Anatomy Lesson

To say that "2-year-olds are observant" would be a gross understatement. At least in our house. As I've mentioned before, Norah notices (and remembers) everything. What's really funny is watching the way that she twists around the knowledge she collects in a way that makes sense to her.

Case in point: Norah's been obsessed with her belly button for about 6 months now. She noticed that she has one. As does Mommy. And Daddy. In spite of her interest, she's never asked what these peculiar devices are for. Perhaps because she thinks she's already got it figured out.

Last week, she wanted to hold Eli, so I sat her down on the couch with him in her lap. Norah then informed me, "Eli's hungry. I'm gonna feed him", while she pulled up her shirt and attempted to position his mouth over her naval. I opted not to give an anatomy lesson at the time. (Jason and I did have a good laugh over it, though.) She gave up when she became aware of Eli's disinterest, then pulled up his shirt to reveal (much to her astonishment), "Eli's got a belly button TOO!!"

Cakes, Cakes, & More Cakes!

It was a BUSY weekend for cakes, but I got to try several new designs, so I really enjoyed myself!





1st Birthday cake (and matching smash cake) for Lathan
















Castle Cake for Emma












"Ooo La La Girly Cake" for Avery












And a new purse cake for Kylie

A Couple of Captions

Here is one of my new favorite pictures of N & E. Eli was enjoying a little tummy time and Norah decided she wanted to "Ride Eli's back, like a horse". Thankfully, she didn't squash him and he seemed to enjoy the interaction.








Later, I was folding laundry in Jason's and my room, so I put Eli in the swing (also in our room). He started to fuss a little, so Norah ran to her room, and emerged a few seconds later with one of her dolls and a blanket. She then proceeded to tuck the doll in Eli's armpit and covered them both with the blanket, saying, "There now, Eli. Nice and cozy!" (We often read a book about being a big sister and helping make the baby "nice and cozy") Eli was perfectly content after "Little Mother Norah" worked her magic. (Although I'm sure when he gets old enough to care, he'll deny all claims that he ever slept with a doll)

From the Mouthes of Babes...

A: Norah, what's in your mouth?"
N: A zero!
A: ???? (intrigued, heads over to investigate further, only to discover that Norah is, in fact chewing on a zero-shaped refrigerator magnet)
A: Let's not chew on our numbers, ok?

So many bad puns come to mind..."number crunching";she had "nothing" in her mouth...etc.


N: Mommy, I love you.
A: Thank you, sweetheart. It makes mommy SO happy when you tell me you love me.
N: Mommy, thank you for the spankin's.
A: What?
N: Thank you for the spankin's, Mommy.

Number of spankings administered today: none. (But she's definitely received more than a few in her lifetime) Not sure which ones she was referring to, or what prompted her to think of them, but at least I know they weren't lost on her, she's using good manners, and perhaps it's true that "someday she'll thank me..."

She's Crafty

I discovered The Crafty Crow while wandering the blog-isphere this morning. The site is still new, but she is in the process of collecting all kinds of fun ideas of craft projects for kids. I love what I've seen so far, and plan to check back often for inspiration. Norah and I are gonna have so much fun!

Wonder Kids

A little Spring cleaning in Robinson County yielded an empty Rubbermaid tub....aka "The Fly boat". (Choice mode of transportation for Norah's favorite super heroes, the Wonderpets)

This morning, Norah decided it was time that she and Eli (she was adamant that he participate) join the ranks, so they "hopped in the fly boat" in search of "an animal in trouble". I don't know that they actually found any animals to to save, but they both had a blast. It's so fun watching her imagination develop, and thankfully, most of the time, Eli is more than happy to "play along" with whatever she deems the scenario of the day.

Happy Easter!

Hunt #1: Saturday evening at Mimi and Pepaw's house.








24 plastic eggs... $1

1 pack of starburst to fill eggs...$2

2 "specialty" eggs...$7





Mastering the the tricks of the trade (such as knowledge that the Easter Bunny favors laying eggs in the tall grass) ....Priceless


Hunt #2: Easter Sunday at the Farm
Nearly 3 dozen hard-boiled farm-fresh eggs (some hand-dyed courtesy of Uncle Grant!)

*Now, before you start screaming that it's sacrilege that Norah isn't hunting eggs in her Easter dress, allow me to explain. We were supposed to have family photos made in our Easter clothes, but then Norah developed a nasty case of pink eye...so, we had to postpone them until she's better. Therefore, I decided to have her change out of said dress after church, so it will still be fresh and new for the pictures. (which I do plan to post at a later date)


Most of the eggs were broken by the time the hunt was over (Note to self: teach Norah the finer points of handling hard boiled vs. plastic eggs before next Easter)










When you're the only eligible grandchild hunting eggs, you can afford the luxury of stopping to smell the roses...or blow the dandelions--whatever the case may be










She kept repeating, "Open it? Open it?" so finally Daddy complied. She took a huge mouthful...and promptly spit it into the grass. I guess it was a good thing she didn't get her first taste of egg until the hunt was almost over, otherwise she might have lost her motivation.





