Charlie had a good idea. Because Katie’s favorite trick is clapping her hands, we should sing “If You’re Happy and You Know It (Clap Your Hands)” and let her participate. Charlie was a little pissed that Katie wasn’t being cooperative. Maybe that’s why she went off script at the end…
In case it comes up, Charlotte for some reason calls her suitcase her “responsibility.” In Boston last weekend, we saw another little girl wheeling luggage near our hotel. Charlie yelled, “Look dad! She has a responsibility, too!”
It’s pool-going weather, so we went to the pool.
It was Katie’s first time, and we escaped with no screaming fits, swim-diaper malfunctions, or sunburned evidence of poorly applied baby sunscreen. A big success!
I wanted to see if my children were genetically predisposed to hating this fountain. To Katie (right), it was a minor annoyance.
And in this corner, weighing in at 27 pounds, Charlotte!
She showed her little sister the ropes. And she threatened anyone who came too close. (“That’s MY sister, not yours.”)
Who wants guest passes?
Katie does the wave, then decides that’s enough filming and tries to smash the camera.
I’ll be honest, Charlotte wasn’t crazy about the idea of the Easter Bunny. She did not want anything to do with him at the mall. She asked us to leave him a note instructing any candy or presents to be left outside. (We did.)
And she’s still pulling at the “wait, an oversize rabbit brought me this basket?” thread.
But candy is candy, so she’s willing to suspend disbelief.
When she wasn’t caning Uncle Mark, she asked a question that stumped me — what does the Easter Bunny do the rest of the year? Is there accepted lore?
If there’s not accepted lore, we need to start making up something convincing.
Charlotte and Katie crack each other up. But it was no laughing matter when I informed Charlie that the new princess was named Kate.
Katie’s now more than halfway through Year One. To celebrate, we took some pictures. Then took a nap.
Charlotte and Katie festively endorsed St. Patrick’s Day. Here’s photo evidence.
It’s been too long since our last photo update. Here’s what the girls have been up to.
Bailey is adjusting well to her new role as pillow.
Pillow/oversized stuffed animal.
Charlotte’s also been very helpful feeding Katie. Almost too helpful. This morning I snuck a taste of Katie’s bananas and Charlie screamed, “You can’t eat baby food! You’re not a baby!”
Katie appreciates it.
Charlotte’s presidential history lesson has now been viewed over 1,000,000 times on Yahoo! Video. We’re still getting the occasional email from someone comparing her to Tiger Woods or me to Joe Jackson, but the paparazzi has stopped tailing us. It all makes for a few interesting pages in her baby book.
Last month, for Presidents’ Day, Charlotte was invited to appear as a guest on The Rachael Ray Show. She did great! (Watch the segment here.)
She also got to meet some of the dogs from the Westminster Dog Show and watch Daddy get his makeup done.
Not having done any of the other daytime talk shows, I don’t have much of a frame of reference, but the staff could not have been nicer.
Especially when Charlotte was chasing the office dog up and down the hallway.
Someone from the White House tweeted a link to the video, but we’re still waiting for an invitation from President Obama. Any day now…
Katie decided to give food a try this week. While rice cereal wasn’t an immediate hit, I’m pleased to report subsequent meals have been devoured with enthusiasm. Time to revive our old Baby Food Critic conceit.
Grandma Helen and Grandpa Johnny sent Ellen, Charlotte and Katie flowers for Valentine’s Day. Here’s Charlotte’s reaction to the gift, which she first thought came from the mailman.
