Welcome

Please contact me with any errors, problems, and/or questions.

--Peter  

Syndication

Blog Stats

Bloggers (posts, last update)

Hosted By

Latest Posts

Claire today


Claire 4, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

Since I've been under the weather for the last couple of weeks, the photos have been few and far between. But I just had to capture some sweet smiles today.
This is my favorite. She often bites her lower lip while smiling these days. It's THE cutest thing. That along with the babbling, the raspberries, the rolling over, the...the...WELL, just about everything really. ;)

As for me, I finally have a prescription for antibiotics. Maybe I'll finally rid myself of this sore throat - going on 14 days now. Bleck!

posted @ 6/30/2009 10:14 PM by Michelle C

Double 8's

Seeing Julien’s picture reminded I had forgotten to post a photo of Sophia at her party. 

posted @ 6/28/2009 9:08 AM by Gerry and Jean Provost

Julien turns 8!

posted @ 6/27/2009 5:22 PM by Michelle C

Jen & Hayley in DC


Jen & Hayley in DC, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

I've been meaning to blog about Jen and Hayley's visit for almost a week now. Unfortunately, I've had the worst cold ever since our return from Turks & Caicos. Even half of their visit I was unable to speak to them since I had laryngitis. I finally started feeling like myself yesterday. I guess waking at all hours to care for a baby doesn't help with the immune system!
We're so glad that Jen and Hayley came down for a visit. It was so nice to catch up with them, introduce them to Claire and share our part of the world with them. They went sightseeing one day on the Tourmobile. And the rest of the time we were able to just hang out.
The cutest and most memorable part for me would be Julien's crush on Hayley. He followed her like a lost puppy. And copied her every move. Hayley was so kind to him and really paid a lot of attention to him. Thanks Hayley!
You guys have to bring your boys down and we can check out even more stuff. DC definitely can't be done in one trip!

posted @ 6/27/2009 5:15 PM by Michelle C

Today's blooms

Butterfly on echinacea.

Campion.

Butterfly bush.

Purple daylily.

Poppy, morning glories, double-ruffle daylily.

Evening Primrose.  We watched these open last evening.  I like Gerry’s shadow.

posted @ 6/23/2009 10:38 AM by Gerry and Jean Provost

8 years


Boy on the beach, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

Eight years ago today, this boy entered our lives and I became a mother. In the last year, he's really gone from being a little boy to being a big kid. His features have changed before my eyes - his face getting leaner and longer - looking so grown up. And he's gotten taller of course, growing what feels like 3 feet.
He's still the most imaginative guy I know. Creating scenarios to play, sketching wild ideas in his little book and telling us the wildest stories. HIs memory still blows us away. He can recite an entire movie, word for word, after seeing it only once. Or he'll tell you what you said verbatim weeks after the fact. He still loves, and I mean LOVES, his Lego. (You can guess what's on the birthday list!)
I love this little guy!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUGABOO!

posted @ 6/22/2009 7:51 AM by Michelle C

Jumpin'


Jumpin', originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

Although I try really hard to get technically great pictures, sometimes the out of focus, imperfect ones tell a better story. Case in point - Claire jumped right out of the frame on this one. But look at that expression of pure joy! Her personality is really coming out and she's such a happy, fun baby. I love it!

posted @ 6/19/2009 3:22 PM by Michelle C

Back from Vacation


Family photo, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

We went to Beaches in Turks & Caicos and got back on Monday night. We had a good time. Everyone but Claire got too much sun. Julien had a blast at the beach, in the pool, at the waterpark and in the Xbox game room. As for Arnaud and I, I have to say that Beaches isn't really our cup of tea. Hard to explain really - maybe it was the size of the resort, too many people or the not-so-great buffet style food. We only manage one get-away per year as a family so I think we prefer our trips to Grand Cayman.

I'm only posting photos now because we came home to no internet and cable service. The sewer repair in our neighbor's front yard led to a severed FIOS line. After a lot of time on the phone and a handful of technicians out to the house, this morning we got a temporary fix. This afternoon, there's a work crew putting it all back permanently.

On top of the FIOS mess, I've come down with a cold and this morning laryngitis. At least I can communicate with people via email and IM now!

posted @ 6/19/2009 2:30 PM by Michelle C

Rain. It makes such a difference.

Calla Lillies…think of Katherine Hepburn.

The hydrangeas are turning blue.

