This One Goes to Eleven

Claire turned eleven months old last weekend, meaning she's less than one month away from face-in-the-cake time!

"Attica!"

"Back off, you're messing up my close-up."

Some Things Are Best Left to the Professionals

These pictures were taken by Brooke Battersby, a professional photographer, on May 8, 2011...

The Fishin' Hole

Is there a better way to spend a nice Sunday afternoon than fishing out of a paddle boat? Maybe. But it's still a lot of fun, especially when you're looking for low-key activities during tonsil-surgery recovery. So a couple of weeks ago, we joined the Wolff Pack for a trip to the lake (a short trip to this particular lake, about two miles from our house)...

This is the hat Claire would have worn to the Royal Wedding had she not declined the invitation (or to the Kentucky Derby if she were old enough for bourbon).

She sat this one out, watching us from the shore and occasionally chewing on pine cones.

Henry handles the fishing pole. Unfortunately, the fish weren't biting that day, so he got a realistic introduction to the sport.

North Mississippi Allstars

We were in Oxford last weekend for Double Decker. When you have two kids under the age of five, the key to a successful Double Decker Festival is beating the crowds to ride the double decker bus (and also, them not breaking any of the art)...

Henry waits, very seriously, for that bus ride

Once aboard, Claire shows off her new favorite activity: waving

Grilled cheese with a side of live music

Someone is excited about her new red shoes

Pop shares his perch on Square Books' balcony with Henry

And finally, Henry and his buddy Sanders -- and Claire -- break it down North-Mississippi-hill-country-blues style...

Claire Turns Ten (Months)!

Goodbye Tonsils!

When you get strep throat eight times in seven months, the recommendation is usually to have your tonsils out. So that's we had done for Henry earlier this month. It wasn't fun, but two weeks later, he is back to 100%. (Although his voice is an octave higher than it used to be -- a temporary thing, or so we've been told.)

The essentials are laid out, including his new Pillow Pet from Aliza.

But first a little in-room basketball...dressed as Superman, natch.

As you can see, he was not really worried going into this.

Doing his impression of Jack Nicholson from Something's Gotta Give

Did I mention he wasn't worried (though he probably should have been about his gown riding up)? Unfortunately, he wasn't quite this happy "on the other side," but he managed thanks to Lortab, popsicles, Jell-O, homemade ice cream, watching lots of TV, eating meals in front of said TV, getting presents, and various other ways of being catered to and general spoilage.

BTW, despite what the picture might imply, I did not perform the surgery.

Nine Months!

Claire has now been "out" as long as she was "in"! Alexis and I might have differing opinions as to which seemed like it lasted longer.

There is no overstating how much Claire loves Daphne. She smiles and reaches for her every time she comes near. (Daphne loves Claire back, but that may be due to the constant rain of Cheerios, pasta and fruit she enjoys about three times a day.)