Charlotte's Baptism

Three Months Old!

Our New Friend Carlos

We have a new pen pal!  Carlos!  Carlos lives in Mexico and is 4 years old.  He is adorable.

Through an international ministry called "Compassion" we will be getting to know each other over the coming years.  I am so excited to teach Matthew and Charlotte compassion for others through this ministry.  Here is part of the sweet letter we received from Carlos today:

If you want to know more about Compassion, check out their website.

Sunday Best

I love dressing this little girl up on Sundays in the most impractical of clothes.  This is one of my favorite dresses.  My mom made this beautiful heirloom dress for her and it fits her just perfectly right now.

Back to Work

So here we are again. Time to go back to work. I feel very differently about it this time. 

Mainly I am sad that her sweet newborn self is growing up. I strangely enjoy those first days home with a new baby. And this time I wasn't so stressed out so I REALLY enjoyed her.  But now, she has clearly established a schedule of sorts and its time to get on with it.  

So off to Ms Marcia's she goes. 

Thankfully, I know that she will develop strong bonds with her teachers and thrive, just like Matthew. Thankfully I know that the physical need to be with her will subside when I stop breast feeding. Thankfully being a new mom for the second time is so much easier. 

What is not easy is juggling two demanding little ones at the same time. I have come up with tricks that some days work like magic but others completely flop and in the words of my sister-in-law Melinda, I am mopping up Matthew puddles while trying to deal with a fussy Charlotte. I can now see the wisdom in spacing them out just a bit more. I mean, if Matthew could just dress himself and get in and out of the bathtub on his own that would be so helpful. But, he can't, and every night I juggle the very different demands of these two precious babies God has  entrusted to us and I wouldn't change a thing. They have my heart completely. 

Dinosaurs

These days we are OBSESSED with dinosaurs.  We read dinosaur books.  We wear dinosaur pajamas.  We play with dinosaur figures.  We ROARRRR like a dinosaur.  We just love dinosaurs!

He LOVED the sensory table with the dinosaur landscape.  

Then came the great flood...

Bag End

Paul finally decided to weigh in on the name of the new house.

"Bag End"

I initially balked at this...aside from the fact that it sounds horrible, isn't this the name of the Hobbit house in Lord of the Rings?

Why yes, in fact it is.

I say no.  Absolutely not.

When I asked him to explain his reasoning he said...

"The rise of the land from the street is higher than the house itself and its like the house is part of the hill.    And having kids has made home feel even more "homey", more so than Spotswood ever was.  And there is this big front window while the rest of the house is quite enclosed and cozy.  It reminds me of a Hobbit Hole."

Now this I can buy.  Can I get this front door and foyer please?

Inside Bag End by John Howe

So here we are at our cozy little home now called "Bag End"