Our “fern gully” is looking very lush this year.

posted @ 6/18/2009 6:40 PM by Gerry and Jean Provost

Perfect Picnic Attire


Perfect Picnic Attire, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

posted @ 6/10/2009 10:42 AM by Michelle C

Can she learn to "shoot" the keys like Chico?

Let me see if I can fix this mess I made of this story.

Angela sent me this email:

"Sophia has gotten into watching Tom and Jerry cartoons.  Yesterday she was watching an episode where Tom does a piano solo.  She said that he was playing Golliwog's Catwalk.  That gave me a big laugh!  I knew she liked the Marx Brothers and Mystery Science Theater, but I didn't know she was a Debussy fan."

I read it and thought "Catwalk?"  That doesn't sound right.  Went to YouTube and sure enough it was Cakewalk.  So I figured Angela had just mis-typed it.

I fired off an email to her and said "very cute, but I think it's Cakewalk isn't it".  Then I posted the story with my stupid correction.

Then Angela sends me this:

"Yeah, Sophia knew it was Cakewalk...but it was a CAT playing the piano."

Rim shot. 

Grammy, go soak your head.

posted @ 6/7/2009 11:48 AM by Gerry and Jean Provost

Yeah, what he said!

I read this in the NYTimes, but it was copied from O.  He pretty much sums up how I feel about pets.  I’ve come to grips with my fear of large, energetic dogs so now I can be around one as long as it DOESN’T TOUCH me instead of hovering with my back turned and my eyes shut.  Humans are my species and I value them far above other life forms.  If I want to cuddle something I’ll go find Gerry.

 

posted @ 6/6/2009 2:00 PM by Gerry and Jean Provost

Claire's First Feeding


We got the greenlight on solids from the pediatrician today and we were READY! The no-longer-sleeping-thru-the-night baby needed something more substantial in the tummy. And she really enjoyed trying it out. Check it out!

posted @ 6/4/2009 10:03 PM by Michelle C

5th Grade Baseball Champs

The game was held at a field beside Ranger Stadium. 

posted @ 6/4/2009 3:49 PM by Gerry and Jean Provost

Sports news flash

Griffin’s baseball team won the championship!  Our boy got a base hit.  Great way to start the summer big guy!

He’s a chip off the old block. 

If the parents would send pictures it would be nice. 

posted @ 6/4/2009 12:05 PM by Gerry and Jean Provost

Treasure hunt

We had a few friends over last night to help us celebrate Gerry’s birthday.  Becky, Laurel, Rick, Paul, Carl, Jim and Kernel all helped make the evening what we refer to as an “Asheville evening”.  We had given everyone strict instructions to bring NO PRESENTS.  Kernel brought a CD he had made of “meditation” music and some insense to burn whilst listening.  Becky brought a six-pack of white wine.  Laurel brought ME some gooseneck to plant.  They don’t mind worth a damn.

We partied and sang and ate and toured the garden and ate and sang.  After everyone left I was in the master bathroom and I noticed a large bottle of wine sitting in the shower.  I hollered for Gerry to come look and he started literally hopping around laughing about our crazy friends.  He went off to lock up and I crawled into bed, turned my head towards his side and hollered again.  Bottle #2 was behind his pillow.

This morning when Ger went out to the garage before breakfast he died and went to heaven.  FOUR more bottles of wine.

We had bought this:

It will make all of these

taste like a million $$$.

posted @ 6/4/2009 11:23 AM by Gerry and Jean Provost

Swingin'


Swingin', originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

It seems that this guy, whom I used to call a little guy, is getting huge. Not only size-wise. He has a full-on attitude to go with it. I do love that he is still so fun-loving and still sometimes enjoys doing the little kid stuff. But of course, you have to add a little twist. In this photo, he was enjoying the swing but asking me to photograph him in continuous mode so that he can make a flip-book out of it. Ah, that's my boy!

It's been a bit of struggle to figure out how to share my time between Julien and Claire. At first it was very lop-sided and rightly so when you have a newborn. But it seems that we're working out the kinks.

posted @ 6/3/2009 8:12 PM by Michelle C

Claire Bear


, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

This one is just too cute not to share!

