUc_b932/s1600/iPhone+074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGslppArcuU60HlzZMmI0VsRvfamTEmG_Qd-kKjGoDx4vNM070dKz_u98s1Oht7uBJopQ9rqxU2z4xsd6ZIAet-VDGeUZ90BqXTNGARgYvBp-40Y5atrLwCKSr8suL9ZbutSRPdUc_b932/s320/iPhone+074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Sunday morning was spent poolside, which Avery quite adored. She had a thing about the darker squares on the pavement and wanted to stop and step on each and every one. Once again, lunch and a nap at the condo, and then we headed to <a href="http://www.tangeroutlet.com/">Tanger</a>, where Mike and I bought each other's birthday gifts. I'm entirely too excited about mine but will have to wait 'till November.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxLNAfdsWWegThXtIAiGFsFYGLvcayXfEJQsR0dyhoTGZGir00lPXcfFyDeIKCjTXqJdfYYYQvpSZtRfTQU6J2Du2o7JQh2YxJnd-AbhqdI8viheXFsXQC_L4C8ccp9gsB__MwQgeucsK/s1600/iPhone+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxLNAfdsWWegThXtIAiGFsFYGLvcayXfEJQsR0dyhoTGZGir00lPXcfFyDeIKCjTXqJdfYYYQvpSZtRfTQU6J2Du2o7JQh2YxJnd-AbhqdI8viheXFsXQC_L4C8ccp9gsB__MwQgeucsK/s320/iPhone+087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUcOKlefZvmpRsi9Kbpn0sR0Z0Iq-_QfBl9YVdbhB0eQjHaY3colKwyZW9RL67ODRww8-sLuzAUiGXqBuTPiHgd9tlFExTSKSLbH40mZH1YwJwbvqYjAygnLm1r_qZoNAz8U_-EjlxK_6/s1600/iPhone+155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIUcOKlefZvmpRsi9Kbpn0sR0Z0Iq-_QfBl9YVdbhB0eQjHaY3colKwyZW9RL67ODRww8-sLuzAUiGXqBuTPiHgd9tlFExTSKSLbH40mZH1YwJwbvqYjAygnLm1r_qZoNAz8U_-EjlxK_6/s320/iPhone+155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
On our way back from Tanger, we stopped by <a href="http://bellalunapizzagulfshores.com/">Bella Luna Pizza</a> for a Mona Lisa with green bell peppers. Delicious. We headed back to the condo to pack everything up and settle in for the night, watching the Simpsons just like we do at home. Then Monday morning we took another quick walk on the beach, and on our way home, we dropped in to <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g30582-d328973-Reviews-Cafe_Beignets_of_Alabama-Gulf_Shores_Alabama.html">Cafe Beignets</a> for breakfast. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0BIl0e3_yiIc1scvYYnicqv2dbfzqfiYizhPS-oV5Q7giQgIYq6hfdp0xFjW3UwJOT9EAKsHEgfyVK1GrkoLTVghS8SxEAUfzZ9qa2uIwHbVQ_0rZQZwpEIuhMnj0RpXR_B5aHKEKGET/s1600/iPhone+194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0BIl0e3_yiIc1scvYYnicqv2dbfzqfiYizhPS-oV5Q7giQgIYq6hfdp0xFjW3UwJOT9EAKsHEgfyVK1GrkoLTVghS8SxEAUfzZ9qa2uIwHbVQ_0rZQZwpEIuhMnj0RpXR_B5aHKEKGET/s320/iPhone+194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was the perfect quick little getaway, just the three of us, with several life lessons learned along the way. All in all, it was a happy time, and we can't wait to go back. Mark Twain said, "I have found that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them," and<span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Nimbus Sans L, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">after this weekend, I'm most certain that I desperately love these two.</span></span></div>
Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-69914473681221312352012-09-18T03:11:00.003-07:002012-09-18T03:11:45.307-07:00An Evening with Sir Elton John<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At 8 PM on the evening of Tuesday, September 11, Mike and I joined several thousand close friends at the Coliseum for a sold-out show by none other than Sir Elton John. The concert was awesome. At 65 years old, the man still knows how to rock it out, sitting down to that piano and playing it within an inch of its life for over 2 1/2 hours without even breaking a sweat. I swear, Elton John finds performance just as natural as breathing. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJI9UKSOV0LP5tiqdnBMniYPy-LmK09v6XG99yQZthdRCmp2P3thvFuk4OaFPvrpH8h2eDz45tQPsfrxA5Zzq1aMRvFGYSWk524Uy8RihNhhpvEwpikZBXpe3WsqO4vuIYR1HC6Moo4fR_/s1600/iPhone+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJI9UKSOV0LP5tiqdnBMniYPy-LmK09v6XG99yQZthdRCmp2P3thvFuk4OaFPvrpH8h2eDz45tQPsfrxA5Zzq1aMRvFGYSWk524Uy8RihNhhpvEwpikZBXpe3WsqO4vuIYR1HC6Moo4fR_/s320/iPhone+018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Our seats in Section AG were really neat - it was even better than having a backstage pass because there were no seats in front of us, and we had a birds' eye view of everything going on behind the scenes. We even caught the two cellists taking photos of each other with Elton in the background. It was the first concert of this tour in the US, so perhaps they were just as startstruck as we were. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJz553iglkyHzakQOShCYEMlJvJassn8PnnEOpOvbc6z1eMuSiZP-O9Esu2YND1yKbABTjexm-vKUPa0uAKwuS8EYb-jwIJdVfoN9foPry7iWnOBzRN4UFkIYuEsEy425VqGYIYqaF2x6U/s1600/iPhone+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJz553iglkyHzakQOShCYEMlJvJassn8PnnEOpOvbc6z1eMuSiZP-O9Esu2YND1yKbABTjexm-vKUPa0uAKwuS8EYb-jwIJdVfoN9foPry7iWnOBzRN4UFkIYuEsEy425VqGYIYqaF2x6U/s320/iPhone+021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I was thrilled to see these two guys perform live, as I discovered them via Pandora months ago and have considered downloading several of their songs. It was a happy surprise to see them come onstage. After a prelude by the Two Cellists of <i>Smooth Criminal</i>, <i>With or Without You</i>, and <i>Highway to Hell</i>, we watched Elton enter the Coliseum behind the stage, sit at his piano, and start his setlist. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSluKOFc4xulW948jwbOjAqI1G4G-45rjjZjT5TfMABrk6zu-EiydiJBUIRqxUIIYrRWPlJuxLmq6ERmZIOiC6PSrslhRoKEejVA1_kE75PiQK9csaCRNzUzHAhXvEdSiuCB7SiApAo15/s1600/iPhone+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSluKOFc4xulW948jwbOjAqI1G4G-45rjjZjT5TfMABrk6zu-EiydiJBUIRqxUIIYrRWPlJuxLmq6ERmZIOiC6PSrslhRoKEejVA1_kE75PiQK9csaCRNzUzHAhXvEdSiuCB7SiApAo15/s320/iPhone+031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The photo just doesn't do our seats justice. We could see Elton's facial expressions as he sang - he tends to raise his eyebrows whenever he opens his mouth really big. We could even see the backup dancers' shoes.<br />
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 19px;">
<li><ol>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Saturday+Night's+Alright+for+Fighting" title="Statistics for Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting by Elton John">Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Bennie+and+the+Jets" title="Statistics for Bennie and the Jets by Elton John">Bennie and the Jets</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Holiday+Inn" title="Statistics for Holiday Inn by Elton John">Holiday Inn</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Grey+Seal" title="Statistics for Grey Seal by Elton John">Grey Seal</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Levon" title="Statistics for Levon by Elton John">Levon</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Tiny+Dancer" title="Statistics for Tiny Dancer by Elton John">Tiny Dancer</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Mona+Lisas+and+Mad+Hatters" style="font-style: italic;" title="Statistics for Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters by Elton John">Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters</a><i> </i>(This was in tribute to 9/11.)</span></div>
<div class="infoPart" style="font-style: italic;">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Philadelphia+Freedom" title="Statistics for Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John">Philadelphia Freedom</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Candle+in+the+Wind" style="font-style: italic;" title="Statistics for Candle in the Wind by Elton John">Candle in the Wind</a><i> </i>(Mike cuddled up to me during this one.)</span></div>
<div class="infoPart" style="font-style: italic;">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Goodbye+Yellow+Brick+Road" title="Statistics for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John">Goodbye Yellow Brick Road</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Rocket+Man" title="Statistics for Rocket Man by Elton John">Rocket Man</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Hey+Ahab" title="Statistics for Hey Ahab by Elton John">Hey Ahab</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=I+Guess+That's+Why+They+Call+It+the+Blues" title="Statistics for I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues by Elton John">I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Funeral+for+a+Friend/Love+Lies+Bleeding" title="Statistics for Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding by Elton John">Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Sad+Songs+%28Say+So+Much%29" title="Statistics for Sad Songs (Say So Much) by Elton John">Sad Songs (Say So Much)</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Daniel" title="Statistics for Daniel by Elton John">Daniel</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Nikita" title="Statistics for Nikita by Elton John">Nikita</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
<span class="songInfo"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(<span id="id2">solo</span>)</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Sorry+Seems+to+Be+the+Hardest+Word" title="Statistics for Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word by Elton John">Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
<span class="songInfo"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(<span id="id3">solo</span>)</span></span></div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Don't+Let+the+Sun+Go+Down+on+Me" title="Statistics for Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John">Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=I'm+Still+Standing" title="Statistics for I'm Still Standing by Elton John">I'm Still Standing</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li style="font-style: italic;"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=The+Bitch+Is+Back" title="Statistics for The Bitch Is Back by Elton John">The Bitch Is Back</a> <a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart">
</div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Crocodile+Rock" style="font-style: italic;" title="Statistics for Crocodile Rock by Elton John">Crocodile Rock</a><i> </i>(Elton started this one off with a finger-pop in his mouth, and he made us sing the "lalalaaaaas".)<i><a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></i></span></div>
<div class="infoPart" style="font-style: italic;">
</div>
</li>
<li class="encore" style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Encore:</span></li>
<li style="font-style: italic;" value="23"><div class="songPart">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/elton-john-63d6be6f.html?song=Your+Song" title="Statistics for Your Song by Elton John">Your Song</a> </span><span style="font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a class="playVideo" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/elton-john/2012/mississippi-coliseum-jackson-ms-63ddaebb.html" rel="nofollow" title="Play Video"></a></span></div>
<div class="infoPart" style="font-family: Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</div>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyJMzggvY_k5ZT71mW-E8Zj_kLGw0ngw5xtDQrn2HsHNd_pBCsZje-O9UUnYtTIoSqNLRadyi6O3UUx_o4gCFq6Gol3J0gDJgUT2Wb9hUtt63w7Fze6LeH893MARrdFQggIhMKbB9UaV_/s1600/iPhone+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyJMzggvY_k5ZT71mW-E8Zj_kLGw0ngw5xtDQrn2HsHNd_pBCsZje-O9UUnYtTIoSqNLRadyi6O3UUx_o4gCFq6Gol3J0gDJgUT2Wb9hUtt63w7Fze6LeH893MARrdFQggIhMKbB9UaV_/s320/iPhone+035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It was an awful lot of fun, and I'm so glad Mike and I were able to go. I saw him and his piano - no band - in 1999 and scored his autograph, so this time I was more than happy to watch the crowd from a little more of a distance. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdWFfWrgV0HojIoOCfuQLzf9QJ6tCPnpCgUglIK8GHx7Ak-mJwfrbp0SU2aU22h9T9kbzsVwgv1Tt6zfsYNrF613JeHy2o14bZAszsokqpqABb-0u5-3BlzRXjLM6eZNB7Ng2R6967BDB/s1600/iPhone+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdWFfWrgV0HojIoOCfuQLzf9QJ6tCPnpCgUglIK8GHx7Ak-mJwfrbp0SU2aU22h9T9kbzsVwgv1Tt6zfsYNrF613JeHy2o14bZAszsokqpqABb-0u5-3BlzRXjLM6eZNB7Ng2R6967BDB/s320/iPhone+050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-5051489702621230532012-08-30T20:10:00.000-07:002012-08-30T20:14:21.200-07:00Talking the Talk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, Baby Girl has started talking. I mean, really talking. So far, like a character in a children's show, she does the kind of communication that only her daddy and I can understand, but she's currently able to give us a fairly clear understanding of what she's trying to convey. We smell what she's stepping in.</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TY638_MjyKo" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
About a week ago Mike kept her while I had my hair cut. Upon returning, I asked her what she & Daddy did. She responded with her version of "moo," which never makes it to the "ooooo" part - it's just a big, long, loud, "MMMMMMM!" Somewhat shocked, Mike said they had just been reading a book with a cow in it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pIT2uHa7XLe8SicMm6jIZJnYRlqFblMyK2URfGIgI7B7Isbk8mar_BLn668YhUtRIZcx8K-S4wlQuAgeCJ67vTOE7y66ioyOxCR-5JENT0l76B1PhejsxgIS0mF57eZmNe1CN8P__n1u/s1600/iPhone+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pIT2uHa7XLe8SicMm6jIZJnYRlqFblMyK2URfGIgI7B7Isbk8mar_BLn668YhUtRIZcx8K-S4wlQuAgeCJ67vTOE7y66ioyOxCR-5JENT0l76B1PhejsxgIS0mF57eZmNe1CN8P__n1u/s320/iPhone+004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
