Baby Bobby has a new nanny!

We just hired a fabulous young woman named Jude to take care of Bobby two days a week while Mom goes to work at the Center for Wooden Boats (www.cwb.org). Yesterday was Jude's first day, and I can't say that Bobby made it easy on her. I decided to stay home for her first day, trying to be helpful without being intrusive. Believe me, that ain't easy. I suspect they would have been better off without me hovering. Anyway, by the time I had given Jude the tour and the first pass at some instructions, it was past time for Bobby's nap and he was pretty durn tired. I fed him and handed him off to her, but by then he was really tired and not open to new approaches, so he started screaming and refused to settle down. Not really the way Jude wanted to start off her day. Jude was a champ, though, and persevered. By the end of the day I think they'd started to get the hang of each other. I think they'll be fast friends shortly. Her next day is Friday, when I'll actually be going to work.

We all had an awesome visit with Susan and Tess. We got together at Polly's house on Saturday night -- I think it was the first time in three years that all four siblings were together. We managed to get most of the Coulter-Phelps descendents into the picture -- from left to right, Emilie, Etta, Tess, Amos, Susan, Polly, Roger and Bobby. Cameron & Hayden weren't feeling much interest in being photographed. If I'd been smart, I would have gotten Cam to take the picture.

Both Susan and Emilie got Bobby to laugh last Friday -- he just totally cracked up. Then he got the hiccups.

Mom