Where Did September Go?

 Watch the progression of Claire's artwork - it gets better as the month goes along, and it is pretty amazing on into October.

 Living my dream of being an egg chef - poached eggs on toast is one of my new favorite things to make.

 One of the last times I got a photo of him with his hair sticking up.

 A cartload of diapers - 6 boxes! - but 2 were for cousin Tessa.

 Chef Claire is cooking something up in her kitchen

 A jumping pro

 Out for a stroll

 My beautiful ballerina

 Claire said this was Aunt Gini

 Tummy time

 Messy eater 

 Bathtub art 

 Daddy time

 Hello handsome! 

 Building Noah's ark

 Claire's tower

 Tea party

 Rainbow project

  Blue-eyed boy

Wow - I have been off the blog awhile. Sorry about that. I just realized I only posted once all month and there's only a few days left until October. Well, September has been full. Geoff turned 40 - yes, you read that right - in the middle of this month. I started working on homeschooling Claire (I know it's just preschool, but I figure if I'm going to do it right in Kidnergarten and beyond, I'd better make my big mistakes now when it's less important, right?). Buddy and Evie each had ear infections. Evie has started really challenging us with whining and authority issues, but has also really started talking. Claire went to the AU Speech Clinic, which was fun and informative and hopefully we will be able to figure out some of those sounds she has trouble with. Our lawn mower died and friends and family helped us to obtain a new one. We had an enormous (and even successful) yard sale. We started going back to church. Yes, it has been a very full month.

This is a test

Name these babies at three months...



Wrapping Up August

Tomorrow marks 9 years since the day Geoff and I said "I do." Hard to believe it has been so long, yet we have so much to show for it! The day following Buddy will celebrate 3 months of age and Evelynn 20 months. This is a crazy junction for all of our children, but I suppose we will always feel that way.

We've got Claire who is trying her hand at being three. This means lots of battles of will; trying to do almost anything by herself; learning that life does not revolve around her and that she doesn't always get her way; lots of lessons in patience, obedience, and sharing; adjusting to sharing attention with two little siblings; learning to have a little time away from mommy in a ballet class environment; and growing like a weed!

Evelynn is determined to do whatever her big sister does - including many things she is nowhere near ready for. She does not want to wear diapers anymore, but mommy is finding potty training in the midst of so many distractions quite a feat. Fortunately, Evie is extremely independent and practically won't let anyone help her learn, so she is spearheading the potty training efforts with whatever support we can manage at any given moment. She is the major ham of the family and loves to try out wild antics to get any amount of attention she can. She especially enjoys the time she gets with Mommy and sometimes Nini when Claire is in dance class.

And then Buddy, sweet Buddyrooster! He is a delight, pure joy and delight! Almost never cries and when he does it's just because he's tired, rock a minute and he's out. He doesn't care much for a paci unless he's really tired - he loves to suck on a blankie or his hand instead. He is playing with all sorts of toys now - really likes his play gym - grabbing at toys and getting them to his mouth, has tried the jumperoo, but is still a little small for it. He is rolling from tummy to back and can ALMOST get back to his tummy. He is scooting - never wakes up in the same position that I lay him down in. He is a good night time sleeper, though daytime sleep with all the mayhem is a little tricky. He's learned to put himself to sleep because Mommy is constantly having to unceremoniously put him in his crib partway through rocking to chase down the potty-trainer. 

Life is pretty good here at the Peel home. Now on to the pictures...