Flirting with the French (Canadian)

Dear Sweet Boy,

This past week we took a trip to Montreal.

You were a total delight and charmed each lovely Montrealer we encountered.

We arrived to generous fanfare

We loved the apartment view

But you really loved the dog-free floor

We let you roll around it from one end to the other

We took in beautiful Montreal

Every last step of it

And we also did plenty of eating

Then there were two nights when Daddy and I went out all by ourselves. We missed you. But we ate well.

We spent much of our time visiting one beautiful church after another. You were exceedingly patient and loved the light.

We even made it to a service where the priest stopped and coo'd to you during his sermon.

Who could blame him?

Vacation: What we learned at the beach

Dear Sweet Boy,

You had the best time at the beach.

This week our friends invited us to share a beach house with them in South Carolina. As a kid I always remember learning a great deal about the members of my family when we vacationed. I was reminded of that this week when we did some learning.

#1 Babies and sunscreen make for hilarious photos

#2 Five kids can be super fun

#3 Neil loves the beach

(yes, that is sand around his mouth)

#4 He also digs the Ergo Baby Carrier.

#5 It is awesome to have chocolate chip cookies baked fresh each day.

(courtesy of our super-mama talented hostess)

#6 Neil is now a side sleeper.

(check out the "duck tail")

#7 Daddy makes a great amusement park and Mama makes a great hammock buddy.

#8 Sharks are not scary when surrounded by kitsch.

#9 Babies love other babies.

#10 We have incredible friends.

We are blessed bees.

Better with Neil

Dear Sweet Boy,

Sometimes its just more fun to bring you.

A lovely family at our church invited us to a fantastic party tonight. There were beautiful gardens, fun folks, and great music:

Food and drink (baby style)

And one super mellow sweet boy

We had intended to get a babysitter. That fell through and our hostess assured us it was fine to bring Neil. He spent the night on my shoulder bouncing to the music.

And when we got home he was more than ready for bed

Friends, Fruit Salad, and a Sweet Baby Girl

Dear Sweet Boy,

You had a great baby visit this afternoon.

Today Neil and I got to spend some quality time with Mama Hawley and Baby Eden. Hawley had Eden about 6 months before I had Neil. She is one of those rare mothers who offers just enough advice and its all so helpful. I'm really grateful for her.

We made gazpacho and fruit salad for the visit and we were blessed with some leftovers.

Neil was awestruck by Eden.

Who wouldn't be? She's pretty. And really good at eating noses.

Also Hawley is letting me borrow an awesome book:

It has these great recipes for adults and ways to make them baby or child accessible. I can't wait to get cooking.

It really made my day to have them here. And I could tell Neil loved it.