Princess

Baby Girl had her first "Father Daughter" dance a few weekends ago. I wasn't sure it was something we needed to do, since she is just in Kindergarten, after all, but I consulted with my local BTDT (been there, done that) Moms and they said "she HAS to go" and so they went.

Corsage and all.

This was an interesting experience for me as a mom. Usually I am right in there for these types of occasions. I got the dress together, went with my mom to get shoes (Gold and Sparkly, thankyouverymuch) and I even ordered the flowers. So when I went in to take pictures of them on the "red carpet," and then wanted to look in the actual place where the dance was held, and wasn't allowed in, I didn't know what to do with myself!

Looks to me like it was good times...despite my absence (hahaha).

Special thanks to her second cousin who happens to be 6 months older and the previous owner of so many of Baby Girls' awesome clothes (and Halloween costumes!)...including this beautiful dress.


Also, please marvel at the picture of Dr. Dad in a suit. It is a rare sight. He looks mighty good. It's too bad you can't save the wetlands in a suit...

4 Months

Hard to believe, but you are 4 months old already, Baby Boy!

It's been a busy month for you. A lot of firsts...Halloween and Fall weather, finding out how much fun it is to gum your hands instead of a pacifier, heck, you even voted for the first time! You are starting to enjoy more of your "toys" and we can make you laugh (especially with the little cow that your sister also loved) and sometimes you get very chatty.

Mostly you are thrilling us with your super laid back style. I can take you almost anywhere with no problem. You even managed to charm Baby Girl's principal at the PTO meeting and he held you the whole time. Even when he got up to speak. And you FELL ASLEEP. Really, how do you do it?!

According to the doctor's office, you are now 13 pounds 7 ounces and 26 inches long. 25th percentile in weight, but 90th percentile in height?!? And, considering how much you look like your Dad, sometimes I wonder if my genetics were involved in this process at all.

In other news, and I almost hate to type this for fear it will go away: you are sleeping through the night.

We are so happy about this, and so surprised because (and I know I say this all the time) your sister didn't sleep much. Or let us put her down. Or swing in the swing like you do. Or enjoy a good bouncy seat. So if I go on and on and on about how you are so laid back and mellow it's just because we never thought one of our kids would exhibit this particular trait.

Now if you can only use your powers to get the pets to stop using the baby stuff...

Snow Belt

Ok.

I know when we moved back to Northeast Ohio (as opposed to the middle of Ohio, where we lived for 7 years, or Northwest Ohio, where we both went to college, or plain ol' Ohio, where we both grew up...geesh) we would be getting back into the Snow Belt.

I never really understood what people complained about when I was a kid living in the Snow Belt, because we got our fair share of Snow Days, and that was good for me.

But now, as an adult, with kids and a house and pets and places I would love to go, I understand the special torture that is living in the Snow Belt.

Really. It's not even Winter yet people.

And yesterday I woke up to this:

Happy Birthday, Dr. Dad!

Today, long, long ago (just kidding!), something amazing happened.

This man was born:

I call him Dr. Dad because he has a PhD and he doesn't often get the respect he deserves for earning that degree. Most people don't walk around calling you Doctor for your Doctorate. Even though he can't save you medically, he is trying to save the world ecologically. I think that's pretty cool.

I have had the honor of knowing my husband for almost 16 years. We were friends first, then dated for 2 years, engaged for a year and a half, and married for over 11 years now. We have been through it all, good and bad, and I am so very, very blessed to have him as my strength and support and husband and friend.

He is an INCREDIBLE Dad.

He is the SMARTEST person I know.

He has a UNIQUE sense of humor.

He is STRONG in his convictions.

He is an AWESOME person.

Happy Birthday.

I love you!

Some Bunny to Love

It all started when Baby Girl was born. We were living in Big City then...and it was few days after her birth, when she was still in the NICU and we were still so confused and stressed and hopeful. Our backyard neighbors came over, and they brought us a stuffed bunny as a gift. It was October, but this little bunny was decked out in a very spring-like pink hat with flowers and a pretty bow around her neck. I had noticed that some of the other NICU parents had brought some things in to "decorate" the stations of their baby. Anything to soften the hardness of all those machines. So the next day, I brought the bunny in and propped her up on top of Baby Girl's monitor. A few days later, we came in and saw this polaroid taped to her isolette.

She was 10 days old. And the nurses couldn't help but notice she was just about the same size as her bunny.

So we started taking a picture of her with the bunny every week until she came home. Then it was every month until her first birthday. Then every year on her birthday.

Now that Baby Boy is here, we are trying to do the same thing with him.

In some ways it is a different experience. With Baby Girl, it was just so amazing to see how far she had come. To have something physical that we could bring out and say "she used to be this small." With Baby Boy it's something I'm doing because I can't believe how fast he is growing. I couldn't wait to for her to get bigger than the bunny, but I don't want him get bigger than the bunny!

So that is the bunny story. It's why in just a few days I will post yet another picture of Baby Boy with his bunny. I will marvel at how big he is getting and how fast time is going by. And it's why I will take a picture of my Baby Girl every year on her birthday with her bunny. To see how far she's come.

VOTE

Halloween

Mostly Treats...no Tricks (unless you count the dirty diapers!).

Baby Girl as Mulan.

Baby Boy as Sleepy Dragon.

We did the traditional holiday gathering at our place with Dr. Dad's family the weekend before Halloween. Then we were invited to another Trick or Treat party at our good friends' house in a neighboring town on the actual date. Good times were had by all.