Two Months

Hudson at two months

Smiling! Giggling! Blessing our lives!

Grammatically Correct

FYI: She dressed herself!

After one of her weekly music lessons at Hometown Music, Ava returned home happy as a lark and eager to share what she had learned. Each lesson, Miss Abby (her teacher and our cousin!) teaches the children a new nursery rhyme. This week's had been Hickory Dickory Dock. Upon her return, Ava promptly recited the version she had learned. It went something like this:

Hickory Dickory Dock
The mouse ran up the clock
The clock struck one
And down he come
Hickory Dickory Dock

As Erik and I cheered for our little student, Ava put her hands on her hips and gave us one of those patented Ava looks. As her adorable little lips parted, we knew we were in for something interesting. But we had no idea how brilliant until the words spilled out.

Ava: Hmm....The clock struck one and down he come. Shouldn't it be down he CAME?

OH, MY WORD! SHE'S ONLY THREE YEARS OLD! AND SHE'S GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT! Erik and I could only nod yes. She was right. She's always right. Amazing.

Ratatouille Soup

Recently, after viewing the movie Ratatouille, Ava and I decided to flex our own cooking muscles a bit. This led us to peruse our beloved Rachael Ray cookbook for some inspiration. Imagine our surprise when we actually found a recipe for Ratatouille soup! Armed with a grocery list and our own eagerness, we shopped for the freshest vegetables at our local grocery store and headed back home. Ava gathered various bowls, cooking utensils, and other items from her own kitchen in the playroom, then joined me in the kitchen for what can only be described as a jubilant cooking session.

We chopped vegetables! We expertly coated the pan with EVOO! We simmered in our excitement as we watched our Ratatouille soup come alive! Then it was time to taste our creation....

Mommy went first. Delicious! And healthy! A winner!

Then Ava's turn. A small sample on her princess spoon. A pause. A furrowed brow. Then a bright grin. Well, this is just about as NASTY as it could be!

And an auspicious end to our cooking adventure.

Summer Picnic

Ingredients: A warm backyard, assorted snacks, and two smiling gals

Final Dish: A wonderful summer memory and a new family tradition

Enjoy!

Fourth of July

Ava played in the rain & mud, as well as enjoyed the blue icing on the wedding cake!

Hudson spent most of his day curled up in someone's arms or stretched out on Aunt Jenny's bed!

Even though the City of Huntingburg was unable to utilize their fireworks display due to the weather, we enjoyed the neighborhood show as an acceptable replacement.

What a rainy Fourth of July!

Of course, we were lucky because we had double the reason to celebrate that day and didn't let the weather dampen our spirits in the least. My cousin Casey and his new wife Tina had a reception to celebrate their earlier wedding in the Dominican Republic. So we had fun, food, and fireworks anyway!

Family of Four

"What's it like having a family of four?"

That is a question I am commonly asked now that we have added Hudson to our family. Each time someone poses that inquiry, I feel inclined to check my watch and take a deep breath before I launch into an in-depth monologue about the momentous, yet simple changes that have since transformed our lives. How can I truly explain? We had nine months to prepare ourselves, yet could never have predicted the wonderful ways we would change.

One of the first truly surprising things I noticed (mere minutes after Hudson's birth) was how the size of Ava suddenly shifted. My adorable, petite little princess entered my hospital room, and I was instantly drawn to her hands. My God, HER HANDS WERE HUGE! As I snuggled with my new little man, I was struck with what a grown-up person my three-year-old daughter had become. Had she been so tall, so capable just minutes ago? Impossible! Yet as she held her baby brother for the first time, handling this life-changing event with unexpected poise, I couldn't help but hold back tears as I watched her grow before me. Not only in size, but in so many other ways. I had expected some guilt with this new baby, since I was forever altering life as Ava had known it, yet instead I swelled with pride at both my children.

Later, at home, as Erik and I fell into a familiar routine of feedings, diapers, and naps, I wondered why this had seemed so difficult the first time around. I mean, I was nearly comatose with shock when we brought Ava home, and I realized it surely had been SO EASY back then! Now, trying to change Hudson with one hand while masterfully molding playdough into the shape of a princess with the other, I wanted to bitch-slap my old self. You had it easy, girlfriend! What were you whining about?!? Caring for Hudson was comforting, but trying to bond with my new baby AND maintain a high level of interaction with my toddler was the new challenge. It is now my firm belief that with each new child a woman bears, she should instantly grow a new set of arms. And she should receive free chocolate until said children graduate high school.

But my last realization on having a second child? This one was totally worth it! The husband SUDDENLY GETS IT! This time around Erik gets up for nighttime duties, helps with household chores, and expertly discusses the color, consistency, and frequency of baby poop. Hmm, maybe that's why this all seems easier to me now. (Okay, for the record, he did help the first time around as well, but this time he has reached the rank of expert.) Thank you, ESmith, thank you.

But still keep the chocolate coming.

When She's Sweet, She's Sweet

Recently, Erik was on the phone with a friend, telling an animated story about Ava. We were playing in the next room, and she quickly realized he was talking about one of us. She glanced over at me and slyly asked, "Who is Daddy talking about? Me or you?"

At that point, he informed the person on the phone, "You know she has quite an attitude."

Ava laughed. "Oh, he's talking about me!"

Isn't she adorable? Attitude or not, she is just the sweetest thing!

P.S. Thank you, Mimi, for this beautiful photo.