Loss

Grandma, Great-Grandma, we will miss you! Thank you for all the things you always did that made all of us feel so special.

A special ornament at Christmas time, symbolic of the year (a swimmer, engaged, first house, baby's 1st Christmas...), underlining the most meaningful parts of cards, sending a card in the mail for every special occasion, always remembering every important event and holiday, aprons, making bread rolls in a tree shape, playing the piano and singing songs, helping me learn how to sing 'On Eagles Wings' for church, playing dominoes in the summer when we were off of school, letting me stay at your house during J-term from my first year of college, not being upset when I didn't have the house very clean when you returned home, letting me learn about gardening (a little) by helping water, weed and care for your roses when you were out of town, beautiful needlepoint work for our wedding, hugs and smiles always.
We will miss you and all the good you brought into our lives. I know we will always feel your presence through yellow flowers in the garden and every time we decorate our Christmas tree with ornaments lovingly chosen by you.
K, J and L

L's solid food journey (diversification alimentaire)

Now that L is 6 months old, we have started experimenting with new foods! Her first 'solid' food was avocado.  We have the moment captured on video, and she actually fed herself!  We put a little bowl with a spoon on her highchair, guided her hand to the spoon and she went for it! She has since had; sweet potato, banana, pear, apple, carrot, oatmeal and most recently (for the pictures included here) sweet peas!  (Yes, we are eating outside...the weather is fantastic and we have a new gazebo and furniture on our patio...also, the dog can easily clean up any messes that may fall!)

Je suis très petite. (I am very small!)

Le Printemps (Springtime!)

L loves being outside.  We were able to be outside for large quantities of time over the past few weeks, setting her bare legged in the yard, letting her explore crunchy leaves and just starting to turn green grass.  My grandma has a beautiful garden, and during Easter a large part of her yard was full of 'Glory of the Snow' blooms, L loved sitting among them, touching their petals and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.  I hope she always loves the beauty of a garden!  We have been taking walks around the neighborhood most evenings with Roxy, and L is so content and happy whether in her stroller or the baby carrier, as long as she is outside.  She is getting really good at following the direction of your gaze, or a pointed finger, to notice the ducks or geese flying in the air or a beautiful daffodil in bloom outside the front door of her daycare. 

 Le Printemps

par Théophile Gautier

Regardez les branches

Comme elles sont blanches,

Il neige des fleurs.

Riant de la pluie

Le soleil essuie

les saules en pleurs.

Et le ciel reflète

Dans la violette

Ses pures couleurs…

La mouche ouvre l’aile

Et la demoiselle

Aux prunelles d’or,

Au corset de guêpe

Dépliant son crêpe,

A repris l’essor.

L’eau gaiement babille,

Le goujon frétille

Un printemps encore !