Boy crazy

As my high school politics professor used to say, "You date - to rate - to mate", so, I therefore see no reason Arden shouldn't get an early start. Please meet Noah (age 14 months) and Gideon (age 4). And yes, Arden only befriends biblical boys. Noah joined his mom, dad and my dear friend Rasheeda at our home one evening for her first real play date. They shared spaghetti and fought over the last piece of garlic bread like any good couple. Gideon and Arden met at the playground and promptly hit if off while baking thousands of pretend cookies for yours truly. He called her "little chef" and I just about died.

Say what?

We discovered in reading a tiny book of "Noises" to Arden that she can make many more sounds herself than we even knew. We had no idea that she associated certain sounds with certain things, as you will see. We've been saying for many months that she understands everything but somehow every time she shows us something knew, we find it completely amazing. I am really starting to see how the first-born child personality is molded accolade by accolade. As most of you know, Kyle and I are both first borns so we can say whatever we want about it.

Hay Fever

The girls went for a tiny adventure on Saturday to Wilklow Orchards in the Hudson Valley with our church for a family ministry outing. Arden had a blast making new friends, seeing farm animals and playing in a hay stack for over 1 hour. Mommy was brought to tears only once when the bus trip up took 3 hours instead of the promised 1.5. The kind man sitting in front of us offered a chocolate covered donut as my personal peril was obvious. I declined, but unbenounced to him I had already eaten two donuts that day and would proceed to eat 3 more apple cider donuts immediately upon arrival at the orchard. Anyway, Arden loves to pick up, play in and chew on small things so a big pile of hay was the perfect spot for her. It's amazing what New Yorkers will do for a taste of country life.