Azalea Season in Tyler - A Million Pictures

Our first double date in over nine months.

Great uncle Randy and Aunt Dru.

Uncle Blair.

Selah with some Southern Belles.

Mimmie

Mimmie passed away during the early morning of the 16th. She was 80 years old. We were in D.C. and were able to get a flight to Dallas and then drive to Shreveport, LA for the funeral on Thursday. She was buried in Ashdown, Arkansas, her hometown. As her own son-in-law (Grandpa Mike) put it, it was a celebration, though everyone was terribly sad and she will be missed so much. We then drove to Tyler and spent time with Casson's family through the weekend. Though we are mourning Mimmie, we were blessed by each other's presence, and Selah brought plenty of cheer. This video was taken in December.

Richmond and Washington D.C.

Selah's first trip to the Eastern Coast was great. We had cool and damp weather, but I think her bear suit kept her warm enough.

Richmond is one of the most beautiful American cities we have ever seen. This picture taken by Doris and used without permission.

Dave and Rachel got hitched on Saturday and the reception was at a club house at the military base in Petersburg. Selah danced the night away.

We met up with the Wescott's and the Shapiro's for brunch in "Carytown" in Richmond on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Where did Matt go? Arlington Cemetary. The view from the Robert E Lee house.

The Supreme Court, which we toured on Tuesday morning.

Marianne and Paul, Dave's mom and step-dad got us a tour of the Capitol on Monday afternoon. It was awesome. We saw columns designed by Jefferson, the place where Adams pretended to sleep during congress sessions, the room where congress now gathers to debate and vote, the old Supreme Courtrooms, and much more.

Then we went touring all evening on Monday with our friends Bill and Tia, and Mike and Robin.

The Washington Monument at night.

On the Mall with our D.C. hostess, Christy. We stayed at her house four nights, and she even took off work Tuesday to show us around the city.

At the "castle" Smithsonian building.

We saw the "motorcade" twice while we were in D.C.

Reaching for higher levels of knowledge

We have been out of town for 11 days, so I'm going to spread the pictures and videos out by back-dating them.

Developmental update: Selah's on her fifth tooth. She gets stuck under the chairs and bed and the only thing she can think to do to get out is bang her head on the crossbeams. She's got great bumps bruises and scabs on her head. She just reached up to the third shelf on the bookshelf. Her favorite toys are boardbooks, funnels, real keys with metallic flavor, sunglasses, colanders, spatulas, hangers, and camera cases. She doesn't really go for stuffed animals or cloth. She still uses a pacifier to sleep. She laughs on the outbreath and again while inhaling, often causing a coughing fit. She still just fits into 3-6 month clothes. Her full body eczema is clearing up thanks to some expensive Triple Cream. She falls asleep in the car whenever we play Modest Mouse at high volumes. All the trees in Phoenix are nearly in full leaf. Selah loves to watch them in the breeze. She also startles when cars roll by the street out front. She smiles or laughs whenever the garage door is opening, when someone clicks their tongue, when white paper/material is thrown up high and falls to the ground, when she is tickled, or when she makes eye contact with the driver through a series of mirrors during a car ride.

She makes the sounds [mmmma] [bababababa] and [dadada] and [də], as well as a hissing [tth]-like sound. Today she was telling a long long story about baba from bababa who went bababababa. It must have been about hills or a merry-go-round or the pony express for all of its ups and downs and loud starts.

I made my first homemade babyfood today, cheaper and messier. Selah LOVED it... peas of all things. It was much greener and sweeter than the jarred kind. Other food she eats regularly: rice, oatmeal, green beans, pears, bananas, carrots. We're on our way to get a Costco membership, I think, if diapers really are cheaper there. Plus Casson wants V-8, tilapia, and edamame beans everyday from now on, so buy bulk.

Papa Mike and Grandma Judy

Meeting Papa and Grandma at the airport.

Riding the light-rail to our central Phoenix home. Say "shake me up Grandma Judy." Grandma and Papa arrived on Thursday. We had an adventurous weekend riding our bikes all over town. Selah recognized them from the beginning, and she was so excited to be with them that she barely needed any naps all weekend. She got her third tooth while they were here. This picture shows Grandma Judy and Papa Mike biking through Dreamy Draw Park on their stylish matching Raleigh town bikes. Saturday morning at Lola's where we met all of our Phoenix friends for coffee.

Late Saturday lunch at Aunt Chilada's. There was a lot of great-for-playing-and-eating-outdoors weather this weekend.

We spent some time indoors so that Selah could crawl around and over everything and everybody.