Pedro the Berry Picker

This is Eric's hat and Bitty is fascinated with it.  We put it on her head and she giggles uncontrollably.

Bitty, Cubs, & Libs

Hooray for great neighbors!  I have been trying to get photos of Steve, Tara, and their kids - Jacob & Elizabeth - for the blog and finally got around to it...

Jacob "Cubs" Young.  Elizabeth is really talkative as of late and she has named herself Libs and her baby brother Cubs.  She is really an adorable little person.  

Bitty on the newly erected monkey bars available at the Young's growing playground (there is also a slide and today Steve put up a swing).

Libs demonstrating her monkey-ness on the monkeybars!

Fun for everyone.

SPAGHETTI

breakfast of champs

Cheerios, Breakfast of Champs.  Bitty close your mouth, that is sooooo gross. 

Also, her first pair of 'big girl' jammies - two pieces, no footies.  Adorable.

My favorite begonia, isn't she lovely?

Laundry

Before we moved into our current home, I had not had a dryer (this house came with one) and had line dried my clothes year round.  With the arrival of nice weather we are back to line drying our clothing.  Today, while I was gathering diapers off the line, I put Bitty in the basket. She was so cute under her umbrella, until she started picking out all the clean laundry piece by piece and tossing it onto the ground... here are some photos of her. 

First home video!

I am learning how to use the built in camera & iMovie on the Mac. 

About two weeks ago, we thought Bitty said her first word, but then we thought "No way, she's too little."  However, she's continuing to repeat it and I caught it on video.  She also has begun waving bye-bye and repeating other things we do.  

OH NO!  I guess it's time for Eric to get serious about cleaning up his construction site style mannerisms & speech.  

Daddy & Baby

I got some GREAT photos of Bitty and Eric this weekend...

Captain Construct-o has been at it and we have a third wall and the beginning of the roof framed in!  Good job gorgeous.

Eric hasn't dressed up in a while... I almost forgot how handsome he is.  They are so fabulous together, you ought to see them.  

I just want to squeeze 'em.

She adores him.

Eric David - I love you so much!  Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to your family.  Everything you do makes it possible for me to stay at home with Bitty and I could not be more blessed in the hubby department.  xoxo

Week in Review

This time of year is always busy, however it seems more so this year.   We've got a baby to care for, a garage to rebuild, a garden/yard to tend, Kestrel Vintners is back on my plate, the dog needs some TLC, the occasional event on the social calendar... there's more.  I am not complaining; I just realized that I need to stop lying to myself - "Once we get through 'fill-in-the-blank' things will slow down a bit and I'll catch my breath."  That is NEVER going to happen, ever.  

This weekend will be lots of work.  We have to work on the garage, plant dahlias, tomatoes, strawberries, sunflowers, cucumbers, & some miscellaneous other stuff, bath the dog (he smells), go the the farmer's market, do the Mother's day thing, clean house, & more.  

Adelaide chews on everything lately, if she had teeth she'd be more destructive than Atila was at her age.  Maybe she's teething?

Here is the first stages of the garage rebuild.  Eric was on his fishing trip last weekend, so it's been on hold for a week.  Hopefully, this weekend we'll accomplish something - that is, if the weather & baby cooperate.

I love this sweatshirt!  Uncle Brian & Aunty Staci gave it to Bitty when she was 9 weeks in utero.  She finally grew into it at 4 months (postpartum) and it still fits nicely.  

There are not really words for this one... 

Bienvenue Baby

Caleb Justin Jennings Cottrell

Welcome to our world!

Saturday I had the opportunity to spend the day with Shala and her brand spankin' new baby boy.  He was born April 17.  I couldn't believe how tiny he was, it has only been nine months since Adelaide's arrival and I had already forgotten how teeny tiny our children are when we first meet them.  I commented to Shala, "Is it a mere miracle that the human race has survived?" She replied, (nodding, while looking at him with those 'I am achingly in love with this baby' eyes) "He's so vulnerable."  

It was a lovely day.  We just visited, folded laundry, had lunch, and talked baby.  She looks incredible, always has. 

Please find the time to pray for Shala.  While Caleb's arrival is a joyous & blessed occasion, she is still grieving something fierce for Justin (go on ahead and add insane with postpartum hormones on top of that).  

Bless you and that baby, my friend!  

Time Flies...

We've been terribly busy and I've neglected to post, sorry!  The garden & yard need tending, I went to Ephrata for a bit, Bitty has ringworm, Eric is on a fishing trip this weekend with the boys, I had to arrange a few things for my return to Kestrel Vintners... the list is long.  Also, I've been neglectful with the camera as well, before today the last I had picked it up was 4/19. 

   

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This is a photo taken when Bitty accidentally yarded on the trigger, kinda nifty I thought.

More of my beloved flowers.

Can anyone identify this plant?  It is a bulb and pops up first thing in spring but takes until about now to bloom.  

I'm not sure what they're looking at, but the profile is great.

Bitty, has anyone told you how adorable you are lately?

Here she is eating cheerios; one stuck to her nose and looks like a boogie - she makes the greatest faces.  Goofball!