Sorry for the random out of date post. I had it saved as a draft and updated it, thinking it would post with the December date. Unfortunately, that is not true.

I wanted to start posting again, so I made myself write without adding pictures. Now that I have been writing more, and have all the pictures uploaded, I thought it was time to share some of my favorites.

Thursday April 21, 2011, Murphy, my constant companion and faithful friend did not wake up. He died in his sleep with his ears perked, hopefully he went out chasing bunnies. Murph was a  good dog, both kind and gentle. We spent many a night with him curled up under my feet at the Thirsty Dog after a long walk. He listened to my every woe and cuddled with me on my loneliest dark nights. He told me very clearly that he didn’t trust a guy I was dating, a guy who eventually just disappeared without telling me. Murphy knew. He knew that Shannon was trustworthy and patiently watched as I spent more time with this new person. Unlike the cats, he remained faithful to me and didn’t defect to Shannon. He also knew that I was pregnant with Ada days before I did. Before his hips went we would dance in the kitchen, an activity that in later years caused him to bark at me in frustration, as if to say, “Hey you, woman, don’t you know that I love to dance and it is mean to do it without me?”

I had wanted a dog for years before Murphy came into my life, but the moment had never been quite right. Murphy had been looking for a person for years and had never found the right one. As a young stray he found a home where he was safe. Walked in the front door and went to play with the other dogs in a fenced in yard. Although he was safe and treated very well, Murphy wasn’t home yet. Like always he knew what was happening before I did. We would go for walks and I would return him to his house and he would whimper and whine. After looking at puppies, a friend of mine and I took Murphy for a walk. As we left him, she looked at me and said, “You don’t need a puppy, you already have a dog.”I knew she was right. I agreed to watch Murphy, for his foster mother, one weekend. After that weekend, I told her that I would like to keep him and she agreed. Finally Murphy was home.

It has almost been three weeks since he has been gone and I still think that the neighbor’s dog is Murphy waiting to be let in. I miss him horribly and wish him well on his new journey whatever it may be.

It is 3:35 AM, and I have been up with the baby for 2 hours. The sleep thing is sporadic for us. Last night she slept 9 hrs. I need to implement a routine soon. I was hoping one would come naturally, but alas it has not.

Since I am awake I will use the time to catch up.

Ada likes the way her blocks taste. Her mama and dad enjoy playing with them.

“YOU have a baby, in a bar”, Damn Reese Witherspoon.

Yes, we have a baby, in a bar. I promise we are not bad parents, we both are just very social, we crave conversation with other people. It is a choice we make for our family, and it works for us.

Ada has always been on her best behavior when we go out. She enjoys watching and talking to people, and when she is tired she sleeps.

Yesterday, Ada and I took the circulator, up to the main branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. The children’s room is beautiful. Ada really liked the pond, and the books.

Ada is now asleep. I am going to finish my tea. Enjoy the silence of the pre-dawn night and then go to sleep.

Watch where Shannon’s feet are in each picture. He has not moved.

Ada is teething. Ada wants to be held. Every time she is put in her crib she wakes up. I tried putting her in her crib awake, at nap time yesterday. She had fun playing in her crib.

(Pictures from 7/9)

Now for a picture of the culprits-

Ada discovered paper today. She liked the way it crinkled, and really wanted to eat it.

Ada’s new trick is waving at people. I am not sure when or how she learned this, but it is impressive. We now have a party trick.

For about a month Ada has been sitting. Recently she has gotten much better at it. I enjoy sitting her down, giving her toys, and knowing that she will stay put and play. Ha Ha Ha, not for long. She can now get from sitting on her bottom to laying on her front. She has also learned how to slide backward, so mobility is in our future, and it is close.