This afternoon she <i>insisted</i> on taking one of her books to bed with her as she took a nap. I watched on the video monitor as she read to herself. Though I couldn't see the book, I knew which page she was "reading" from the sequence of moos, quacks, snorts (that she literally makes through her nose), barks (oof oof! She has a little stuffed dog that she named Oof Oof.), meows, squeaks, etc. Our current favorite books are <i>Little Blue Truck</i>, <i>Goodnight Gorilla</i>, and <i>I am a Bunny</i>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtehhW4oHRMk3T_j4_6t5o6qe3Yp_RZM_WiD08XwYWtgojqQK7aetS1d1KfO146ozBPhiZaok-3P0dPgsJLUpKo4ZaJkO4IP7EhJiDspUTpp10hqWjL71s3Q7yop9Pa1y9Zx7q5cRLBkob/s1600/iPhone+176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtehhW4oHRMk3T_j4_6t5o6qe3Yp_RZM_WiD08XwYWtgojqQK7aetS1d1KfO146ozBPhiZaok-3P0dPgsJLUpKo4ZaJkO4IP7EhJiDspUTpp10hqWjL71s3Q7yop9Pa1y9Zx7q5cRLBkob/s320/iPhone+176.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
So we know the kiddo CAN communicate. And perhaps more importantly, she can understand. Her pediatrician asked if she would retrieve a book from her room if we asked her to do so. I said yes, but the rest of the story is that her action depended completely upon whether or not that activity agreed with her current agenda. Like an old dog, she tends to have selective hearing. At 20 pounds, 10 ounces and 32 inches long, she's still in the 25th percentile for weight and 75th for height, so I suppose she's taller & skinnier than 75% of her peers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp1ixAntv4QKznIpSjuj2v_nmIHz6qqBj3WmAjWLPwQH8dOLqtF1-3JTpHs24QqvU8sK5LhRroR1IpJv2kE8tsqvMkkIP9jjcjVcK4QpiqH5cDqBAi9l1t6VXKjB1rTEB4QPx0lsEdvKF/s1600/iPhone+247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp1ixAntv4QKznIpSjuj2v_nmIHz6qqBj3WmAjWLPwQH8dOLqtF1-3JTpHs24QqvU8sK5LhRroR1IpJv2kE8tsqvMkkIP9jjcjVcK4QpiqH5cDqBAi9l1t6VXKjB1rTEB4QPx0lsEdvKF/s320/iPhone+247.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Oh, the teeth. Her canines have given us worlds more troubles than the 1 year molars ever did. Her pediatrician took one look at her and prescribed Tylenol with Codeine. Yikes. But I have to admit to resorting to its use once in a while, and only at night, when there are no distractions from the pain. <br />
<br />
You know, like helping Mama work out....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfVw_TdhPZaxyCRUqq43eWHYE7uHEy8rY8Xzg0OjV41zqJj8ASNi912hC29M-Ds5YDTn4NH8COGAJRI-d5k77WIGl2_-_jTO5uaaLHkCiNFgL4mxfDRdhLkOidhqpuVF3fc8iS0nZioBT/s1600/iPhone+284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfVw_TdhPZaxyCRUqq43eWHYE7uHEy8rY8Xzg0OjV41zqJj8ASNi912hC29M-Ds5YDTn4NH8COGAJRI-d5k77WIGl2_-_jTO5uaaLHkCiNFgL4mxfDRdhLkOidhqpuVF3fc8iS0nZioBT/s320/iPhone+284.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The kiddo is into everything. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL5ttWloyKLHMaIW7KqQSyf4FUoGM0ST4Tx_9NWbgn1-xAUMhpFziXHWsIREPi0TC23T5YdkT1g6vInax2zwDkadkqcsQZlofwHJIFazfmjPWlMcn2RwjLUHy7FaIq5HF3xONPYMrgtIC/s1600/iPhone+232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL5ttWloyKLHMaIW7KqQSyf4FUoGM0ST4Tx_9NWbgn1-xAUMhpFziXHWsIREPi0TC23T5YdkT1g6vInax2zwDkadkqcsQZlofwHJIFazfmjPWlMcn2RwjLUHy7FaIq5HF3xONPYMrgtIC/s320/iPhone+232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And really enjoying her new wardrobe from her Auntie Asher. Apparently she inherited the dancing-on-the-table gene from her mama. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrAqgd_MpPslSmyZi46bPbclN8Oc8DrD1uQGKVAWwvn-7yrhfV1nnt5BTydYEf3aXW4A1bZmTA0tsZ2l2Eq1NRDh6GwgIe1cxNyGzss36_CkEVepB9KEeec9eVjMMT1mZnDDLafw0iMHZ/s1600/iPhone+233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrAqgd_MpPslSmyZi46bPbclN8Oc8DrD1uQGKVAWwvn-7yrhfV1nnt5BTydYEf3aXW4A1bZmTA0tsZ2l2Eq1NRDh6GwgIe1cxNyGzss36_CkEVepB9KEeec9eVjMMT1mZnDDLafw0iMHZ/s320/iPhone+233.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Though she has no set bedtime, our nightly ritual is to brush teeth, wash face, put on a clean diaper & onesie, and read a few books. Then I turn out the lights, and we rock, cuddle, and nurse while I sing our lullaby, <i>Till There Was You</i>, say the Lord's Prayer and Now I Lay You and put her to bed. But is that when she goes to sleep? Oh no. After that Mike and I turn on the video monitor and sit back to watch the Avery Show, in which she rolls around, flails around the bed, makes her nest, and snuggles and settles in, a process that often takes up to an hour. For instance, I put her to bed at 8:30 tonight after she rubbed her eyes for the second time. It's 10:13 as I type, and she just settled in for a late summer's nap.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Maybe I should put her to bed with books more often.....</div>
Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-27783680342907713012012-07-17T10:00:00.000-07:002012-07-17T10:03:45.407-07:0018 Months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dear Sweet, Baby Girl,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
18 months ago today we were cuddled up in a twin-sized bed with Daddy. You were in my arms, snoozing away, and Daddy and I were watching an episode of The X-Files on my cell phone. Full from my Wendy's fried chicken sandwich combo with a real Coke, I fell asleep and snoozed on Daddy's shoulder. It was a lovely rainy afternoon, just the three of us. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since then, you have grown into such an independent, intelligent, CURIOUS, sensitive, charming, impish, sweet, whirlwind of activity punctuated by naps. You have figured out how to open the back door, but fortunately you can't do it if the deadbolt is locked. This is very frustrating for you. Though you don't actually speak much, you have your own language that only I can understand. "Da!" is either Daddy or goodbye, and you blow kisses like an American Indian gives a war cry. You wave goodbye to everybody, but your favorite time of day is when Daddy comes home. You grab my index finger and lead me, running, to the front door. I have to hold you and Dante back until he has the vehicle parked. Then you run out to greet him, and he gives you his coffee thermos to carry inside for him, which you do with glee.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xNaHjoFsKOrTPt623LuR6b0RuvQjhkSDtLZ9IrxXwSF2SiaplAXFXl24KOwGcsiiSybncFiee3blClNFIwcaqNAHPXOO7-qLjfx1lzJT8awc3GmqztgtDpStmOr9yUzFG0EH9nA0Yqct/s1600/iPhone+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xNaHjoFsKOrTPt623LuR6b0RuvQjhkSDtLZ9IrxXwSF2SiaplAXFXl24KOwGcsiiSybncFiee3blClNFIwcaqNAHPXOO7-qLjfx1lzJT8awc3GmqztgtDpStmOr9yUzFG0EH9nA0Yqct/s320/iPhone+008.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
We have bought an annual membership to the MS Children's Museum, and right now your favorite exhibit is the Storytime one, in which you can explore some of your favorite books like Peter Rabbit and Clifford. We still go to the pool, but lately you like playing around the concrete apron more than jumping in. That might be because it's so hot lately the pool feels more like bathwater. We took you on your first boat outing up the Pearl River a couple of months ago, and though you adored the wind in your hair, you weren't so fond of the life jacket or the sand. You have never met a shoe you didn't like, and now you're actually walking around in Mommy's high heels.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVqiL1m1fXm2-NC-HP-R9WNOGeWIQvDAlNGS-zyce_r7ILrABzq8KvnLhKZq0y83QVebe4FUHO3xysE3uhyGxrcGtBsp5p0NRqUaNowjXBQoj7WobShdZ32u1sNVdnkcox2J52FLod2WK/s1600/iPhone+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVqiL1m1fXm2-NC-HP-R9WNOGeWIQvDAlNGS-zyce_r7ILrABzq8KvnLhKZq0y83QVebe4FUHO3xysE3uhyGxrcGtBsp5p0NRqUaNowjXBQoj7WobShdZ32u1sNVdnkcox2J52FLod2WK/s320/iPhone+065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
You have become a big helper, putting toys away, organizing and straightening, and generally trying to keep things tidy. Yesterday we opened the mail in the living room floor. You dumped your blocks out and put the empty envelopes & junk mail into the block box, which was lovely - I just dumped that into the recycle bin. You like to lead and be led places, and it charms my heart when you grab my index finger to take me where you want to go. The other day you wanted me to play with you on my cell phone, so you took my finger and touched it to the screen. Several times a day you come to me with a book in hand, and we usually stop whatever we're doing to take time for a story.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_KFX2AIiSrQdqgooWfLYahN991SLm68exIDH3G3iVLBdVX1eqx_yQfL9_ZaodoQuy7jqAnfMzkyg7j9WPAK_CUFLWaXHd9KY2KywbTha7NvLJKPRdsMS4k4lpBD2ZlHbo9DokQXfQlDS/s1600/iPhone+093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_KFX2AIiSrQdqgooWfLYahN991SLm68exIDH3G3iVLBdVX1eqx_yQfL9_ZaodoQuy7jqAnfMzkyg7j9WPAK_CUFLWaXHd9KY2KywbTha7NvLJKPRdsMS4k4lpBD2ZlHbo9DokQXfQlDS/s320/iPhone+093.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
You still adore electronics, and you regularly find yourself in hot water for messing with things you know you shouldn't, like cell phones, remote controls, cable boxes, and most recently the noise machine in your bedroom. I've tried to fulfill that urge of yours with electronic toys that you can't mess up, and you generally seem to enjoy that. Your favorite foods are still corn on the cob, raisins, English peas, broccoli, cauliflower, and anything cheese - cheese nips, cheezy poofs, macaroni & cheese, string cheese. If you see the cheezy poofs bag, you simply MUST have some, reaching out endearingly toward it and saying "ees?"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7TXzMiYYYR9XbAv8SvC8nKoyYWTjXQpYk5muk1nYJfAWBvJssJpF2zRDULnkvi8TpiVgm4c56wFCc2i4PLn8zC6zTc8Ism7m5a4H5o5ScHUO6vW1D6Nd-40MKuAaHUHJfYr0BQjiFL_n/s1600/iPhone+102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7TXzMiYYYR9XbAv8SvC8nKoyYWTjXQpYk5muk1nYJfAWBvJssJpF2zRDULnkvi8TpiVgm4c56wFCc2i4PLn8zC6zTc8Ism7m5a4H5o5ScHUO6vW1D6Nd-40MKuAaHUHJfYr0BQjiFL_n/s320/iPhone+102.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Dante delights in playing tug-o-war with you with his favorite toy Foxer. He'll bring Foxer to you, and you'll pull and pull, and sometimes he'll let you go, resulting in your falling on your well-diaper-padded booty. This makes you howl with glee and giggles. You are most ticklish behind your thighs (which aren't so chunky at all anymore and have lost their rolls, only to gain a tan), and sometimes you tickle Mommy back. You make every day bright and happy, and though it's hard to believe, we love you more and more.Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-47626554432514769382012-04-26T14:32:00.002-07:002014-02-17T12:19:35.358-08:00Red Curried Chicken Noodles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
My, oh my. Is this delicious. I was sitting with Mike eeeeeearly one morning, reading the paper, while he ate his breakfast and came across this article. Something about it really caught my eye, and I'm so glad I tried it. Warmer temperatures are here and with them come the urge to try something new.<br />
<br />
For an extra pop of color, I added some frozen, shelled edamame to the coconut milk and let it thaw while the milk simmered away. And while I was at Mr. Chen's Chinese Emporium, I picked up several different types of curry paste. I can't wait to stretch my Thai/Asian cooking muscles this summer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Red Curry Chicken Noodles</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Not in the mood for noodles? The curried chicken mixture
also makes a killer sandwich, both warm and cold.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Start to finish: 20 minutes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Servings: 4</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
1 tablespoon olive oil<br />
1 large yellow onion, diced<br />
1 red bell pepper, cored and diced<br />
1 14-ounce can coconut milk<br />
1½ to 2½ tablespoons red curry paste (more or less to taste)<br />
Meat from a 1½-pound rotisserie chicken<br />
â…“ cup chopped fresh cilantro<br />
1 lime, quartered<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 12-ounce package fresh fettuccine pasta<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li>Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the
pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat
the olive oil. Add the onion and bell pepper, then sauté until tender, about 10
minutes. Add the coconut milk and red curry paste. Stir until the curry paste
and coconut milk are smooth, then bring to a simmer.</li>
<li>Chop or pull the chicken meat into bite-size chunks, then
add to the coconut milk mixture. Toss well to coat evenly. If the meat is cold,
return to a simmer. Stir in the cilantro.</li>
<li>Serve the pasta topped with the chicken. Alternatively, add
the drained pasta to the pan with the chicken and toss to mix. Just before
serving, squeeze a bit of lime juice over each plate.</li>
</ol>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
Image and recipe courtesy of <a href="http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120411/FEAT02/204110310/Red-curry-paste-Spicy-not-too-hot">The Clarion Ledger</a> and <a href="http://blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/2011/07/28/red-curry-paste/">The Food Network</a>.Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-38029805537546964182012-04-18T06:53:00.011-07:002014-02-17T12:20:10.204-08:00Breastfeeding Gift Basket<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
The Holy Family, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1634</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;">183 x 123 cm</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
Alte Pinakothek, Munich<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
Thanks <a href="http://marvelouskiddo.blogspot.com/2010/12/rembrandt-on-breastfeeding.html">Leigh</a>!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;">What to do in the South when somebody has a baby? BRING FOOD!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
