it was a good day for tromping around downtown wauwatosa.

for throwing pennies in the fountain, and

skipping over the bridge.

for making little sisters laugh, and

for eating wood chips (really) and drinking the last of mama's coffee (not so much).

it was a good day.

daddy, home again.

(and all is right in our world.)

i almost forgot this one!

nine months

my sweet little love.

funny little buddy, by my side from morning till night.

giggly girl, crawling everywhere, toothy smile, ya-ya-ing all day long.

lover of bunnies and sisters and mamas and daddies.

bright blue eyes and soft dark hair.

i am lucky to know her...and keep her....and call her mine.

happy

happy birthday, carrie. 38 will be great.

you'll make sure of it......

and if you don't, I will!

xoxoxo

(once more....a little different this time)

snoozer

missing

dan is gone this week at a conference, studying hard and getting ready to take his electrophysiology boards in november.

he's not feeling great, and i'm not feeling great, and it's a bit of a long haul....

but in the long haul of life, it's a pretty short week, and the end is in sight.

on saturday, all five of the girls are going to be really, really happy to see the boy.

(the chance for three giggly girlies to get to say good-night to him every night, face to face, is priceless.)

we gave tess some poofs yesterday for the first time.

her first taste of something solid.

i think it's safe to say that she was a little bit surprised.

some days, i could eat her up.

okay.

every day.

no one can deny it. this baby has skills.

some days you just feel better when you put on your fancy socks.

at last

our girl is on the move!