Louise + Maggie = Love

Bill, Claire and Maggie visited us in Great Barrington for the weekend. Though Saturday was a washout, these babies couldn't have cared less. For them, there was no better spot than their toy-covered floor mat surrounded by 4 goofy parents who occasionally swooped in for kisses and tickles.

Check out Maggie and her baby carriage! What speed! What balance!

Visitation from Humans and Teeth

Visit from Frenchies! Or more precisely, a Canadian and a Belgian who live in Marseille. Jeremy and Geraldine visited Louise and told her all about their lovely 9 1/2 month old daughter Santoline, who apparently already travels on airplanes and swims at a magical "pizza beach".

All this talk about big kid stuff inspired Louise so much that during the night she pushed and pushed till her first tooth popped out! There, right in the middle of her bottom gum, is a very tiny and very sharp tooth nub. Et Voila! Louise is finally on course to eat pizza in Marseille with her buddy Santoline next summer!

Rainforest Jumper

So my campaign to keep Louise surrounded only by cloth and wooden toys has come to its end. There comes a point around 6 months when the poor kid wants a little more action from her playthings. No longer is she excited by how her wooden rattle jingles and clanks or how the squishy rings on her colored stacker thud to the floor. Action she wanted and action she got! We found this stationary jumper on craigslist and dragged it home. Though we're still in the testing phase, it seems like she likes it (shown by the dancing toes).

Max's Birthday

Rob and Bethey's beautiful kiddo Max turned one last week. I remember meeting him when he was just a week old. One year later he's happy and thriving and doing awesome stuff like standing and eating cupcakes.

6 Months Old, Louise turns a 1/2!

I get a little teary-eyed when I think about how quickly this first six months has gone by. That little seedling that arrived early in the morning on February 18th has blossomed into a crawling, sitting, babbling child who connects and listens and enjoys and loves in all the fulfilling ways you hope for as a parent. Simply put, it has been the greatest 6 months of our lives. I was just telling a friend that each night as I fall asleep I evaluate the day- did she have a good day? Did she learn something? Did she feel our love? And that's what it's all about.

I expect more waterworks and mushy assessments 6 months from now. Look how much she's grown!

GB's 65th

The whole family gathered to celebrate Barbara's 65 birthday in Great Barrington!

Cairo and Louise at Lake Taghkanic

Hey Cairo, that sand you're eating looks really good. Can I have some? You mean it's ALL around us... and this watery stuff... sooo cool.

It Eats! The Wide World of Solid Food

Seeing as the 6th month mark is just around the bend we thought it was fine time to get miss Lou started on "big girl" food. First it was a smidge of banana, just for a taste, and now we're off to the races with rice cereal. Actually, it's rice cereal cut with unsweetened apple sauce just to give it flavor. Have you seen this stuff? In its dry flaky state it looks like the dry wall crumbs that fall to the floor when you're bashing wall anchors into the wall. Needless to say the fun has begun. Louise gets covered head to foot in the ricey spackle and grunts in delight either for the food or for the spoon.

Rebecca and Ethan's wedding, Manchester by the Sea, MA

One of the most beautiful weddings we've ever been to. Louise was a perfect darling during the ceremony until one of the groomsmen delivered a long long Longfellow poem. Rebecca was the picture of grace and matched exquisitely the Victorian elegance of the Sharksmouth Estate.

Gloucester

Staying in Gloucester, MA for Rebecca and Ethan's wedding weekend.