When Avery came along, we had so much food in the house that I didn't have to cook for months. It was very much appreciated - who knows how many meals I would have had to skip without them. But..... what about Avery's meals?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
It is an unfortunate reality that breastfeeding takes a backseat to labor & delivery in our society. BUT nursing this baby girl was SO much more difficult, overwhelming, physically exhausting, and ultimately rewarding to me than giving birth to her. Breastfeeding is really more of an art than the science of so-many-ounces-per-so-many-hours. There are no straight lines on the human body, just as there are no straight, definitive rights or wrongs in the art of breastfeeding. It's sleep-depriving, doubt-riddled, mysterious (& too-often misunderstood by society at large) WORK.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
So I thought it might be nice to help new moms out in a slightly different way with a few of my favorite breastfeeding things:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">- </span><b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Womanly-Breastfeeding-Diane-Wiessinger/dp/0345518446/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1334757805&sr=1-1-catcorr">The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding</a></i></b> - This book actually should be read before delivery - if you just THINK you MIGHT be interested in breastfeeding, READ THIS BOOK. Even in the hospital, we received about 1,000 different opinions on how, what, when, and in what position to feed Avery. It was so calming to have one resource for reference amongst the maelstrom of conflicting advice. <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Nursing-Mothers-Companion-Edition/dp/1558327207/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334757882&sr=1-1">The Nursing Mother's Companion</a></i></b> is a good one too. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">- </span><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Mothers-Milk-Tea-Bags/dp/B0009Y8AGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334757975&sr=8-1">Mother's Milk Tea</a></b> - to increase supply<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">- </span><b>Oatmeal </b>- ditto.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">- </span><b>This <a href="http://beststart.org/resources/breastfeeding/pdf/magneng.pdf">chart</a></b><a href="http://beststart.org/resources/breastfeeding/pdf/magneng.pdf"> </a>for easy visualization of how teeny tiny baby's tummy is at certain stages and remember how often it needs to be filled!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">- </span><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanolin-Breastfeeding-Mothers-Grams/dp/B005MI648C/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1334758023&sr=1-1">Lanolin </a></b>- to hydrate sore, perhaps cracked nipples<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal;">
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">- </span><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Medela-TheraShells-Breast-Shells-89930/dp/B0006Q561G/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1334758043&sr=1-2-catcorr">Therashells </a></b>- for the first two weeks of breastfeeding, my nipples were so sore that I didn't want anything touching them. Even a T-shirt was enough to knock my head off. Until that went away (it started to abate after about 7 days), these hard shells were the perfect solution to keep fabric off and let nipples air dry while being able to put clothes on. We later found out that the hospital charged the insurance company $120.00 (!!!) for these. <b>Don't confuse</b> therashells with<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Contact-Nipple-Shield-Standard/dp/B000067PQ0/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1334758091&sr=1-1" style="font-weight: normal;"> nipple shields</a>, which are flexible and have little holes in them. Though often recommended by hospitals (I have no idea why!) nipple shields are </span><i>terrible </i><span style="font-style: normal;">for breastfeeding babies. They want mom's </span><i style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">nipple </i>- not a piece of plastic - in their mouths.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
- <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-65005-Soothies-Gel-Pads/dp/B002KGHUL4/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1334757519&sr=1-1">Soothies Gel Pads</a> </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">- When just letting nipples air-dry (breastmilk is the BEST salve for tender nipples) isn't enough, it's nice to have two packs of these: one to wear and one to keep in the fridge. Lanolin, however, is not good for them, so advise not to use in conjunction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">- </span><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-20265-Disposable-Nursing-60-pack/dp/B0000BYAG0/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1334757498&sr=1-2">Nursing pads</a></b> - once my supply regulated, I didn't need these very much, but oh my, it was nice to have them in my bra for extra insurance that I wouldn't have a wet T-shirt contest in the middle of Target.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">- </span><b>Bananas and other favorite fruits</b> - easy, one-handed access to good nutrition. I was never so hungry when pregnant with the monster as I was when breastfeeding her, and it never seemed like I had enough hands when she was nursing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">- </span><b>Granola bars</b> - ditto.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-RefillReuse-32oz-Water-Bottle/dp/B00374PPW4/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1334755339&sr=1-2-catcorr"><b>Water bottles</b></a> - oh my gosh, at the thirst! I loved the kind that you can close securely because I was always knocking them over in the middle of the night.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">- </span><b>Burp cloth and/or sling</b> from Kate at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mississippi-Hippie-Baby/10150107368440221" style="font-weight: normal;">Mississippi Hippie Baby</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">- </span><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boon-Deflector-Faucet-Bubble-Dispenser/dp/B000G7WU50">Boon Flo Water Deflector</a></b> - not only is it an awesomely fun bath toy after baby grows up a little, this deflector was wonderful for my boobs in the bathtub. I would sit in absolute bliss with warm water flowing over my engorged breasts when my milk first came in. Warm compresses also help for plugged ducts and to relieve discomfort.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">- </span><b><a href="http://www.target.com/p/Dr-Teal-s-Epsom-Salt-Soaking-Solution-Relax-Relief-3-lb/-/A-13417445?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Froogle_df&LNM=%7C13417445&CPNG=health%20beauty&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=13417445">Epsom salts</a></b> - for the mom with a tear or an episiotomy, there's nothing better than a warm, soaking bath. It's relaxing too, and Heaven knows she needs some relaxation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
Most of all, giving a breastfeeding mom your love and support, encouraging and cheering, sharing with her your awe at the fact that she is feeding that baby all by herself and reveling in the miracle of our bodies, would be appreciated from any new mama in the throes of Baby Boot Camp.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">At the end of the day, think about Brooke Shields in </span><i>Blue Lagoon</i>: if you and baby were on a desert island and had no idea what to do, you would figure it out. Beautifully. Skip the Hollywood-dramatized (and traumatized) birthing scene and skip over to 2:10.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OFzRKIjp6fo" width="420"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Many thanks to my friend <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mississippi-Hippie-Baby/10150107368440221">Kate </a>for helping me with this list, including </span><i>The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding</i>, <i>The Nursing Mother's Companion</i>, Mother's Milk tea, and the easy breastfeeding reference chart!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
What am I forgetting, ladies? What was your saving grace in the early weeks?<o:p></o:p></div>
Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-92126954985645578082012-04-04T06:39:00.010-07:002012-04-04T12:42:13.082-07:00Spring Musings<span><span><span style=" ;font-size:100%;">Our Dear, Sweet, Baby Girl,</span></span></span><div size="3" style=" font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span>I cannot believe that this weekend we will be celebrating our second Easter with you. Three Easters ago I still didn't know that you had just burrowed into me, starting the biggest adventure of Mike's and my life. You.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUVQs8mX5t4ZE4qNpV-Z-eH_Izw0bVjBBJAa5iDi2yM0rcYkW7d7g-n3cIwoYJmuiGz2DOifmLG_qAnx1xRaHYUTF2FiDuUm6HBD-jCo-0FoYQr-pH8YlpY5TCkNdLqbByYuTnrxXQq91/s1600/DSC_0577.JPG" style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUVQs8mX5t4ZE4qNpV-Z-eH_Izw0bVjBBJAa5iDi2yM0rcYkW7d7g-n3cIwoYJmuiGz2DOifmLG_qAnx1xRaHYUTF2FiDuUm6HBD-jCo-0FoYQr-pH8YlpY5TCkNdLqbByYuTnrxXQq91/s400/DSC_0577.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727542409282309154" /></a>Oh my goodness, you were so TINY last year!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZp8b1PLFkNlU-XvqzmY4-mwLyT7qnu8XbCaJiHTGKUIwJa9h7ZE4SfMSexujYtQWbfN7LaErJQcr9hpl6Rlpy9EhatOj3FjQabiESqAwddwM2CEMSaMe4rr1ch2OELRxmunssJpeCXko/s1600/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZp8b1PLFkNlU-XvqzmY4-mwLyT7qnu8XbCaJiHTGKUIwJa9h7ZE4SfMSexujYtQWbfN7LaErJQcr9hpl6Rlpy9EhatOj3FjQabiESqAwddwM2CEMSaMe4rr1ch2OELRxmunssJpeCXko/s400/photo+%25284%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727542399162073666" /></a> </span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span>In a chocolate daze from your Easter bunny from your CA. You now have one sweet little curl at the nape of your neck, eight teeth (4 top and 4 bottom), and more teefies on the way.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span>Spring is my favorite time of year, and you seem to really enjoy being outside. Dirt and dead bugs delight you, as does sunshine and playing out in the rain and splashing in puddles. Your daddy taught you how to run - RUN! - last week, and since then you take off and bolt every now and then. It reminds me of how the cilantro always seems to bolt and take seed way before I'm even remotely ready.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaZgcjtwrhyphenhyphenOkhgS1h2En3v4J-0OK131iPedXRanRbCRlCRNez2GK0SIdj0Qq1LtuOzxIdaJuUw6RAnYZsNOJynaRxXn6B3KWuV7Csw3NkgxIAUdiXPFaH-HnXAAO2vU0QblhUFLINvg_/s1600/iPhone+309.JPG" style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaZgcjtwrhyphenhyphenOkhgS1h2En3v4J-0OK131iPedXRanRbCRlCRNez2GK0SIdj0Qq1LtuOzxIdaJuUw6RAnYZsNOJynaRxXn6B3KWuV7Csw3NkgxIAUdiXPFaH-HnXAAO2vU0QblhUFLINvg_/s400/iPhone+309.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727542387704569842" /></a></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style=" ;font-size:100%;">The post-partum depression is a faint, vague memory now. At the time I was desperately worried that it would cloud my happy memories with you, but I'm joyful to report that my happy, cuddly, cozy, sweet, fond memories vastly outweigh those of concern, frustration, and uncertainty.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size:100%;">You actually helped me with the uncertainty most of all: when you were brand-new, your daddy and I were bombarded with conflicting advice from every possible source. We had no idea what to do, and everyone was telling us something different. You, my dear.... You gave us no choice and taught me by hook or by crook how to be a mom. Thank you. I learned - slowly but surely - to ignore outside voices and to my gut instincts (after all, that's where you started) and listen to you and you alone.... And you know what? I think we've </span>fared<span style="font-size:100%;"> fairly well. </span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size:100%;">That's not to say you've been a perfect angel. Far from it. But you do listen to us when we tell you the "N" word in our house (No!), even if we sometimes have to repeat it with varying degrees of volume and persistence. Your booty is too small to spank, so like my grandmother, I have to resort to firmly pinching you on the sensitive part behind your arm. But so far your worst offense has been throwing food off the high chair to Dante. Once, after you'd been warned three times, I reached out and pinched your arm. You replied with a hurt expression, a "na-ah," and a tiny gentle pinch right back. Clearly I'd hurt your feelings. But we're figuring it out together.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size:100%;">(And a side note to any who are gearing up to type any sort of reply that includes any phrase similar to "just you wait....."<span> <b><span> SHOVE IT.</span></b></span> It is NOT supportive, encouraging, or productive in the least. I heard it when Avery started pulling up, crawling, walking, running, and on, and I am SICK OF IT. Stop sullying happy wonderful milestones with feelings of dread. You were probably one of the voices I had to drown out earlier and a contributor to dangerous depression.)