The days.

Josephine is such a big, strong baby. I am so grateful for that. She is my solid little snugglebug. She can sit unassisted, no tumbles. She gets up on all fours. She babbles constantly. She wants to eat...everything! We were..ahem..eating breakfast in bed today, and each time I passed Eleanor more PB&J, Josephine grabbed for it. More than once, she was successful and, before I could stop her, took it to the house.

Eleanor has a funny new habit of screaming weird things from her bed at nap- or bedtime. Right now she is yelling, "Plane, now now now!" Other funny ones have been, "PBJ," "Chocolate milk," "Ice Cream Maaaan," "Bracelets," "Flip Flops Princess Olive," etc.

Sophie is very missed lately. I am struggling with it badly, as I usually do in the late Summer. I just thought I'd feel complete by now, but it turns out the missing doesn't stop. But, I am getting the hang of it.

More later. Off to get Miss E, water the garden, then to the store for some olive oil.

"Double B and Elmo Cruisin"

Bill loves to send me self portraits taken on his Blackberry at work. 90% of the time, he is wearing these women's sunglasses I bought myself in the dollar section at Target. Yes, he wears them in public. Yes, he does so shamelessly.

Plaaaaying on the deck.

Eleanor is now always freaking out about wanting to plaaaaay. Any time any other option is presented, it is preferable to plaaaaay. Josephine can't say it, but the same goes for her. Well, that or eat, or sleep, or snuggle.

Daddy's New-to-him Toy.

Wool Hats: A good reason to fold laundry.

Myopic Nor.

Desperation...or just the way things go?

OK, so you all know I read the "pop" blogs. Sure, all the time. At any given time, I'm probably up on all the April Rose gossip, news of MckMama's latest trip to her beloved "splashpad," or the latest developmental hoo-ha-ha of Gwenyth Lawrenson. Mostly, I am just a pitiful voyeur. (But, it is only because the people I actually like can't post every second of every day, so I need to go elsewhere for an arsenal of new information.) But, doesn't it seem odd that these folks, as their popularity plateaus (at as many as 4,000 hits a day), find new, more invasive ways of inviting people into their lives. When did this yearning to be known become so desperate? Live chats, hanging out via webcam, and planning parties and vacations where the blogger is both hostess and guest of honor? And, the other guests are e-worshippers? These aren't friends made via blogging - these are "followers." Doesn't it feel off to invite a bunch of nutty stalkers to meet your family? All in the name of maintaining an obsessed readership? Weird. I am just saying.

Things I want never to forget about a six-month-old.

The way her hands and feet are so warm, dry, and smooth when we snuggle in the morning.

The way she buries her head in my shoulder when she's nervous or overwhelmed.

Her solid little trunk.

The little tan she has, but how the skin folded into her cherubic rolls is still so pale.

The way her daddy makes her smile every time.

Q: How did she get so cute?

A: I wish I knew, because I'd bottle it, sell it, and make a fortune.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking.

...that she's the sweetest thing you've ever seen.

Lovely lady looking for Daddy.

Aquatots with the Ave-ster.

Highlights: Awesome fun with Avery. Looking cute. Learning more about the water. Lessons on social behavior.

Lowlights: Much difficulty with sharing. Much hollering "My ____!" One poopsplosion that went through the swim diaper and into the pool, which resulted in the pool closing, one very sad and embarrassed Eleanor, and lots of dirty looks from mean moms.

The Zoo!

It is impossible to have too many vegetables.

...at least that's our philosophy. We've been making vegetable medley almost every night. And, hats off to Bill, who has made almost all of Josephine's baby food! It is so different having a six month old in the Summer. When Eleanor was this age, it was Winter time. So, she got all jars. But, because so much is in season right now, Josephine is getting a lot more fresh food (as are we all)! Not that I'm saying she loves it - she'd take milk instead every time, hands down.