We had a wonderful, memorable Easter in Robinson County.
(Granted, our Easter pastels included a less-than-attractive shade of "pink eye", which Norah is still getting over, but we made the best of things and she still had a great time)

I've decided that 2 years of age is when the real "fun" of egg hunting emerges. N had a BLAST looking for eggs (and proclaiming, "I found one!" with each new discovery). I love that she is still young and innocent enough to enjoy the thrill of the hunt, without much regard for what is inside the eggs (or what they taste like).

I look forward to the day when she truly understands that the significance of Easter is so much greater than bunnies and eggs. (We've already begun reading about that together in her children's Bible...but I know it will be a while before she can grasp the gravity of Jesus' sacrifice)

From the Mouthes of Babes...

N: Oh, no!
A: What is it?
N: Eli SPILLED!

(Norah's reaction to Eli's post-sneeze leaky nose this morning.)

Twinkle Toes and Mister Happy

I got a pedicure (Thanks, Paige!) yesterday and my little, observant daughter noticed my fancy feet the instant I walked in the door. Norah BEGGED me to paint her toenails too, and I thought it would be fun, so we gave it a go . We settled on a VERY pale shade of pink, but you'd think I'd put diamond studs on her toes for the way she beams with pride and points at them every few minutes reminding me "they're so pretty, momma!". (She's also told me "Thank you" about 75 times and counting) I know you can't really see her nails in the photo, but I think you can see how proud she is (and excited to show them off)!


She's quite the budding conver- sationalist, my daughter. We have good chats throughout our days together, and she remembers EVERYTHING. Seriously, everything. What amazes me most is the fact that she can hear something going on in the background and then three weeks later say something about it. It's a good accountability tool for Jason and me--we have to be on our guard all the time, whether we think she's listening or not.

And then there's "Mister Happy". That's Norah's nickname for Eli when he's awake. And it's a pretty accurate assessment. E is a joy, and he has the most captivating expressions I've ever seen on a three-month-old. He makes great eye contact and raises his little eyebrows as if he's telling a funny joke and waiting for your reaction to the punch line.

Happy Friday!

It's been a great day. GORGEOUS outside. (I think the high was 84...which is still crazy when you think that just last Friday we woke up to snow) Spent some time talking with my little buddy...








Sweet girl took a good nap...











And I got my cake orders for the week out of the way. Next on our agenda-- a family walk to our neighborhood park so Norah can "stomp on the bridge" and scour the grounds for squirrels (there are always tons, and she's getting quite proficient at spotting them, even high up in the trees!)

Momma's Got a Brand New Do

Well...what's done is done. It in no way resembles the photos I gave the stylist for color or cut...but it's growing on me.

I have to ease into even the smallest changes, and it appears our daughter may have inherited that personality trait from me. When I returned home from the salon, Norah enthusiastically ran to me, only to pull away with a look of shock, horror, and disbelief. (I could totally relate) She didn't know what to think. For all of her life I've had long, brown hair.


Seriously, I wish I had a picture of her face to show you--but then again, I'm glad I don't, because it broke my heart. I am, at least, pleased to report that she has since told me "made the hair beautiful"; which is Norah-speak for her seal of approval. (And for the record, Jason has given his as well)

The Babysitter

I don't think Norah's quite ready for me to leave her home alone with Eli, but she sure does a great job entertaining him! I am so thankful that she looks at Eli as her "little buddy", and not competition or her "annoying little brother" (at least not yet).



N showed E how to make the overhead toys jingle. And he watched her, soaking in all the new playtime strategies she had to offer.


And Mommy got not one...











not two...













but three cakes finished!

You Can Stand Under My Um-ber-ella

Rainy days and Mondays might get the Carpenters down, but I know of at least one Robinson who gets a big kick out of them.

Norah always looks forward to Monday mornings because it's our standing grocery shopping day--rain or shine. (We always go with my mom, which is a HUGE blessing!) It was pouring this morning, but we still suited up (even Eli had a little rain hat) and made the trek to Wal-mart.

It was a great opportunity to review Norah's recent Bible school lessons on Noah and the ark. Last week she brought home an umbrella craft from Bible Hour (to remind her that it rained for 40 days and nights), so she was elated to use the "real deal" this morning. I had to laugh because she kept calling it her "rain-brella".

Our conversation while getting ready to go out this morning went as follows...
A: Norah, it's Monday--guess we're we're going to go?
N: CHINA!!?
A: Ummmm...no. But we are going to Walmart.

Look at Him Go!

I know I’ve mentioned more than once that our little man likes to eat. This week he’s been working it off! He loves his tummy time, and as crazy as it sounds, at 9 weeks, he acts much more interested in crawling (army style) than rolling. Time will tell.

Norah really enjoys getting down on the floor and coaching E, and he responds great to her encouragement. I can't wait until he's old enough to have a real conversation with her! (Actually, I CAN wait...but at least it's something to look forward to!)