</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span><span style="font-size:100%;">But back to you, our little monster. </span></span><span>You have discovered crayons, and you currently have a process that is very similar to stippling: you cram as many colors as your little hand can possibly hold, then you throw them against the paper, creating a somewhat crazed, dotted effect. This fascinates you, and you do it for literally minutes at a time. </span></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Plastic Easter eggs are another favorite of yours, and you love to play Easter egg hunt in the living room, toddling around with my old white basket and picking up anything that will fit and putting it in the basket. Then you'll grow a wild hair and shake the heck out of the basket, throwing everything out. .... and repeat putting things in the basket.</span></div><span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApo9Qw5NeIzt_WwArfnfuGWDYSEN4TciaO5RIvEr1MDVpDuvKT_Blhm18L3bBnWko5hs9ji6mELkIsHOt05iBm9z_Dkn8XehxOFZFLIdxXnwkfzzbq710WPtN2HF9_zOLRxXw9CmAl6HE/s1600/iPhone+306.JPG" style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApo9Qw5NeIzt_WwArfnfuGWDYSEN4TciaO5RIvEr1MDVpDuvKT_Blhm18L3bBnWko5hs9ji6mELkIsHOt05iBm9z_Dkn8XehxOFZFLIdxXnwkfzzbq710WPtN2HF9_zOLRxXw9CmAl6HE/s400/iPhone+306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727542375491083170" /></a><span style=" ;font-size:15px;">The highlight of your day is when Daddy comes home. He scoops you up in his arms, and quick as a wink you steal his pen out of his pocket. Next to your dad, Dante and Kearney are still your favorite buddies, and sometimes you help me prepare to leave the house by closing Dante up in his kennel. You also like to help me put ice cubes into a bottle of water or a martini shaker (see the martini dance). You have an awesome fascination with shoes, and you want to put on everybody's; you even know which shoe goes on the correct foot, which really amazes me.</span></span><div><br /></div><div>Even though you were given no fewer than twenty-seven lovies upon your birth (true story: I counted.), you have nothing to do with them. A true engineer's daughter like your great-great-grandmother, you are no-nonsense, and you love anything with buttons, electricity, or a power cord. You can usually be found toddling around with my phone charger in one hand and have been known to go to sleep with the pool key tightly clutched in your tiny grasp.<br /><div><span><span style=" ;font-size:15px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style=" ;font-size:15px;">Few things on this planet delight you more than feeding us something from your plate; you giggle and crow with glee when Daddy or I eats something out of your hand. And we now must carefully watch the trash. Just last night Daddy found a wash cloth in the recycle bin.<br /></span></span><div><span style=" ;font-size:15px;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span style=" ;font-size:15px;">We are so proud of you. Thankful for you. Happy to be with you. You have given your daddy and me a pure joy and have fulfilled our lives in so many ways, more than you will ever know.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrMByNdks03qG22ovpf2sAtv3t7fKqUaFQx-nNKSfVeXwEjuXptnqpWBm50Otyq8uWdsYQ-0FvMqBEqylTgJ6FxLdUU6tAA-_CVeJ0T8XVglq-5Gdczbwf6u367SGxDu-2YSzN_xAUQ5p/s1600/iPhone+277.JPG" style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrMByNdks03qG22ovpf2sAtv3t7fKqUaFQx-nNKSfVeXwEjuXptnqpWBm50Otyq8uWdsYQ-0FvMqBEqylTgJ6FxLdUU6tAA-_CVeJ0T8XVglq-5Gdczbwf6u367SGxDu-2YSzN_xAUQ5p/s400/iPhone+277.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727542365539124898" /></a></span></div><div><span>Love,</span></div><div><span>Mama</span></div></div></div>Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-51283485062673593512012-04-04T03:40:00.002-07:002014-02-17T12:20:38.636-08:00An Ode to the Double-Yolked<br />
A good friend of ours has a local connection for double-yolked eggs. Mike was intrigued: "How do they know they're double-yolked before they make it to the grocery shelves?" Shining a light behind the egg itself will allow you (or whatever machine in the factory) to see the status of what's going on in there. "Why would you care if your eggs have one yolk or more?" See below...<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Though perhaps a little higher than cholesterol than the everyday Kroger egg, they. Are. Fabulous. Generally brown and larger than a large egg, these babies pack a HUGE wallop in your baking; chocolate chip cookies are especially tender and delicate, and you just haven't lived until you've had a double-yolked brownie. I'm honestly not sure why one cannot purchase them at the grocery store.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Actually, I do know: lots of folklore and superstition swirl around the ordinary double-yolked egg. Daisy believed that it meant good fortune or that a wedding was around the corner, C.J. associated them with the devil on your doorstep. I suppose it has to do with your family and where you were brought up. Having grown up on a farm, I have to steel myself just a little every time I crack one open, lest there be a beak or feathers or even a little blood (eek) in there. Now THAT definitely makes you feel like the devil's right behind you. Especially when they also sell chicken feet at the Pig for voodoo rituals. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But they are are fun to hunt. <br />
<div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj739jkj3JFOordYZGhPM_3dqKuzfgYL0UwHvX2Qz4hwvs9rrllGNu5uOZInIemY8R94Ent0g0KkfYrt54KVdalp9C7ry76fGFCo_K9eVV9rnsud9Pgi44ZbMaoW_cwEPRSnpnPWnshL9lD/s1600/iPhone+300.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj739jkj3JFOordYZGhPM_3dqKuzfgYL0UwHvX2Qz4hwvs9rrllGNu5uOZInIemY8R94Ent0g0KkfYrt54KVdalp9C7ry76fGFCo_K9eVV9rnsud9Pgi44ZbMaoW_cwEPRSnpnPWnshL9lD/s400/iPhone+300.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727494292703235634" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Double-yolk photo courtesy of <a href="http://blog.maryobrienart.com/2008/05/06/a-doubleyolked-egg-omelette.aspx">maryobrienart</a>.</div>
</div>
</div>
Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-30186761744898090232012-04-04T03:35:00.001-07:002012-04-04T03:35:44.542-07:00Martini Dance<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GlLnaXqY4Ho" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-63943904317964692922012-01-27T05:05:00.000-08:002012-01-27T05:27:21.045-08:00A Year with Joy Young McClellanWell, I suppose I should say a year and nine months with Joy, as she's been with us since before we ever met this little powerhouse that we call the Monster. Joy has been so good to us, and she's provided us with treasured photographs and a treasured friendship that we will keep forever. Coming to wherever we are, always patient and understanding how crazy life is with a 5-day-old, standing outside in 90 degree heat at 8 AM so we can get the perfect shot, this lady has done it all to make the most precious photographs.<div><br /></div><div>Avery's first birthday has been bittersweet - no more long cuddles, no more sweet baby smell, no more little grunts and stretches - it's all go, all the time now. And we won't get to see our friend Joy as much. Her sweet smile and the fun times we have with her have been the perfect counterbalance to the tears endured at the doctor's office at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Avery adores her Joy - she will even without hesitation let Joy hold her - and we sincerely hope to stay in touch.</div><div><br /></div><div>32 weeks pregnant<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis5MeS39w6oeYpcl8fHqsnKdfKHEfI1p20aZ4Rz1YlYA-4qZ__Ahg_ZzOXzDBnmQYrjtffKMt9LiyIiqCT-cd13cLk-LSoH8k65TmgMPWb279lX2OO8NfAZ3bUGhgD3ACqPc9hf-Fwnad/s1600/29+Weeks+2+Days+05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis5MeS39w6oeYpcl8fHqsnKdfKHEfI1p20aZ4Rz1YlYA-4qZ__Ahg_ZzOXzDBnmQYrjtffKMt9LiyIiqCT-cd13cLk-LSoH8k65TmgMPWb279lX2OO8NfAZ3bUGhgD3ACqPc9hf-Fwnad/s400/29+Weeks+2+Days+05.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702299249813636866" /></a>Newborn<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnQTWYlpj9ajZ1ab2MFtjManjUA__Hg30FnoVpJ9EAfoNUwIO8YbFDpm02h5J2A5Qtv4RNTn0JZuuBWi8D3UqSnpcEbwojGvRAvds2ai4gyUii260-01_SWnziXFv3PscC4n7VVjSK_63/s1600/15+Days+05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnQTWYlpj9ajZ1ab2MFtjManjUA__Hg30FnoVpJ9EAfoNUwIO8YbFDpm02h5J2A5Qtv4RNTn0JZuuBWi8D3UqSnpcEbwojGvRAvds2ai4gyUii260-01_SWnziXFv3PscC4n7VVjSK_63/s400/15+Days+05.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702299247984724002" /></a>3 Months<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjJjmMJFFCONUlrN2-8F42JBEnphwsdM4HdLYzZ4ke6C9BpZRPlCgL0pUmpwfMCmWIEe1vqeujsb8WdUlaHLCxlupSipj2Kc4_Fwl2eYvgZCxGJBNjeIepBkfPiIsxIm6rdds-m6mzc1s/s1600/Avery+3+Months+Digital+Image.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcjJjmMJFFCONUlrN2-8F42JBEnphwsdM4HdLYzZ4ke6C9BpZRPlCgL0pUmpwfMCmWIEe1vqeujsb8WdUlaHLCxlupSipj2Kc4_Fwl2eYvgZCxGJBNjeIepBkfPiIsxIm6rdds-m6mzc1s/s400/Avery+3+Months+Digital+Image.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702299234460567538" /></a>6 Months<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCYY3xb8iN37yNAmrWZpZY8oQqAe_2H8IDOCb_L5mK-MJe2t5lHAPzWxFIEYocfZGWN27gw8R8MQntFN3Pa5Oj7IQkgHgYjKzQ0iApD07evROcSSFg77QwytKaHDcLpcE1Hxa0hyphenhyphenzguKJ/s1600/1_IMG_3836-RT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCYY3xb8iN37yNAmrWZpZY8oQqAe_2H8IDOCb_L5mK-MJe2t5lHAPzWxFIEYocfZGWN27gw8R8MQntFN3Pa5Oj7IQkgHgYjKzQ0iApD07evROcSSFg77QwytKaHDcLpcE1Hxa0hyphenhyphenzguKJ/s400/1_IMG_3836-RT.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702299227431603026" /></a>9 Months<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhqS2j6a5KekqYU6LMdA0fTSeCOPkHowmpe_HUdOwNPeKY4ptzpPozNOxLyzvBql-hHjJWQQEmnZajtMrS0lvsw19kKQjxf-T3SgF3C3DMBQoHR-0puZMl0SeNuq7DYVO0_MeLuVAEsk-/s1600/IMG_4982.JPG-RT.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhqS2j6a5KekqYU6LMdA0fTSeCOPkHowmpe_HUdOwNPeKY4ptzpPozNOxLyzvBql-hHjJWQQEmnZajtMrS0lvsw19kKQjxf-T3SgF3C3DMBQoHR-0puZMl0SeNuq7DYVO0_MeLuVAEsk-/s400/IMG_4982.JPG-RT.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702299221760734546" /></a>My goodness, we can't pick out our favorite year shot!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-JyefaoJ1OyQtKo-dJILBU_teee-7NaVpZZLyrfmvuQhCnyNxKpJAcTuweTOXdJ8g217CPvCD4JhMMQcO6-MwpqHNHy41lex3UMCAcUlSZG9Xv5ZjMpGJfUH7baaSxIl1Vf2BIrTt0CU/s1600/Avery+12+Months+01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-JyefaoJ1OyQtKo-dJILBU_teee-7NaVpZZLyrfmvuQhCnyNxKpJAcTuweTOXdJ8g217CPvCD4JhMMQcO6-MwpqHNHy41lex3UMCAcUlSZG9Xv5ZjMpGJfUH7baaSxIl1Vf2BIrTt0CU/s400/Avery+12+Months+01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702299677602617650" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtToVsBQYT5nLnYMR4qe-XCugVarMcG0VrNdN5xnRLXvs4zoRc45v-6y7ZcqiaYJVrWktqs3iSrCkMN0wMLAD7XC0F3Pitpi8ioOyJ3ZRDMtXDjZwfAIu_70sg1Wf3jl13iisqXhOYaQn/s1600/Avery+12+Months+02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtToVsBQYT5nLnYMR4qe-XCugVarMcG0VrNdN5xnRLXvs4zoRc45v-6y7ZcqiaYJVrWktqs3iSrCkMN0wMLAD7XC0F3Pitpi8ioOyJ3ZRDMtXDjZwfAIu_70sg1Wf3jl13iisqXhOYaQn/s400/Avery+12+Months+02.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702299676483717394" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOI7IoE2VUE7i3Y1Qq-0LxNVb2Vq8Bm5Z0nvyaZCMA1ATMq3VY6fctG-ch1ClSFobgC9gvAzAFQoi8cMs16IdIPqfxop8ruPfbFrRDKueX0tBpkcuEuqTRWxzsBDGGl1UU3_RTVk7UhYN1/s1600/Avery+12+Months+03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOI7IoE2VUE7i3Y1Qq-0LxNVb2Vq8Bm5Z0nvyaZCMA1ATMq3VY6fctG-ch1ClSFobgC9gvAzAFQoi8cMs16IdIPqfxop8ruPfbFrRDKueX0tBpkcuEuqTRWxzsBDGGl1UU3_RTVk7UhYN1/s400/Avery+12+Months+03.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702299660522140786" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-ut74VhmjKOJ7mb9uzQdWO_PzgtvcVi9Bxo6dNnk3RgJe_o_zqP6kmzc9DqimZY19xTTKKivwvmINDQB_sRhcKuZz0Hf6KE7ZwdJw1CDXXQ9YS_d6ACO_-DEmfeqk21ICaEpHb_tQv7O/s1600/Avery+12+Months+04.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-ut74VhmjKOJ7mb9uzQdWO_PzgtvcVi9Bxo6dNnk3RgJe_o_zqP6kmzc9DqimZY19xTTKKivwvmINDQB_sRhcKuZz0Hf6KE7ZwdJw1CDXXQ9YS_d6ACO_-DEmfeqk21ICaEpHb_tQv7O/s400/Avery+12+Months+04.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702299658059257458" /></a><br /></div>Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-24340694951895387462012-01-17T08:53:00.001-08:002012-01-17T14:24:01.708-08:00Happy happy birthday Baby<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aFKRxyBHeN2i_5EbAF-71OiVe09BMuUerLo3_uYj6bqMlpWpLMnJYuafrrGtl3aqt1RxMgmPLMV6-ggKRf_GYMNUgIW6lO4zz4ofxy5p8cbauhw7TfU7Dfhig2s1AB-l2D1-jSr2WSoe/s1600/DSC_0289.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aFKRxyBHeN2i_5EbAF-71OiVe09BMuUerLo3_uYj6bqMlpWpLMnJYuafrrGtl3aqt1RxMgmPLMV6-ggKRf_GYMNUgIW6lO4zz4ofxy5p8cbauhw7TfU7Dfhig2s1AB-l2D1-jSr2WSoe/s400/DSC_0289.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698727622625239938" /></a><br />Dear Sweet, Baby Girl,<br /><br />Oh my, how his year had flown by. Words just can't express how glad and thankful we are that you have come into our lives. We are utterly besotted with you. This year has been magical. The sleepless nights, the warm, wet toothy kisses. The food splattered all over the kitchen, the sudsy splashes of the bathtub toys. The cuddles and kicks and thrilled, happy expression on your face when you figured out the bouncy. Your determination in accomplishing your goals and love of the backyard. The first time you sat up in our bathroom while I brushed my teeth, both of your arms stretched out for balance and your face in a radiant grin. The first time you surprised yourself and us on August 11th when you pulled up to stand on the couch. The way you cruise in circles around anything that will sit still, including me. The way you rub your nose back and forth and flop your head on my chest when you're sleepy. The "Mamamama," "Dadadadada," "Bababababa-ba" and "Dateeee" and the splat splat splat of your hands as you crawl like a bruiser wherever you like. The way you clap without your hands touching and sometimes spaz out like a crack monkey before you go to bed for the night.