Cooties

Cousins Kennedy and Vincent are visiting this week, and they have been a welcome change from the sea of pestilence that has been our lives of late. It started with Libby getting the stomach flu a week and a half ago and evolved into a cold with ear infections (two for Libby, one -- her first -- for Emma) and then overcame Martin and I, who have been laid low since about a week ago. Nothing but sunshine and smiles around here, people, let me tell you.

You know, on second glance, the pestilence actually started several weeks ago when both girls got colds that turned into a hospital stay for Libby for mild pneumonia. Just wanted to be sure the record clearly showed the monumental crappiness of our recent times.

Here -- a record of happier moments:

My quest to get a great picture of the girls together continues. This one is pretty darn cute, though. (FYI: Libby's Band-aid is purely decorative.)

We've been watching "The Muppet Show" on some special Fridays as part of our family pizza-and-movie party. As you can see, the whole family is entranced. (And Emma now sings a great "Mnahamnaha" ... or at least the doot-doot-doot parts.)

Here's to non-cootie-laden springtime ahead!

Sassafras

Emma's sassy new walk has earned her the new nickname of Sassafras. (It brings to mind that walk through the fields that Oprah did in "The Color Purple.")

Here, a video of it for your enjoyment. (Also notice one of her other new developments: "I doooo." This is Emmaspeak for "I want to do that." or "I want that.") mn.

Some Choice Words

So far, we've been spared Libby dropping an F-bomb, but she has started saying "crap" every once in a while. The other day I asked her where she'd put her cup, and she said, "Crap. Where is that? I had it in my hand the whole time." Oops.

Right now my favorite Libby word is "only," which she pronounces "ozhly." I hear it a lot: "No, Emma. This is ozhly for Libby."

I almost had a new favorite word a few weeks ago when she put on these little slip-on shoes that Kelly passed on to us (thanks, Kel!). She said, "Look, Mama! I have sleepy girls." I thought a minute. "Oh, you have slippers?" "Yes, slippers." And -- alas -- she has pronounced it correctly ever since. Darn. Sleepy-girls would have been a fun one.

My two Emma favorites are "bath" and "apple." She has really started to understand how language works and how she can use it to her advantage. To this end, she likes to ask for "akkles" all the time. "Akkle! Akkle!" She loves the akkles. More specifically, she likes to chew the apple and then spit little akkle bits all over my house.

But more than that, Emma loves her "bap." Mention the mere word bath in her presence, and she starts crying, "Bap! Bap!" Emma's voice is usually adorably breathy. "Bap" is said in a voice about twice her usual decibel level. "Bap! Bap! Bap!"

Emma is to the point where she is picking up a new word or two every day. Today's word of the day was "kick." And she pulled out "stick" a few times, which was yesterday's word of the day. What can I say? The kid is smart. (And a helluva kicker already, by the way.)

Our Internet connection has been wiggedy-whack for a few weeks now. Sorry for the delay in new pictures!

A quick update on their funnier moments recently: Libby now picks up the phone and pretend phones a friend (usually Aunt Kimmy). The conversation is often: "Hi. This is me. How are you, Aunt Kimmy? You know, you really wear me out, but I love you anyway." (The last part is a quote from Olivia.)

Emma loves to "fall" these days. She lowers herself down on her belly as slow as molasses and then splays her legs and arms wide. She'll then call out, "Whoooaa."

Emma is quite the chatterbox. She loves to talk about her favorites: "ock! ock!" (sock); "water-water-water-water" (the girl loves to play in the sink, swimming lessons not so much); "goog" (Emma loves her some booby juice); and "piggy" (Kennedy got her a stuffed pig that she adores). Em's actually to the point where's she picking up words left and right and says just about anything she wants to: Mama, Daddy, eat, up (like her sis: "upppahhhh"), joosh (juice), and on and on and on. What a smartie!

For all her sweetness and cuddliness, Emma has quite a temper and a very impish nature. I think this elfin pic captures that.

Martin recently asked me what Emma looks like when she's draped over his shoulder and cuddled in tight. Here, modeled on my dad, is the answer.


Libby's no angel, but she plays one in the snow.

Going camping (or as Libby calls it "stamping") in the wilds of our living room.

Ahoy, matey!

...And for Kerri