Growing up - checking in

Well hello there fine friends and family.  Sorry to keep you hanging for so many months.  Yes, we have been busy growing kids and working our careers.  In another week Hazel will be 7 months old and is a VERY busy baby.  She's mastered sitting, reaching, the all-four rocking, the left-to-right and right-to-left roll, eating solids, and is on the verge of crawling.  I keep reminding the little Hazel that she is just a baby and there is no need to rush these developmental milestones, she'll be walking for the rest of her life, she doesn't need to start now.  Last week I went in to the bedroom to check on her crying in bed; I found her grasping the crib rail for dear life and standing.  Oh no!  So out went Hazel into Andrew's arms and down went the crib mattress by a notch.  Oh my goodness. 

Hazel Rae eating peas

Meanwhile, Tatum is sometimes obsessed with getting big.  Perhaps this is because she is now permanently cast into the "Big" sister role, but man, she doesn't need to rush.  Two funny stories on this: 1) every week we attend the South Pasadena farmer's market with Molly, Jack and Sadie; and every week we get papusas and lemonade.  Near the papusa stand is a candy stand that sells cotton candy and snow cones.  One week Tatum spotted the blue and pink sugar balloons and requested that she have one.  I explained frankly "Oh, you have to be five to have that.  You are not five.  You are three"  (side note, I patted myself on the back for this rationale because she bought it without question). Now she longingly looks at the stand and states, "When I am five, I can have one of those."  This week she said, "Why do you have to be five to have that?"  She's getting smart.  I replied, "Oh that is the age limit.  There are age limits on lots of things in life."  Questioning my response she concluded "I don't like age limits. But when I am five I will like age limits."  HA!  2) The other night we were taking a shower together before bed.  Tatum looked at me naked, then checked herself out.  "Mommy, look, I am getting boobies.  When I get big I will have big boobies!"  Oh goodness, girl!

And Tatum Bell does what she pleases