Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Disney-Not-Kipling-Mowgli vs. Young-Simba-As-In-Voiced-By-JTT

The Patapsco River.

So, I've lived a mile from the Patapsco River for over four years.  And, yet, I've never visited this popular little spot by the train tracks.  But the other day, I decided to take the girls for a "swim."  All in all, it was a glorious time.  The water was low and cool, and we were the only people in our general area.  But, there were a couple of problems, mostly involving, ahem, logistics:

1) It was hot as Hades.  Seriously, it was 97 degrees with 97% humidity.  All we needed to do was step outside to be essentially swimming anyway.

2) The water was at the bottom of an 11 foot drop.  So, I had to scale down with the girls.  Down was super scary.  But up was damn near impossible.

3) The girls were in regular clothes, and I didn't have any extras.

4) I was in brand new Ann Taylor capris and little peep toe dress shoes that I had just gotten and was breaking in for a wedding I'm in next week (yay!).

5) I kicked a rock off the edge of the cliff thing, as I was trying to shimmy down.  And, it sailed up in the air and--boop--popped a monarch butterfly square between the wings.  I shuddered and promise myself not to think about that misfortunate kick anymore...Until Eleanor found a single wing in the muck.  Oh my heart. 

Fluttering Everywhere in This Beautiful Life.

The photos are grainy...

...but her smug satisfaction is clear as a bell.  Eleanor (with buddygirl sweet Lila Blue) got her ears pierced the other day!  I've had a lot of mixed emotions and thoughts about this, although I know you wouldn't think so (because I am so not prone to overthinking things).  But, anyway, she is reveling in all her glory.  Non-stop.  She has been insisting on cleaning them frequently and any time she is getting dressed, she remembers to say, "Now, be careful.  You know, I've had my ears pierced."  Love her.

Somewhere along the way, my kids learned to love (and call out for) Starbucks.

I have no idea where they got it...

One Upon a Time, I Rehearsed in These Shoes.

Now, I've sliced off tattered beads and fabric from my rehearsal dinner shoes.  And turned them into plain, scruffy, brown leather flats.  I'm pleased, because I don't have to worry about their golden coils akimbo slicing one of my children--and I must say they're lovely.  But, I imagine all that went into these shoes, from beginning to end, and think they deserved more.  But, these days, it's all I can do to sit in the bathroom while the kids are in the tub and make new, functional shoes from aesthetically scintillating, impractical ones.

Friday, July 02, 2010

One-and-a-half.

Josephine had her 18 month old check up yesterday - and she whimpered and clung to me the whole time.  I love love loved it.  She didn't say any of her 300-some words to the doctor, but as soon as the doctor left (traumatized by Jo's trauma), Jo looked at me and asked, "Shot? Doctor? Shot? Hurt? Shot?"  Little did she know, soon to arrive was a kindly nurse toting a single needle.  Jo was absolutely dumfounded by the injection.  Not so much crying as genuine hurt and shock that I would subject her to such torture.  And, Josephine sad is not something a person likes to see.  Her whole sweet face crumples like it is just not fair.  True, it's not as cute when she's tattling, begging, or pantsing me in public.  But it sure is cute when I get to be the good guy (without the needle) and she's snuggling me.

Her stats:

Almost 25 lbs. (75%ile)
32 1/2 inches tall (75%ile)
Head circumference (Giant. I don't even know, but 90%ile.  And all this time, I thought it was just her curly mop.)

She is the quintessence of joy (for another six months before she's officially "terrible").

Love my Jo.

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Nicest Day in July. Ever.

See?  I told you we're still here.  We're moving, shaking, fretting, AND visiting the playfarm.  This time, we went with the Jacobs Crew (Nathaniel, Max (Eleanor's betrothed--engagement photo at bottom), and baby Andrew), the Durst Duo (Abigail and Jameson (plus Melissa, whose birthday it is today!)), the Criss Kids (Connor, Jonas, Juliet, and Lila), and the Woodard Boys (Jackson and Carter).  While I didn't capture everyone on film and mostly obsessed over my own little beauties, it was a glorious time!