Springtime

We have had a busy Spring so far, hence the blog hiatus. Packed with festivals, fun outdoors, and new discoveries everyday, here is a recap of some of our favorite moments (most of these photos are from my IPhone).

We purchased a year membership to the Arboretum and have been taking advantage of it with our new friends Louise and Alexandra (Azza, as she is fondly referred to by Carlyle)

We have spent many mornings and afternoons at the park the past few months. Carlyle and I were invited to join an awesome playgroup through some of the friends we've met.

Dancin' in the streets at the St Patrick's Day Greenville Street festival.

Enjoying all the attention, of course.

We had the best spot on the strip, camped out in the front yard of Sarah and Neil's house.

Catching up with her friend Mercer (or Monsieur, as Carlyle says over and over again)

btw, Happy Birthday Mercer! We enjoyed our first official birthday party!

http://palamarfamily.blogspot.com/2011/04/somebody-turned-3.html

Bubbles? Bubbles? Bubbles? One of Carlyle's new words and obsessions.

We enjoyed Daddy's impromptu crawfish boil in the backyard, Carlyle wearing her festive crawfish bow.

We've had several play dates with our friend Charles Patrick (Pat-chu says Carlyle). How priceless is this moment in the hammock?!

And now a glimpse into our Springtime indoors... "Dorah"

Sunset on the river with Zuzu and dinner at Magnolia Grill in Natchez. If only I'd had my real camera, this IPhone pic will have to do.

Mesmerized by "Momo"

And it all started with a little Mardi Gras in Natchez. She got the hang of how to put the beads on until she couldn't (shouldn't) put anymore on.

Garrity, party of FOUR?

Coming soon . . .

Profile of face and chest (see the ribcage) at 13 weeks pregnant

We are so excited to announce our new addition coming (approximately) on September 26, 2011! I made it through the first trimester with fairly minimum discomfort. I had a migraine or two per week and overwhelming sleepiness throughout (more than the last time). Overall, I can't complain. We have had only good reports at all my appointments with the OB. Our sonogram at 13 weeks was fascinating . . . I had forgotten just how exhilarating it feels to see your baby in its early stages but also be able to see movement and all the tiny human like features.

Carlyle and new baby brother/sister will be about 23 months apart. Any advice anyone has on converting over to a "big girl bed" VS "staying in the crib", I am all ears! Several things to work out in the months to come, but we are so excited and thankful for our growing family!

Let Your Light Shine

I hope I can teach this to my children.

Funny Phrases

Is there anything this girl won't say? Justin and I are convinced she might be smarter than the both of us together.

She has been repeating most everything we ask her to say for a while now, but everyday she amazes us with more words and short sentences!

Day Doo Aah - "There you are!" I love when I finally realized what she was saying. While she repeatedly says a lot of "phrases", this is one of the first that I have decoded!

Beau and Mac - She shocked us all the other day when I dropped her off at school. We were waiting in the doorway for the teacher to carry her over the door, and Carlyle points to the 8-month-old boy waiting behind us and says, "Bow". I thought, silly girl he doesn't have a bow. But his mother confirmed laughing, "Yes, this is Beau!" We all started laughing, a little in shock. She then points to the other boy waiting with his Dad and says, "Mac". Yes, his name is Mac!

Momo -(Nemo) immediately followed by the sign language sign for "fish". Every fish is Momo, also known as Nemo. She really loves the movie, Finding Nemo.

Dora - If I only counted how many times she talked about Dora in a day! She can spot her from across a room. She says this when she wants to watch Dora or brush her teeth (Dora is on her toothbrush).

Backpack, Backpack (singing) - She picked this up from Dora, but she sings it when she sees a backpack.

Cah Cah - (cracker) immediately followed by the sign language sign for cracker, which is knocking your elbow with a fist.

Yay! - paired with enthusiastic clapping. She applauds at the finish of EVERY song.

Tooo Tooo - high pitched and used appropriately when she spots a train.

Mah Oww - (meow) still my favorite animal noise she does. What does the kitty-cat say? She says "Mah Oww" sort of jumping an octave between syllables, hi to low.

Toot Toot Dah Dah - She starts singing #2 on her Kindermusik CD before it even starts. I guess she has already memorized the order of the songs. You can imagine JUST how much I am enjoying this CD on repeat?

Work Hard Play Hard

Doing a little spring cleaning with Daddy

Taking a break to dance with the paddle.

To the left,

and now, to the right

Yes, I documented her first skinned knee.

(since this photo, there have been multiples)

Dancin' Queen at 16 months

Carlyle is known for her dance moves at her school. Sometimes when I show up to pick her up, the other teachers down the hallway tell me to peek in the window to spy on her before I walk in. She's usually groovin' to the Wiggles or something similar.

Drawing a crowd with her dance moves . . . Now, where would she have gotten that from?

Notes from School:

• "Carlyle had a good day, she spent most of the day dancing!!!"
• "She is our little dancer, always smiling."

She'll dance to almost any music, but some of her favorites at home are by Vampire Weekend (especially Horchata).

This is Carlyle dancing to the Avett Brothers: