a few choice Charlotte pics

how she spends most of her waking hours (thank you Patty and Rhett -- this gym has served us well for 3 children)

the days of yore when I could let her lay on the couch (stopped after 2 1/2 months)

2 days old, already would twist to the side

now at almost 5 months old -- this is her favorite sleeping position

sucking her thumb, of course

I haven't remarked much about Charlotte -- mostly because these days are getting easier (knock on wood). This night after dinner it looked a little like a Norman Rockwell painting -- Cort playing the piano and the kids learning a new song, while Claire and I made Charlotte laugh at the dining room table. I know -- it may not be easy to stomach. But we are pretty happy. There's no other way to put it.

Ethan and Elliot are happy at school -- the teachers are all working hard to challenge them in fun and new ways without any prodding from me. They really are fantastic teachers. Ethan's doing mostly 6th grade work, although he's in 4th grade, Elliot's the first kindergartner to pass through 2 book clubs (usually starts around 2nd grade).

Claire loves having me (mostly) to herself during the days, where we laugh and play most of the time. She loves her playgroup of her three best friends that she asks about daily. She enjoys the routine of life -- she walks with me while I make the beds in the morning and likes our daily walks, and when the kids get finished with their homework, she usually prods me, "What are you makin' for dinner? Do you need some help?"

Charlotte seems happy being fourth -- meaning she loves commotion and action and lots of hugs and kisses. She loves being held most of the time, but is sleeping like a champ for long naps and the night. I'm kindof enjoying cooking again, and I even sewed a little for Ethan's costume! I'm of course still a bit of a neurotic mess, and we're definitely not perfect, but things feel a little more settled and we're enjoying each other. So life is not that exciting and not that dramatic, but that's the way that it is, and I like it like that.