posted @ 6/3/2009 7:56 PM by Michelle C

4 months old


17 weeks - 4 months old, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

I still have moments when I look down and Claire and am amazed that I have a baby. How did I get here? Wait - don't answer that! What's even crazier though is that she's already 4 months old.
We're moving into summer and here's this little person watching, discovering and bringing a whole new perspective. I'm so much more at ease than I was when Julien was little. I'm sure it has a lot to do with her being a second child. And you just know things this go around. She also continues to be such an easy-going baby. She's always smiling at us, cooing and wiggling non-stop.
Lately, you can really see her move with more purpose. When she reaches for the toy she wants, she actually gets and grabs on. She's also rolling from front to back - tummy-time never last more than a few seconds. And just this week she found her toes. I LOVE that baby pose! Unfortunately, my 8-9 hours sleeping baby is gone. I think she's just getting big enough now that she's hungry. It's about time to start the solids. At least her naps are getting more reliable. We're slowly coming up with some schedule.
Of course, the end of school will change things up a bit next week. As well as our vacation - surf and sun here we come! I just hope I remember everything we need and Claire hangs on for the ride!


Touch your toes, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

posted @ 6/3/2009 7:52 PM by Michelle C

Happy Birthday Bompie

Ger has been busy.  He FINALLY won a trophy down at the pond.  He’s won many races, but never came out on top at a regatta.  It was a good day sailing.  I kept score and enjoyed myself.

 

Yesterday we put the finishing touches on another of our birdhouse creations.  This one sits on an old silver-plated tray and has crystals and beads artfully arranged on an old dogwood branch chosen for its lichen.  The “shed” on the side lifts up to clean out the old nests.  It has a copper roof that has been chemically aged.  We built it for one of my garden club friends who’s gardens are part of the Master Gardener Garden Tour in a couple of weeks.

Tonight we are having a little hoedown on the patio.  Kernel calls us “porch rats”.  There will be guitars and singing.  Of course there will be key lime pie for the birthday boy.

posted @ 6/3/2009 5:09 PM by Gerry and Jean Provost

1st Time at the Pool


1st Time at the Pool, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

The pool opened for the season on Saturday. And it was a perfect day for it - although the water was way too cold for any thinking adult to venture in! Julien had a blast until his lips turned blue. And Claire's favorite thing? Papa's swimsuit.

posted @ 5/25/2009 5:08 PM by Michelle C

Lawn Ornament


Lawn Ornament, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.


Lawn Ornament, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

posted @ 5/25/2009 5:01 PM by Michelle C

Pictures from Florida

We spent a few days with the Grebens.  Here they are with Sophia decked out in her new cocktail dress.

Here’s Sophia in her PINK bed:

 

 

posted @ 5/18/2009 9:05 PM by Gerry and Jean Provost

Talk to the hand

posted @ 5/13/2009 10:23 PM by Michelle C

13 weeks


13 weeks, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

I had to change how I take the Waleed photos. You see, Little Miss is almost sitting up on her own. And last week when I took the picture of her sitting with the bear on her dresser, she decided that she was going to sit up straighter. AHHHH!! I dropped my camera (luckily I was perched on the guest bed to take the picture) and caught her right before she pitched off, right on to the floor.
OOPS! So...no more pictures on the dresser!

posted @ 5/11/2009 5:13 PM by Michelle C

3 months old


3 months old, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

It’s absolutely amazing to me that 3 months have already passed. It really seems like yesterday that I was hugely pregnant and waiting for your arrival. The last 2 months have seen so many changes - the biggest one being your awareness of the world around you. It started with the love of your pink light on your changing table yet quickly moved to the people around you and closest to you which usually means me. I am the happy recipient of your many full body smiles. You truly smile so hard that your entire body wiggles with delight. And my, you’ve become quite a “talker.” You will screech and babble, yell and squeal. And most of the time it is testing to see if you will get a response. I happily oblige whenever I am near.
Except for the last couple of nights due to our crazy weekend, your wonderful sleeping habits have continued. We are usually guaranteed a full nights rest – 9 – 6. Thank you very much!
I still swaddle you tightly each time you sleep. I admit I’m frightened that if I change something up that you too might change and no longer sleep as well as before. Why change what’s working, right? I wonder if you might now want to have your hands loose since you’ve recently discovered them and love nothing more than try to see how many fingers you can get in your mouth. I’m very happy with this turn of events since you have totally and completely abandoned the pacifier. Not that you were ever very fond of it but now you completely refuse it. Apparently, your hands or my fingers taste much better.
You are really becoming quite strong. Everyone comments on it. You hold your head high and are trying to sit up. When you’re on my lap, you did sit up assisted and love to watch everything around you. You are particularly amused with your big brother, Julien’s antics. And lovingly, he now tries to amuse you. After returning from his Spring Break in France with Papa, he’s discovered that you actually will react to things he does. You love it when he talks to you, right in your face. “Who’s the cutie baby?” It makes you giggle and wait for the next thing he’ll do. A recent fun game you’ve found is “I’m a dancing baby.” I bounce you on my knee, dancing around while he shakes his booty for you. You find that hilarious!
You’re already trying to roll over. You get so close but those tricky arms always seem to get in the way. I expect it won’t be long now before you actually make it all the way over. And then you’ll be wondering what to do with yourself.
But don’t grow too quickly! I’m trying to savor every moment since I know that these baby days will be over before I know it. Just give me a little more time before I have to start chasing after you!

