O is for Oatmeal

One of Laine's favorite breakfast options is oatmeal.  And these days she is very adamant about feeding herself with her spoon (or her fingers).  As you can tell by the way she is holding this spoon, a lot tends to fall on her bib, the floor, the place-mat, etc.  All in all she seems to get plenty in her tummy to keep her full for the morning. 

N is for Nature

As I was out walking today I noticed all the brilliant colors of spring that are finally cutting through the chill of winter.  This purple colored tree in particular has caught my attention this year, mostly because it seems to grow in some of the most unlikely places.  I have seen it along the highways in the less than attractive areas of town and peaking out in seemingly unplanned forest landscapes.  Does anyone know what this tree is?  I don't think it is a dogwood, a pear tree, or wisteria but I could be wrong.

M is for Mac

We are a Mac family. What else is there to say about that?

L is for Library Books

Laine loves to read these days, and the library has been a great source of fresh pages to turn.  Our library is only a mile away, and it seems to have a good selection of board books, especially those with flaps and touch-and-feel sections.  As you can tell from this stack of books we are also becoming exposed to Corduroy and all his adventures.

K is for Koko

Koko is Laine's lovie or security blanket.  She originally got that name because when we first introduced her to Laine I thought that she looked a little bit like a koala.  I've since been corrected that she is a lamb, but the name stuck.  Thankfully we have two Kokos, so when one gets dirty we can pull out the other without any trauma at bedtime.

First earthquake

This morning around 4:30 we were awoken by a shaking bed and rattling dressers in our room.  It didn't last for more than 15 seconds, but it was enough to disturb our slumber.  Come to find out there was a magnitude-5.2 earthquake epicentered in Southern Illinois at that time.  Did anyone else feel the quake this morning?

J is for John

That's right, Penny's real name is John, an oft-overlooked bit of information.  In fact, Penny reminded me of this when I asked him what I should use for my J picture!  Here he is at his morning routine: enjoying cereal, coffee, and the Word for a few minutes before leaving for school.  Laine often catches him at this point when she comes running out of her room in the morning saying, "Daddy!"

Purina Farms

We went to Purina Farms the other day with our friends Leslie and Camille.  Laine had a great time climbing, petting, and riding her way through the morning.  I'd recommend this outing for anyone in the St. Louis area, especially those with children Laine's age or older.

I is for Ice Cream

The other day Penny asked me what I would choose as my meal if I had to eat the same thing for dinner every day for the rest of my life.  After thinking about it quickly (and clarifying that there could be no health detriments as a result) I said it would be ice cream!  I love it any time I can enjoy it.

H is for Hand Wash

I woke up this morning to a sink full of dishes that needed to be washed by hand.  A dishwasher is one of those small conveniences of life that we are without right now.  We don't normally let the dishes pile up too much, but every now and then we just let it go until the next day.  Thankfully my wonderful husband has taken it upon himself to be the primary dish washer of the house.  Thanks Penny!

G is for Garden

Laine and I had a great time at the botanical gardens the other morning. It was our first time checking out the children's area, and she enjoyed climbing the rope bridge and going down the slides. Afterward we "stopped to smell the flowers" where Laine very gently took in all the colors (a big improvement from picking the flowers!)

F is for Finger Painting

This is not the best picture of Laine, but it definitely captures the moment.  We tried finger painting the other day for the first time (with our creative friends, the Jensens).  Accustomed to having her hands wiped clean all the time, I think Laine didn't want to get her fingers messy with the paint.  She eventually got the idea though and made a few marks on her canvas. 

Our morning at the botanical gardens

Longing

Desire

Others receive

Desire increases

Dreaming

Making plans

Hope builds

Disappointment

Hope is crushed

Emotional rollercoaster

Praying

"Help me trust"

"Help me be patient"

Weeping

Heartache

Alone

Discouraged

Plans change

The cycle continues

Time passes

Time heals

Grace heals

Life

Good distractions

Waiting

Hope builds again

E is for Evan

Evan is one of Laine's good buddies.  He (and his mom) tend to be the ones who initiate creative activities for Laine to participate in (Easter egg dying, finger painting, etc.)  We will miss them when they move this summer but hope to see them back in St. Louis for occasional visits.

D is for Downstairs

"Downstairs" is what Laine says these days when she's ready for a change of pace.  She is referring to the basement of our apartment where she can ride the tricycle and run laps around the stairwell, among other things.  Nothing too exciting, mind you, but to a 20 month old it's a whole new world and a great place to play for a little while.

C is for Climbing

Laine has recently become a little more adventurous at the playground.  This was her first attempt at ascending these bars, and she seemed to enjoy the challenge.  Hopefully these moments will not be followed by tumbles, but I guess that's somewhat inevitable.

B is for Bread

My friend Janet recently became inspired to make her own bread by hand and grind her own wheat.  While she was telling me about it I too became inspired, though not quite to the same extent.  I did at least pull out my bread machine (thanks Theresa!) and start pouring in the ingredients.  The flavor of choice at the moment is honey granola, though I'd like to try some other varieties too.

A is for Alphabet

An appropriate place to start considering the series, I guess. Laine often plays with these refrigerator magnets as I work in the kitchen. Aside from keeping her occupied they seem to be helping her learn her letters. So far she can identify A, B, and O... most of the time. It's really fun to hear her repeat the sounds as the magnet sings, "A says aah, M says mmm," and so on.

ABCs through photography

Upon the recommendation of others I've decided to try my hand at capturing the ABCs in our lives. Here goes...