PS–for the record, these “barefoot pictures” were taken two days ago, when it was a balmy 78 degrees outside, as opposed to this morning, when the massive snowflakes were flitting about. Gotta love central Texas weather!

Our Little Helper

Norah loves being a helper. She is a great go-fer. She is great at calming Eli down. She’s more than happy to stir anything in the kitchen (especially if it contains chocolate chips!). But this time, our eager, little helper may have crossed the line.

While walking in the park this week, we encountered another mom, calling her son home. The son was not coming, so the mom did what a lot of moms might do in such a situation–she started counting, in true “Mom” fashion…”ONE!!!” (pause for effect) when my little helper chimed in, “TWO!!! (in a strikingly similar voice tone and at an almost identical volume). I think I turned 7 shades of red when the other mom turned her head around to see who was upstaging her. But it worked out great, and as a result we met a new friend in our neighborhood (who thankfully has a 3-year old, and a good sense of humor!). Having kids is such a great equalizer!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

If you're reading this post, then I thank you for sticking with me through my wishy-washy platform skipping (and the shortest "new blog" stint ever). After several requests to keep the "old" blog, and a little frustration on my part with some of the differences in Blogger and Word Press, I've decided to compromise and return to Blogger with my new page header--so at least I can feel like I have gained something from this experience. The more I've thought about it, the better sense it makes to keep all of my blog entries at one address (this one)--for simplicity's sake. So, thanks again for following me around the web, and I'll try to stay in one place for a while. Oh, and don't forget to update your blog subscriptions (Google Reader, Feedburner, etc.)...again...sorry!

We're Moving!

I'll bet that caught at least a few people's attention (ie--our parents and close friends, who are probably thinking, "What?! I thought they loved their house. I didn't even know they were looking!"). In actuality, only the blog is moving. I've been contemplating a move to Word Press (another blog publishing platform) for a while, and have finally decided it's time. (No hard feelings, Blogger, it's been a good 2 years)

The new address for all things Robinson County-related will be www.robinsoncountypost.wordpress.com. If you use a feed reader (like Google Reader or Feed Burner), please update my address. Please keep in mind that we're only just "moving in", so the new blog is pretty bare bones, but I've got big plans for it, so bear with me!

Oh, and in case you're wondering, this blog will remain here, complete with all my old posts and pictures, for all eternity (like I'm gonna throw away a 2-year effort!) .

So THAT'S What Those Holes Are For

She requested colored pencils yesterday.
I didn't question her, but complied.






My narrow mind simply assumed another Dora coloring book page would bear her marks, but she had something better in mind...



...which, she excitedly shared, once her colorful masterpiece was complete.







Oh, for a fresh set of eyes-- full of wonder and completely attuned to each one of life's possibilities, large and small!


As a side note, this might explain Norah's crocs obsession of late. Sunday night she wanted to wear hers, brought Daddy's to him, and then instructed me to get mine as well. We looked like quite the croc-rific family...poor Eli, we haven't found a pair in his size yet, so he just had to be the odd man out. Thankfully, he didn't seem too bothered about the whole ordeal.

What's Up, Doc?

Eli went in for his 2-month check-up last Tuesday. He was 13 lbs. 3 oz. (90%) and 23.5 inches long (75%). Have I mentioned how much he likes to eat? Seriously, we might have to start saving now for his teenage grocery demands.







And what's a random post without a random cake picture? Actually, this is one I just finished a few minutes ago for Gramps (who ordered it to celebrate my Aunt Sarah's birthday tomorrow) Her instructions to me: "Blue and white. No writing." Hope it fits the bill...

Word to Your Mother

Just a few funny Norah-isms I wanted to record so I wouldn't forget 'em...

"I'm sorry little ant." Norah's heartfelt apology to the ant she squashed (per my orders) this morning.

"Straw-burries"--Norah's favorite fruit, which she pronounces like a Brit. My cousins still ride me to this day for speaking in a British accent in a Thanksgiving play we made up and performed for our parents. I was about seven, and I was supposed to be a Pilgrim. I had learned in school that the Pilgrims came over from England, so it made perfect sense to me that they would speak with British accents, but try explaining that to my family. At any rate, the family joke is that Norah takes after mommy in the dialect department.

"Cap-uh-lillar" Norah's version of the pre-cocoon state of a butterfly.

"I'm getting busy!" Norah's typical exclamation after a prolonged period of spinning in circles.

At the doctor's office last week, we had a long wait (about 45 minutes) in the examining room before our doctor saw us, so I was talking to N about all of the framed pictures, which were various depictions of nursery rhymes. When we got to the one of "The Owl and the Pussycat", I asked her, who is in the boat, Norah? (expecting the obvious answer, "An owl and a kitty cat") Norah's response? "Scurvy pirates...arrrr!" (stated with her hand covering her eye, to resemble a patch) Yeah....guess we've watched that episode of "The Backyardigans" one too many times.