Pink

We love pink around here!


Favorite Caroline quote so far: "Helen REE-nay, I cannot hear the TV over your crying!"

How Helen spent her 1-month birthday

Can you guess who's not really dozing?

Picnic

Caroline gets a little prize every week if she does some daily jobs to help Mommy and Daddy out. This week her reward was a picnic.

It was Helen's first picnic, so Caroline showed her how we do it.

PB&J is always a crowd-pleaser.

Helen really enjoyed the fresh air!

Swings

Helen has a swing...

...and Caroline has one, too!

Adorable

Holding Helen

She does a great job...

And Helen loves it!

Helen loves to be all curled up. It is absolutely impossible to resist snuggling with this...

Prayers

One of the greatest joys as a parent (in my opinion) is watching Caroline discover God. For a long time we've been singing this prayer she learned at school:

God, our Father,
God, our Father,
Once again
Once again
We would like to thank you.
We would like to thank you.
Amen.
Amen.
(sung to tune of Frere Jacques)

And just lately she started saying her own prayers. They are the sweetest, most sincere prayers. They remind me to be thankful for the tiniest, littlest things. Most of the time they go something like this:

God, thank you for our baby named Helen. God, thank you for a smelly old dog named Tigger. God, thank you for everything. Lord, thank you for God. God, thank you for our parents and Maddie and Katie. Thank you for our food. God, thank you for everything. Amen.

I only hope my prayers sound just as sweet to God's ears.

He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
and for his children it will be a refuge.
-Proverbs 14:26

Easter 2009

It was a great weekend here at the Garrett house. We had special visitors - my family and Kevin's sister all spent some time with us. Caroline had the best time with her cousins, her aunts, and her Mimi. We all had fun together!

We made it to church. I really missed singing in the choir. But on the other hand, it was really nice to enjoy listening to the beautiful music. Helen slept blissfully through the whole service. Big sister actually sat through the whole service, too. We were impressed.

Helen wore the daygown I made. I say prayers over every dress or appliqued tee-shirt or daygown I make. So it was really special for me to see Helen in her gown. God has been so faithful to the four of us.

I hope each of you had a blessed Easter weekend!

Garden girl

Don't you love her hat and gloves? She was a huge help to Daddy!

Easter project

Caroline's class at school is having an Easter party and egg hunt. She has to bring 15 eggs with candy inside. So I counted out 15 eggs and let her handle the rest. The power to delegate is something I take very seriously. She did a great job!


And my favorite picture of the little peanut so far... She's such a darling!

Ring sling

I made this for Helen before she was born. Having 2 free hands is key when caring for a preschooler and a baby. It was very easy to sew. I read several tutorials and then kind of did my own thing. I used 2-yards each of coordinating fabrics and 2 rings (Sling Rings). I wish I had used about 3 yards because my "tails" are a little short. But I figure in a couple months Helen will be busy looking around and I will be using the front carrier and the hip hammock.

Today we used the sling to go for a quick walk around the block. Caroline pushed her babies (yes, 2 of them - plus a panda and a duck) in her stroller and Helen was content to peek out of her snug little ride. I can actually see myself going to the grocery store with both kids using the sling. OK - maybe I'm a step ahead of myself...

This girl's got skills

Kevin and Caroline were playing with the Aquadoodle tonight. Kevin spelled "Helen" for her and she wrote every letter herself - without help! Wow... We are so proud! (Don't you love her dirty face from dinner?)