<br /><br />These are just a few of the gazillion ways we love you.<br /><br />With love and fulfillment,<br />Mama<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQMKAK-3C5pY4EEz9VMhyX44dHkv3bXhInwQXd3TVz2VECfwrBUKouRFdFbIXa8eyz9Mi0K8yROK3UN3wcqm2GdIWquaZOLbnJUnfhpl-Q09MAE5PLjwAxXnrw1Nk8U5RS3xfX344lIGG/s1600/iPhone+131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQMKAK-3C5pY4EEz9VMhyX44dHkv3bXhInwQXd3TVz2VECfwrBUKouRFdFbIXa8eyz9Mi0K8yROK3UN3wcqm2GdIWquaZOLbnJUnfhpl-Q09MAE5PLjwAxXnrw1Nk8U5RS3xfX344lIGG/s400/iPhone+131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698724885994032338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIed6gMPM-XcFCGbZ8ZfBy1jjs3BUrNctquOLDpz4arm1BzAgYCMVS20RLIkzVeIRG87bCmTw3OOHBMFcDyfz3FdhD9ZDHTK0uU0y5SwAIEXVC5y2qg0RMUQg8yM6PUOZns1JARFEEAmTK/s1600/iPhone+135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIed6gMPM-XcFCGbZ8ZfBy1jjs3BUrNctquOLDpz4arm1BzAgYCMVS20RLIkzVeIRG87bCmTw3OOHBMFcDyfz3FdhD9ZDHTK0uU0y5SwAIEXVC5y2qg0RMUQg8yM6PUOZns1JARFEEAmTK/s400/iPhone+135.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698724890053120386" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS8VZmCscIQKAi-A8MTpMH_vrad6qnfH5xFgOH9AfcxAeSpDTSb8jXgTsDD0QdLDMv6rYzk-ShnaR_CCYV-xZ1CPiSoCXVpnXBIQuITgbsqQcXUK2qvE9tXINcxAGBCJWoOKvWwcsbRAf/s1600/iPhone+1605.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS8VZmCscIQKAi-A8MTpMH_vrad6qnfH5xFgOH9AfcxAeSpDTSb8jXgTsDD0QdLDMv6rYzk-ShnaR_CCYV-xZ1CPiSoCXVpnXBIQuITgbsqQcXUK2qvE9tXINcxAGBCJWoOKvWwcsbRAf/s400/iPhone+1605.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698723157021350914" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbghGlXCOMgBDusmT3JZCdC-vEDil43cWNskx4WvgQjDdk1cb4ibkU8HRYZOwEgR_tHjwlHMUKTlg9TOgkDLmI5ISFMlI3_aZm-t0cGSQtvCBMAKOhCws8zDYUGAdNEaD0SdkC4yYfisaN/s1600/iPhone+337.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbghGlXCOMgBDusmT3JZCdC-vEDil43cWNskx4WvgQjDdk1cb4ibkU8HRYZOwEgR_tHjwlHMUKTlg9TOgkDLmI5ISFMlI3_aZm-t0cGSQtvCBMAKOhCws8zDYUGAdNEaD0SdkC4yYfisaN/s400/iPhone+337.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698723151140860962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprHVLjlg6gkLnEfYPA0QjF2qHS639S0fv-toDXxc9x-GXZboAkRFFMKF4zhVk1g3NJIA1LwI9GMN2Kmt7UbNbQllnZ3schxTgbHhkBZyJ7L6CJqvw3j0F-AjtsfBXSi0iFkRFflBwI6BP/s1600/iPhone+505.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprHVLjlg6gkLnEfYPA0QjF2qHS639S0fv-toDXxc9x-GXZboAkRFFMKF4zhVk1g3NJIA1LwI9GMN2Kmt7UbNbQllnZ3schxTgbHhkBZyJ7L6CJqvw3j0F-AjtsfBXSi0iFkRFflBwI6BP/s400/iPhone+505.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698723128478621650" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX56xYMvluJWLOSbmcrv5kYUNW1V8D3mNpmpwCKs6YWypl1TsETW9HSPLa5ybf_BCVSzJkw6e1qMVhJ6ybU3e7FAIIDYHMB95_iNvhdjr7DectJDLZLhbfG14RXP-w1BC0vZsdb3ZlBqw/s1600/iPhone+1059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX56xYMvluJWLOSbmcrv5kYUNW1V8D3mNpmpwCKs6YWypl1TsETW9HSPLa5ybf_BCVSzJkw6e1qMVhJ6ybU3e7FAIIDYHMB95_iNvhdjr7DectJDLZLhbfG14RXP-w1BC0vZsdb3ZlBqw/s400/iPhone+1059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698723120907615746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjCC0KJwxk7NPePXnHfFawoQcsjFnEuwILvb1jjBr6m4dcDHX8PmU3ql8itHK-yy6cM5v6j4uKkuFM0HUfmHPBBqx_TmD4cDXzB3YPFX5AwtsHHuALuAnBD38GADlKK8iTE88HidFwGxp/s1600/iPhone+1022.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjCC0KJwxk7NPePXnHfFawoQcsjFnEuwILvb1jjBr6m4dcDHX8PmU3ql8itHK-yy6cM5v6j4uKkuFM0HUfmHPBBqx_TmD4cDXzB3YPFX5AwtsHHuALuAnBD38GADlKK8iTE88HidFwGxp/s400/iPhone+1022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698723116062851794" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpcUDflr-MO12q9UOWazefcdb_AhQnu7l05Hpzqez6k-OAEjAi5u1LLhsc0Ek1Voqc0QcMwEGTBIJ1A0054yKxuyI_THjQEpKMIvY6Ytx3rE5-veqbMBvH_HW7y3M1PCLsqm41sOz8nyM/s1600/iPhone+1321.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpcUDflr-MO12q9UOWazefcdb_AhQnu7l05Hpzqez6k-OAEjAi5u1LLhsc0Ek1Voqc0QcMwEGTBIJ1A0054yKxuyI_THjQEpKMIvY6Ytx3rE5-veqbMBvH_HW7y3M1PCLsqm41sOz8nyM/s400/iPhone+1321.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698721666643604322" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY99P7RfybCe2Lor0m39YuePe1WUCFmP7Yh6wy-A3K83cFMTNXlWQm4Ex9QhPKes_u5M6VJOraafDxMAQbHEaffgMe9d3uIgJXJDd7XjfYxmN3xome4Ix802_eobBpY13mvs-b1DwJoGM1/s1600/iPhone+401.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY99P7RfybCe2Lor0m39YuePe1WUCFmP7Yh6wy-A3K83cFMTNXlWQm4Ex9QhPKes_u5M6VJOraafDxMAQbHEaffgMe9d3uIgJXJDd7XjfYxmN3xome4Ix802_eobBpY13mvs-b1DwJoGM1/s400/iPhone+401.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698721660952483282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFjsstrPjSft25zyzRnJYHFZxXQW8l5F0GmlSXBPyHVF-PIPH2ksUKmG_ITMzVefn_3UkhhufgzS01kbZs20iL6kdjdFvW8FWlvtG6qjvucL5jfszt1i9RlPJDhZET1difXVZgQLL8H29/s1600/iPhone+1125.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFjsstrPjSft25zyzRnJYHFZxXQW8l5F0GmlSXBPyHVF-PIPH2ksUKmG_ITMzVefn_3UkhhufgzS01kbZs20iL6kdjdFvW8FWlvtG6qjvucL5jfszt1i9RlPJDhZET1difXVZgQLL8H29/s400/iPhone+1125.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698721648390429858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DIw5Oyhrbpn4TkL_wo3-tZI8iBzvOTdcABh4O0bES-jKjBS3v_17WOC8JkyBuXOWfLf_511z8CxBwfjmViy1ummAM3_a3_giM7XtMzIfXM-alztU_D4RjQeLOTPA_m-phJ-HPb6HP7tf/s1600/iPhone+766.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DIw5Oyhrbpn4TkL_wo3-tZI8iBzvOTdcABh4O0bES-jKjBS3v_17WOC8JkyBuXOWfLf_511z8CxBwfjmViy1ummAM3_a3_giM7XtMzIfXM-alztU_D4RjQeLOTPA_m-phJ-HPb6HP7tf/s400/iPhone+766.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698721639106763026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bIKTJLBvg_FGTpYBefXDcQ86vXFCW3lj965GPyeJFLs9hXqzMQlWj-PewHeCKIahudhJni05FhO3GyZY1T_olaGsdTKnDSJf_LfIQeFS1Vb6DUM-XM9gJWMcVH2XVH-zgiWtHZM45JiN/s1600/iPhone+374.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bIKTJLBvg_FGTpYBefXDcQ86vXFCW3lj965GPyeJFLs9hXqzMQlWj-PewHeCKIahudhJni05FhO3GyZY1T_olaGsdTKnDSJf_LfIQeFS1Vb6DUM-XM9gJWMcVH2XVH-zgiWtHZM45JiN/s400/iPhone+374.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698727680928752818" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRy5JZLinIiHmfEscM4qQUvRih0qLzPSB4VPxclLiin2Lxr-9XICf33xp5Qb2Pojd6AWs9iSuvaft-BGCtLlFLP8xClPCbQfPN_cjDsvhmA-7DAj-0Q2mDtWsen1TVRjM9W583nDOkQLz/s1600/iPhone+1185.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRy5JZLinIiHmfEscM4qQUvRih0qLzPSB4VPxclLiin2Lxr-9XICf33xp5Qb2Pojd6AWs9iSuvaft-BGCtLlFLP8xClPCbQfPN_cjDsvhmA-7DAj-0Q2mDtWsen1TVRjM9W583nDOkQLz/s400/iPhone+1185.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698721635677329202" /></a><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhilXHUGpfRWDwxMDxx9F8A5rFimak-T-gjRxMbfCZNTRDXt3Wr4Xf7x669-SAhnUEULbuBv8kUxXPs8SmbOo2J7CvxajExTBFsVj7PxhbVuqCbDhKoNJx9DqLYe2wu8dO5R-6KJ8eADW6/s1600/Mike%2527s+iphone+028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhilXHUGpfRWDwxMDxx9F8A5rFimak-T-gjRxMbfCZNTRDXt3Wr4Xf7x669-SAhnUEULbuBv8kUxXPs8SmbOo2J7CvxajExTBFsVj7PxhbVuqCbDhKoNJx9DqLYe2wu8dO5R-6KJ8eADW6/s400/Mike%2527s+iphone+028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698652759128746770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRTyDntyfTwk8MApmy9KqBqe5VuSAwoGA2IbrGjpzyZrV7BcQ1AqNAg55mNq_U-XDR_iBUgoGZVGKfThfeYCD89ttsQXQvnJHFH1DvCoxu7PfXGBxeT1uhjWKJjAXx8AZjV3DVVZqR5Ip/s1600/iPhone+006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRTyDntyfTwk8MApmy9KqBqe5VuSAwoGA2IbrGjpzyZrV7BcQ1AqNAg55mNq_U-XDR_iBUgoGZVGKfThfeYCD89ttsQXQvnJHFH1DvCoxu7PfXGBxeT1uhjWKJjAXx8AZjV3DVVZqR5Ip/s400/iPhone+006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698652732353174194" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTFZEgv0EPOzawDrgz8hQ8vMXV1nESuyAfvTsXEs9QfCXz2ndUQknclofZPch4n8hmXKYyjjuCf3BmDIu_E8lW0gEz66pwi8PF7qmNYWoNS5bTNxXRAKtGZKNeFgNoiqacGKAKBVe62Ju/s1600/iPhone+028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTFZEgv0EPOzawDrgz8hQ8vMXV1nESuyAfvTsXEs9QfCXz2ndUQknclofZPch4n8hmXKYyjjuCf3BmDIu_E8lW0gEz66pwi8PF7qmNYWoNS5bTNxXRAKtGZKNeFgNoiqacGKAKBVe62Ju/s400/iPhone+028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698652725840435154" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNqsIxGP7LBbWW8iI9paQAPfNLqFj_-RSWflBdG8blx8Wcee8EuefEikAemzO_xYWydjJ8BuNSDC75jtvpz_QcWup0rDLrzMuTRQfTHFTsXsDGDqTvwwZ7YzhlY4aXmdevwV5TPN3xZw8/s1600/iPhone+049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNqsIxGP7LBbWW8iI9paQAPfNLqFj_-RSWflBdG8blx8Wcee8EuefEikAemzO_xYWydjJ8BuNSDC75jtvpz_QcWup0rDLrzMuTRQfTHFTsXsDGDqTvwwZ7YzhlY4aXmdevwV5TPN3xZw8/s400/iPhone+049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698652706320204082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFqSHskUDpq8sZJmZJ7VpN52XCy1KPwkIupsdincQCEYUSCPAoKs2OLlSzKAjTo5ae3lyGi_V0Muboz3MVD-Y4EMOvqKzvlbZnMDq-oM5sxTyRZIhV_ZJOX9xBUa6KgQiFdtZ2xku7DC7/s1600/iPhone+143.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFqSHskUDpq8sZJmZJ7VpN52XCy1KPwkIupsdincQCEYUSCPAoKs2OLlSzKAjTo5ae3lyGi_V0Muboz3MVD-Y4EMOvqKzvlbZnMDq-oM5sxTyRZIhV_ZJOX9xBUa6KgQiFdtZ2xku7DC7/s400/iPhone+143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698652701548255010" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6pQCyRzc6V3-iPx2jgCqMDqTE3zM1mKqZuAEzhGTQeQ65DvFAOSXhH0KJ-K4sDBR56ggLSLPW1YKMNjCgvLDXP_K6qCmWVeBnDzEtqk0n_kxgJeIjE3R44rS0mKUBnR1Nw5uYIr_f0fn/s1600/iPhone+021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6pQCyRzc6V3-iPx2jgCqMDqTE3zM1mKqZuAEzhGTQeQ65DvFAOSXhH0KJ-K4sDBR56ggLSLPW1YKMNjCgvLDXP_K6qCmWVeBnDzEtqk0n_kxgJeIjE3R44rS0mKUBnR1Nw5uYIr_f0fn/s400/iPhone+021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698651697443229074" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANWPfZKGhU23RudU0wNkv8xZ-fsZY2T6R8LdUVSYKfHy-UCJ9PHvh0VA6uOI4NXuPKpIjnlt4VUbJBa3d8oYzIEmgICUPkaA_CDr1rvH9X28P2Xkt94UB5q5U_rsAYS7UKH7TjHHFlq7N/s1600/iPhone+032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANWPfZKGhU23RudU0wNkv8xZ-fsZY2T6R8LdUVSYKfHy-UCJ9PHvh0VA6uOI4NXuPKpIjnlt4VUbJBa3d8oYzIEmgICUPkaA_CDr1rvH9X28P2Xkt94UB5q5U_rsAYS7UKH7TjHHFlq7N/s400/iPhone+032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698651687594392610" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpqytYk8yKy2A-rfCUuIcy6WvNhaM7sL5L-iBRmKxkV4RbXySPmE-XRwHs95ssKmjcMg4_RJ22qtjSTrsmkzBoMGKd2eMoxkVYDzddHyLgDXe2r1gxmgdSEzFIe3wFEVAbFO_hlJCCJDt/s1600/iPhone+078.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpqytYk8yKy2A-rfCUuIcy6WvNhaM7sL5L-iBRmKxkV4RbXySPmE-XRwHs95ssKmjcMg4_RJ22qtjSTrsmkzBoMGKd2eMoxkVYDzddHyLgDXe2r1gxmgdSEzFIe3wFEVAbFO_hlJCCJDt/s400/iPhone+078.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698651681137358978" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6pCmTgrXtHcGGMxn_6XFHVHOyFIN5QO8qALK7RY_cUS9wjEhb2zzdltdDjldmakj4yAzEfPX0nzouIHkvPecz1t0_UOPs-E6TB5L0bQsYikbmh0Wqh_TyXr-HvYwVJxGP9bg6Rd7nNa-/s1600/iPhone+103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6pCmTgrXtHcGGMxn_6XFHVHOyFIN5QO8qALK7RY_cUS9wjEhb2zzdltdDjldmakj4yAzEfPX0nzouIHkvPecz1t0_UOPs-E6TB5L0bQsYikbmh0Wqh_TyXr-HvYwVJxGP9bg6Rd7nNa-/s400/iPhone+103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698651664915300370" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsDiNjo32ufRWL9LbwjDFid0SnxFTBKbDmwFS6Yo5wAI9vdg_tYMBa-gSUZva7C8dkgqgiGcffBVaDuUg1Ya7Cn7ODQrjJfs35WsembEOdBplz0eP_E67pXEmOs2lKfdTLZeemxo63Nrl/s1600/iPhone+227.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsDiNjo32ufRWL9LbwjDFid0SnxFTBKbDmwFS6Yo5wAI9vdg_tYMBa-gSUZva7C8dkgqgiGcffBVaDuUg1Ya7Cn7ODQrjJfs35WsembEOdBplz0eP_E67pXEmOs2lKfdTLZeemxo63Nrl/s400/iPhone+227.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698651662040134578" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J1cqCdBrLFEW6SkFrihguKECy4v1VrSaJOKF6WrnG4aw7jA0gy_OcyN53p2m73sUM8I0AloNry9URGt-lrFhtOTqnIT_Z6_dKJTNGh3WZRFKV2ngDRgJoctFMZilCDngB_NG-D3bgHbI/s1600/iPhone+001.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J1cqCdBrLFEW6SkFrihguKECy4v1VrSaJOKF6WrnG4aw7jA0gy_OcyN53p2m73sUM8I0AloNry9URGt-lrFhtOTqnIT_Z6_dKJTNGh3WZRFKV2ngDRgJoctFMZilCDngB_NG-D3bgHbI/s400/iPhone+001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698647803248145634" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U_DkabAZs9eJwT-3OSG7-7hb8jDJzqM2drUDM6-Pw97IRrz1OtOl6SbE134FWz8JEBRV3m4X2dAZjwe5Fcpf6Ll2eAcfdaInZEyF4kCSCTHl1rr3Cd9klqa13xb5iD6snZ59kHj3PUh_/s1600/iPhone+106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_U_DkabAZs9eJwT-3OSG7-7hb8jDJzqM2drUDM6-Pw97IRrz1OtOl6SbE134FWz8JEBRV3m4X2dAZjwe5Fcpf6Ll2eAcfdaInZEyF4kCSCTHl1rr3Cd9klqa13xb5iD6snZ59kHj3PUh_/s400/iPhone+106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698647783986745874" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkbkOJx-AhcAo9Hr0ndvbEuiQeFTbxYEf1xQlYnX6RQXyGcBH21KZryMJUih6bWHMl-l9q8KHXVQDxvuDPMc41NiEvOe1n63PCQmTJRtt9Pwasr246xWauYj6TE121a95psFpkORKPVvv/s1600/iPhone+010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkbkOJx-AhcAo9Hr0ndvbEuiQeFTbxYEf1xQlYnX6RQXyGcBH21KZryMJUih6bWHMl-l9q8KHXVQDxvuDPMc41NiEvOe1n63PCQmTJRtt9Pwasr246xWauYj6TE121a95psFpkORKPVvv/s400/iPhone+010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698647779501988226" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nqbMsGNjYHkpvLcayll89tsJjskBz-MbvnsNZDjijOjDsC2EVBhaJ7-U1ozAiCY5LvTCXWUN_TbaC7ZBu7LXKqWYj7KQfmX_QMuLvt4Ydu6egssuDx6V9dqAZwfm2p9K0ug6R5yq5m3U/s1600/iPhone+026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nqbMsGNjYHkpvLcayll89tsJjskBz-MbvnsNZDjijOjDsC2EVBhaJ7-U1ozAiCY5LvTCXWUN_TbaC7ZBu7LXKqWYj7KQfmX_QMuLvt4Ydu6egssuDx6V9dqAZwfm2p9K0ug6R5yq5m3U/s400/iPhone+026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698647765719691570" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTIRwV88Erc1bq_0BZt-Jh5zU8WFPtPMEm91WsiQvDAf-z1SVHDdMiWkvc8HddPuoK7KwFGGkNZNYIgFJFT3mOJYHwN8Wn6AqyXljjVfPsmJDppZw0Zg8rmqYRLfU7yLYjcCJUfRiDQ52/s1600/iPhone+032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTIRwV88Erc1bq_0BZt-Jh5zU8WFPtPMEm91WsiQvDAf-z1SVHDdMiWkvc8HddPuoK7KwFGGkNZNYIgFJFT3mOJYHwN8Wn6AqyXljjVfPsmJDppZw0Zg8rmqYRLfU7yLYjcCJUfRiDQ52/s400/iPhone+032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698647760295845218" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7awQrnxgkQI4uhS5FNEYwiMD7-Pntqpa-I2wbaRc1RBrsIwUuokJNmwuVGrJPJZmDamc2RMZo1RBCorycsbv_uWOHkcRox2LeENXQNjhSKqWc2QwofxcZqmrOQHPvfKx2ALzs-yDjeM4R/s1600/DSC_0979_01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7awQrnxgkQI4uhS5FNEYwiMD7-Pntqpa-I2wbaRc1RBrsIwUuokJNmwuVGrJPJZmDamc2RMZo1RBCorycsbv_uWOHkcRox2LeENXQNjhSKqWc2QwofxcZqmrOQHPvfKx2ALzs-yDjeM4R/s400/DSC_0979_01.