Celebrating the everyday ordinary

Spring is taking its good old time in arriving.  But thats ok because when you have a toddler any day and any experience can be a celebration.  A friend recently gifted us with leftover balloons and my goodness- what excited shrieks have filled our house this week.  Balloons are so fun!  Then we decided that despite the anemic grass, wind and cool temperature we'd go outside and pretend it was spring.  Pushing baby was a huge success (this bodes well for future summer months with a new baby) and picking up sticks also a fun task. We rocked on the front porch and watched cars drive by, we saw birds fly by and discovered a few more bulbs bravely declaring winter's end.  It just goes to show that every day is a gift and we can celebrate the simple things.  It takes a baby to remind a winter-weary Momma. 

This and That.... and spring?

The days and weeks are flying by.  Here we are on the first day of spring.  It doesn't really look like spring outside but I've searched and found 3 different sets of bulbs poking up through the garden. This is a welcome sight indeed.  There is birdsong in the morning and the sunlight feels warmer.  Baby girl is growing and the latest ultrasound showed a thumb sucker! We needed her to move to get some measurements done and she kept the thumb in throughout all the poking and nudging.  We also had a fun birthday celebration with Granddad. Emmie adores her cousin Sam. He is such a big kid and she wants to be a big girl so badly.  Ben is as cute as can be and growing up too fast!

March Happenings

We've had some fun days around here- birthday lunches out (to celebrate Granddad's birthday), the moving of the piano in preparation for baby girl, using a fork (it takes great concentration you know), using two toothbrushes at once to help with those molars and lots of new words, names and activities of this almost 17 month old little girl!

Dear Baby Girl

Dear Baby Girl,

Its hard to believe that we are in the third trimester already! We are busy preparing for your arrival here at home but do hope you stay inside to grow a bit more.  Springtime (if it ever comes) would be such a nice time to have a birthday don't you think?  Still, we are so glad to know you are well and growing, kicking often and hiccuping at least 5 times a day.  Emmeline, your big sister likes to poke my belly and is busy practicing her own mothering skills by diapering, rocking and feeding her baby.  She will love you so much.  There's still a lot of snow around here, but the birds are making their return and the sun is brighter, the days longer.  These signs mean that you will be coming soon. You are growing so much just now and everyone is saying I have "popped".  You are supposedly somewhere between 3 and 4 pounds now and I wonder how time has gone so fast. May God bless and keep you little baby until we meet you face to face.

Our little pianist

Emmeline loves the piano.  She now asks to play with books and flips the pages as she plays her music. It appears that music is going to be a huge part of her life and we're delighted to see her showing interest on her own. On this particular day she was all dressed up for a wedding and we were ready

 to go. But she had to play her piano first.

Catching Up

Its a cold but sunny morning and we're enjoying the sound of birds outside and the streaming rays of light into the kitchen. It seems like a good morning to get caught up on a few happy memories.  Adam had a birthday this past weekend and we had many happy celebrations together.    Happy Birthday to our dear Papa! 

Our goofy little lady riding her "Beep Beep" with her fruit basket as a hat.  In spite of getting five teeth she is as busy as ever

 In the middle of winter we try to have special meals together- complete with fancy dishes, special menus and candlelight. This one happens to be from Valentines Day.  The dishes were my Great-Great Grandmother's and it is always a celebration to bring them out into daily use.

Adam's birthday meal request- roast beef, potatoes and asparagus.  Emmie had her first real taste of roast beef.  It was a hit!

On Sunday we went out to Lebanon and Emmie got all dolled up

We went to celebrate two birthdays- Adam's birthday and Dad's 70th birthday! What a special day! Happy Birthday Dad!! We wish you all of God's greatest blessings in the year ahead. 

Emmie will always beg to be held by her Oma.

It was a special treat for Emmeline to spend time with her cousins, especially cousin Ilijana who lives in Pittsburgh.  They played a special piano duet.