Clara's First Blog Post

It's been over a year since I've posted anything which almost always means that we're doing well and that life is simply full and busy.  It's both, but also very joyous.  

When I first started writing regularly in the blog, after Clara was born, I used to imagine a day when she (and any other future children) might be able to be contributors.  It may be awhile before Clara is typing her own essays, and who knows, maybe she won't ever have any interest.  But I thought it would be sweet to share these pages from her summer journal after we returned from a long weekend in Charleston.  

The literacy teacher in me is delighting in watching my own child develop as a reader and writer.  These are precious moments that I've watched in other people's children countless times.  Getting to see the baby I've read hours to in my lap and the child who was - it seems like yesterday - just scribbling with a crayon on paper now writing complete stories is a new kind of magic.  

So, here's Clara's first blog post, along with a handful of photos from our time in the lowcountry last weekend.  

(Last weekend we went to Charleston to visit Rick and Charlotte and JJ.  I liked catching blue crabs, swimming in the pool, going to the aquarium and kayaking with Daddy.) 

If these pictures seem familiar to you, check out our trip to this same place three years ago, when Clara was the age that Eloise is now.

Cousin #5 - Lila Belle

Clara has some friends at church and school, but other than Chloe the little people she really loves the most are her cousins.  I was never close to my cousins growing up, but it's so fun for me to watch how my girls have girl cousins so close to their age on both sides and the bonds that they are forming.  My brother, Trey and his wife, Jennifer were expecting their third child in April and since they don't find out the gender until the baby is born, I was so excited to get the call and find out that it was their third girl.  Girls, girls, girls everywhere.  Introducing Lila Belle Davis, Davis grandgirl #5 and Clara and Eloise's fifth girl cousin (all under five years old).  Sweet blessings.

Here's our first time meeting her.  Clara loves loves loves her some babies and since Eloise was getting big and wiggly by this point, she was pretty excited to get her hands on a newborn.

Strawberry Pickin'

I love some seasonal fruit gathering (strawberries, blueberries, apples, pumpkins? Yep!) and in May it's all about some strawberries. We met some sweet friends at an organic strawberry farm not too far away and had a great morning gathering more than we could eat and picnicking on the farm before we headed home.