February 1 to 13

A busy two weeks! Lulu came, and then Poppy, and after they left Mama went to DC for a conference and left Pete for the first time! Traveling in an airport without Pete: A sublime experience. He's been on about thirty flights at the tender age of two (almost two) so we've spent a lot of time in airports, and let me tell you, sitting down and getting out a book, and drinking my club soda no ice at a leisurely pace, because I don't have to worry about Pete knocking it over--a very lovely experience. I missed him like crazy, of course, but he and Mat did well in my absence. And Pete is now totally weaned, which was sad for me, and probably more so for Pete, but it was time.

On Lulu's birthday we went to Birmingham after we dropped Pete off at preschool

New shelf decoration

At the Montgomery Zoo

This was exciting! The Skimm chose The After Party for their weekly read. I woke up to a million emails from my publisher!

Eating some blueberries with a babysitter

At Charlie and Sam's in his Spanish outfit

Cutting the fruit that Charlie and Raylan sent him

And here begins my time away from Pete--this was a picture Mat sent me

With Nea, my friend Aileen's baby

An early morning picture from Mat

He's got all the monies

With my publicist Liz after our panel

With his Valentine's Day Card from Lulu and Poppy

A little out of order, but I love this picture

Picture Mat sent while I was en route home

At the Montgomery Zoo. In Alabama, they let you get realllll close to the giraffes.

His Valentine's Day treats. He put a lot of thought into them. He actually stayed home on Valentine's Day, with the beginning of Hand Foot and Mouth. It was a lot of fun!

My mom sent me a box of mementos. That's my grandfather's (Pete's namesake) hat