overdue update

So I've been a bad blogger. Not as bad as some but bad enough. Jenn, politely and with words of just-checking-in concern, pointed this out to me.

I chalk up the drought to just plain laziness, not to mention a lack of interesting things to talk about. I have a feeling this post will be more of a journal entry than "interesting".

Easily the most exciting thing to happen recently was the birth of my very favorite Fat Tuesday Baby ever. Charleston Saxl, son of my dearest friend Carrie, entered the world 5 weeks early, just in time to grub on some gumbo and crawdaddies. I am overwhelmingly happy to say that mama and baby are doing wonderfully, despite his early entrance into this world. Lately my days have been filled with thoughts of Charlie and my little man (only a few months apart!) camping and hiking and running along the beach. Despite the considerable distance between us, I have high hopes that these boys will know and love each other well. Just like their mommies.

It's quiet around here right now; a little after noon and Roy has taken Riley to a work day at school where he has to build a vehicle of some sort. Sophie got me up at 5:30 this morning (yay?) and is conked out on the couch. I'm resisting the urge to turn on the radio or my book on tape, and am just enjoying the quiet. One thing I love about Kentucky is that we have birds in the winter. I hear my mom long for the first robin of the season, but I still wake up to birds chirping, even when there's snow on the ground - which has been more often than not, lately. Today it's supposed to be in the 40's and I think the birds are probably happier than any humans - at least they are from the sounds of things.
Roy made snowcream with the amazing amount of freshly fallen snow we have had this winter. I think there is a general feeling of joy amongst all species that March is just around the corner.

Riley turns 12 in a few weeks. I have a post forming in my head about this amazing kid, and what it's like to be a step parent, that I'm saving for his birthday month. His current obsession is, without question, Lost. We finished season 2 last night and it seems to be pretty much all he can talk and think about. And Roy and I are enjoying watching the early seasons concurrently with the final. And how about this show, my fellow Losties? HOW ABOUT THIS SHOW????

Sophie is continuing to become more and more awesome. They moved her up to the 4 year old room at her preschool, despite the fact that she's not even 3 1/2. It has been interesting to watch the transition for her. It was immediately obvious that she was exercising that brain and really enjoying it, but at the same time the social aspect was difficult for her. I love our daycare, but it's moments like that that make me long for this kind of experience. It's been a few weeks however, and she has adjusted beautifully. We're grateful to have her preschool right at the end of our street and a highlight has been our morning walks in the snow, noticing all different sorts of footprints.
Sophie's a chatterbox, like both of her parents, and has developed quite a little stutter. We're assured that it's normal and aren't worrying about it, but she's beginning to notice it. If she can't get a word out, she stops, takes a deep breath, and tries again. I'm proud to see her handling her frustrations this way.

She is most anxious for spring and to ride her bike, play Roast Beef (frisbee) and asks almost daily for a pair of roller skates. She's also on a huge grapefruit kick, eating half a grapefruit almost every night. Or in this case, cheerios balanced on each finger.
This is a terrible, lazy-sunday-morning picture of me (yes, vanity, vanity) but it shows the state of my belly - at least the state as of a couple of weeks ago. It's amazing to me how quickly the new shirts I bought no longer fit, and the "you're huge!" comments I've been getting at work are coming on fast and furious. And no, I don' t mind them.
Cousins Mallory and Aiden are on their way over for a little Chuck-E-Cheese and pizza action. I have to wake up Sophie and get her dressed, etc.

I hope this post wasn't too boring or rambling or whatever. If it was, you should've stopped reading paragraphs ago, you silly people.

xo