Chuck D & Mr. T

Yesterday Charlie went out with us for his first kayak ride. I can’t say he loved that but he seemed interested. Maybe we’ll stick with Huck in the boat.

Today Charlie took his second swimming lesson this summer. He went under water, learned to climb out of the pool, and kicked on a noodle all by himself. He was really proud when Mj was telling me about it.

Teddy loves these little king, queen, prince, and princess finger puppets and crawls around with them. He also loves peaking into this little toy truck to se the “drivers” and says “Hi” to them.

Charlie and I rode together yesterday at Arrowhead Farm and we both (especially me) had so so much fun. We went in the ring and then out on a trail ride. He did so well and sat up in the saddle totally fearlessly and rode around having a conversation with the sweet Irish girl leading him. At one point he said “I want my mommy,” so I pulled back nest to him and rode right there and he was fine. He picked Nick to ride and I rode Zip.

Charlie has been having a hard time being two and half with lots of meltdowns, screaming, frustration. And we both get worn out from it. But then he does something like he did tonight and calls my name to put him to sleep, falls into my arms, I carry him upstairs, and we sit on my bed and look out at the boats on the water as I read him books and I think it make us both feel everything is ok.

Watching a rabbit run up the driveway this morning Charlie yelled “Peter Rabbit Peter Rabbit! Him grow up get big like me!”

Charlie and Teddy (and me and MJ) could not love Hannah and Milly, Carolyn and Greg more. Hanging out with them is the highlight of their lives. Hannah and Milly are so incredibly good with T&C and so patient and playful and sweet to them. It is really so amazing to see them all together.

Charlie=32 months

Charlie celebrates throwing off tyrants but suggesting that I can no longer make rules for him.

This morning with Teddy as so dreamy. We woke up at 5:30 then went running and then sat together on the beach for about an hour while Teddy explored a shell he had found and laughed as I poured sand over his feet. Sitting on the beach with your baby is possibly the best thing in the world.