Walker!

Emma has now entered the world of the walkers! She began a few days ago when she took a step toward Daddy. Now she takes multiple steps several times a day. Big girl! I can't believe it. I told someone at Emma's birthday that I felt like we were on the ticka-ticka-ticka-ticka climb up a roller coaster hill and that the swoop down toward walking and talking and getting big was coming. Wooooosh! Here we go!

And since I haven't posted about Libby recently, let me tell you about the smartest, cutest, most wonderful 2-year-old on the planet. Libby talks most of the time in full sentences now (favorite phrases include: "Mama, what are you doing?" and "What's that in your mouth?"; Grandma and Grandpa's favorite sentence yesterday was when Emma grabbed Libby's foot with her grubby hands: "Emma's making a mess of a Libby!"). We've been doing a lot of gluing activities lately, and she is great at using a foam brush to put the glue on. She can spell Libby "L-I-B-B-Y" (or sometimes "L-B-B-Y"). That's also, by the way, how to spell "Emma" and "tree" and "Santa" ("M-O-O-N," that spells Christmas tree).

Happy Birthday, Peepers!

Martin and I have had dear, sweet, impish Emma in our lives for a whole year. A whole year of pursed-lip smiles with big, bright eyes snapping above. A whole year of wet kisses and slobbery salutations from the Queen of the Raspberries. A whole year of enjoying one chill little mama as she sits backs and enjoys the ride of life around her. As you can maybe tell, we're pretty besotted with the tyke.

She's getting to be quite the big girl, too. She says "Ma-ma" and "Da-da" and "bye-bye" and "uh-oh." She also likes to pull out a "muuhhh!" ("more") when asking for more food. She talks constantly with her hands, although I'm sad to report that we don't have a good video of it yet. She emphatically slices her left hand up and down next to her head. Very passionate. I think perhaps she's talking politics when she does it.

She's not walking yet, though. Quite the chicken on that front. Keep checking back, because I'm certain it could happen anytime. (Or it could not happen for months more as she continues to chicken out. Could easily go either way.)

Daddy pinches Emma.

Just give me some Kleenex to pull out of the box and a car to push, and I'm a happy girl.

Emma spent her birthday discovering the joys of crawling around the Cozy Coupe. In, out, in, out. Up, down, up, down. Push, pull, push, pull. (Susan -- Doesn't Eliza's outfit look adorable on her?)

Emma was in charge of putting the star on the tree this year.


Emma digs in to her birthday cupcake.


Poor Emma is always blinded by that cursed orange light our camera sends out before pictures. I can't for the life of me figure out how to turn it off. Help, anyone? (In the meantime, notice how Emma is so smart that not only is she reading at age 1 but she can read upside-down. We're pretty proud.)

Happy Birthday, Emma (and now Daddy, too)!

Sorry the delay in posting this fall/winter. When we haven't been sick, we've been out of town. When we haven't been sick or out of town, we've not been sleeping (and I mean NOT sleeping). As you can imagine, it's been a really fun time around here for a few months.

But we have had some actual real fun, too. And here's photographic proof. (Emma's birthday pictures will have to wait; Martin uploaded the photos on his laptop apparently, so I can't access them.)

Celebrating Barack's victory. Life is good!

Libby's helping me post today and specifically asked that I include this "pickshaw" of the "boo-boo."

Out enjoying "a snowy day" (as Curious George's book calls it so we now call it, too). Emma's first snow play. She was a trooper! Ten more inches expected today. I hope she's ready for more fun!

She looks like she's having lots of fun....

New Photos

Another bunch of photos becuase I'm bored and my girls are freak'n adorable.

My pensive little girl "and you, so much, like me, I'm sorry."

Hummus...yummmm

"Up agains the wall and spread 'em"

"Is there anything in here that's gonna stick me?"

Libby loves to paint

And so would Emma...if we trusted her with paint
Two of my three favorite people

And the whole family

.

I miss my girls

The girls went to Ohio for a few days before Thanksgiving. I'm going to meet them on Tuesday before we all go to my parents. I'm bored and miss them. When they're here I don't have time to think. When they're gone all I have way too much time to think.

Happy Halloween!

Ugh. My Halloween pictures stink. I don't have any really great pictures of the costumes. That stinks. Well, here's what I have:

Libby had not one, not two, but THREE Halloween costumes this year. The first, the chicken costume, you had a preview of in the last post. Thanks to Grandma Barron for sending it!


Libby's second costume was purely for me. I saw this dress at the thrift store and was inspired to create the costume. See if you can guess who she's supposed to be! (I'll post the answer below.) Hint: She should really be a brunette to truly make it work.


Lib's third costume was a surprise for her -- her very own Super Why costume! (For those not in the know, Super Why is PBS Kids's super-reader superhero. Libby hearts Super Why.) "Super Why to the reskyoon!"



Emma had two costumes: a nice, cozy cat costume (thanks to Aunt Kimmy, who sent this after Libby was born) for our cold-weather celebrations, and a cute little ballerina for our warmer get-togethers. (Thanks to Julie Kay for the little ballerina skirt she sent to Libby. Too cute, yes?)

Libby's second costume answer: Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Which Came First ...

The chicken or the cat?



Or is it "Which came first the chicken or the geese"? I can never remember how that riddle goes.



Pity the geese ... errr ... "ducks." Pity the ducks, my friends.

A Quick Hit

My-zhul, You Beautiful Young Thing You

Photographer Libby is going through quite the self-portrait phase. When we upload pictures now, at least one series will begin with a picture just like this: outreached hand and indignant pouty frown.


What follows will be a series of self-portraits (and occasional Emma, cat, or Daddy portraits--no Mommy, as she is persona non grata these days). As you can see, her artwork is quite fetching. (My favorite recent Libby story: So she grabs the camera, takes a picture of herself, and then sees it on the camera display. She cries out with utter delight, "That's a picture of a Libby!" And honest to God, she said it in the exact same tone as that line in "Private Benjamin" when the Japanese guy with the camera watch (I know--bad stereotype) says, "I just took your picture, mama!" I laugh about it still. "That's a picture of Libby!")

Portrait of our beloved dinosaur socks.

So is our little arteest proud of herself? Well, we'll let you be the judge:

Cruisin'

Emma is a cruisin' little fool now. She is also, in case you were wondering, still just about the sweetest, most good-natured thing around. She is a giggly, kissy, happy little kiddo and loves her big sister to pieces. She thinks Libby is just soooo funny. Today they both sat on my lap for awhile and traded kisses and hugs and squeals. Very sweet.

I bought them big sister and little sister tees way back last winter and then didn't find them until they'd almost outgrown. Near oops!

Libby Vida, Age 2

Libby turned 2 while we were in Maine. I can't believe that this sweet, feisty, funny little creature has been in my life for two years. We've watched her go from a screaming little bundle of colic to a smiley and cooing baby to a rough-and-tumble little walker to a loving big sister to today's giggly little chatterbox. What a ride.

Libby full of sweetness way back ...


back ...

and now:



Libby full of silliness way back ...

back ...


and now:




Libby full of spunk way back ...


back ...

and now:

We love you, Stinkerbutt.