
(click for bigger pictures)
This month for 12of12, we were out of town, visiting Beaux's grandparents and dad. We haven't seen them since Christmas so a visit was definitely overdue. I love being out of town for 12of12, mostly because it makes my task easier. Still, a few of these pictures are from the day before - why does it always seem that I take better pictures the day before? I don't know. Still, between this and my Instagram habit, no day goes unrecorded around here. And I so love that.
1. Playing with my toy camera app on my phone. (All of these are iPhone photos, by the way). The weather was delightfully warm but nowhere near hot. I find myself longing to see some leaves on the bare tree branches.
2. It's funny, now that I'm a little older, I find myself appreciating all the 'vintage' pieces in our grandparents' homes. Beaux's grandma has such treasures everywhere - this is a shot of the deeply soft old sheets on our bed in the guest room. Dang, I sleep good in that bed! (Especially since Thomas will spend MOST of the night on the floor in his Buzz Lightyear sleeping bag.)
3. Thomas playing, Grandpa L. doing his crossword puzzle. Grandpa L. is pretty patient with little kids playing all around him. Thomas loves going to see "Pepaw" and it makes my heart so happy.
4. This probably looks like a scribbled mess to you, but it is our first real evidence of Thomas writing his name. Seriously. I am beyond proud. He was sitting at the table with Grandma L. and got his hands on a pencil. I came in and immediately saw the letters amidst the scribbling. Wow. We're not even working on writing letters officially, but he does a tracing game on my phone and with his speech therapist.
5. On our way back home - Thomas was asleep when we left, and slept until we were nearly home. He woke up with a big smile, which is so much better than the grumpy waking up we sometimes endure. Now that I think about it, that seems to happen less and less these days...
6. Pink azaleas blooming in the front yard. Hooray, azaleas! Azaleas are synonymous with Southern spring...and I'm ready to see all the pink and white swirling sweet blossoms break out in yards and hedges everywhere.
7. There was this precious little dog that kept sneaking into the backyard. She's a neighborhood dog but no one knows her name, so we called her "Little Dog". I kinda have a crush on her cuteness. Seriously, I could handle a dog like THAT. Rosie (Grandma's dog) and Cole (Beaux's dad's dog) are not so pleased with a usurper in their midst.
8. Thomas eating an apple. The fruit basket is within his reach and that means I bring our own fruit with us, because he goes on a binge of apples and bananas and sometimes even bites into a tomato by mistake.
9. More pretty branches. Still need leaves, thank you.
10. The fridge at Grandma and Grandpa's. I cannot tell you how much I love this fridge. I want one JUST like it when I'm a Grandma.
11. My cup of coffee and copy of "Just Kids" by Patti Smith, on the back porch. I spent a lot of time on the back porch this visit. Thomas has a ball running around the backyard but doesn't need a ton of supervision. This book was highly recommended - even if you don't know anything about punk or Patti Smith, which I didn't -it's a wonderful story of friendship and the spirit of creativity between two people.
12. The last episode of Lost. When we got home from our visit, we settled in for the last three episodes. I am sad the story is over and still not so sure I get it. That's okay by me - leave some room for the mystery of it all.
Tomorrow we're off for another jaunt, this time to my parents, and then I'm headed to New Orleans for the first time in years. I have not been there since Katrina, so that should tell you something. I am so excited - especially since this week I've been down in the mully grubs more often than not. Spending time with my best friend in the world and having an adventure or two sounds like just what my soul needs.