I'll get to the vacation pictures in a sec, but first...

Aren't these lovely? Her undershirt is one that my sister and I wore in olden days. And it was a hand-me-down even then, made by one of my mom's friends for her kids.

Rock me, Amadeus

Audrey has an awesome head of hair for such a small fry.

What a difference a year makes...to my waist.

In this hot weather I find myself thinking a lot about last summer and how big I was getting by this point in July. Every time I climbed a set of stairs I half walked, half hung by the railing. I always got a seat on the T. I could send Scott off to the store for any food I could think of, and he'd go fetch it for me. (He probably still would, but this would be more of a shrewish thing to do now that I am not pregnant.) When I got out of bed, from sleeping on my back which was the only possible position for sleep, a would totter back and forth like a weeble before I got my balance. And there was always someone swimming right underneath my ribs who would sometimes raise a foot or a hand out where I could feel it for a second. I still kind of miss being pregnant, a special citizen, a great big bus of good will every where I went. I miss-- I admit it-- the attention. There's plenty of attention for Audrey but I feel less like I can claim her as my own accomplishment. I say "thank you" when someone says "cute kid!" but it's sort of like taking credit for the weather.

There are things about this summer that I feel a certain nostalgia for already. In particular, I am smitten with the sight of my adult-size swimsuit and Chickpea's little tiny swimsuit drip-drying side by side. For some reason the sight of my slightly dowdy Speedo and her little pink suit lined up there together makes me feel very officially someone's mother.

Grapevine comes to Boston

Scotts folks, Jim and Shirley (a.k.a. Mimi and Pop-Pop) came to see us this week. And when I say "us" I mean Audrey. Between their camera and ours approximately 90,000 photographs were taken.

Audrey tries to whip up a bit more excitement for the back-patio photo shoot.

And then pulls out this cutie-pie grin.

But her real interests lie elsewhere.

Which appears to be a theme at our house.

No teeth? No problem.

When Audrey saw the other kids eating watermelon she wanted her own slice. Add this to the list of foods that can be safely gummed.

Wee Patriots

We spent a very relaxing 4th with our friends in Medford. No sob-inducing fireworks for this crowd. Bethiah and Audrey relaxed on the same picnic blanket on which their enormously preggo mothers tried to recline last summer at about this same time.

Sure, Audrey's t-shirt says "I love Canada" but the ensemble is red-white-and-blue. It's a free country, after-all. And we do love Canada.

Three-year-old Ruth took some photos with our camera, including this one of Hank stealing food from an infant while my eyes were closed. Ruth's style is very edgy and raw. I like her work, and the way she yells "Say Cheeseburger!" before each shot.

Audrey decided not to wait up to hear the Boston Pops before calling it a night.

Bathing Beauty

Chickpea has four- count them, four- swimsuits to wear to the Rez this summer (all hand-me-downs). First time in the water she clung tightly to me. She prefers the wading pool on the front lawn, or living room beach party, to open water.