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698727627751656050" /></a><br /></div>Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-30467907021529630232011-12-13T03:56:00.000-08:002011-12-13T14:11:49.293-08:0011 Months<div>Well Avery, here you are, 4 days shy of your 11-month birthday. Where did this year go? It seems like it would've gone by slowly as we were awake for most of it. But your daddy and I were commenting just yesterday about how this by far the quickest year we have ever experienced.<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYfdentfI0J5epQcV3g80ftlE6XQgvymNloBx6xYK8NunkQdw0CBYqRUimo85QKqlFypZne5pWkoyMPT1lOKC4weuglpnkAC5jkptFJ0ryqYZn8D93KsVTF4RB-OK4rDm16KUYvIfnrpz/s1600/DSC_0488.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYfdentfI0J5epQcV3g80ftlE6XQgvymNloBx6xYK8NunkQdw0CBYqRUimo85QKqlFypZne5pWkoyMPT1lOKC4weuglpnkAC5jkptFJ0ryqYZn8D93KsVTF4RB-OK4rDm16KUYvIfnrpz/s400/DSC_0488.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685592665364641938" /></a><br /></div><div>You are a hoot & a half and already have the biggest personality in the house. Watching you play is one of our favorite pastimes: you'll pick something up - anything - and shake the hell out of it. If it doesn't rattle, you go on to the next item to be shaken. And you adore anything with buttons. We've taken the batteries out of both a remote control and a cell phone just so you can play with them, but you want the real ones that work. Last night I caught you with the remote control. You put it in the hand opposite from me, waved it in big circles over your head, and crab-walked across the front of the couch as fast as you could, playing keep away from Mama, laughing hysterically the whole way.</div><div><br /></div><div>You have also discovered the button that changes the lights on the Christmas tree to various stages of flash/twinkle/scatter/blink/seizure-inducing light display. And you can only reach the control for the bottom half of the tree.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPPN9OM4XX56mNRYmjrtIfhJdwHrAnfWHrP9p6UqP_wff4XImlwvUAswFKHRWueWqw69dGctvvF1H8nrJQbmElS0JMPAGGj6OqVZBSYh36yz12apRMgEUFTkpUkcPoY-TL3F3eTGGq2tv/s1600/DSC_0295.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPPN9OM4XX56mNRYmjrtIfhJdwHrAnfWHrP9p6UqP_wff4XImlwvUAswFKHRWueWqw69dGctvvF1H8nrJQbmElS0JMPAGGj6OqVZBSYh36yz12apRMgEUFTkpUkcPoY-TL3F3eTGGq2tv/s400/DSC_0295.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685586890337971570" /></a></div><div>You're so cute, people like to give you free stuff. I can't tell you how many free cookies you've been given, just because you smile at somebody. You especially love the grocery store and going out to eat. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6aEkKTu4CppbMYdm4D-A-J-rMTjUKOO1qW6FzWtzE3PrnjltHU0uWTYHYGfgYaK5CE8Pqh55gx3_AvFPoVlIfkGwTnWAX8m7RY_ANV9oyfA6EzbjhROy52vCuJsTbhIStAQx8uNmHtyP/s1600/Mike%2527s+iphone+026.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6aEkKTu4CppbMYdm4D-A-J-rMTjUKOO1qW6FzWtzE3PrnjltHU0uWTYHYGfgYaK5CE8Pqh55gx3_AvFPoVlIfkGwTnWAX8m7RY_ANV9oyfA6EzbjhROy52vCuJsTbhIStAQx8uNmHtyP/s400/Mike%2527s+iphone+026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685584013505657522" /></a><br /></div><div>Dante is your special friend, and you adore him. You will reach out your hand to him sloooooowly, and when you finally barely touch his soft fur, you dissolve into a fit of shrieking giggles. He's not so sure what to think about all that, but he loves orbiting your stroller as we go out for our daily run.</div><div><br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTl_mmGOkUtAEwoQm9y_721nvATghC4KLzdDOCuaJGVe24d0_vBLzK4RsO_Hgq5Ak3cErd_QKV7nRYBQsrXW49tUH3bgAdrROa2JlbaGC0UB2cXNleo8KWA2DOOXpgm1d8ubp2lw8EVTs/s1600/DSC_0389.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTl_mmGOkUtAEwoQm9y_721nvATghC4KLzdDOCuaJGVe24d0_vBLzK4RsO_Hgq5Ak3cErd_QKV7nRYBQsrXW49tUH3bgAdrROa2JlbaGC0UB2cXNleo8KWA2DOOXpgm1d8ubp2lw8EVTs/s400/DSC_0389.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685590075678072114" /></a><br /><div>Kearney still likes you too. You're too heavy to crawl all over him like you did just a few weeks ago, but he'll still let you pull his ears and tail, and you light up every time you see him.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbWZBptnZYWMmNcyrNtAXjXYx_QL8txrS0OiGDoO1nE3mg8RtUrY2nfhKhPxX-ttK84pwuidRGtzs9xEQBt_zbe2A6i4GDlumSacyP7C7Ixb-1oH4xos3iPFQV0DE-fL3KyHuGSEg4PLs/s1600/DSC_0463.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbWZBptnZYWMmNcyrNtAXjXYx_QL8txrS0OiGDoO1nE3mg8RtUrY2nfhKhPxX-ttK84pwuidRGtzs9xEQBt_zbe2A6i4GDlumSacyP7C7Ixb-1oH4xos3iPFQV0DE-fL3KyHuGSEg4PLs/s400/DSC_0463.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685592695433789378" /></a>We are anxiously anticipating the arrival of your third cousin, Ann Trotter, who is due any day now. Bubba is exquisite in her pregnancy, and you think she's the bees' knees.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp-L0M6rvbXZ1vUvifv1y9o5L8mTEXL_j8kMiF9mopfmrsDGM5P_SLcF0oqPr5Ba-JyN6uph0BW4pJfV5mzoC6vFFs30ZCVhYzCNkX2CiA0wICig3_s3-1ml1xDyBG-tG5GQ-AJQFFwhG/s1600/IMG_3548.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp-L0M6rvbXZ1vUvifv1y9o5L8mTEXL_j8kMiF9mopfmrsDGM5P_SLcF0oqPr5Ba-JyN6uph0BW4pJfV5mzoC6vFFs30ZCVhYzCNkX2CiA0wICig3_s3-1ml1xDyBG-tG5GQ-AJQFFwhG/s400/IMG_3548.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685592681012663458" /></a>We took you to Highland Village for your photos with Santa. Again, you were given free stuff for being cute: I paid for five prints, but we were given nine! I thought you would freak completely out with Santa and was prepared for a screaming-fit picture, but you were very, very good and seemed to really like him.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQtfOIX7otr1fH-eSd5PgSFbcYuGuvZbraKTzUSx9VeMHtF1XZr2VE2q4UqieGTjV-6KP0wqzY89eyz-mdWgIsxzujdTmbQjvwk6g1xPo5pOAYq6t6hRh3KVWSHLJ6siPMTbVhtaPIQpK/s1600/12-08-11+Santa+02.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQtfOIX7otr1fH-eSd5PgSFbcYuGuvZbraKTzUSx9VeMHtF1XZr2VE2q4UqieGTjV-6KP0wqzY89eyz-mdWgIsxzujdTmbQjvwk6g1xPo5pOAYq6t6hRh3KVWSHLJ6siPMTbVhtaPIQpK/s400/12-08-11+Santa+02.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685592670285849346" /></a>(c) Lisa Patti<br /><br />You are still a cuddlebug, and my heart melts when you lie your head on my chest or go forehead-to-forehead with me. I hope we can do that always.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h-MtMl-0n3gAYMf87CDZePdjkLgmKZtzRgBfWLTwuP2QhReigyHL0qM_vE-okHxOvGKBAVkEJ04me_KeVUj_dcjC3jUf6kWP-WiXsp3fEHPiHe3gLOP7O9m1XlnpEiXTgMAi3_bpX-Im/s1600/DSC_0398.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h-MtMl-0n3gAYMf87CDZePdjkLgmKZtzRgBfWLTwuP2QhReigyHL0qM_vE-okHxOvGKBAVkEJ04me_KeVUj_dcjC3jUf6kWP-WiXsp3fEHPiHe3gLOP7O9m1XlnpEiXTgMAi3_bpX-Im/s400/DSC_0398.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685590057048562210" /></a>Your giggle is the sunshine of the house. I'll sit cross-legged in the floor with you and play with one of the little horses Cindy bought you from the co-op in Hazlehurst. I'll hide it behind my back and have it pop out on either side of me while you like to try to predict from where it will come. Then I'll let the horse attack you, and you dissolve into a fit of giggles and belly laughs.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmndYawzJqrvOS-mtuPc6gygj7-QA1xzpwReVYT2wH8tWomqKIWwgKvyDgv-u7y1y_9Wi4lDic0IKH6dvqquns7Q_VYpcU6rJXM2Xb83tipj6H6DuXEqy6WJU7KL4lHb-erKXKgmIrhft-/s1600/DSC_0431.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmndYawzJqrvOS-mtuPc6gygj7-QA1xzpwReVYT2wH8tWomqKIWwgKvyDgv-u7y1y_9Wi4lDic0IKH6dvqquns7Q_VYpcU6rJXM2Xb83tipj6H6DuXEqy6WJU7KL4lHb-erKXKgmIrhft-/s400/DSC_0431.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685590050725095490" /></a>Your daddy is your HERO. You light up, dance, babble, and DADADADADAAAAA when he comes home.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c1KndkYRaD7n_-24SHaA1ZvYEiLO0oQYlFwhgY2qdUy3uGKvnPpHKRyGCg08WmUhzfohaoffK1RB4wlI1nXx6vezCzuDT_47zwOgOBhUqg_lEzNuf02P1dgF5IskNb-nGWdkqnRTjQow/s1600/DSC_0434.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c1KndkYRaD7n_-24SHaA1ZvYEiLO0oQYlFwhgY2qdUy3uGKvnPpHKRyGCg08WmUhzfohaoffK1RB4wlI1nXx6vezCzuDT_47zwOgOBhUqg_lEzNuf02P1dgF5IskNb-nGWdkqnRTjQow/s400/DSC_0434.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685590038249136210" /></a>You are generally sleeping well, but you went on a bit of a sleep strike this weekend that really threw us for a loop. One night you finally went down at midnight and woke up again at 6:30. I think you're gearing up for a big milestone, like perhaps standing on your own. You'll stand right now very briefly - generally you have a toy in one hand and the coffee table in the other. You'll decide you want to play with the toy with both hands and let go of the table. Then, like Wyl E. Coyote, you'll slowly realize you're standing up and bump down on your booty. It's pretty precious.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iuGwWqFMtyL3D1YF-SM5Cxna6_GmC_PkWJGiY_MzmWZL1PpFNjPm3_ls6pNHW8poMxy3yKA6rZT1L-Po17Y1QFGnzayjId0yT1-rBkrmwt4NJE2aB5PsuiaTzwiywsf_X0LSOHt1vZtu/s1600/DSC_0458.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iuGwWqFMtyL3D1YF-SM5Cxna6_GmC_PkWJGiY_MzmWZL1PpFNjPm3_ls6pNHW8poMxy3yKA6rZT1L-Po17Y1QFGnzayjId0yT1-rBkrmwt4NJE2aB5PsuiaTzwiywsf_X0LSOHt1vZtu/s400/DSC_0458.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685590034591823442" /></a>Nine months old, no teeth.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yYjWUkX5Vu-bscDQp-XS47zZwoG1qwMFqFPODyB2uLzZP3TG2ybxlWiMcsNXMhdB3ZwJuQBdz_YtaO4OmeI_lMfsqAAoMcMxO7-b-20A0vL9J_Divls0NZsjhDg8BhB5PG7lUN90bAsk/s1600/IMG_4982.JPG-RT.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yYjWUkX5Vu-bscDQp-XS47zZwoG1qwMFqFPODyB2uLzZP3TG2ybxlWiMcsNXMhdB3ZwJuQBdz_YtaO4OmeI_lMfsqAAoMcMxO7-b-20A0vL9J_Divls0NZsjhDg8BhB5PG7lUN90bAsk/s400/IMG_4982.JPG-RT.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685586895369225746" /></a>Daddy took us down the Natchez Trace on my birthday for a picnic with the camera, tripod, and camera remote control for family pictures. You were pretty good......<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHbOE0VmHLyhLNdL2quB4BzFOCCEOaYTkgdjXe_Jx40Npu7T7lhU0kDPBJ9K9pcp4gfJb6DkpnK5MTVtdnkEB21Pu7A4gKba3ueoOXylwA6aC-7UX3tOr08E2HKhqsn-tpBvWealFYIA8/s1600/DSC_0339.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHbOE0VmHLyhLNdL2quB4BzFOCCEOaYTkgdjXe_Jx40Npu7T7lhU0kDPBJ9K9pcp4gfJb6DkpnK5MTVtdnkEB21Pu7A4gKba3ueoOXylwA6aC-7UX3tOr08E2HKhqsn-tpBvWealFYIA8/s400/DSC_0339.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685586869971898706" /></a>..... but you really liked playing in the leaves and dirt most of all.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-pE_EeTvy2QqOzHwrykkzPI9JqO3MQLP0NnBD69X_5wpKhnYfjgPoauJHJ89RmHamVGMN4qJqVbh-yQS6mxjYOePoJnTB8SsMolSNhxGpNy4seVenjeV4r1QCk1IUlcvS7UoD0H1CPw3/s1600/DSC_0307.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-pE_EeTvy2QqOzHwrykkzPI9JqO3MQLP0NnBD69X_5wpKhnYfjgPoauJHJ89RmHamVGMN4qJqVbh-yQS6mxjYOePoJnTB8SsMolSNhxGpNy4seVenjeV4r1QCk1IUlcvS7UoD0H1CPw3/s400/DSC_0307.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685586856715465762" /></a>You were a peacock for your first Halloween. We're original like that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC26Vrv2M91t-yQJqbP2AJGy2jDQmjM0rUkOwkBPTETWEOqKAv9KE5KoCsKY0ekb-NAGYlaSZp0uYk3Fhxw-Qn-cT00WYG0c6Pykq7k8SXxSq3mpahkiJhUoyNnpWoE1ZzKnJxdveJbbmA/s1600/iPhone+024.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC26Vrv2M91t-yQJqbP2AJGy2jDQmjM0rUkOwkBPTETWEOqKAv9KE5KoCsKY0ekb-NAGYlaSZp0uYk3Fhxw-Qn-cT00WYG0c6Pykq7k8SXxSq3mpahkiJhUoyNnpWoE1ZzKnJxdveJbbmA/s400/iPhone+024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685584000562703202" /></a>Your first four teeth have popped out! One day you still had your gummy grin, then the next afternoon you cruised over to me and started CHEWING on my hand. I panicked and thought you had broken glass in your mouth, but it was just your teeth. TEETH?!? When did my sweet baby do that? Now you really enjoy crunching on Cheerios with them. You also like to sharpen your new pearly whites on our stone coasters, which sets your dad's teeth on edge. You love it when we brush them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4fi1oGejuw9DkaB412dWe-KuIC-tLIYvQGnp85oMZuoAaDKdnjAkZ7XSc-xn9R6FzVqdFPQhmXI1s6DZI3oXJVOv_koAuzxa5VfqN_YAa9sH_Zyfv3YttPm0MqLFcnDWKfQF8AytcStx/s1600/iPhone+137.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4fi1oGejuw9DkaB412dWe-KuIC-tLIYvQGnp85oMZuoAaDKdnjAkZ7XSc-xn9R6FzVqdFPQhmXI1s6DZI3oXJVOv_koAuzxa5VfqN_YAa9sH_Zyfv3YttPm0MqLFcnDWKfQF8AytcStx/s400/iPhone+137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685583997738098482" /></a>Dante's toy basket is your favorite place on the planet. <div><br /></div><div>I have officially started exclusively using cloth diapers on you, and we both love it. I wish I'd done it a long time ago and am looking forward to a summer in which you have nothing but cotton against your skin.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2aRLEf72Oizh3WIsvcJiVdA9V1vNMHpfG9gtuIQZfeLvRmFKZzjZIbQW1aIVtPYgoZpzh1drImN3QudA-4TFNiuMQWEA5nznw7fsLo6QTe0FhXiUSSltIpS8iE-7aj63GCZk7W5Me0ja/s1600/iPhone+163.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2aRLEf72Oizh3WIsvcJiVdA9V1vNMHpfG9gtuIQZfeLvRmFKZzjZIbQW1aIVtPYgoZpzh1drImN3QudA-4TFNiuMQWEA5nznw7fsLo6QTe0FhXiUSSltIpS8iE-7aj63GCZk7W5Me0ja/s400/iPhone+163.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685583983349390546" /></a>Every day with you is like Christmas, and I find myself lying in bed at night looking forward to the joy you'll bring in the morning. Your daddy and I delight in and are so very, very thankful for you.