Goodbye Zoey, Joslyne, and Demetri

I'm still in denial about the recent tragic turn of events that is ripping apart the dynamic duo of Charlotte and Zoey when her family moves to Boston. We spent yesterday morning at their house. While Corey and Demetri loaded some furniture up into one of those Pod things, CJ, Peter, and I helped Joslyne and Zoey man their yard sale. The girls had a ridiculous amount of fun in the mostly empty Pod, and then we had a dance party in the driveway just for fun. After a little pizza for lunch, we hugged Zoey goodbye (we will be seeing Joslyne and Demetri a few more times before they officially move) and drove away in stunned silence. I'm not ready yet to put my despair into words, but after seeing CJ and Zozo together yesterday for the last time I felt like I was punched in the gut.

Charlie Jo and I have a little routine that we always go through when we're cuddling before bedtime or on the couch with little Peter. I ask her, "who's Mommy's girl?" She whispers in response, "Charlotte!" I then ask, "who's your best friend?" She replies, "Zoey!" or "Zoey and Madison!" (depending on her mood and/or who was at the most recent play date). CJ isn't really old enough to form permanent memories, but maybe if I show her enough old pictures and videos of their adventures together and keep Zoey in this routine, she just might remember. I know I'll never forget.






Here's a special art project from Zoey's last playgroup meeting that we framed for Zoey's new room in Boston:



Oh man - the tears are starting to fall.

Two peas in a pod (well, a tent anyway)

Grandma JoJo and Grandpa Spike visit CrazyTown

Granny and Grandpa Great visit for Easter

Peter's 4-month check-up

Petey-pie had a great check-up at the doctor today! He is 24" long (in the 20-25th percentile) and weighs 14 lbs., 5 oz. (in the 40-50th percentile). The doctor pronounced him a "handsome little guy" and said he was just about ready to start solid foods. We're going to wait a couple of weeks for his eating patterns to settle down. He's kind of a finicky eater and has recently started eating significantly more than usual, so we just want to see how this new phase shakes out.

Here's Peter playing with his favorite friend -- the handsome baby in the mirror!

Alice in Wonderland

For some strange reason, we have called this hairdo an "Alice in Wonderland" ever since I was a little kid. I finally deemed the sides of CJ's hair long enough to attempt it, and it turned out pretty well. I did have to use a little bit of hairspray, but the 'do didn't survive the nap. Thank goodness I took a photo of the momentous occasion before it was lost to history.

Next week, on America's Next Top Model...

... Charlotte gets kicked off for failing the "posing" challenge.

Peter at 4 months old

I have been terrible at reporting on Peter's development, but I'm hoping to change that. He's starting to discover his feet and now rolls over from his front to back when the mood strikes him. He's also headed to the doctor tomorrow for his four-month checkup and I'm guessing the doctor is going to give Peter the okay for starting rice cereal!

Peter smiles at everybody and coos a ton. Charlotte loves to imitate/quote the sounds he makes -- "'Gooooooo,' says Peter!" -- but she also has this annoying habit of insisting that Peter take his hands out of his mouth whenever he's chewing on his fingers. She's such a little thumb-sucking hypocrite, but I guess this is just the start of a long childhood of bossing her poor little brother around. He loves to smack the animals hanging from the bar above his infant bouncy seat thing. If he's lucky, he gets one of them in his mouth and then he chomps on it like there's no tomorrow.

The weird thing is that he is so much fairer than me and Charlotte. Perhaps he will have Corey's coloring when he's older and has spent many more summers out under the sun, but for now he is a pale little dude. His eyes are still a very pretty blue though. His Granny Great has sworn never to buy him clothes in any other color than blue because he his eyes look ridiculously beautiful when he wears it.

Auntie Ernie, toddler stylist extraordinaire

Doesn't Auntie Ernie buy CJ the cutest clothes? And doesn't CJ look soooooooo old in this photo?

Mom's been spiking my bottles again...

Why yes, my eyes are still blue!

Charlotte's had long since turned brown at this same age. Will he have his Granddad and CousAunt Abbey's blue eyes???

Peter and his Granny Great

Aren't they the cutest?