When I dressed Jonah this morning, we counted aloud as I did his buttons. “One!” “Wun!” “Two!” “Tewww!” “Three!” “Four!” (He knew what came next! And he’s not even two yet!) “That’s right! Four comes next! Smart boy! Four…and…five!” “NO!” Because every interaction must conclude with a toddler’s favorite word, don’t you know?

After a glorious week in West Palm Beach topped with a couple of days in Cocoa Beach (where the above photo of my three beach bums was taken) we are back home. I’m afraid there won’t be many photos to share, as we forgot our camera. (Yes, I did that and I ask: what kind [...]

1. I am from the land of a dozen Peachtrees, Coca-Cola and hot summers with humidity so thick, it feels like inhaling molasses. 2. I am from the 1970′s sprawling, brick ranch suburbs, the red-doored dark brick house atop the hill, where the kids ran free through the neighborhood from morning til dark. 3. I [...]

The ten most enjoyable things about being on vacation… 1. No work. No deadlines. None of that nonsense. Whee! 2. Sleeping in—every day. And taking naps, also every day—with no guilt! 3. My Mom cooking breakfast every day. I love a big, southern breakfast but rarely cook it for us. We’ve had eggs, grits, biscuits, [...]

I heard Jonah carefully toddling up behind me just now, saying “MMMM!” through what sounded like a very full mouth. He’d swiped the strainer of blueberries off the kitchen counter and was bringing them to share. Sweet boy! That kid loves him some blueberries! It makes for some truly interesting diapers the following day, but  [...]