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipB75dXH0eoT1U3H0lIo9AP_W-PV_IpDuJqLRJ1-zkNzjpQG23h8sqZ3ktPpmQyaKXpER7jKkA0LXw9Y-lJ7x-oULcPG1uxn-neT07q_zhdSkxyyX0o4qTlnWKZKJjjDw07mwZTJUP-6md/s1600/iPhone+080.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipB75dXH0eoT1U3H0lIo9AP_W-PV_IpDuJqLRJ1-zkNzjpQG23h8sqZ3ktPpmQyaKXpER7jKkA0LXw9Y-lJ7x-oULcPG1uxn-neT07q_zhdSkxyyX0o4qTlnWKZKJjjDw07mwZTJUP-6md/s400/iPhone+080.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685583977978678498" /></a>With so much love,<div>Mama<br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-16794693250688373562011-10-24T04:06:00.001-07:002011-10-24T04:24:15.987-07:00Turkey & Dressing CasseroleWhile pregnant with Avery, I became a bit of a freezer packrat. I would cook up vast pots of this or that and freeze most of it so we would have something easy to pull out when time was short. Combined with culinary contributions from friends and family, nine months later, our freezer is just now beginning to once again look normal, and it's no longer a fight to close the thing. I'm considering revising my birthday wish from a deep freezer to something from Tiffany. <div><br /></div><div>So it was a welcome surprise the other day to uncover the leftovers from last Thanksgiving: our dear friends Cindy and James gave us the most fabulously smoked turkey I'd ever put in my mouth, and the remaining meat, though not enough to make many more meals, was simply too good to throw away. I'd considered making turkey noodles out of it, but that's something you can do with bare bones, and we still had enough meat for a turkey & dressing casserole. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFflrzs0pWARwevxV6CjFXoGFhmUkPxtPghLrlOBD4h2q75iiMjDprElawg1TNdt3AqCX-McXsEAeznm35Eo8H4ETmKoaNXb1T2K3aw2ZP24tjykSq0G43sfS3Kquwh1vAJA0J5HpplYn/s1600/iPhone+086.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFflrzs0pWARwevxV6CjFXoGFhmUkPxtPghLrlOBD4h2q75iiMjDprElawg1TNdt3AqCX-McXsEAeznm35Eo8H4ETmKoaNXb1T2K3aw2ZP24tjykSq0G43sfS3Kquwh1vAJA0J5HpplYn/s400/iPhone+086.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667013892580941138" /></a>Though this dish is just what it sounds like - dressing with a little good turkey meat thrown in - it's unfortunately one that takes a little eyeballing to get the consistency right. I don't know why people freak out about dressing so much. It's nothing more than a savory bread pudding. Remember that you need enough broth so that it pours in clumps into your baking dish, and it should be just right.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>1 bell pepper, chopped</div><div>1 cup chopped celery</div><div>1 onion, chopped</div></div><div>1 stick butter</div><div>1 10-inch skillet of cornbread</div><div>4-6 slices bread (white or wheat - I use the heels)</div><div>4-6 ounces mushrooms</div><div>1-2 boiled eggs</div><div>leftover turkey meat</div><div>about a quart of chicken broth</div><div>4 eggs, lightly beaten</div><div>salt & pepper to taste - rosemary is also good.</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>Melt the butter in a skillet and saute the bell pepper, celery, onion, and mushrooms if they are fresh. </li><li>In a large bowl, crumble the breads.</li><li>Add mushrooms (if canned), chopped boiled eggs, meat, raw eggs, and salt & pepper.</li><li>Stir in the chicken broth until very moist, almost soupy.</li><li>Pour into casserole and bake at 450 until bubbly, about 30 minutes.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Now I need to make some <a href="http://franpeacockskitchen.blogspot.com/2008/12/chiffon-pumpkin-pie.html">chiffon pumpkin pie</a>. </div>Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-30918138908236799552011-10-18T06:49:00.000-07:002011-10-18T08:35:50.690-07:00NineDear Avery,<br /><br />So far, you're at our favorite age. You're more fun than ever, but you're also at your most dangerous:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghE_Kx__TF-g7IYXRcBv6Km9bab4Grdyi72Xcp2Rtqqr8R1hGkN-KfZD7uA4axel1cQXSvWxJH9_l1KE4CPT42_XbQTPmsMiaPeVIkEk6FKqvSd2a2HEvAR3-wSOCh4MQZNebRxXyDgN0/s1600/iPhone+004.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghE_Kx__TF-g7IYXRcBv6Km9bab4Grdyi72Xcp2Rtqqr8R1hGkN-KfZD7uA4axel1cQXSvWxJH9_l1KE4CPT42_XbQTPmsMiaPeVIkEk6FKqvSd2a2HEvAR3-wSOCh4MQZNebRxXyDgN0/s400/iPhone+004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664847707176276354" /></a>I've watched you climb this step to our bathtub countless times through the shower door as I take my morning scrub but have not yet managed to catch you on film. Your favorite time to pull this stunt is when I'm 8 feet away and soaking wet. Fortunately there's a cushioned mat underneath to catch you, and the one time you fell, your body curled up to protect your head. You are wonderously made.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOErKbzYJIEJU1AvmKnVeYlQ38ysRI1fTSsZRpsgZ7gaxlH-W5EAmgk7KGAxwdTIGi70dJt1E0ZPJO3-DdC9HW3J3L_DV4rK8Dpq5BntjdNqxkhFiC1IUz4SwhvR5xF184LhatXH29rJRS/s1600/iPhone+126.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOErKbzYJIEJU1AvmKnVeYlQ38ysRI1fTSsZRpsgZ7gaxlH-W5EAmgk7KGAxwdTIGi70dJt1E0ZPJO3-DdC9HW3J3L_DV4rK8Dpq5BntjdNqxkhFiC1IUz4SwhvR5xF184LhatXH29rJRS/s400/iPhone+126.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664847693036634162" /></a>We took you to the Oktoberfest in Gluckstadt a couple of weeks ago. After setting up camp, strangers came up and asked to take your photo. At first we were nonplussed, then I realized your dad was using your cupholder for his beer. You apparently had a grand time.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2nw-UEaJ1YM8zOBiegB6ZYnl0CJK4Zenwm1rSAgGSZU04ozMYWdYH1qFAbziKP480lbCPH85AyRzOHKfkt3zY9enAkAk9JRyydQ7eanWt0HlqOBAvrqcFMDjEL6IAdPlu4OzED0C5-hi/s1600/iPhone+058.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2nw-UEaJ1YM8zOBiegB6ZYnl0CJK4Zenwm1rSAgGSZU04ozMYWdYH1qFAbziKP480lbCPH85AyRzOHKfkt3zY9enAkAk9JRyydQ7eanWt0HlqOBAvrqcFMDjEL6IAdPlu4OzED0C5-hi/s400/iPhone+058.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664847675134119570" /></a>You are mimicing everything lately: your Bubba was smushing your face at lunch the other day, so you decided to return the favor.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWw_WHsC2Yeaf9Y6tDwPKMRvhaBb7mCAxOA0UN54NDcuvZMGH50XqB0a-9sSs0ZZc-f1raUM4bCIyW6DI2zuilu0NFl1yDSd18CU79ofJt5QBD3bdG6sQF9KDXcGYtWFcch3JYvsxXX2W/s1600/iPhone+029.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWw_WHsC2Yeaf9Y6tDwPKMRvhaBb7mCAxOA0UN54NDcuvZMGH50XqB0a-9sSs0ZZc-f1raUM4bCIyW6DI2zuilu0NFl1yDSd18CU79ofJt5QBD3bdG6sQF9KDXcGYtWFcch3JYvsxXX2W/s400/iPhone+029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664847669561593538" /></a>I took you and the quilt your grandmother made to the MS Craft Quilt Show, and again strangers wanted your photo.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWPikjPkF2uV4QpkW623tDDviZv1y-Ug4izMT-BqPpTSzKOV3vxXBC1bHSrLLPiXmkMOeeol8WigIxPKlG3sshiXwLaO65Nfzmrq9tlNMW-HQGXoMTbCGaVSgsJ4rw5ICyUSzdSPbkbRM/s1600/iPhone+232.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWPikjPkF2uV4QpkW623tDDviZv1y-Ug4izMT-BqPpTSzKOV3vxXBC1bHSrLLPiXmkMOeeol8WigIxPKlG3sshiXwLaO65Nfzmrq9tlNMW-HQGXoMTbCGaVSgsJ4rw5ICyUSzdSPbkbRM/s400/iPhone+232.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664847666121376466" /></a>One afternoon you grabbed my hand and started chewing on it. CHEWING. I almost jumped off the couch - how did you put broken shards of glass in your mouth?!? But no, those were the three teeth you popped out in 2 hours. Since then, one more has broken the surface, so you have two top teeth and two bottoms just peeking through. They seem to have grown more every time I pick you up after a nap.<div><br /></div><div>You are going through a phase where YOU want to feed YOURSELF, thank you very much. No spoons for this little kid anymore. You'll tolerate me giving you oatmeal in the mornings, but after that it's kind of a hassle to find healthy finger foods for you. I've managed to cube and steam sweet potatoes, and you'll eat those at every meal along with your favorite staple of Cheerios. We tried eggs and you loved them, but you threw those back up both times you had them, so we'll wait for your system to mature before doing that again. Meanwhile, your dad and I sit by with a spoonful of something green or a protein and do our best. You have figured out a sippy cup, and you suck on the straw of my water bottle, so keeping you hydrated isn't a problem.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGdZsdWBSRpI1H4EOg-rIQu42TmHRlZNT6MJphwzE_TC-_74ndK_KzGjKxlHGmez8Ju33hkQ8EY3yIkQ3bsKl8iwkqFdHKE3qcjiuUEbw2IolBIvDFhdTKH8KeAZKQjP1fulY12tTWauX/s1600/DSC_0123.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGdZsdWBSRpI1H4EOg-rIQu42TmHRlZNT6MJphwzE_TC-_74ndK_KzGjKxlHGmez8Ju33hkQ8EY3yIkQ3bsKl8iwkqFdHKE3qcjiuUEbw2IolBIvDFhdTKH8KeAZKQjP1fulY12tTWauX/s400/DSC_0123.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664844524058086962" /></a>You have been quite the party girl this month, going with me to showers, lunches, birthday parties, and celebratory dinners. Here we are celebrating Katy and Ann Trotter, who is due December 12th.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3eX-8dbq5_Im7TmcOkEC8CIofESSME97ei5Cmkiq2e8XKJnLavWyFQN5Z7MpytUSf0gPxFh5O9ch6mg30423B8SgV66lgBx58huv7KgVTYblMx5d9gel8xFAk6mZtwtabXcoqFq34NOD/s1600/DSC_0076.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3eX-8dbq5_Im7TmcOkEC8CIofESSME97ei5Cmkiq2e8XKJnLavWyFQN5Z7MpytUSf0gPxFh5O9ch6mg30423B8SgV66lgBx58huv7KgVTYblMx5d9gel8xFAk6mZtwtabXcoqFq34NOD/s400/DSC_0076.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664844513939234674" /></a>Lately you've become a little magpie: your favorite toy is a blingy, glittery necklace with a big pink rhinestone heart. Last night you slung it so hard the heart went flying off, but I didn't catch that and was worried you had eaten it. Two hours later I found the thing under the couch. It's now one of my little treasures. You can have it back when you're four.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDeBiSnJjQLFu7V0iRQJt5jfH199BDTdhuJkrsikagp8bx37AC63AEVg3OA6CZGiGKUrW3UJNz02D2WNJMlVm5JuyeWJnimI0cMAs_vN9vqD_jvrqAlBipHfxXMJBb5C-YwtEd4AbvJeE/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDeBiSnJjQLFu7V0iRQJt5jfH199BDTdhuJkrsikagp8bx37AC63AEVg3OA6CZGiGKUrW3UJNz02D2WNJMlVm5JuyeWJnimI0cMAs_vN9vqD_jvrqAlBipHfxXMJBb5C-YwtEd4AbvJeE/s400/DSC_0010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664844507622957906" /></a>You are pulling up against everything, even sheer walls. And you cruise around the coffee table and couch. Your latest trick has been to attempt to stand on your own, but you usually fall flat backwards. Fortunately I'm always there to catch you. One of your more annoying habits is to pull up against the door to the back patio, so whomever is outside can't come back in without having to gently push you backwards. We need to work on that.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5abboFhwGpVG3VCG9MlESnYNL9KovmdpHZNYxCiFY3Lh_WwKfZiJ_GvJu2hinu6jY0yHzmxVCewFwkgpcB9EyozgeSva6uay3C_Dd7gRDWQkzPDnrU10s3jCid7cF96Hjtd8HItMm_VL4/s1600/DSC_0055.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5abboFhwGpVG3VCG9MlESnYNL9KovmdpHZNYxCiFY3Lh_WwKfZiJ_GvJu2hinu6jY0yHzmxVCewFwkgpcB9EyozgeSva6uay3C_Dd7gRDWQkzPDnrU10s3jCid7cF96Hjtd8HItMm_VL4/s400/DSC_0055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664844487308062450" /></a>But oh my, you are sweet.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3hfxXMqkIXeXERfINWhrFj1ald2-NLfNt8rheCx_dFw0sR-vvRO64KtIxY7JlHYexcF-pknhzwYfbwXWzs8uOc5rSi9iB2lOFpk-CzvFJJEJkd-e-R8DICfCwAo3LDhvvKV58FjhcnXQ/s1600/DSC_0255.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3hfxXMqkIXeXERfINWhrFj1ald2-NLfNt8rheCx_dFw0sR-vvRO64KtIxY7JlHYexcF-pknhzwYfbwXWzs8uOc5rSi9iB2lOFpk-CzvFJJEJkd-e-R8DICfCwAo3LDhvvKV58FjhcnXQ/s400/DSC_0255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664844483143429394" /></a>And taking in the entire world. We are loving every minute of taking you in too.<div><br /></div><div>Love,</div><div>Mama</div></div>Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-9375004417524521392011-09-19T11:37:00.000-07:002011-09-19T11:57:10.941-07:00Eight Months<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jQLYBGZi1QKj5_FtJWwA-hXnCGxWGv817_3TKewuCVz3sWMXExAUlZ6gn1sKeMPApf3v6wQAuHZcaFXFkK-mQJQ9BmhiTJSSyUAHMOYZO8VpFdSY8JqUMYykr_zpn_bW8jiG0mHcFU3K/s1600/iPhone+153.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jQLYBGZi1QKj5_FtJWwA-hXnCGxWGv817_3TKewuCVz3sWMXExAUlZ6gn1sKeMPApf3v6wQAuHZcaFXFkK-mQJQ9BmhiTJSSyUAHMOYZO8VpFdSY8JqUMYykr_zpn_bW8jiG0mHcFU3K/s400/iPhone+153.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654144496767455698" /></a><br />Dear Avery Dale,<div><br /></div><div>I sound like a broken record, but where did the past eight months go? Weren't you born just last week? And now you're all over the place: crawling, pulling up, walking your way around the coffee table. If there's anywhere in the house you want to be, you can definitely make your way there with the cutest crawl I've ever seen.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uwsOub1eUkNOIjDPi34yOSF-JfWdfJAihKqL4863mdOiMxIqK6-xRHN4x7StC5U7Q5WvLKkzqLf00hcAoHn761vtAU37Kf4rGbhGJzKYmmIVjcZkDVQBo12Yp2ReUuYUjKAsWAFcLoGC/s1600/iPhone+182.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uwsOub1eUkNOIjDPi34yOSF-JfWdfJAihKqL4863mdOiMxIqK6-xRHN4x7StC5U7Q5WvLKkzqLf00hcAoHn761vtAU37Kf4rGbhGJzKYmmIVjcZkDVQBo12Yp2ReUuYUjKAsWAFcLoGC/s400/iPhone+182.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654144489019960546" /></a></div><div>Everyone said, "Just you wait / when she starts crawling life is over / everything changes once they're mobile / etc." That was a load of crap. Just like Dante, you are a pack animal, and you want nothing more than to be RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of your pack. I've eaten many a supper with you pulled up against my chair, and I can't tell you how many times I've almost broken my neck trying not to step on you. You especially like to help me load the dishwasher, and I have to keep you from crawling in to retrieve your favorite toys - knives. But it's wonderful and lovely, and we wouldn't have it any other way.