Pure Joy

How fun it will be when Isla starts reaching back

Playing Near

Last night Maryn came over to where Isla was playing, sat down, and continued to try and put on her shoe. I guess she just wanted to be closer to her baby sister.

M has done so much better with all this that I was expecting.

She looks for Isla upon entering a room, wants to see what the baby is doing, smiles at her and wants to hold her foot or hand.

Dress Off

dress off ... tried to follow dada into the bathroom ...tried opening the bathroom door herself ... no luck ... tried a few other doors

Valentine's Day Date - Family Style

Posted a couple of days late ...

Hair Cut

Granny came over to spend some quality time with Isla yesterday while Mike, Maryn and I went to get M's hair chopped.

M has an area under the darker hair on the back of her head that is still quite short. Since her hair is so fine the longer hair over it looked very thin and stringy. I was hoping to get her hair cut into a bob to make it look a little thicker back there with the hopes that the shorter hair would begin to grow at the same pace as the rest.

I learned a couple of things from the hairstylist about baby/toddler hair.

The hair stylist took a look and explained that the area I was concerned about wasn't growing slower, it was new growth! I didn't realize that kids have many stages of new hair growth beyond the infant/baby age. I guess that makes sense.

The other thing I contemplated was giving her bangs. She needs something to keep her hair out of her face and I thought bangs would make things easier. The stylist pulled back her hairline and explained that she also had new growth there and her hairline was actually going to be lower than it was currently. Bangs probably weren't the best idea. She said she didn't usually recommend bangs when there was still new growth in this area unless the child didn't tolerate anything to pull their hair back.

So, here are some shots of the new hairdo ... no bangs, and a cute bob. And at least until her hair has finished filling out I think I can manage the stylist role.

Sisters Doll

An unexpected and very cool thing about gift giving relative to babies and toddlers is the greater likelihood someone you know will create a handmade gift. And sometimes this gives you a peek at a level of talent and creativity that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

This is a doll M received recently as a big sister gift. It was made by the mother of our sister babysitters who happen to be the lovely daughters of one of Mike's co-workers. Hopefully you followed that, I'm not sure I did.

Yes, I said a doll, as in one. But Brigit, aren't there two dolls pictured?

Yes, but it's the same doll flipped inside out! This is why it's called a "sisters doll." How cool is that? What a cute and clever gift.

I'm so impressed with all the handmade blankets, cards, hair accessories, booties, clothes, quilts, hats, dolls, stuffed toys etc. created for each of our girls. You all are so talented!

Groundhog Day Blizzard

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical about this snow storm living up to all the hype, but it did in fact turn out to be a blizzard. The second shot is the view from our porch.

Mike ended up going to work at about 3am to assist with a variety of village related things. I guess there were quite a few people who needed emergency shelter after their power went out. I'm so thankful ours stayed on.

Mike thought ahead and parked one of our cars in the village parking garage the day before the blizzard's anticipated arrival so we would be able to get M to daycare. Our street is typically one of the last plowed and was already impassable by car when he left for work (he walked). Good thinking!

After about 5 hours of work he retrieved the car from the village garage, parked the car on a nearby street that was somewhat plowed, walked down our street to our place, got M and all her stuff and carried her and her bags two blocks to the car while being careful not to trip in snow up to his knees and higher. M thought the whole thing was hilarious. He took her to daycare and returned to work.

He stopped home for a quick bite to eat around lunchtime and then set out with his shovel. Our lovely neighbors happened to be finishing up with their snow blower about this time and insisted he use it instead to clear our driveway and walks. I'm so glad because by this time he was 13 hours into his day (it was only 2 pm) running on 3 & 1/2 hours of sleep. If it wasn't for that snow blower he'd be sick by now for sure. At least with that help and a subsequent night of rest (albeit one with sporadic newborn crying), he has a fighting chance.

When the sun came out the following day the amazing sight was INSIDE our house! Maddie and Capisce sunning themselves just a few feet from each other. Our cat rarely goes anywhere near the pup even for a few seconds let alone several minutes, but I guess the sun's warmth was just too good to resist.