to caroline

caroline,

what a fun day! i truly fall more in love every second i spend with you... :)

have i told you how beautiful you are? well, you are.

we spent our morning playing in the sunroom and working on some invitation designs.  i love to watch you play with your toys.  i keep a basket of current favorites in the sunroom. sometimes i'll pull out one or two to play. you really like the colorful "lamaze" toys. they have lots of different textures and patterns...squeakies, mirrors, ropes and the like.  you could play with them forever! you also love stuffed animals.  yes, i'm a little picky about which ones you play with most...i'm partial to the "blabla" and "under the nile" babies...you love them too which makes me a happy girl!  you love the bright colors.  thanks to your grandma, you have a nice selection!  you also have fun looking at yourself in the mirror.  i keep a little travel size make-up mirror in your toy basket. the look on your face when you see yourself is priceless.  i think you think you're pretty cute.  i agree. i'd say your very favorite is your crocodile creek ball...you just love it.  you don't play with it all the time, but you're always happy to play with it! i know we'll have lots of fun "playing ball" together...can't wait to teach you my skills.  actually, that's where your dad steps in.  :)

lately, we've been playing with your wooden alphabet blocks. we practice clapping them together.  you're not sure about the noise it makes...but you are sure that you like the way they taste.  everything is going right to your mouth! i think we're working on some top teeth! oh, boy...you've been sucking on your frozen toys quite a bit the last few days. i hope they make you feel better! you don't seem to be too uncomfortable, but you have been a bit cranky lately.

i joked with grandma last night that i might start reading james dobson's "strong willed child." i'm not sure he's written it for parent's of five and half month olds. ha.  overall, you are so sweet and happy.  but, when you aren't getting your way, you don't hold back in letting me know.  wonder who you get that from? it's not like you have expressive parents!! :) ha.  i'm thinking this new found attitude is a symptom of teething.

back to our morning...you survived your first earthquake! we were playing the sunroom and our house literally shook! lamps on the table wobbled and my cereal bowl went back and forth. crazy! i grabbed you and called your dad. he said he felt it downtown, too! we found out there was a 5.1 earthquake about 9 miles east of norman.  we felt it all the way here! i'm glad we don't live in california. it sort of freaked me out.

while i got ready this morning, you and bertie played in the rug in your bedroom.  you were so precious together! you literally laughed outloud while she did her famous spin-moves for you.  i love watching you two play! you've really started to notice her lately. you smile so big and open your mouth wide, waiting to be covered in bertie-girl kisses.  pretty cute.  bertie was such a special part of our life before you were born, i'm so happy you love her as much as we do.

we picked up your dad for lunch today.  we went to queenie's at utica square, then to starbucks.  eating out is getting a bit more interesting! queenie's is super crowded inside and you literally eat inches away from others.  you are grabbing everything and all over the place. we let you suck on a pickle, since your toys weren't enough to keep your attention. you couldn't get enough! we think you may like sour foods....you were pretty into a lime you licked last week.  sour is fun...i can make sour treats. :)

after we dropped your dad off at work, we browsed through the lolli garden at utica square then headed to the oil cloth shop to grab a wipeable placemat and bib....i think this may make our restaurant visits easier! we'll see.  at least they're cute.

now you're napping in my arms and i'm loving every second of it.  i love that you cuddle when you sleep.  these are such precious moments.  i hope no matter how big you are, that you always want to cuddle with me!

this evening we're going to play with your dad.  i think there is leaf-raking planned...which means you and i will leaf-crunch and have quilt time in the front yard. yes! we have new books to read and balls to roll.

we'll finish the day with taco soup and cornbread. avocado and rice cereal for you. it's gonna be good.

i love spending days with you, sarah caroline. you're my favorite.



tomorrow...we head to texas. i can hardly wait!

i love you, liney-lou!!

mom