take me out to the ball game

We were treated to a Durham Bulls game for our playgroup outing today. There were tons of kids at the stadium because it was Education Day, so that meant even more action for the little ones to watch. All the babies did extremely well (nobody left before the 7th inning stretch!), although I think they had more fun watching the crowd than watching the game.


The Bulls (Tampa Bay's AAA team) also did well -- they beat the Richmond Braves (Atlanta's AAA team), 2-0. Go Bulls!

motorcycle mama...

... and her pagent wave.

The new digital camera (that records sound along with movies) will be here soon. Until then, enjoy another one of our silent picture shows....

11 months

At 11 months, Madeline's favorite phrase is "dee-dee-doh-doh-doh", but growling runs a close second. "Mama" and "dada" are often said, but not in apparent reference to us. She has made various attempts at "kitty", including "tee-tee", "kee-kee", and "keh" but hasn't yet settled on one version. She likes to flirt with people at restaurants and in stores and really turns on the charm by flashing a huge grin and squinching up her nose. You will be her friend forever if you feed her grapes, bread or cheese. She and Pickles play hide-and-seek in the curtains in the dining room. Bathtime is the best: no matter where she is or what she is doing, she makes a beeline for the bath as soon as she hears the water running and attempts to take off her clothes and diaper by herself. Her cruising is not limited to furniture alone -- she believes walls and doors are also good supports for beginning walkers. Current items enjoying most favored status: the floor vent covers, a wooden salad fork, anything that rattles when shaken, a small retractable tape measure, Josh's work ID, and her shape sorter blocks.

yellow snow

April in North Carolina brings about a phenomenon I have yet to witness in any other place I have lived: pollen blizzards. Once the trees start releasing their pollen, everything assumes a yellowy haze. In the mornings, there is enough on your windshield that you have to use the wipers to clear it away.

The haze on the front porch (you can see our tracks by the front door)

The haze on Pickles
(her fur is actually a solid gray, not gray with yellow highlights)

Even the smallest feet are not safe from the pollen on the back porch

You can do your darndest to sweep it off, but the pollen persists until enough rain comes to wash it away. This year we've had a pretty rainy spring, so the yellow haze has been seemingly short lived. Pollen does make some interesting patterns once suspended in liquid.

Pool of pollen water

kid n play

We hung out at the toddler playground this afternoon and spent most of our time on the slides. Madeline wore her sunglasses for a total of about 2 minutes. The sunhat didn't even stay on for 10 seconds. Oh well, who needs healthy retinas, anyway?