Visits

We went to see friends and family in DC this past weekend, and then Grammie and Grandpa came back with us to hang out with Charlotte for a few days.  So much fun!  First we saw my dear friend Elizabeth, who hadn't yet met Charlotte.  They hit it off well, of course.  And we got to spend some time with her husband Peter and their two kids, Sam and Annabelle.  I wish I had been able to focus more on Sam and Annabelle.  There are few downsides to having a baby for me, but one is the effect it has on my ability to focus on my friends and family even when I'm with them.  I feel it especially strongly with the kids, as I know they don't really understand the way the adults do.  Not that I have ANY regrets, of course, but I look forward to when Charlotte requires less constant monitoring (for many reasons!).

We stayed one night with Elizabeth et al, then drove to my brother's house to attend my niece's (age 6) violin recital.  She's being taught using the Suzuki method, which is impressing the heck out of me.  She and another beginner girl did a short bout in between some pretty amazing playing by the "older" kids (none more than 12, I don't think).  I'm sure a trained ear could have found some mistakes, but I didn't hear any, and it wasn't even remotely like what I think of as typical kid violin playing (to quote from Dr. Seuss's ABCs book - V v v v, Vera Violet Vimm... is very very VERY awful on her violin).  Nothing awful about these kids.  Very VERY impressive.  And Charlotte loved it!  She was quiet and attentive throughout, hardly ever taking her eyes off the players.  I had been thinking we'd start her on piano at some point, but now I'm thinking violin.  Maybe I should let HER decide?  I'll consider it. 

On Monday we drove home, with my Mom and Steve right behind.  While they were here we went to the zoo, where we saw a cougar, bobcats, bears, bison, elk, seals, otters, alligators and ducks.  The ducks were Charlotte's favorite, though she also quite enjoyed the bobcats and the otters.  The rest she thought were pretty ho-hum, but the adults enjoyed them all.  Thursday we went to Duke Gardens with a friend from long long ago, which was great fun.  They also had ducks, much to Charlotte's delight.  Other activities with Grammie and Grandpa included rearranging furniture (Grammie's all time favorite activity) to make room for the crib, choosing bathroom floor tile and LOTS of eating.  They went back home yesterday, which was very sad, though I do think Charlotte is enjoying the return to her normal routine. It was nice for me to spend the day sorting and putting away all the toys and clothes we got from Elizabeth and my brother, which had been scattered about the house since we got back.  So much great stuff.  Thanks so much, everyone! 

Speaking of getting back to our mundane lives... we've added apples and peas to Charlotte's repertoire, and she has taken to bananas.  We're going to add carrots soon, and garlic(!).  Her second (lower) tooth seems to be coming in.  And I think she's getting chubbier.  The woman who takes care of her some days (Iris) said she's getting some "piernotas" (big legs) just like her mother.  Latin Americans call it like it is, which I've always quite enjoyed.  Yup. 

Photos and videos (all short!) below.




Bobo swap in 3 short parts (of about 6 swaps in as many minutes):








Watching violin recital:




Looking at herself in a small mirror (on bed while Mommy launders sheets):




New sippy cup (not yet ready):