Elfin Forest

Elfin Forest is a "rural community" just a few miles from our house. I was driving through the other day and stoppped to nose around at some property for sale. Saw this new calf in the photo above. Mama cow was mooing loudly, I thought she was mad at me until...
I saw this coyote. He was maybe 20 feet from them. I couldn't believe he was out like that in broad daylight, obviously after that calf. But he took off when he saw me.
There were pretty horses everywhere...
And this brand-new little cutie pie! Look at the eyelashes!
He was jumping around and playing, so cute.
I don't know what it is, I've always wanted to have me a lil' farm. Or even just some bantam chickens.

be cool, my babies...

10 months today!

Update:
Marlo now has her top teeth for a total of four. She weighs 22 and a half pounds. She pulls herself up on everything and I can already tell she's going to be a climber. She likes to point with her right hand. She "talks" and yells a lot just exploring her voice.
I've noticed lately how Marlo looks to others for a reaction...she really notices everything that goes on around her. She has also begun to express herself when she is not pleased, i.e. when you take something away from her or sometimes putting her in her carseat.
She waves "bye" and 'hello" in context, and often she's the initiator. She is a ham and loves when people talk to her when we're out. She also loves other babies and kids...she gets really excited and flaps her arms like crazy. She has a great time in the childcare at the gym and we're joining a playgroup.
She's a sweet and happy ten-month old and I love her with all my heart! I can't believe how the time has gone...I have to start planning her first birthday party!

Out to lunch

We went to Stone brewery & restaurant for lunch today. I love their menu, it's just so different. Mark got a buffalo burger and I got sides: brussels sprouts with bacon, green beans stir fried with shitake, and tabbouleh. (Yes, there's leftovers!)
There was a man going around the tables playing the fiddle and he was excellent. The bottom photo is Marlo watching him. She was fascinated and couldn't take her eyes off of him!

Easter Candy Showcase

New Peeps this year...those green ones were very fresh. The bunnies are cocoa and they're quite yummy.
These are called Easter Basket Eggs (or is it Bunny Basket?) and they've been around for years. They're big (about 2 inches long) and inside is a kind of nougat-y marshmallow fluff. The white ones are the best. I love how they're kind of gritty, like you're really chewing on sugar.
There may be more candy to come...I've barely scratched the surface.

You can't tell

that this little girl was up most of the night, can you? Her breathing sounded horrible and I was really worried, thinking maybe she had asthma or allergies like Mark. But the doctor said she sounded good and it was probably a cold.

She's her usual happy self though, maybe with even a little more energy.

Somebody shot my JR

The OC is really over and I miss it already. I'm going to have to get all seasons on DVD, which I've never done with a series, so you know I mean business.
I really am sad, like as sad as Mark was when football season ended. I ate 4 Peeps to dull the pain. (the new green ones, more on those later.)
Excuse the old image with Marissa on it, but I thought it reflected the solemness of the occasion.

My girls...

We went and had lunch with Amy today and then went on an expedition to Target. We were in there forever...the sun was setting when we left. I still wasn't able to pour over the Easter candy like I wanted to, but I'll be back.

I love the bottom photo of Marlo...she is looking too grown up.

Grandma left today...

we stayed at Lane's a little while after dropping Mary and Rosemary off at the airport. We have to gradually transition back to it being "just us".
So good to have Mark home from Las Vegas. We really missed him!

Such a character

She has such a personality and it cracks me up. She's watching for a reaction from people now, and she sasses me when I take something from her. She's also really loving books...she sits so still when I read to her and points her chubby finger on the page. It's the cutest thing.

Tom's Party

Mary made lots of delicious cupcakes, and then frosted a few together like a cake for Tom. The color didn't come out right, they're orange with hot pink sprinkles. So cute and so good.

With Uncle Tom...can't believe he's sixty!
With Tanner, he's so good with her, but not with me! He was picking on me all night.
With Nichelle, a friend of Sean's. She and Marlo had a ball. She nannies like 60 hours a week but if she would be great to watch Marlo if I ever needed it.
It was such a great party, everything turned out really nice. All I can say is I hope Lane's getting some rest today because she worked her butt off (as usual). Who am I kidding? She probably still hasn't sat down yet.

More outside....

Outside!

It is such a beautiful day today. I took tons of photos of Marlo and in not one did she look at me. I had to include the bottom one because there is a little glimpse of a top tooth.

The end...

Only one more episode left. I was hoping for The OC: the College Years, but it wasn't meant to be. I hate the fact that Mischa Barton probably thinks it went downhill because she left, but we all know it only got better because we got more Taylor. (I know she's annoying, but I love how she obsesses and I love her clothes) It is hard to watch Seth and Summer onscreen after their real-life breakup, but I'm not ready to quit watching just yet.

Happy Valentine's Day...

Well I had been feeling pretty down lately, not getting anything done, not very happy with myself. And it made me even more sad to put my parents on the plane on Monday. Cried all the way home from the airport thinking how bored everyone would be the next day without each other.

Anyway, I almost cancelled our dinner plans last night because I think Marlo's getting sick. But Lane convinced me she'd be happy to hold a crying baby. So Mark and I went to Ruth's Chris steakhouse. And it was so nice to go out to eat like real grown ups, to have someone valet the car, to have three different people offer me refills for my iced tea. And my sweet husband gave me lots of presents...put a filet mignon on top of that and how could you not feel renewed?

So I am feeling very grateful and very blessed for everything, especially Mark, who knows me better than anyone does...and he still loves me.

Birch Aquarium

We went with my parents yesterday. It was really nice! Every tank looked like a work of art, so colorful...

blah blah blah

I haven't given up blogging (yet)! Just not much to say and no great pictures to post...
I need to take a photo class to get some inspiration because I'm just frustrated not knowing how to use my camera. I'm sometimes "inspired" to accidentally drop it.

I know...

there's already been naked highchair photos. She's naked because she pulls her bibs off, and so it's easier cleanup with no clothes at all. And mealtime is the only time she stays in one place, and near the kitchen window is decent light, so I tend to take a lot of photos there.

I forgot to mention she's getting her top two teeth. I know it's just because they're new to me, but they seem huge!

Happy Birthday Uncle Tom!

Lane made a delicious carrot cake on Sunday for him, but she's going to do a big shindig when Sean comes to town.
He's 60! Can you believe it? He certainly doesn't seem so to me. I think all the hard physical work he does and his affinity for bathroom humor make him seem much younger. He told me, "I'm immature, but it pays off when you're older".
He is really great, he always makes me feel welcome and he always makes me laugh. And he just loves Marlo to pieces. He always says what a good baby she is and that she loves being over at their house. And she does.
Hope you have a great day Tom, and looking forward to your big party!

Lookie what I got...

My sister-in-law painted this just for us! I just love it and I can't wait to put it up in our house! Thank you so much Ann!

a few from yesterday

Checking out her toys after she's thrown them out of the tub.

With cousin Taylor...he's so sweet to her.

Lane's caramels. If this picture doesn't completely thrill you it's only because you haven't eaten one of them. They're even better than you can imagine.