I love quilts

They make such good backdrops to beautiful babies.

Eighteen Weeks

Frances is (Etsy) Famous!

It's possible "famous" is a bit of an exaggeration.  But Frances is on Etsy.  Check it out!

Now, who needs a crown?

Looong Day

Sunday was the longest day ever.  Get very comfortable.

Mark got up first thing in the morning to go for a bike ride while I got ready for church.  When Mark got home from his ride, we reviewed everything we wanted to get done.  Church got scratched (next week!), and we headed to Northboro for... 

Strawberries!

It was early enough in the season that the plants were still full and the crowds were thin.  It was great.

Frances and Mark did most of the picking while I nursed Chandler while sitting on an irrigation pipe.  I have never been so at peace sitting on an irrigation pipe, but nursing one kid and watching the other pick strawberries is hard to beat.

Chandler did get to experience picking a little, but she did not enjoy it.  I'm assuming all that moving up and down with a full belly wasn't comfortable.

After picking, we headed over to the farm stand to mingle with the goats.  Frances had a great time picking grass for the best-looking goats you ever saw.  These goats have it good; kids feed them all day long.

Chandler didn't get to feed the goats, but she did watch her sister in earnest.

Sometimes she was less earnest than others.

After a hair cut for Mark, we headed to a local pond to throw rocks and....

...try out Frances's new bike!

She didn't just burn rubber, but she stayed upright and enjoyed herself, so I'm going to count it as a success.

Then we went home and some of us did this:

Finally, Mark and Frances made homemade strawberry shortcakes.

It was one of those days I was happy to be a Massachusetter living in the great state of Massachusetts!

Four Months of Baby Chandler

I had a hard time getting a picture of Chandler that wasn't blurry this month.  She's a mover, this kid.

Four Months Fun Facts

• Mobility: Chandler has rolled from her front to her back a few times, but mostly she just gets mad when we put her on her belly.  She can also get from her back to her side, but not all the way over to her front.  Somehow, she can wiggle almost 360 degrees if left on her back long enough.  It's impressive.
• Stats: She's 24.5 inches long and weighs 13 pounds.  Her weight percentile has dropped off slightly so her doctor gave us the green light to start solids.  I don't want to starve the kid, but I'm struggling with that a bit emotionally.  My baby is ready to start solids?!
• Socializing: Frances is the most entertaining thing around by a long shot.  Chandler thinks she's a hoot and has started laughing at her antics.  These early laughs are just heaven to hear.

Sixteen Weeks

This next picture isn't terribly flattering, but it demonstrates that a) Chandler really wants to roll over, and b) Chandler has learned she can explore everything with her mouth and she'd really like to give this blanket a try.

Mark and I specialize in blue eyes.  Hello, hello!

Forty-Three Months of Preschooler Frances

On Frances's forty-three months birthday (I am aware that this is ridiculous but I can't stop myself), Frances had her first play date sans parents.  Darby was a trooper; Frances was a pill.  I eventually realized she was exhausted and let her nap until 5:30.  She was asleep again by 8:30 - she was that tired.

In one of Frances's happier moments, the girls used the laundry baskets as cars and plastic plates as steering wheels.  Not too shabby.

Forty-Three Months Fun Facts

• Frances the student: I went to Frances's end of the year parent-teacher conference earlier this month.  Her "report card" says she is comfortable at school, willing to socialize, beginning to work in the teens, and contributing to group discussions.  The report card also says she "has [the] capacity to attend to group times when not close to a buddy."  Reading between the lines, I'd say that means she is squirrelly when she is next to a buddy.  Hmm...God bless those preschool teachers.
•  Biggest aspiration: The girl wants to have a sleep over, really badly.  During brave moments, I think "What could go wrong?"  And then I have some very sobering thoughts.