Easter in Maryland

As is becoming tradition, we spent Easter weekend in Maryland. As is also becoming tradition, I changed my return ticket after we booked them so that I could stay a few days longer. When will I learn to just do this from the get-go? We took the train down this trip and it was a major upgrade. Plus I need to start earning some Amtrak Rewards points if I want to remain in good standing with my extended family. Anyway, we had a great time as always. The ipad entertained the kids and the kids entertained Gwen. Win-win. My favorite part may have been when we got to play catch and pull weeds in the front yard. I miss yards.

Easter Egg Hunt:

She thinks she's a big kid:

Told you:

Bunny ears:

I really wish this one weren't blurry:

All the gells:

























Walking to Eastern Market to see Hannah and eat delicious breakfast:

Sorry about that sun, Gwen:

There we go:

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry

Extreme Makeover: Dollhouse Edition

There's a system here in Brooklyn where if you don't want something, you put it on your sidewalk and someone else takes it. Like, within an hour. It's pretty amazing. Sunday we were walking home from church and this dollhouse was sitting outside our neighbor's house. With the previous little girl owner and her friend standing watch. It was sorta sad to take it away right in front of her but she promised me she wasn't sad and told me to "come back again any time." Plus, she snagged her misplaced My Little Pony back just in the nick of time.

BEFORE picture. This is even after a serious scrub down in the shower. The whole thing was crazy caked with old paint. Not sure what our next move is. Can it be saved? I'm excited to work on it. I'm not as excited about finding somewhere to put this thing. If all else fails, we can ditch the house and just keep the cute furniture.
 

Seven Months

Looking way too old:

This girl loves her tongue:

Help me:

Stately:

Cute little stinkbug:

Sunshine girl:

Just standin around:

Serious gwen:

Hi baby:

I love this picture:

Doing a jig on her signature blanket:

And some animation for the road:

Suddenly

Gwen stood up and just like that, everything got harder. I'm not exaggerating when I say she tears this room apart. I know she is little, but she finds a way. She already prefers things she's not supposed to have. I am hoping this isn't a lasting quality or she'll be in for a lot of heartache. I feel bad when I try to divert her attention away from me when she comes begging for some interaction. Am I supposed to interact with her all day long? She's cute and I want to but it's tough! It's also hard to spend my day on the floor pulling her off of things that are going to hurt her over and over again while she wags her tongue and kicks her feet so obliviously. Except of course she's oblivious, and I want her to stay that way. I don't like being frustrated that she is so curious and adventurous and strong because these are all very good things. But spending my life within a protective arm's length of the sweet little darling, I'm feeling a little claustrophobic. If I walk by, she literally tries to grab on to my pants and climb up my leg, while I'm walking. There's no one I'd rather hang out with but come on, Gwen. Another example, I just put her down for a nap but when her whimpers turned to a scream, I went in to find her standing straight up in her crib, clenching the rails with a terrified look because she didn't know how to get back down. It was sad. It's like we can't win. But also like we can't lose? Because in 20-60 minutes she'll wake up, make some coos, then there's a cuddle and some happy bouncing and it's a fresh slate. And that's what we do all day long. Exhausting but also pretty incredible.

p.s. is it unrealistic to expect Spring to cure all of this?

p.p.s. It's okay to roll your eyes at my idea of a hard life