Why I love having kids...
Mariel is in her room for "quiet time" (which has replaced nap time in order to give her a chance to decompress and me a chance to remain sane). I am in the next room on my computer, listening to her play and talk to herself. She makes up great stories, often laughing at herself (or her imaginary friends?). Today she is rhyming, going through lists of words and coming up with rhymes for them> "Wumpy Mumpy," "Umbrella Mumbrella," "Tree Dee," "Huckleberry Suckleberry."
This morning she spent time with paper, a pencil, and sticky notes making a map for us to get to ballet class this afternoon. (Side note- we have found the trick to leaving happily. It is all about bribery. If she leaves nicely she gets a lollipop).
It is fun to see joy in tiny things, and beauty in the moments that I would otherwise rush past. On our walks to and from her preschool she likes to pick out flowers and leaves. This morning, she was so proud because she waved at people in a car driving past and they waved back at her.
Of course, sometimes a precocious 3 year old is a bit much. Such as her recent attention to the "stripes" on my face.

Are you ready?

Here is my kitchen, approximately 5 weeks ago...

4 1/2 weeks ago...

3 1/2 weeks ago...

And this morning. These photographs were all taken from the same place- this is really the same kitchen!

Here is another before and after view- 5 weeks ago...

And today...

Thanks to all of our helpers! Especially my dad, Charlene, and Tim. And of course, my kitchen designer, general contractor, plumber, electrician, carpenter, delivery man, and short order cook, Patrick. Do we need a reminder of why certain friends of mine refer to him as "Saint Patrick?"

Here are some happy baby photos for Noella's fourth month. She is looking more and more like Mariel when she was a baby. Noella is rolling over, babbling, and drooling like a pro. What more could you want from a four month old?

And here is the big smile :)

We had a gorgeous (hot) weekend in St. Louis. Patrick and I were very busy around the house- working on the yard, kitchen, and all sorts of other projects (Can I call laundry and cooking "projects?" It makes them sound better). Saturday night we got to go out to the Boathouse in Forest Park and enjoy some food and beer with the Pratts, which was a lovely treat. Here are Patrick and Mariel on our pre-dinner stroll around the park.

My baby is bigger than yours.
Its probably true- she is bigger than about 95% of all baby girls. At her 4 month checkup, Noella is 25 5/8 inches long and 15 lbs 12 oz.
For some comparisons: Anne's stats at 4 months- 24 inches, 15 lbs. Patrick- 25 inches, 13 lbs 10 oz. and Mariel 25 1/2 inches, 13 lbs 8 oz. So it appears that Noella has inherited both her dad's height and her mom's rolls (at least as a baby- I have far fewer now).
Noella also got four shots today, so she was not in the mood for her monthly photo shoot. We should get pictures posted over the weekend (if she cooperates).

And I'm Spent...

Seriously. Have you ever had to edit a 435 page document? It's exhausting. Ask my editor.

The final version of my dissertation has been sent into cyberspace to be converted into a pdf, and then it will be off. And I will be done. Really, truly done.

And then I can start thinking about turning it into a book manuscript, or my next research project, or..... who knows. But first I will get some sleep!