Hanging out at Home

Caroline loves cereal, but I have been feeding it to her to avoid the mess. One day I figured it was time to let her do it by herself. Much to my surprise, she didn't make a mess - she got a little on her chin and in her bib. She was so proud of herself! Little Miss Independent!

Some of Cal's family came to visit and Caroline had to show off her purse, beads and bracelets. She was ready to go shopping. When we're going somewhere, I'll ask her where we're going and she usually says Gymboree but sometimes her answer is Target. When we go to Target I let her play with the toys, so it's a very memorable experience for a 19-month old.

Playing outside is definitely a favorite activity.

Bubbles are always a hit!

It is sometimes the simplest things that are so fascinating - playing with tree bark.

1st Trip to the Pool

We went to the pool for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The water was COLD!!! Caroline didn't want to have anything to do with it, so for the first 30 minutes this is what she did:

A family with a little boy a couple months older than Caroline got there when we did, and we got Caroline interested in the water by going over to see him and the bugs his dad was getting out of the water (she loves bugs). They ended up playing for an hour. Now, Caroline loves playing in the pool!

Fun at Home

Caroline didn't want to get out of her car seat after we got home one day. After about 5 minutes, I told her I would bring her other car seat in from the garage so she could sit in it. She ate all her snacks in it and even part of her lunch. She loves to buckle the straps!

A friend asked me to make cupcakes for her daughter's birthday. I wanted to do a trial run, and Caroline selflessly volunteered to eat one. She enjoyed tearing it apart more than eating it.

Look at that form - pens are so much more fun than crayons.

A rare moment of waiting patiently for a diaper change.

I wanted her to try on a rain coat I bought her, and she wouldn't take it off.

May 2009

This was taken during her banana craze. Unfortunately, I think she is burned out on bananas. Now she'll take one or two bites and is done, but she has developed a love for pineapple.

Here is the lovely"pond" in our backyard (we do actually own part of it). Thankfully, this only happens when it rains a lot - usually it's dry.

Caroline is such a girl - pushing her stroller and carrying her purse. In case you're wondering, that's painter's tape she is pushing around.

Look at that flexibility!

I bought her some sidewalk chalk to use on our back patio. She had to try out all 20 colors.

I didn't realize how messy it would be.

My Brother's Graduation

My brother graduated from high school!! Talk about time flying. As you can see, Caroline loves her uncle Charles.

This is one of the cakes I made for his graduation party. It was fun but challenging because I'm such a perfecionist.

Grandpa and cousin Chris pushed Caroline up and down the hill several times - nothing is more exciting!

Running around in circles - this is Caroline in her element. She doesn't usually sit still for more than a few seconds. Too much for an 18-month old to do.

Mother's Day

The Saturday before Mother's Day we went to Granny's house to visit with Cal's family. His grandmother always lets Caroline play with her silver bracelets. When Caroline wears them, she looks like such a little girl - they grow up so fast!!

Cal's grandmother fixed her Oreo ice cream pie, and Caroline gobbled it up. She made the funniest face every time she ate it because it was so cold. She also had half the chocolate topping on her face - she insisted on feeding herself. She won't let me feed her anymore. She has become so independent in that respect.

The next day on Mother's Day we went to my parent's house to celebrate Mother's Day and my brother's eighteenth birthday.

Caroline always wants to play the "piano."

Caroline enjoyed wearing this dress which was so exciting to me because my mom made this dress for me when I was little, and it fit Caroline perfectly.

Enjoying the New House

These are a few pictures of Caroline enjoying the new house.

She LOVES bananas. Sometimes she eats two a day and doesn't make a mess.

Butcher paper not only makes good window treatments but is great for coloring too.

I'm not sure what Caroline was thinking with this. She has one of Cal's winter gloves on and a pacifier in her mouth (which she never used for the intended purpose but loves to chew on).

Caroline was playing with Cal while I was getting ready for church. She loves playing peek-a-boo between the spindles on the stairs.