Tuesday, May 31, 2011

May 31 - Daddy Baby Duo

Lucy wore a dress today that was Lila's way back in 2005.

Here's a similar picture of Lila in Daddy's lap in the same dress.

Lucy likes to help Rick water the garden in the evenings. I take a lot of pictures of this activity not because it's that interesting, but I like trying to catch some cool water technical effects. Harsh shadows here, but the water is pretty.

On this day in 2010, a very pregnant Aunt Miriam and Uncle Chris came over for a Memorial Day cookout.

In the spirit of technical effects, we played with sparklers on Memorial Day 2010, and I caught the "tracer" effect from Rick's sparkler. Pretty cool.

Monday, May 30, 2011

May 30 - Memorial Day

I tried once again to get a good picture of all three girls together. Inevitably when I attempt this, someone falls or blinks or pouts or insists on wearing Mardi Gras beads. Then there is always the one really good shot that is out of focus or has other technical difficulties.

We had our Memorial Day cookout this afternoon. It takes three kinds of hot dogs to feed us. Beef for Nellie and Rick, chicken for me since I'm soy-free for Lucy's tummy, and veggie for Lila. We're all curious what Lucy's preference will be.

We read several Raggedy Ann stories after dinner. I don't know who enjoys Raggedy Ann more, me or the girls. Here's Nellie hugging her Raggedy doll like Marcella does in the stories.

Later we had a little tumbling performance with the baby as an obstacle because yeah, that's safe.

On this day in 2006, we swam with the Parker cousins at their pool. Lila has grown up to look so much like Marlaina (pink goggles).

Lila, 11 months old.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

May 29 - Hanging Around

We had a fun day around the house today. Nellie enjoyed chatting on an old cell phone while wearing her baby on her back along with some beads and tap shoes. The girl has got style.

Lucy has been sick for a few days and I've been very worried about her. She's doing much better, but her eyes still look a little under the weather to me.

Lila likes to use the swingset for acrobatic stunts. Here is one of her best moves from the front.

And from the back. These were new shorts. Oh well. Rick reminded me that if we had boys, this kind of thing would happen all the time.

On this day in 2009, we went to the Chattahoochee Nature Center where Lila and Nellie had a dance party on the deck overlooking the turtle pond.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

May 28 - Baby Keaton

We took some food to Monique today under the guise of helping out, but we really just wanted to sneak a peek at Baby Keaton. Rick took this shot of Monique and me with our babies. Lucy looks so big compared to little Keaton.

Lila enjoyed seeing Ellary and Shila and Keaton. Nellie slept in the van throughout our brief visit. When she woke up, she was disappointed that she missed seeing the baby.

On this day in 2006, Lila visited the zoo for the first time.

On this day in 2007, we went swimming with the Parker cousins.

In 2010, we had a pajama party at Taryn's house.

Friday, May 27, 2011

May 27 - Little Mothers

Lila and Nellie spend hours each day pretend playing various family scenarios. Today, Lila was mom to three children and Nellie had twins and was pregnant with her third.

I didn't have any photos in my archives from May 27.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

May 26 - A Baby!

Welcome to the world, Baby Keaton! Monique had her baby early this morning, and Taryn came up with a great plan that would allow us to go visit them without having to drag all of our kids along. We met at the hospital parking deck, and I watched the kids while she visited Monique, then we swapped out. Here are Tanner, Brenner, Lila and Nellie watching a video in the back of my van while the babies slept.

I got to hold sweet baby Keaton. She is so tiny and beautiful and perfect.

Here I am with Monique who looks so refreshed and glowing after being up all night and having a baby.

On this day in 2010, my cousin Mary was in town for a photography workshop, and I got the pleasure of watching her sweet baby Elliott one afternoon while she was here.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

May 25 - Ballet Party

We celebrated Shila's 3rd birthday today. She had a ballet party, and the girls loved dressing up for the party.

All of the beautiful ballerinas and Brenner, the handsome prince.

On this day in 2008, Goggy and a big fat 5 month old Nellie snuggled up together. Aren't those thighs awesome?

On this day in 2009, Nellie had fun painting her body.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

May 24 - Rock Stars

The day started without too much excitement. It was so slow, in fact, that I got my camera out to get a picture of Rick and Lucy watering the garden.

Things picked up a little when, out of nowhere, Lila and Nellie came outside dressed like this throwing around lots of attitude.

Then they demanded that Rick chauffeur them around.

Then we had a near choking incident. Pretty exciting day after all.

On this day in 2008, we threw a graduation party for Ciera at Riverside Park.

On this day in 2009, Lila finger painted and Nellie belly painted.

This shot also from 2009 pretty much sums up Nellie's toddler hood - climbing to high places and helping herself to whatever she needs.

Monday, May 23, 2011

May 23 - Nurse In!

We met up with a couple hundred other moms and babies in Forest Park to protest their city ordinance limiting breastfeeding in public to children under two years of age. Here we are with a group of our friends.

The girls sporting their groovy t-shirts we made yesterday.

Three little lactivists sitting under a tree. Nellie is nursing her baby in public. I posted several more pictures on Facebook here. Lila and Nellie also made it on a couple of the local news segments.

On this day in 2008, Ciera graduated from high school. We were so proud to support her in this achievement!

On this day in 2009, Rick's brother Mark and his family came over for a Memorial Day cookout.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

May 22 - Revenge

Lucy loves to chew on Sophie the Giraffe. It's probably out of revenge for a baby giraffe attempting to eat her.

We made t-shirts today for the nurse-in in Forest Park tomorrow. The girls are very excited to show their lactivism.

We made sure to wear purple today to show support for our friend Peter who is fighting Cystic Fibrosis.

On this day in 2009, we visited Carlton Farms where it appears that I have a cow head in my rear end.

I always feel bad for the calves that have to drink out of bottles instead of from their mommies.

On this day in 2010, we attended the Renaissance Festival.

I wonder if this prompted the beginning of Nellie's fondness for dragons?

Lila enjoyed the faerie people.