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabn0tS2YKV7SWq2W_RyvtannA6naBNrntdHFpF02wTT6rQeTA94kUJZ3AsgHW2cDWmH99zA8jNwdSJ-vmn9gK7MUcC5ezzyaDDBSmxBj-JgxCR6j6cESzZzabuo4E6RCFHpkfaK_QfBHh/s1600/iPhone+184.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabn0tS2YKV7SWq2W_RyvtannA6naBNrntdHFpF02wTT6rQeTA94kUJZ3AsgHW2cDWmH99zA8jNwdSJ-vmn9gK7MUcC5ezzyaDDBSmxBj-JgxCR6j6cESzZzabuo4E6RCFHpkfaK_QfBHh/s400/iPhone+184.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654144488045450994" /></a>You like to help me with whatever I'm doing - filing to polishing the silver - and I'm having a great time giving you loads of babywork.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7gBB_eD84WkOHjBEyAdWMwgIBAYZ3gjPl4WD3VUF7Cvss6KdRtIrY5Hin3T2Iz5RuoljXF6oPVw-9l6n8dxu2VnPKLUJ596bNkghTPnIcZ5iC422LhW7shAJ5_ax90s-xC-VpZqzFzgA/s1600/iPhone+300.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7gBB_eD84WkOHjBEyAdWMwgIBAYZ3gjPl4WD3VUF7Cvss6KdRtIrY5Hin3T2Iz5RuoljXF6oPVw-9l6n8dxu2VnPKLUJ596bNkghTPnIcZ5iC422LhW7shAJ5_ax90s-xC-VpZqzFzgA/s400/iPhone+300.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654144485662932210" /></a>Bathtime is still your favorite. We bought you a set of ten little sea creatures that squirt water at you. You find them all absolutely hysterical, especially the walrus, and if we squirt water directly into your mouth, you chortle with glee.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxumJvcPlSGqOrvtbjOHrwxutlSobBy7XRDamyxmuyJ4AbNGMVzE1UyE7-YpZ2-DxsosxvEcrNtcPEg7ek7jcHqXNIePAcTop8KZsboIxhMAkYW6MyBNdfKjeeOtF8uItdASW5X-5o4xbI/s1600/iPhone+220.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxumJvcPlSGqOrvtbjOHrwxutlSobBy7XRDamyxmuyJ4AbNGMVzE1UyE7-YpZ2-DxsosxvEcrNtcPEg7ek7jcHqXNIePAcTop8KZsboIxhMAkYW6MyBNdfKjeeOtF8uItdASW5X-5o4xbI/s400/iPhone+220.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654144478908850914" /></a>The windowsills are your favorite places to be, and they're all grimy with drool. Mike had to go around with the vacuum cleaner and suck up dirt and dead spiders between the screens and panes because you think that stuff tastes great.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCvUsgwL7JnwtMKRHMHPRL_veUeLjYcZRKBCkZAxOb774kS1FY9AJ56f2TNwmL-3ltJncYpR9m0lm65dOyhiUyrwFDS78EMH8dOq2qQL0oBlh7whPIv64UOcr_lScuMEeFMZJQQF05our/s1600/iPhone+316.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCvUsgwL7JnwtMKRHMHPRL_veUeLjYcZRKBCkZAxOb774kS1FY9AJ56f2TNwmL-3ltJncYpR9m0lm65dOyhiUyrwFDS78EMH8dOq2qQL0oBlh7whPIv64UOcr_lScuMEeFMZJQQF05our/s400/iPhone+316.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654143218122934338" /></a>You have perfected "cheesy-face."<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBV4TyXpXLX-Kjhp8j-EkLiT24f5KrfysxUAyFao53-T-w8VknWrdFsVcAa-GL3exON-r1nTgwwIaa7ZvjcRm7flFYbV4fjw4vS047H09BOclMiOMZB7_YReGByCD6Nsw8FbxadMqOdy-/s1600/iPhone+002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBV4TyXpXLX-Kjhp8j-EkLiT24f5KrfysxUAyFao53-T-w8VknWrdFsVcAa-GL3exON-r1nTgwwIaa7ZvjcRm7flFYbV4fjw4vS047H09BOclMiOMZB7_YReGByCD6Nsw8FbxadMqOdy-/s400/iPhone+002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654143210553707378" /></a>Did I mention? You adore the water, no matter how you can get into it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoLQdNHUSmSLHn_CDc_j05asWwqxjtbxtlFuA86TNGQzFoSBVxmCtyie0yEVDsX9M4MqpRTvqlYIwRaIqVdDM_gv6cZMh6KGdHJlhXqo9jZZ9YECMYmw7RamrM-JjCH2uiZWOaJeJ9kLm/s1600/iPhone+047.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoLQdNHUSmSLHn_CDc_j05asWwqxjtbxtlFuA86TNGQzFoSBVxmCtyie0yEVDsX9M4MqpRTvqlYIwRaIqVdDM_gv6cZMh6KGdHJlhXqo9jZZ9YECMYmw7RamrM-JjCH2uiZWOaJeJ9kLm/s400/iPhone+047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654143207368986322" /></a>You always take life - and the goats - by the horns. You are fearless. You lunge for the vacuum cleaner, even when I threaten to suck up your toes with it. You have taught me so clearly to carpe diem and reach for goals that I thought I might never accomplish.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRmvZRfcj64qwtOuy07V-79WXh0HfBQCTUpiE_f4Cp0q5LP3CnIxmRuYXEJx9oskpu6QKlQj-ceCf2k8D2kL7GWNwzi7sYYT-0tzDeq2bLtKZYi44td0iue83q2garSSLY9l0vg89TmQz/s1600/iPhone+103.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRmvZRfcj64qwtOuy07V-79WXh0HfBQCTUpiE_f4Cp0q5LP3CnIxmRuYXEJx9oskpu6QKlQj-ceCf2k8D2kL7GWNwzi7sYYT-0tzDeq2bLtKZYi44td0iue83q2garSSLY9l0vg89TmQz/s400/iPhone+103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654143203635455362" /></a>You have become QUITE the talker. You will look directly at Mike Peacock and say, "Da-da-daaaaa," but he insists that you're just babbling. Little does he know that you don't do that to anybody else. You also like to sing and have the sweetest voice, especially in the morning, when you come up to me and sing, "Tht-thee-thelll-thththmmmmma." I know exactly what you mean.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFyTOlOq6of0scS-XCSW9yE65APzbzn5Y7bB4toTuaSYqf0SIj7Ny0JXhDaIvQ0khR4WBU7RRw4kQi16JrPocdCm2aKwD_6uclNz6K81f6tFASOmI_bonIP-hpKbyKpX0b4VhH68bRtnu/s1600/iPhone+276.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFyTOlOq6of0scS-XCSW9yE65APzbzn5Y7bB4toTuaSYqf0SIj7Ny0JXhDaIvQ0khR4WBU7RRw4kQi16JrPocdCm2aKwD_6uclNz6K81f6tFASOmI_bonIP-hpKbyKpX0b4VhH68bRtnu/s400/iPhone+276.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654143204193500002" /></a>You are the light of our lives, and we love you more every day. Thank you for coming to stay with us for awhile. Every day is Christmas with you.</div><div><br /></div><div>Love you,</div><div>Mama</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-17535498837939487372011-08-21T11:51:00.000-07:002011-08-21T12:09:01.091-07:00Handprints<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYd7DnNZVwPN-06nzoH3zx7nrnOH-RVMtyzebzQG92JG2DwN3QAlfixRekZ3pVdC4Pb4Z04aNZFmxt3qu5JCkixPcXAE-4FYWDUMo0cCCc5JlUYx8JRe3Ebd08I06xo7fmO3HaXdVrB5R/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYd7DnNZVwPN-06nzoH3zx7nrnOH-RVMtyzebzQG92JG2DwN3QAlfixRekZ3pVdC4Pb4Z04aNZFmxt3qu5JCkixPcXAE-4FYWDUMo0cCCc5JlUYx8JRe3Ebd08I06xo7fmO3HaXdVrB5R/s400/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643384736255028930" /></a>Avery is growing by leaps and bounds. So much so that I feel like I've missed the past six, no seven, months, and want to relive them all over again. As tough as it was, I could so easily and happily go through the sleep deprivation, labor recovery, frustration, terror, spray poop, and whiny screaming again just for one or two sweet gummy 3-month-old smiles. So I'm desperate to preserve just a little of this tiny-ness. Sure, I have her clothes, but now that she's outgrown them it seems more like they were for a tiny doll instead of this larger-than-life imp taking a nap in the other room. <div>
<br /></div><div><div>My good friend Rebecca has the sweetest handprint hanging in her breakfast nook of her husband and son's hands together, like Avery's hand is in Mike's above. The highest form of flattery is imitation, so of course I was dying to have one done with our little monster. I was thrilled when Rebecca told me that Mitzi, who owns the business Handprints by Mitzi, was coming to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Dreams-Childrens-Boutique/185910981441088?sk=wall">Sweet Dreams</a> to take handprints that next week. I didn't want to be left out of the fun, so we asked Mitzi at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Dreams-Childrens-Boutique/185910981441088?sk=wall">Sweet Dreams</a> if my hand could be in on it too. I love how teeny tiny her hands are within ours and that we have hard, physical evidence of her size relative to us. And I love how the sandy beige of the glaze goes with the blue in her room. This plaque is now one of my favorite treasures. </div></div><div>
<br /></div><div>Avery had a kick making these prints too. I suppose she felt like a movie star.</div>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3KDeVX-JI2UtkG7V_7srLEk0-9Ed7xlRu8BQUFA0r9yl8Q7ksux1rM-NMFOv1i5SErNK7BxJ6Z8hOEt_m_n_hO2REBS38avtnuOGKIjX4Bi1qHtl_gLK48qFaIv3ArYU-ydEn0_9Bm2_/s1600/iPhone+1408.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3KDeVX-JI2UtkG7V_7srLEk0-9Ed7xlRu8BQUFA0r9yl8Q7ksux1rM-NMFOv1i5SErNK7BxJ6Z8hOEt_m_n_hO2REBS38avtnuOGKIjX4Bi1qHtl_gLK48qFaIv3ArYU-ydEn0_9Bm2_/s400/iPhone+1408.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643387608814012322" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkqlJNJzSyBCp65ayt9FSqQ8cJsQRr9qJUhp2leI1EP16EkoCgjTLjY38QgFHDjFy9J3oZ4BE8Lxy-5In2z2dXdVPFAUwjRWsPrIN9gan1HY48m1jrmcnQbo6IFHtjnACDFAmiB-aOHCn/s1600/iPhone+1404.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCkqlJNJzSyBCp65ayt9FSqQ8cJsQRr9qJUhp2leI1EP16EkoCgjTLjY38QgFHDjFy9J3oZ4BE8Lxy-5In2z2dXdVPFAUwjRWsPrIN9gan1HY48m1jrmcnQbo6IFHtjnACDFAmiB-aOHCn/s400/iPhone+1404.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643387604750190130" /></a>Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871401312148167954.post-7907619437479230632011-08-20T07:16:00.001-07:002011-08-20T07:35:04.736-07:00Mississippi Hippie Baby<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjMo-ub0PqKjW5hFmCi9DpMmh6NlHI8MGRWeNtfFuLNSQ16Ai960_eQk6V7G6dlAtpVcPBRqeYrqwdbxkFEQ77R_MmjLNmqAKN4J9niNv1psLIcbcx1FI7KucjoFGKvxYcCgkmkEHzo8N/s1600/32468_10150215646480221_10150107368440221_13016451_6279610_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjMo-ub0PqKjW5hFmCi9DpMmh6NlHI8MGRWeNtfFuLNSQ16Ai960_eQk6V7G6dlAtpVcPBRqeYrqwdbxkFEQ77R_MmjLNmqAKN4J9niNv1psLIcbcx1FI7KucjoFGKvxYcCgkmkEHzo8N/s400/32468_10150215646480221_10150107368440221_13016451_6279610_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642942396148034546" /></a>When I was pregnant, everybody had a product that I just HAD to HAVE, otherwise clearly I could not have a baby without it. Usually it was the pack n' play, which Avery now hates. I'd like to say it's because she's claustrophobic, but the most likely culprit is the fact that she isn't the 1,000% absolute center of attention when she's in it. Everybody said I had to have a swing, and sure, I've used it, but a friend of a friend had a baby die of SIDS in a swing, so that ruined it. I'd often stop it just to be sure she was still breathing.<div>
<br /></div><div>Nobody told me I had to have this, but oh my gosh. I couldn't have a baby without it. Forgive the crappy iphone photos - these were all taken while poking around the house. Avery LOVES and ADORES her ring sling made by the talented <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mississippi-Hippie-Baby/10150107368440221">Kate Dyess of Mississippi Hippie Baby</a>. And I LOVE and ADORE wearing her - she's my favorite accessory.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojCmRj9xKCH7nMWKgnDxW1rha4TOwDx4CcNRgQpeUGXy86Ahy3RGvPD1WKu1DWXqEUUhwi2iWfdX8CQLGYX0zNVSWai0Ysm842JNqdKLozar60NHmAE0wwN9-kjrAb6xOw2ANUcJ7vXev/s1600/iPhone+1671.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojCmRj9xKCH7nMWKgnDxW1rha4TOwDx4CcNRgQpeUGXy86Ahy3RGvPD1WKu1DWXqEUUhwi2iWfdX8CQLGYX0zNVSWai0Ysm842JNqdKLozar60NHmAE0wwN9-kjrAb6xOw2ANUcJ7vXev/s400/iPhone+1671.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642942399218640882" /></a>Great for traveling! No need for a stroller - the above pic was snapped in Florida while visiting Mike's parents. Great for errands! You can leave the $#@*%! baby bucket in the car.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Be prepared for the public reaction when you wear one of these - it's like having a celebrity on your hip. Everybody loves it, and every time I wear it somebody wants to know where I found it. Even a lady working at Babies R Us said this is way cuter than anything you can buy there, and you know what? She's right.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Another plus? People can't reach in and touch your baby like they are wont to do. WHAT is WITH complete strangers touching babies?!?
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX7LaDoa4_0z92DXcjr1Bnr8_-M3sEWc9gyhX4A1Zz8yFGxJL8DpAycpkIw3rvA36xUqmSBDIvvJfsfQugT07wdpFNHdtpymwRO-fJUycP5BQV-piBwSYH1G91nDipvCelFaBL5u6BHnw/s1600/iphone+001.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX7LaDoa4_0z92DXcjr1Bnr8_-M3sEWc9gyhX4A1Zz8yFGxJL8DpAycpkIw3rvA36xUqmSBDIvvJfsfQugT07wdpFNHdtpymwRO-fJUycP5BQV-piBwSYH1G91nDipvCelFaBL5u6BHnw/s400/iphone+001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642942393500137378" /></a>Great for the grocery store! Vacuuming! Emptying the dishwasher! Brushing my teeth! Writing thank-you notes! Folding laundry! Putzing around the kitchen! Making lunch! Eating lunch! Putting on makeup! Fixing my hair! You name it, we've done it in the sling.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBBwi2LRhnEWY3GCyjW6TDrpnVKcpPPnxEw_eGki0S5lmfUkGDeMqmtSp4Wa1sbHTjuGNpaJQevL08buLeuvTscBAKhe6ItcPCB3LHNfOm82UpNHkUj4K2ulstKErDjtkWAObz4DCVsgC/s1600/iphone+011.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBBwi2LRhnEWY3GCyjW6TDrpnVKcpPPnxEw_eGki0S5lmfUkGDeMqmtSp4Wa1sbHTjuGNpaJQevL08buLeuvTscBAKhe6ItcPCB3LHNfOm82UpNHkUj4K2ulstKErDjtkWAObz4DCVsgC/s400/iphone+011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642942387638001842" /></a>Napping! She was fast fast asleep in this picture and had been for two hours, her longest nap on record. At the time, she was 10 weeks old and had terrible colic. The only place she could find comfort was right on top of me. I could have "frogged" her legs up within the sling, but she kicked and pushed until she was all stretched out. Typical.
<br />
<br /></div><div>Thank you Kate, for the product I HAVE to HAVE. Babywearing is the bees' knees.</div>Franhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04887003422213526850noreply@blogger.com2