Saturday, February 27, 2010

Relax, Phoebe. Relax.


We have one chilled out kid on our hands. Seriously.

Gorgeous






The house can wait. Laundry can wait. Dinner can wait.

I just want to stare at you, Little Moonbeam.

Caught in the Act




Park Dates


While Stella rocks the swing...


...Phoebe rocks the sling.

Sleepy Head


Blissed out.

Zebra Girl

Thanks to Abby, one of our most cherished beloveds, Stella and Phoebe have new blankets. Sister blankets. Uh huh. Stella got to choose which blanket she wanted and which she wanted Phoebe to have. Stella chose the zebra print for herself and the rainbow for Phoebe. But, in typical big-hearted Stella style, she then decided to let Phoebe share her zebra print for an afternoon. Too cute.

Thank you, Abby! We love the blankets, and your note to Stella was beautiful. You are so very sweet, and we love you to bits!

Phoebe & Eddie

Okay, so this isn't the most flattering shot. But these babes are seriously cute. Phoebe is lucky to have Edison - Isaac's baby brother - as her first buddy. Just like Stella and Isaac, these two were born two weeks apart and have already stolen our hearts. It's been such a gift going through this baby gig with the Shammels. We love you guys!

Friday, February 26, 2010

Feelings




Oh, how I've dreamed of this girl - brave and scrappy and oh so stylin'.

We've been experiencing the whole gamut of emotions in our house lately. Sheer bliss. Humbling frustration. Total exhaustion. Beaming pride. And Stella, of course, is part of the ever changing spectrum of feelings. While she's not always thrilled to share Mama with her new sister, Stella is handling this massive shift with poise and grace, always thoughtful and articulate. So when Stella started running through her repertoire of face feelings recently, we grabbed the camera.

Coy

Grumpy

And happy.

(Also known as "The Poodle Face" in the Burns family. Don't ask.)

Friday, February 19, 2010

Waking Up






Phoebe is waking up. Well, sort of. While She's a great snoozer, Phoebe is starting to show us her beautiful eyes more and more with each passing day. And may I say, you're all in for a fabulous surprise when we finally see this kid smile. Her dreamy newborn smiles have been pure magic, and she's got a dimple that could move mountains. Yup, a dimple moving mountains. You heard it here. Oooh, we can't wait.

Isn't she gorgeous? Hmmmm.

Cuteness Abounds











So it's not as if we haven't appreciated how ridiculously sweet, cute, funny and charming Stella has been over the last two and a half years. She's been the light and center of our lives - quite happily - and we've felt fortunate throughout the whole process. But now. Now we have two babes...




...and cuteness abounds in ways we never thought possible.

Thanks to all of you who have asked for Stella over the last two weeks. She absolutely adores Phoebe and seems to offer her comfort that only a big sister can. It's pretty darn magical watching the two of them interact. Stella has a boundless heart, and Phoebe is one lucky little sister. Stella is, however, experiencing some normal frustrations. It's tough sharing Mama. But we're moving forward with patience and compassion, and we know that these frustrations will fade to great joy as time passes. So thank you, friends and family, for thinking of our wee Scout.

In Love


So much more relaxed. So much more confident. So much more aware of how fleeting this tender stage is. I'm in love.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Phoebe


Phoebe:

To bring light.

The Goddess of the Moon.

A moon of Saturn.


Our little family feels complete now; we have our star and our moon.

Life is grand.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

It's a Good Thing She's Cute

Countless midnight feedings.

Five poopy diapers.

A long night indeed.

Professional Doters






We are so fortunate to have both sets of grandparents so close. Having not really known my grandparents, I love watching Stella enjoy the love and adoration of all four grandparents. And now Phoebe is part of that equation. Lucky girl.

Thank you so very much, Grandma Carol, Poppy, Grandma Jannie and Grandpa Harte, for helping care for and love Stella while we welcomed Phoebe into this world. I know that Stella will forever remember being surrounded by her beloveds during such a momentous occasion. And we look forward to watching Phoebe enter the fold

You guys are pros, and we love you for it!

All in a Day (or so)


Sunday afternoon.


Tuesday morning.

While we are still savoring the private and quiet moment of introducing Stella to her new sister, we must share a bit of hilarity. Stella was beyond excited to finally meet her little sister. She was super quiet as she first laid eyes on Phoebe, calmly taking in this new critter. And after careful examination and a gentle rub on Phoebe's soft head, Stella turned to me with the widest grin and exclaimed, "She has a septum! Just like me!"

Not at all what we expected. More. So much more.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Introducing...


Phoebe Dahlia Burns Bressler

Brian, Stella and I welcomed Phoebe Dahlia (aka Junebug) into the world this Monday at 10:46 pm after a speedy and safe delivery. She's already fully captured our hearts, and it feels so miraculous to finally meet this new little person.

We're all a bit whooped, but we're feeling healthy and blessed beyond measure. As you can all imagine, we're pretty hunkered down around here. But we'll be sure to post more photos and thoughts as the days pass. Thanks to everyone for their kind thoughts and congratulations. We are one lucky little family!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Waiting for Junebug (aka Why I Fall In Love With Stella Every Day)

Yes, we're still waiting. Stella's sister isn't due for another week, but the three of us are more than eager to meet her. Stella asks to hug her sister all the time, is convinced she'll be born "at night, on Tuesday" and believes she will emerge from Mama's Adam's Apple. (Oh, little one, how I wish it were that simple.)

So, as we await Junebug's arrival, we've been thoroughly enjoying the unseasonably warm and dry weather up here in the northwest. It's been delightful, and Stella and I have been spending our days walking around town and playing in our garden. And as I reflect on the last days of my Mama-of-one life, I am reminded of why we're jumping off the parenting cliff again and, more importantly, why I fall in love with my wee Scout every day.


She thinks "clouds taste like almond butter" and she's excited that "my friends live on earth!"


She spent a half hour today studying and talking about this fallen nest in our yard. She so readily sees and imagines the worlds of animals.

She's a dedicated and focused worm hunter...


... and knows to "nudge the worms, Mama; don't poke them."


She could spend hours cutting, gluing, coloring and painting and recently asked to write a story for a sick friend "to give her comfort." And she's started writing letters with an enthusiasm that would prompt Woody Allen to rethink cynicism.


She requested a cake "white like snow" for her half birthday dinner.

And, of course, she's the most beautiful creature I've ever seen.

Life is about to change, Stella, but we are still so in love with you, our star girl.