Problem Solving

Russell is very interested in how things work. How they go together. How they fit in to the world around him. The girls might have been like this, but I don't remember them being quite so interested in the actual mechanical workings of things. Russell will sit for a long time trying to figures things out. He gets a serious look on his face and works things over until .... until he gets bored and moves on to something else. :)

How. Does. This. Fit. On. Here?

I see you peeking on me mommy.

Okay, I can take a break for the paparazzi.
(The smile? It makes me melt btw.)

Safe!

We took a trip to Costco yesterday with Grandma Cathy and Grandpa Steve. Mae found a life jacket for this summer. Now she can go boating and be safe!

Day #5

Lent

 Again this year I am abstaining from Face Book for Lent. It is a good break for me and refocuses my time and energies.

I decided though, that it is also good for me to get a snap shot each day. Gets my camera out and requires that I really observe the world around me and pay closer attention to my children. So I am going to get a pic a day. I may not update the blog daily, but I will do my best to get pictures on for every single day.

Since Etta is at school half days now, there may be a lot more pictures of Mae & Russell. What can you do?

Day 2: March 6th

Playing tea party/kitchen/food toys. Mae likes to pretend and Russell likes to put stuff in baskets and take it out again. They really enjoy playing together. (And yes, the two of them really have the exact some hair coloring.)

Day 3: March 7th

Okay, maybe they don't always like to play with each other. Mae often prefers to play solo. She will go in the music room to look at books and doesn't want Russell in there ruining reading them too.

But they usually fall into a game of peek-a-boo. It's Russell's favorite activity and he will play it any time, any where with anything.

Cheese mom!

Day 4: March 8th

Russell has been waking up earlier and earlier every day. I was actually very excited for the time change because it bumps him back to his "normal" wake up time. But yesterday (Saturday) he woke up with the sun. So while I was making breakfast he got to go on his first official dog walk. A habit with our family. Etta now walks a dog, Lena, but still refuses to pick up dog stinkies. [BTW ... it's totally spring here!]

A Village

It takes a village to raise a child. Here is just a small sampling of ours:

A rare picture with mommy. And all subjects are facing the camera and smiling.

Lewiston Grandmas. Grandma Cathy and Great Grandma Barb. Bob said, "Wow! My mom and Grandma are really looking alike!"

The kids best friends in the world. Rachel, Marz and Jackie. My kids are so lucky to have such wonderful role models in their lives. Respectful, responsible, loving girls willing to give an evening to go to a one-year olds birthday party.

12 Month Annibirthery!

Russell Edward is 12 months old!

It has been a quick year. I can't believe that he is already one. It seems just like last week that my dad was here and I thought Russell never would arrive.

He is a very happy baby. Not yet walking, but very very mobile. He is inquisitive and playful. Will wake Mae up in the morning just to have some one to ignore. Flirts with girls & women and studies big boys and men.

His heart is with his mom but he is friendly to most everyone. Loves to eat but when he is finished he is finished and whatever is left ends up on the floor.

I am very excited for this summer and getting him outside and to the playground. The three of them are going to love be out and having each other.

He is truly a blessing to our family and fits right in!

Ha Mom! I won't straighten my legs and you can't make me!

You can't even make me stay here!

Canned smile. Already?! He's only 1!

There's my Russell Boy!

Etta at one.

Mae at one.

Growth

Oh how they grow!

Etta closing in on six and Russell three weeks shy of one.

Etta still four and Russell not quite three weeks old.

Books!

Etta has always been a good listener. It was pretty easy when I had one child and could just sit and read and not worry about much else going on.

Mae on the other hand ... maybe it's just her. I thought she was never going to be able to sit and listen to a story. And while she is better, she can still be pretty wiggly. (To show a difference between she and Etta. Etta & I were already reading through the Little House books by the time she was Mae's age. And Etta would sit for what seemed liked hours before she wanted to be done. Mae ... not so much.) Although here she is at 5 months getting a story in.

But I think that Russell is going to be a bit more like Etta. For an 11-month old boy who loves to crawl and explore, he sits pretty well. For a little bit at least.

Reading before bed one night. I believe this is "Library Lil" by Steven Kellogg.

Of course you can sit still when you have your doggy. Just like Mae has her Minnie. And always has.

A #TBT for Uncle Erik. Here we are enjoying a group story when Russell was 6 days old. I think he took up more lap room then when he was barely six pounds!