farewell january

Farewell (almost) to January! We're hoping that February is a healthier month (Christmas cold lingers on!) and brings us a little closer to a new rhythm with our days now that we have two worker-bees in the house again.
We stuck close to home this weekend......Abby tries on Papa's gloves:

You may also notice that Abby is wearing her swimsuit over her clothes. You probably wouldn't have guessed that she also slept in it (over jammies) on Friday and Saturday night! Tonight she is snoozing swimsuit-free upstairs in her bed. Maybe she's still dreaming of summer though. Even after hearing a couple of months ago about fellow troublemaker Annabelle's sudden wintertime love for her swimsuit, we did not tuck Abby's swimsuit far enough back in her closet for it not to become an item of interest.

Nate plays a tune on the piano with Papa. Remind you of someone else we know?

Nate and Abby share an intense gaze over morning waffles.

Abigail fingerpaints the world's largest blueberry. (World's largest strawberry already completed.)

Blue hands!

The artist at work.

present box

As some blog readers know... we shamelessly bribe Abigail into taking a nap each day. Refusing naps became her fun new behavior that coincided with Nate's birth, and we had epic multi-hour tearful battles many days. Until we started using the "present box". If Abby takes a nap, there's something in her present box. If no nap, no present. "Abby, if you don't close your eyes and go to sleep there will be: Nothing. In. Your. Present. Box." Such statements are taken seriously by the nearly-3 year old member of our household. When she wakes up the first thing she says is "I want to open my present box!"

Luckily, it need not be a full-fledged "present" every day. We're starting to think it's more about the anticipation and act of opening the present box than what is inside (e.g. even a post-it note with "Abby and Papa go on a special mission to the grocery store!" written on it is met with enthusiasm). But even if the present isn't a "thing" it can be pretty neat. Witness today's present: play with snow in the sink!!

And so we did.

Oh food coloring, we love you.

Some green snow may have been consumed.

Meanwhile, in the other corner of the kitchen Nato happily bounces and tries to eat his blanket.

Oh yes, we used blue too.

Then Po arrived and things really got crazy.

It was Po's birthday! (Note: it is Po's birthday EVERY DAY, except when Po's birthday is TOMORROW!)

Abby made "ice cream" and "cupcakes" out of snow to celebrate. And she helped Po blow out the candles. And we sang Happy Birthday. Several times.

All in all, a lovely way to occupy multiple hours of this afternoon! Thanks present box.

snowy snow

It snowed again! What's up with preschool being closed but not work??
Abigail contemplates the white stuff.

On the move

Wow!

After this morning's snow fest, it's time have a jammies party back inside.

5 months

Hard to believe that Nate will be 5 months old tomorrow!

He's a pretty jolly dude.

And we know he's related to us because he loves his fleece vest, just like his papa, mama, and sister do. We don't eat ours, but Nate thinks his is yummy.

Fingers are delicious too!

"Hey! I want to show you my new rolling over trick...."

Rolling is hard when you're sitting on the couch. Nate takes a breather.

small spaces

Abigail delights at still fitting in the little activity mat that Nate plays on. Sometimes she joins him there.

Two busy beavers.

Side view.

And to continue the theme of big kids in baby toys.... Abby & Akaash both squeezed themselves into the exersaucer! Oh boy!

sunday sunday

It was a day of rolling! Nate figured out how to flip himself from back to front! Pants-less and diaper-less! And did it 3 times in a row just to prove that he could. Abby cheers him on.

It was also a day of walking. In papa's shoes.

And visitors! We couldn't figure out how Abigail and Nate would refer to the family-relationship so we're going to go with Great Aunt Jane and Aunt Carol!

And, last but not least... happy birthday to cousin Walter who is one today! Abigail sang happy birthday many times today to mark the occasion. Nate celebrates by chewing on his teether.

hat

We sure have gotten a lot of mileage out of this hat! Thank you Joan!

Here's Abigail, January 2011:

December 2009, and related post:

December 2008, and related post:

And...back to 2011. It snowed again! Fun! Abby and Papa built a tiny snowman.

Posing with our snow-fella, who had a baby carrot nose.

Meanwhile, back inside where it is cozy and warm, Nate chills with happy hen during tummy time.

Seeing good old happy hen again gave us a flashback to July 2008, when Abigail was in tummy time mode.

Definitely some sibling similarity between these two kiddos at 4.5 months of age, but we think Nate is definitely becoming more "boy" looking lately....

baby round up: 2010 edition

Time for the 2010 Baby Round Up! Nate says, "What? I'm one of the 2010 babies??!!"

It's always fun to flip through the calendar pages and remember all of the babies we know born in the last year. Here are the 2010 babies, in order of arrival: Walter, Linnea, Luca, Anne-Sophie, Dominik, Ezra, Naveen, Alessio, Rosalie, Fin, Rosalind, Nathaniel, Miles, Sophia! That's 14 total; 9 boys and 5 girls. Hip hip hooray for all of these fun new friends! Here's 2009's baby list...remarkably similar numbers to this year with 9 boys and 4 girls. Two boy years in a row! 2008 was a girl year for sure. Stay tuned for what 2011 will hold ... only a few days into the new year we already know two little 2011 arrivals (hi Beckett! hi Travis!).

In other news, maternity leave continues, for another week or so most likely. We think we have found a new nanny, but don't want to jinx ourselves with any premature announcements.... In the meantime, mommy is catching extra snuggles with Mr. Nate.

And kisses. There must be something about almost-5-month old cheeks that makes them especially kissable.

And, not to be forgotten in all of this talk of babies.... our big girl tries on her new train jammies which she loves. The plight of a big sister with a younger brother: suddenly many more gender neutral clothing choices are made by parents with the hope of re-use with little sibling. Luckily Abigail neither knows nor cares that these pjs were technically from the "boy" department.

And finally, a special Get Well Soon wish to Grandma! We love you!!