We had a pretty great week over here ... except for that whole sleep thing which has fallen off the rails again. But really, everything else is just peachy. This kid is so mellow and so fun and he loves the newspaper and he loves music and he loves animals and yeah... he's obviously mine. I love that look up there. I see great smart-assery in our future.
This girl got lots of walks and lots of sleep. Oh how I adore this pup.
We also got some big patio chairs delivered in this GIANT box, which we turned into Ezra's first fort. He dug it, but I don't think he saw the complete potential, so we broke it down and stored it for later. I would have loved a box this size as a kid, and I hope he does as well.
And yeah, this hat is adorable.
We also took Ezra to Artcrank (the kid's first art show). Lots to look at, kid.
And this was at the Farmer's Market where Ezra was enjoying watching the buskers play music. Oh, this sort of thing makes him so happy.For your internet share, many of my friends have said great things about the City Museum in St. Louis. It looks amazing (and yet, sorta like a death trap). I also love this idea for a hanging cradle (and it's soooo pretty!), and I ate up this interview with Dooce and her decision to stop slow down change the way she's blogging (I read her for so, so many years).
What a week! Somebody started sleeping through the night! Well… he's still waking up once, but it's at 10 pm, so I'm still awake, so *I* am getting to sleep through the night, and that's what really matters, right? Oh man, it's a whole new world, I tell you.
Besides the added sleep, Ezra also started holding his own bottles this week. Awesome.
The weather was fantastic this weekend, so we walked a TON and wore out this pup. Finally.
This is him sitting in while I test the light before a dog client came in. Normally I use Mags for my test shots, but her paws were filthy from running around the backyard, and I wanted to keep my paper white. Ezra's feet? They are spotless.
This is the face that greeted me Saturday morning when I came downstairs after sleeping in until EIGHT A.M. I felt like I was in college again. And look how happy my roommates are to see me awake!
I love the expression in this one. Like, "Really, mom? Photos even in the BATHTUB?"
And I love his shark towel.For your internet share of the day, I love 
It's a good thing he's adorable, because this was a super tough week on us. We had multiple nights of bad sleep (yes, we have tried sleep training, and no it does not work with this child), and Jamie and I were feeling like zombies in a fog. CRANKY zombies in a fog.And then we *think* we *might* have figured out that Ezra's teeth are really bothering him and that's why he can't sleep. So far, ibuprofen before bed seems to be helping all of us, and we feel like our normal selves again. But it took awhile to get there.Ezra also turned 8 mos. old this week. So of course teeth are in the mix, but he has no other physical symptoms yet -- no actual teeth and no red, swollen gums. That might have been why we were slow to think of this. Or it could have been the sleep deprivation that makes us feel about as smart as hillbillies on meth.
Here's my cranky, crying boy.
This was Sunday at brunch. I love how he looks like a food critic about to take this place down.
This is Ezra playing with my buddy Andrea, whose birthday we were celebrating at brunch.
This is 
This is Ezra playing outside this week on the patio (on the few days of sunshine that we had).
And Magda is a big fan of the family outdoors as well!
This is Ezra playing with the only part of the antique toy that could strangle and kill him. Don't worry. We keep an eye on him.
On our way to the first Farmer's Market of the season...
Awww, there's a smile!
This is Ezra attempting to crawl. So far, he is only scooting backward. Um.... Yeah.
And I'm trying to teach the kid to feed himself cheerios. Does he like them when I put them in his mouth? Yes. Can he pick them up? Of course. Does he put them in his mouth? Nope. He likes to drop them on the floor. Magda LOVES this kid, I tell you. 
What a week! Because of my work trip, I didn't take as many shots of the family. But that one up there? That was Ezra napping Sunday morning and I thought he looked so angelic. What a cutie.
You know that photo up there? I didn't take it. Jamie did! I'm trying to teach him how to use my camera so I'll have some shots of Ezra and I together. Don't worry. I saved you one at the end :)
Look at those long legs!
And here I am with my kids on my first Mother's Day. Clearly, I am more excited than they are.
This photo of Ezra on the tractor takes me back. When I was a kid, my grandfather would mow the lawn on a small tractor (it was a big lawn) and he tied a wagon to the back and would pull me along. I LOVED THAT. Anyway, this weekend there was a photography event at a farm just north of the city, so we all headed out.To be honest, I was hoping Ezra could see some horses or chickens, but none were to be found. However, he was totally enamored by the tractor. Such a boy.
This week also included more trips to the park to swing.
And eating out for pizza. I love how Ezra is perusing the menu here.
Car naps are pretty common for us. He even sleeps with that tongue exposed.
This was back at the farm. This is my friend Eric -- not passed out drunk in the field as it might appear, but rather risking ticks and bug bites for 
And here are my guys up on the farm equipment.
Magda had a bit of a rough week because her back yard has been torn to pieces as we are putting in a patio (yay!) and the fence is out and she has lost her ability to freely roam the yard hunting for bunnies. I keep trying to explain it will be back to normal soon. But she just sighs.
Yup. This is what the yard looks like now.
And here is Ezra still working on learning to crawl. If only he could figure out how to tuck those back legs for leverage. But I'm not giving him any hints. I am trying to savor these last few weeks of him being immobile.
What a fun week! First off, being able to have this little man sit on his own (and be stable enough to not worry about falling) is a huge benefit to our day-to-day life. I had no idea how great this milestone would be. Probably up there with SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT. But I wouldn't know about that one yet, now would I?Anyway, Ezra continued being adorable this week, Magda continued to be on great behavior and we had a ton of fun. One interesting development is that Ezra looooooves to stick his tongue out. You'll see that theme throughout the images. In fact, more than Ezra had their tongue out this week. Also? If his tongue isn't out, he's likely making farting noises galore. He's gonna be a great date, I tell you.
Even Ezra's buddy Eero had his tongue out this week! We invited Eero's family over for tacos and took photos in sombreros after. Because... fiesta. Yeah. You know.
Ha! How ridiculous does he look in these sunglasses? He thought so as well, because right after I snapped this he threw them on the ground.
For your internet share of the day, have you seen Obama's remarks at the 
I kinda left Miss Magda out of this week's Monday at the Madhouse post. I felt like talking about her would seem like a brief addition, and she deserves much (much) more than that. So I'm using up a full post to update you on our princess here.So what's the story? She has been WONDERFUL. I don't know if she's sad because Merlin is gone or if she was always jealous of him and acting out a bit or maybe she's just picking up on our own sad vibes, but kids? She has calmed the hell down. Sure, she's still squealy and jumpy when company arrives. But day to day? Her behavior has improved IMMENSELY. And I hesitate to write this for fear of what's around the corner, but I'm so dang proud of her that I cannot resist.She walks right by my side now -- rarely pulling or wrapping my legs up with her leash. She comes when called. She snuggles like it's going out of style. She is so gentle and careful with Ezra. This morning she greeted him by licking his toes and resting her chin on his thigh while he was on my lap.I don't know if this will last, but I am so grateful for this development. As if I couldn't adore her any more, something like this happens and here I am.Also... notice the grey on her chin? Looks like my sweet thing will prematurely whiten like Memphis. Ah well, I can't be too critical. Ezra is turning my own hair white as well.For your internet share of the day, the making of this New York Times sunday magazine cover is RAD.