Anna's dance recital

Putting on her tap shoes in the dressing room below the stage.
After it was all over, with her rose from Grandma Karen and Grandpa Paul.
Annie helped with Anna's make-up before going on-stage.

Cloth diapers

When Duane and I attended the homeschool conference in Kansas City this spring, I met a girl (she has to be a girl, she is only 4 years older than me, and I'm not old enough to be a lady) with eight children. She taught me how to tie my baby on with a simple piece of cloth. She also encouraged me to try using cloth diapers again. I had tried this with Anna, and given up, mainly because I disliked the stinky diaper pail, and scrubbing them out in the toilet. She told me that neither of these are necessary, and that a "wet" diaper pail for soaking the diapers is actually detrimental, as it causes the cloth to weaken and deteriorate faster. So, I gave it another try, and not only is it so much easier than I remember from Anna, but it seems very natural and right to have my baby swaddled in cloth instead of wrapped in plastic. I have even learned how to sew my own diapers and diaper covers. So, some pictures.




Reagan in her cloth diaper.
A close-up of the second fleece diaper cover I made; I made the pattern by tracing a disposable diaper that is currently too large for her, so that there would be room inside for the cloth diaper.
Reagan, snoozing in her comfy fleece cover. With these, you don't need plastic/nylon covers, and they can be worn for quite a while before washing, unless poop gets on them. The pee doesn't even make them damp!

I will post some pictures of Reagan tied on with a simple piece of cloth when Duane is home to take them.

Cora bubbles

This post is for Aunt Kathi, because Grandma Karen really wanted her to see the picture at the top, but didn't know how to attach it to an e-mail, and no one would take the time to teach her how to do so- "Oh, Karen, it's so easy!" evidently isn't enough explanation.

Cora seeding the lawn with dandelions. . .

'Cause we just don't have enough of those suckers!

Reagan in grandma's dress

We had to get the traditional picture of Reagan in Grandma Willa's baby dress.
Once again, Reagan's favorite way to calm herself. She likes sucking on those two fingers so much, sometimes it's difficult to get her to eat. You have to keep pulling her fingers out of her mouth and making her eat. Otherwise, she just sucks on her fingers like crazy and cries because she's not getting anything.