Our little guy hates orajel, won’t let anyone put it on, but we found that cucumber slices were aces. Soft enough that he can gnaw on them but hard enough that they stay together well for quite a while, easy to grip with small hands too and MUCH cleaner than rice rusks or toast.

Sorry Madeline is having a fussy teething time. Hope those teeth pop through soon and give her some relief.

I’m also the type that has to get out of the house/office at least once a day. When I was a stay at home mom with two little ones and a dog we would get out 3 x day…had to b/c of the dog. So rain or shine, out we went and even if the kids were crying in the beginning, as soon as we got to the apple tree orchards, they would stop. I was a sight to see walking down the street. Pushing a baby in a stroller, dragging a rope attached to a kid’s tractor with the other hand while also holding the leash to our dog. Every parent becomes an instant multi tasker when the need arises!

I think you’re probably back home (Mn) by now, so enjoy your time there with family.

PS-I was perusing some old pics of yours yesterday and had to laugh out loud at the snowbar you once built for New Years…hilarious! I’m originally from the South, so something like that would have never crossed my mind. )

I love this photo of Miss Madeline perhaps the best of them all. She’s a little goofy in this pic. I love me some goofy kids over catalogue kids any day. Mr. Boo is looking forward to meeting her, if the crowd doesn’t swallow you up.

As always, I’m going to give you my take on what you’ve written. Doesn’t mean it has to be yours. Really.

It’s about the photos in frames. Islamically, displaying photos in the house is a no-no. It’s no faces allowed–not even for animals. I didn’t adhere to this for years. I used to have a kind of shrine of frames. Then, I decided to follow my religion closer to see if it did make a difference in my life. I can actually say that it did help me to take framed photos down.

With those pictures, time is frozen. It’s a constant reminder of what was, every time you walk by. Your current day is kind of measured by how different it is from that day in the 4 x 6.

But I love photos! The latest ex is a photograher and that’s part of the reason I married him. LOL!

The way I handled having photos was by showing only scenery and places and nature. It really made for a very peaceful place. So, for instance, we didn’t have a wedding photo up; we had a picture of Minnehaha Falls taken on the day we married. He’s still got the picture up and can enjoy it, even though the time and the marriage are done.

But, whatever you do, don’t try to put up every cute picture of Liz and of Madeline. You don’t have enough wall space.

I wish I have some great advice to give you for the teething–it sounds like you’ve tried everything. A damp washcloth to chew on? Chilling those water teething rings in the fridge? I hope she feels better soon!