Happy Halloween!

~Becky (and Trav and Charlie)

P.S. I have to go back to work tomorrow :( Charlie is 3 months old!
Time to take off my leggings and go back out into the real world for a while. Its just such a long time to be away from my baby...
But happily, its only for six weeks, and then I am only going to be working part-time.

P.P.S. Why are pictures in black and white and sephia so fun?

Excuses by The Morning Benders

~Becky

Instead of homework I cook/bake.

As a break during all of those arduous hours spent doing homework, I sometimes cook or bake My most recent project: sourdough bread. The picture below is my 'mother starter' or 'levain'. Is it strange that I'm thinking about naming her? She does live in my little pantry . . .

These 3 vessels pictured directly above contain my sourdough in 3 different stages. The levain/starter is on the furthest left. It lives on as long as I feed it. The middle was the jump-started version of the starter that I then mixed with flour, water and salt to make the dough on the furthest right which will soon become loaves of bread. Can't wait to pull those out of the oven!

All played out.

I think Charles looks a lot like Travis in this picture.
Just waking up from a nap...
Tummy time!
Charlie was having kind of a Parisian day.
~Becky

An Apple Squeezing Good Time.

Unfortunately I took these pictures when Dad was unloading his semi-load of big straw bales - all the work and no credit! (I realize there is a duplicate picture of Truman on here, but it won't let me delete it for some reason.) We also had Kali for the first time this year- and apparently she already has a job for next year :) so she had better keep her calendar open!

~Becky

Rub-a-dub-dub...

Charlie in the tub.

These pictures are from two different baths- one with Liz and Katie assisting (note all the hands), and one kind of late night bath, in which Charlie was so relaxed, he went to sleep (note the knitted organic cotton wash cloth, yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas- I'm working on a few more in two other different colors, as well).
And the last picture is Charlie, all fresh and clean, and ready for bed in his little sleeper.





PS- I've been using Mustela newborn products on Charlie, which I've been loving; it seems to enhance his baby smell, and he smells just incredible (I think we can all vouch for that). Plus its paraben, phthalate and phenoxyethanol free. However, so are Arbonne Baby Care (ABC) products, which Charlie received from Bill and Linda at the shower. I am so excited to try them out, too. Both products are European brands, I think Lin said that ABC is a Swiss product (which makes it so much cooler). Baby massage is all the rage, so we're going to try it out with some ABC oil, relieve all that stress in Charlie's life :)

~Becky

Old Home=New Adventures

Now that I've returned safe and sound what's my next move?? Graduate!! Well, don't hold your breathe...it'll be at least another 2 semesters before that happens. In the meantime-

It begins fresh and white, shrivels with age but at the end explodes in your mouth. Sound like Charlie going through the digestive process? Really its Ricotta Salata, the love of my life (so is Charlie).

Anyone care to translate this? Photo taken from medieval manuscript. I'll eventually translate 5 lines of it (into italian).

My first ricotta made after my return. It is now sitting in my basement, aging. I'm hoping it will be just as flavorful as it's sicilian cousin (see above).

Love, Zia Katie

Sorry Pops.

Charlie's got high hopes for this season.

Actually, when we bought our television we got free store credit on NFL.com, and Trav plans to use it to even things out with something Viking's. We have to play it fair around here- but until then, Go Packers!

In other news...

Trav's grandmother crocheted this beautiful baby blanket for Charlie- we sent her this picture today.

And Charlie and Meow are getting closer. We never shoved Charlie in Meow's face, and she doesn't seem to really pay much attention to him most of the time- her main concern is trying to sneak into the bedroom. We let her be in there now, but only when we're awake. I don't know that she would even try to sleep with him, but now that its getting colder out you just never know. Anyways, today I put Charlie by her on the bed, where she was taking a cat-nap. I'm pretty sure she never even noticed him. Actually he didn't really notice her either.

~Becky

Sweet Charlie.

So far, we've learned that Charlie loves to be held; especially tummy time with his dad. He also loves his plush swing- often he just sleeps in it, but he was awake all morning looking at himself in the mirror while the mobile of baby lambs twirled around his pretty little face.
He also has the sweetest little lips I've ever seen, especially when he's sleeping and they just droop down because he is so totally relaxed. And he can fall asleep at the drop of a hat; anywhere, at any time. He's sleeping in my lap right now- which means I should also get to bed, while I can.

Sweet dreams...

~Becky

Zia Katerina ... and Charlie with his Pops.

Our little European Traveler has returned. She looks great- really just the same, only now she has pierced ears and cut her own hair. And it was so lovely of her to come meet Charlie right away and cook us some Italian Cuisine (even though she's still recovering from jet lag). She's had loads of adventures, traveling everywhere from Sicily to Norway, Spain, Portugal, to all over Italy and into the Alps. And now she wants to go back in 2011.

Also,
Charlie and his Daddy...

~Becky

Charlie.

Enjoy!

~Becky

Final Sunset...

Here is a view from 2327 meters above sea level in the Alps. I come home in 2 days!!

Introducing Baby Lingen.

Featuring Charles Tollef Lingen...
and his family














*We're just missing Zia KT, but she'll be home soon. 5 days and counting...

Love,

Becky (Charlie's Mum)