~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Congratulations to Heidi, the winner of a hand painted figure from Sue Dow's In the Loft shop! Heidi, check your email for info on how to claim your prize.
For the rest of us, use the code LMLD10 for 10% off through Sunday in Sue's shop.
{pretty}
We've got some catching up to do in terms of baby pictures, don't we? I'll throw them at you in chronological order, and I won't even apologize for how many there are, because her grandmothers live far away, and who are we kidding, really? If there's one thing I've learned about our dear readers, it's that your tolerance for baby photos is very high.
Eleanor's most cheerful, talkative time is often in the evenings, while we're saying our night prayers. (you can see the candles lit at our little oratory in the background below, though for the record I'm pretty sure I waited until we were done before making the Capt. grab the camera.)
I think it must be the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. She's bound for glory, this little one.
I like to think of this next pose as her “I'm ready to party!” move.
{happy}
The sweet ladies in my mothers' group put together a basket of goodies to bring by whenever someone has a baby. They sent along some great bubbles for the kids, which of course we loved.
Tummy time is more fun when you've got company.
They love helping give Nora baths. As in, there will be tears if I attempt to do it without them.
{funny}
Holding her baby, chatting on the phone…. I wonder where she learned that?
(Please disregard the mountain of laundry in the background. I'm sure by now it's been folded…)
This is how things usually go when I try to take pictures of the baby. Step one: realize she's happy during daylight hours, plop her down on blanket/backdrop. Pull out camera.
Step two: big sibling thinks she looks lonely and/or poorly accessorized:
Step three: continue photoshoot.
{real}
We got a lot of storms and a lot of rain last month. How much rain? Four or so more inches in one month than we got in all of last year combined. The wettest month in Oklahoma history. Over six inches poured down in one evening, and we watched it rise until the Capt. waded out in his rubber boots at 10pm to help it all drain away from the top of the foundation. (It was close, but Marines are good at digging ditches.)
It was a wild month. Thankfully, our house wasn't flooded, the roof didn't leak, the tornadoes missed us, and all we really suffered is a bit of cabin fever and some root rot in our poor flooded garden. (See pathetic, puny, tomato plant above, photographed after the waters receded. Not dead yet!) Many others near us were not so lucky — there was destructive flash flooding all over town.
The biggest blessing of all the rain is that it filled up all the lakes and lifted the drought that this area has been suffering under for the last few years. Some of the lakes were nearly dead, but now they're full and overflowing.
Compare: late April.
And the same spot in late May:
If I've learned anything about Oklahoma weather, it's that it doesn't do anything by halves!
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Mrs. B. says
Glorious pictures! I think Nora might be edible… look at those rolls! And her expressions are priceless – I’m sure the whole family is well entertained: we often find ourselves here just looking at our baby, and just have fun watching all the different expressions that go through his face.
Laura says
What a nice idea – to put baskets together for new moms… and bubbles are ALWAYS a hit!
Homegrown tomatoes are the best – yours looks great!
Jill Foley says
your kids are adorable. That’s quite a difference in the rain!!
Mary says
Oh MY!! Baby pictures. I do love them so. Your kids are growing up so very fast. Where does the time go?? Happy Thursday Rosie and yeah for rain (and no house flooding) <3
Anne says
Nora is just her own little person isn’t she? A glimmer of looking like someone else here and there, but mostly just looking like herself. Her party face, nay, posture, is hilarious!
I like that Pippo’s expressions in front of the lake mirror the energy of the lake. 🙂
Kim says
Extremely high tolerance for baby photos! That party move is just priceless!!
Tori says
“I’m ready to party!” Haha, I love it. Baby expressions just kill me.
Sheryl Finley says
Yes! Yes! Yes! EXTREMELY HIGH TOLERANCE!!! There can never be too many pictures of all the children. Even pictures of the grown children/parents of babies are always enjoyed! Thanks to you all for sharing your lives and for all the beauty and enjoyment over the years. We are all eagerly awaiting the next group of pictures! : ) Blessings from WA State
mary v. says
Love, LOVE these photos!! Such adorable, precious kiddos. The “I’m ready to party!” move made me laugh out loud! Thanks so much for sharing.
Virginia says
I’m ready to party face is so adorable!!!! Glad you came through the rain alright. We also had crazy rain here in Austin. But now everything’s beautiful for once!
Terri says
Ah–delightful post. So much goodness here. What is it about bubbles that make them so much fun? Thanks for sharing.
Lucy Armstrong says
Is Pippo short for something? (This is my insightful comment for the week, since I’m unsure what to say.)
Rosie says
Yes, it’s short for Philip! My husband was also called Pippo as a boy, after St. Philip Neri, who was called “Il Pippo Buono,” aka, the good little Philip, when he was young. So we do the same!
Jamie says
I love the baby accessorizing. That’s so funny.
Kerri Barkley says
Linked up for the first time! Let me know if I did something wrong. 🙂
Also, big kids “helping” babies is one of my favorite things.
Maurisa says
Oh, her facial expressions are something else! Too, cute!
Jamie says
What kind of bath tub is that that fits in the double sink?! I think I need one of those!
Rosie says
It’s a Puj tub (like this: Puj Tub – Soft Infant Bath (white) )
It turns the sink into a comfy, snug bathtub, then folds flat (and can even be hung up) to dry. Mine is a hand-me-down from a friend, but I totally recommend it – it’s so clever, and my babies have all loved baths in it!
Erica Jean says
Hahaha, I love her “I’m ready to party” face. I crack up every time I look at it. She is sooo cute!
Lisa says
OMG – the ‘ready to party’ pictures are ADORBZ!!
Woman of the House says
Eleanor is a very expressive baby! Adorable!
Elizabeth says
Where are those waterfalls? I’m visiting OK soon and would love to see them. Is it the same area where the pictures on the high lookout over the rocks are? Gorgeous!
Rosie says
The waterfall is in the town of Medicine Park, and the lookout is only about fifteen minutes from there, on the top of Mt. Scott (in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge). If you’ll be in Southwest Oklahoma, they’re both worth a visit, for sure. If you will be, feel free to email and I can tell you some good spots!