Hot Ham Water

About a week-and-a-half ago, Andrew got to spend a few days on his own with Nannie and Papa in good old SC. I actually had a pretty hard time letting go - I'm not used to being without my little sidekick - but he had a blast and Elsbeth and I got in some really good girl time (as well as a few naps that certainly wouldn't have happened otherwise). One of the highlights of the trip was an afternoon on Aunt Gayle and Uncle Ron's boat.

There were also some pretty awesome cows ...


. . . and a visit with new cousin Anna-Kate. I'm trying not to be too jealous that he got to meet her before I did.


And just look how my girl is growing!


She feels so big to me these days ... very long. Add in a bulky cloth diaper and she's already wearing some 3-6 month things! This week she has wanted to eat a lot, then she's smiley and happy (even not being held) for about 15 or 20 minutes before things start going south. She's usually content for another 15 minutes if she's being carried around just so, then it's best if I start working her towards another nap. In the evenings it has been taking hours to settle her down for the night - I'm often putting her in her crib at 10 or 11 - but then she's out. She'll wake to eat a couple times, but then fall right back asleep and doesn't really want to begin her day until about 8 or 9. It's pretty obvious that it's her giant brain, now developing at warp speed, that's causing her to be so high-maintenance. It will all be worth it when she cures cancer.


Here's a little video I took of her at 9 weeks (she's 10 weeks now, so this is soooo, like, last week). As always, I feel I must comment on my background chatter. The gooby voice and sharp intakes of breath are my pathetic attempts to make her smile. And yes, I do realize that it makes me sound like I have the IQ of a pair of socks. Maybe I do, because as much as I cringe at the voice I make in baby videos, I keep doing it.

The Precious very much enjoys hanging with his friends now, and his BFF Eunice Chantilly McSchnazzy* came to play earlier this week. It was one of the cutest things ever. They played together with his new Thomas set (early b-day present from Nannie and Papa) for an hour, just chattering away to each other.

I even took a video clip to capture the fun for all posterity.

Aren't they adorable? It looks like the gorgeous house across the street from Eunice Chantilly is going to be up for sale soon. As in, me and her mom could string up a clothes line between the houses, pin our children onto it, and hoist them over to the other house without their little toes ever touching the road. Did I mention it has a to-die-for yard, flat and fenced and lovely? My yard would make a great ski slope (with some snow, of course), there are trees growing out of my gutters, and my current neighbor is out right now yelling in the street (it's almost midnight). Clearly, it would be hard to leave the ambiance of my current situation, but if you all wouldn't mind sending me lots of money so that I could buy the aforementioned glorious home, that would be awesome.