Lucy: 16 Months

Lucy's 16th month was wonderful. She's becoming faster and more coordinated physically and verbally. We aren't teaching as many signs now because she's becoming more intent on saying words. She can slide by herself, and loves bugs. She likes drawing with crayons or chalk or an ipad and Sesame Street and bagels and cottage cheese. She likes to help me cook. We spend a great deal of time digging in sand.

Every night, at the end of her bath, she has to go poo poo. I pick her up out of the tub and set her on the toilet and then she happily flushes it away. After the seventh time or so we decided to buy her a potty. We don't have any agenda with toilet training, but she seems to love going!

She is empathetic. When I cut my finger she expressed so much sympathy with her "Ooooh, oooooh, oooooh" and a grimacing face when she saw the blood, even though she's never seen blood and I wasn't expressing that I was in pain. She is sensitive. I told her not to hit daddy because she would give him a boo boo and she was just so sad that she might give daddy a boo boo.

She's started to recount the day at bedtime. She'll stop nursing to sit up and talk about a lizard we saw or how it rained.

She's still a momma's girl. I can barely stand on the other side of the room sometimes and she still nurses two or three times a day. But when momma doesn't give her what she wants, she's quick to ask for daddy.

Spring Carnival 2013

As a third grader, we've been to four Spring Carnivals now. The event is fun and full of silly string, rides, sweat, food and prizes. I love watching kids play. Any age. I have this one shot of the boys talking and a girl walking up and all of their attitudes toward one another in the conversation are such neat examples of who they are as individuals and nine year olds. It's hard to explain, but I like age 9 - 11. Kids are really starting to solidify some parts of their sense of self in society, but they're still highly impressionable.

Daniel's parents were in town and Lucy was delighted with her first taste of cotton candy and running into her babysitter, Beverly!

Mother's Day

For Mother's Day I took Penn kayaking on White Rock Lake. One on one time with my first born does not happen often enough. I love hanging out with him. Without the distraction of a sibling or friends we are always in a good mood and laughing. He's a cool kid and I love the sweet side of himself he brings out when it's just the two of us.

Afterwards we all went to eat at The Lot. Daniel and I laughed at the awful Yelp reviews it's getting. But it's still packed. That giant sand pit, the super close location and Penn's love for their fish tacos is going to keep winning for me.

Lucy let me put her hair in pig tails again and looking at her with pig tails is a pretty awesome Mother's Day present.

I talked with my mom for a while and felt all grown up that I sent her a present, on time and everything. I hope my kids and I can enjoy one another as much as I enjoy my mom.

I love being a mother. I miss not having Margot here to celebrate, but the heart ache makes me that much more present for Penn and Lucy. Every moment I get in raising them well is an honor.

And Baby Makes FIVE

If you think trying to get a family portrait of you with your new baby is hard, try FIVE of your babies! I must say, I adored each of them. Especially the newbie. He is squishy wishy smiley happy yummy baby perfection.

Lucy: 15 Months

Lucy's fifteenth month was an explosion of development. The most impressive thing she accomplished was learning to walk. Now she only sits down to sleep or eat. She likes being chased and will take off squealing and giggling down the hallway when I tell her I'm going to get her. She really likes me to hold her and chase Penn.

Thanks to her mobility I am going to have to pick a new spot for her monthly portrait. It is impossible to  get a really good portrait AND keep this child on the bed!

This video of her walking and playing the harmonica is the best.

James

James is so awesome. He's full of light and wit and love and has a smart, sly sense of humor. He is goodness and fun and carries the family sparkle in his eye. Much love to him on his First Communion.

Daniel's 38th Birthday

Daniel turned 38 on March 25th. We celebrated with lunch at Stephan Pyles Restaurant. On the 30th I invited his cycling friends over for morning coffee, scones and a birthday bike ride. They stopped by Dallas Bike Works to pick up his gift, a wheel truing stand. I love everything about birthdays.

Fourteen Months

Fourteen months! Lucy is really good at sign langage and has compiled 31 signs. She's starting to walk. She's starting to be shy. If a stranger gives her too much attention she'll put her head down and look at her feet and peek back up to see if they are still looking at her. Sometimes she does it to be amusing and bats her eyes and smiles. Sometimes she is genuinely shy. She tends to observe more than she jumps in. Her hair continues to be so damned red.

In Austin

Going to Austin, Texas last month to photograph Jason Villalba at work in the capitol was a real highlight. I can't say enough good things about the experience and his family. I could see the future in his sweet girls and wonderful wife beside him. Some day they'll remember skipping through the House of Representatives, carrying daddy's gavel.