Monday, June 28, 2010

Stegosaurus Eating Grass

We're finding drawings of dinosaurs and animals all over the house these days as well as various renderings of Stella's name. Most of her signatures include all the letters - sometimes in the correct order but also randomly placed - and some have just a few. As an English teacher, I can't tell you how thrilling it is to see these first concrete signs of literacy emerge. So so very cool.

(And yes. We think she's brilliant.)

Monday, June 21, 2010

Papa


Brian and I had a moment this weekend where we realized we're actually creating the life we want to live as we speak. Teaching our girls to savor the small but hefty pleasures in life - baking bread, planting veggie gardens, asking questions, taking hikes, playing hard, reading and reading and reading some more, drawing pictures for people we love - it's all just a super intense, distilled reality of the life we want... and have. And I can't imagine creating this life with anyone but Brian. To steal a perfect line: He's the butter to my bread and the breath to my life, and I love him. What lucky, lucky girls to have such a beautiful Papa.

Happy Father's Day to all our beloveds.



(Check out that wind up. Rock kerplunking takes vigor and vim, man.)

Friday, June 11, 2010

Quiet Moments



I love these quiet moments with Phoebe. As Stella naps, Phoebe and I snuggle, we read, we play, we smile (and smile and smile...). And often, I just stare. And sigh. Oh, the love.

Vanna & Her Dinosaurs


Now that summer has hit, we're enjoying long evenings outside after dinner. Stella can't get enough of roaming the neighborhood, looking for her big kid friends and digging in the dirt. And the sidewalk chalk is always a surefire hit. On any given night, I lock up the house only to see a parade of prehistoric pals lining our walkway and sometimes heading all the way up the block. The other night, Stella requested I take pictures of her dinosaurs. She made sure to explain who was who with each shot and then gave a full breakdown of their dietary habits.



(Here she's chuckling to herself that "The Saltasaurus likes to put salt on her plants because she's a plant eater." I'm not kidding.)



(Okay, so Brian helped out with these drawings - she's not that cool - but I can assure you she maintained full artistic direction. This girl knows where a head crest or frill belongs.)

Grandmas Rock

My girls have a good life. I know it, and I hope they feel it. Part of all that goodness stems from their amazingly generous and big-hearted grandmas. The other day, Stella went to our local feed store with Grandma Jannie to help pick up bird seed and came home with a whole slew of dinosaurs. Mere moments after saying goodbye (and thank you!) to Grandma Jannie, Stella and Phoebe received mail from Grandma Carol - two brightly colored plastic fish carrying special treasures inside. (See Stella making the triceratops and fish embrace? That's my girl.) And while the material treats were and are a blast, it's the attention and thoughtfulness that totally rocks. Both Grandmas love Stella for who she is - a creative, intelligent and curious kid with a hilarious sense of humor. Thank you, wonderful Grandmas, for giving so warmly and for loving so deeply.

Bathing Beauty

(I have a new theory that my recent bout of migraines is due to severe smiling. I'm actually sort of serious. My jaw literally hurts at night due to all of Phoebe's smiles.)

Guess Who Vinnie's Best Friend Is?

Yup. She who feeds him.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Blades of Grass


Whenever I see a baby feeling a new texture or sensation for the first time, I always think of that scene in Amelie where she plunges her hand into the bag of lentils at the market. The pleasure is immediate and contagiously exhilarating. I can only imagine what Phoebe felt last night as she laid in the grass for the first time.



(I'm pretty sure she was into it... goofy, happy girl.)

Pride

When I became a mom, I vowed to always put my family before my house. It's a silly but strangely tough challenge at times seeing as having a family leads to a regularly demolished house. But I feel pretty good about the fact that my kids know that while cleanliness matters, they matter more.

Well, Stella now helps out around the house. When I sort and fold laundry, she pulls out all the napkins and dish towels and puts them away in their kitchen drawer.

She's determined, focused and chipper as she works.


Do you think I want to quickly reorganize the chaotic mess of towels when she's not looking? Absolutely. Do you think I do after seeing the look of pride on her face? Not a chance.

A little mess is so worth it.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Memorial Day




Stella decided to attend this year's Memorial Day Parade as a tiger. And despite some drizzle, she was a total trooper, watching the bands, dancers and Shriners (?) with fascination.


Happy Memorial Day!

Don't Get Me Started

Okay, so I'm pretty tired here. Duh. But can I just say how lovely it is to squeeze this little elf? She is so delicious and sweet, I find myself laughing all the time when I'm around her. And she's starting to reach back. She's starting to hold me as I hold her, one the most divine feelings I've ever experienced. She's most definitely left the newborn stages and is adopting a heartier constitution and even more infectious joyfulness. And I'm savoring every exhausting but exhilarating minute.

The Highs & Lows of Almost Three



Last night, I came downstairs after putting Phoebe to bed only to find Stella curled in Brian's lap at the dinner table. She was sniffling and looking woefully sad. I inquired what happened, and she told me with massive emotion that "I'm just so sad, Mama. I want an owl tattoo."

A what?

"An owl tattoo."

It's so hard being almost three. (And it's so hard not laughing at some of what comes with living with an almost three year old.) The emotions run deep right now, and it's all so amazing and daunting and exciting and overwhelming.

So, just as millions of other big-hearted parents out there, we comforted our little girl by drawing an owl on her arm (which was them swiftly followed by a star).

I sort of wish all our challenges were so easily solved.

Little Flyer

These girls are bound to be pilots with this Papa. Phoebe is like her sister - she loves to fly.