posted @ 5/4/2009 10:22 PM by Michelle C

Load off of my mind

Sophia just wandered through the room and said, sort of off-handedly over her shoulder "if you feel somebody licking your feet, it's not me it's the cat".

Whew.

posted @ 5/3/2009 11:20 AM by Gerry and Jean Provost

Asleep on the job


Asleep on the job, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

Every morning, I put Claire on this mat to play. It never fails - about 15 minutes later, this is how you can find her. She's falls asleep on her own, almost always with her hand stuck in the ring. Playing can be tiring work! (It's my chance to take a shower, yah!)

posted @ 4/26/2009 1:44 PM by Michelle C

11 weeks


11 weeks, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

Better late than never, I say! It was a dreary week until Thursday so I didn't get the camera out until then.
This week, Claire got reacquainted with Julien. Julien loves to get her to smile and giggle. He says "Who the little cute baby? Who the little cute baby?" right into her face. Gets a full-body giggle every time.
She's drooling more than ever and often has a chin full of drool bubbles. She's getting stronger and stronger, especially on her tummy. I can even see the beginnings of a roll. She prefers being held looking out so she can see everything. And she will sit on my lap very steadily. Not on her own yet, though.
We're pulling out the 3 months, summery clothes and getting ourselves outside. Summer weather is already here!

posted @ 4/26/2009 1:40 PM by Michelle C

In Treatment

I’ve re-thought my position on this show.  The first season was difficult for me to watch.  I suppose the main reason was I hated, hated, hated Melissa George who played Laura.  I want her to take the money she made on that show and fix her overbite and stop the damn sniffing and learn to blow her damn nose.  I didn’t like her on Grey’s Anatomy either.

I really got interested in season one about week six.

Season two is terrific.  Its a lesson in how therapy works.  It only works if the patient puts 100% effort into it.  People who dabble in therapy, try it for a session or two are such losers.  I mean that.  They lose.  You have to go the distance.

I sometimes think patients are scared off after a couple of hours because it becomes painfully evident how hard they are going to have to work.  Well, you were miserable when you went there weren’t you?

posted @ 4/24/2009 3:34 PM by Gerry and Jean Provost

Warms my heart


Warms my heart, originally uploaded by jmcouraud.

Look at these two.

posted @ 4/21/2009 11:54 PM by Michelle C

Bread and butter, come to supper

Even the New York Times knows about Sister Schubert's!  The best yeast dinner rolls and biscuits in this world.  At least once a year one of my garden club’s hostesses will serve Sister Schubert ham and biscuits.  Tiny biscuits with some sugar-cured ham and a trace of butter or jam.  These breads are as southern as you can get.  They’re in the freezer case, but if you lie and say you made them you wouldn’t be the first.

posted @ 4/15/2009 8:27 AM by Gerry and Jean Provost

Last Post Here

I finally packed up and moved my blog!  Here it is: http://32entropylane.blogspot.com/

posted @ 4/14/2009 9:56 PM by Emily Provost

Do you smell something?

Don’t look at me!

posted @ 4/14/2009 5:14 PM by Gerry and Jean Provost

I just want to cry!

A landmark is going down.  Tavern on the Green in Manhattan is up for grabs.  I once saw Arthur Rubenstein and his wife in the garden room, Liza Minnelli in the ladies.

In 1981, we sat down for Sunday brunch.   The waitress walked up to us as we were being seated so I had no idea what was on the menu.  She was really there for drink orders but little Miss Angela had already made up her mind.  The waitress said what would you like and Angela said orange juice in a glass like that as she pointed to another diner drinking a mimosa from a large wine glass.  Then she proceeded to order a baked potato with butter, sour cream and bacon and chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream.  The waitress didn’t bat an eye.  It all arrived just as ordered and there was one happy girl.

posted @ 4/14/2009 5:05 PM by Gerry and Jean Provost