The Marvelous Month of MAY!!!!!

Snoozing away in her ladybug jammies! Just had to slip in and take a picture of this wild and wacky position! HA!!!!

Throughout the month of May, our almost-two-year-old Strawberry did LOTS AND LOTS of cool things! Never a dull moment with a toddler, wonderful friends, and loving family!

Judah and Susannah helping Mommy weed one of our overgrown beds. In a yard this size, we've always got something to weed! Better teach her early (and recruit her friends!) we figure...

Taking turns watering the Romaine lettuce in our raised bed! This was a morning treat for us while our lettuce, spinach, and broccoli were still growing heartily.

Our friends Sarah and her little Levi (he was two in February) came for a day to visit in May. Susannah showed him her garden, and he helped to "plant" a few sprigs of forsythia! :)

Showing her purple irises to Levi

Getting two toddlers to look at the camera simultaneously is impossible, so this is the best of about 5 shots!

Good thing we captured this kiss-to-be, though! :)

Enjoying a piece of homemade Strawberry Pie! The original plan was for Susannah to help Mommy make it; however, she quickly turned that into a strawberry eating fest rather than a source of assistance! And then she licked the fresh whipping cream off the beater and found herself in Heaven! Our Baby Strawberry sure is living up to her name in every way.

Bubble baths are still the highlight of her existence!

Grammy visited for a few days in May, too, since Mommy had to be on bedrest a short time. Susannah received an early birthday present from her Aunt Aunt Joni, Chanel, Lisette, and Gigi (Great Grammy): a set of wooden chocolates! How did they ever know that CHOCOLATE is this wee one's favorite thing in the universe? Even the pretend kind gets her attention!

Having chocolate parties with Grammy was such fun!

So was having chocolate parties with a killer whale, a monkey, and a bunny! :)

THE STRAWBERRY PATCH!!!!!

We took her to the real thing in May! What a warm but beautiful day we had to pick berries at a family farm situated near Afton Mountain. Gorgeous scenery, plenty of ripe strawberries for the pickin', and delectable homemade strawberry ice cream to conclude our visit...YUMMY!!!!

Found a red one, Daddy!

Better taste several to make sure they're good... (and, yes, those ARE strawberry barrettes in her hair! How could a mama resist those?!)

Sweet and juicy...both the baby and the fruit!

She worked hard filling our flat.

We used our strawberries to make a second strawberry pie. The first one we had made a week earlier went WAY too quickly, thanks to the fact that Susannah somehow convinced Mommy to let her have some for lunch a time or two! We also blessed our neighbors with a few slices, too. As we tell Susannah, "God loves a cheerful giver!"

Leaving the Strawberry Patch with a hot, tired girl and mouth-watering berries.

Memorial Day Weekend: A Visit to "Grammy Grandpa's House"

When we arrived to Colonial Heights about lunchtime on Friday afternoon, Susannah was delighted that Grandpa was off work for the day to greet her. The poor guy was trying to get lunch together, but his little worshipper wouldn't let him! She would enter the kitchen with distinct purpose, tap him on the leg (like she does for her Daddy, who is Deaf), and confidently say, "Hey, Grandpa! Show you 'fings' (things)!" She would then lead him to the nursery, quickly find some 'fing' to show him to keep him in her presence for a substantial period of time, and bask in his nearness. A few minutes later he would head back to the kitchen to resume lunch preparation, but his attempts were in vain: the pitter-patter of little feet came briskly down the hall and headed straight for him with a chorus of, "Hey, Grandpa! Show you fings!" We did all eventually eat that day, I promise!

Playing tickle fingers with her beloved Grandpa on the patio at Arby's

Every night Susannah and Mommy were at "Grammy Grandpa's house" Grammy gave her a LARGE serving (that is, compared to the 1/4 cup she gets at home a couple nights a week!) of vanilla ice cream topped with M&M's. Here, Grammy is feeding Susannah, who gladly allowed her to shovel in that sweet, cold goodness!

"It's COLD, Grammy! Ice cream COLD!!!!"

This is what she always looks like while eating ice cream and chocolate!

Time for swimming! Susannah took a good thirty-minute observation period before she would even attempt to enter the baby pool! And then, as predicted, she didn't want to leave when it was time to go home for a family dinner.

Still content just to watch the other children playing

Playing in the nursery at "Grammy Grandpa's house." Grandpa has bought two irresistably soft and cuddly large stuffed animals (a pink bunny and a yellow chicky), and they are the highlight of the grandbabies' visits! I must confess...those cheeks still get me! And they've shrunk considerably over the past two years!

Sitting in almost-matching high chairs drinking milk from almost-matching cups! These two cuties are pretty much the center of our family gatherings these days. Can you imagine why?

Mamas and babies

Imagine that...more ice cream with M&M's from Grammy! If you look closely you will notice that Susannah (right) has scarcely taken a bit of ice cream, yet all of her chocolate is missing. Hmmmmmm...!

My mom and me

A good-bye hug! Look at how Sophie is just hanging onto Susannah for dear life!

A bedtime story before our tired girl gets tucked in

On Monday morning, I awoke to find this scene on the sunporch. Grandpa and Susannah are watching Sesame Street together! This is probably the only time she's been in his presence while entranced by something other than him...

Back at the pool for a final swim before heading home! Susannah found a friend, Lainey, to play with. Lainey is the daughter of a high school friend of mine.

"Susannah make a puddle, Mommy!"

Sitting on the steps of the "big blue pool" with her Grammy

Tired body. Full tummy. Time to chill.




Back at Home...

Susannah and Mommy played with the new calf at Beulahland. Her name is "Happy," which is very appropriate for such a pretty creature. She sure does make us HAPPY! Susannah got to hold a bottle of calf formula for her one day, and has been licked on the head, among other places, by this sweet baby.

Look at that bee-yu-ti-ful face!!!!

"Baby calf Happy lick Susannah's hand!"