Charlotte Speaks!

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After much anticipation (at least for me), Charlotte is beginning to speak fairly regularly. A month or so ago she said "doggie". Then a couple of weeks ago "tickle". But the last few nights she has repeated the same words while reading Dora the Explorer stories at bedtime (the stories often ask the reader to repeat words or phrases, in both English and Spanish). Now Charlotte will reliably say "map" and "abre" during her favorite Dora story ("Dora's Backpack"). She gets very excited. She also has her own pterodactyl sound for "mine", which is her favorite thing to "say". Charlotte is very territorial.

Audrey's drawing ability is taking off. She draws very creative and recognizable pictures and then makes up stories about them. The photo album with this post contains a great drawing of two princesses. Carol, artist that she is, provides ample opportunities for artistic expression. She often tapes a big piece of butcher paper to the floor, wall or kitchen island and the girls go to town on it. Carol is trying to remember to take photos of the best artworks the girls produce. They also love to draw on the Magna Doodles.

A group of friends that met mountain climbing in 1999 call themselves Team Mango. All single at the time, most of us are married now and many of us have kids. Erik and Kim invited the gang over for brunch last Sunday. They live in a 1922 brick apartment building that was converted to condos a few years back. Erik is the principal in the Urban Wedge architecture firm. They have executed beautiful renovations in their top-floor unit and it has been featured in a couple of design magazine. Go to the Urban Wedge web site, click on "Projects" and then "Baldwin Condominium Remodel" to see some gorgeous photos of Kim and Erik's home. They also have produced a handsome son named Samuel, now 15 months old. In addition to admiring their son and their home, we had a great time seeing friends.

The excuse for the brunch was to see another Team Mango member, Jeremy, and his wife Jill and 5-month-old daughter Iza. They've been living in Warsaw for the past two years; Jill teaches at the American School there and Jeremy teaches English as a freelancer. They come back to the US each summer. Last summer it was to get married. This summer it was to show off Iza. We got a couple of photos of Iza but forgot to get one of the whole family! Maybe next week before they head back to Poland.

We're headed to Richland tomorrow. It is Carol's 20-year high school reunion and there are events all weekend. I'll come back to work on Monday and Carol and the girls will stay with Carol's parents all week for a little vacation.