These Faces

On winter afternoons when the house is cold we are like cats, migrating to pools of warm sunlight. One day last week in the post-nap, pre-dinner hour we found ourselves in such sunlight.  These faces make my heart full of thankfulness and joy.

Six Months!

Dear Lena,

Dearest girl, you are half a year old and we marvel at God's goodness to us in sending us our second daughter. We can't imagine our life without you.  This last month you have fallen deeply in love with Emmeline. She is your sunshine and your face lights up when you see or hear her. You are rolling and scooting and grabbing and pulling.  You are eating lots of foods and don't seem to dislike anything! You are around fourteen pounds and 25 inches tall. Your eyes are still blue and your hair, well, what we can see, is light brown.  You have the tiniest little features and a sweet little mouth. You like to sing and coo, shriek and cry.  You like things that crinkle and have tags. You love light through lace curtains and prisms that send rainbows over our kitchen.  You love Papa's beard and face.  You like to grab cat ears and fur.  You are starting to enjoy baths and splash enough to scare yourself.  You do not like loud noises or the carseat, lying on your back for long or getting dressed.  You love the piano and start to calm down if we listen to music. Happy Half Year Birthday baby Lena! How we love you!

Nature Walks, Great-Grandchildren and Tea

Our days have been simultaneously so full and yet so normal.  We don't really go many places. Yet with a two year old, the day has so many diverse activities in order to keep routine and joyful learning happening.  Add in a five month old and activities are a blessing and way to keep from insanity. Today the girls seemed to melt down in the afternoon. So we did our standby nature walk and everyone was distracted from teething and tiredness.  We had fun visitors this week (all four of Nana's great-grand children together) and tea time in the morning.  

The Beginning of Fireplace Season

We've had our first few fires on cold evenings and I must say, somehow it makes the darker nights and colder mornings more tolerable.  If we must migrate inside, then we may as well be as cozy as possible. Tea pots, warm socks, blankets and indoor games have all emerged from hidden corners.  Emmeline has a decided love of cooking (please note that a hat was required) and tasting each evening. This week we spent a few nice afternoons in our backyard, sliding, swinging and piling up the last of the golden leaves.  We watched the squirrels and woodpeckers, went to Necessity Farm and Dairy and chatted with the goats.  Lena's enjoying some real food now and Emmie is appalled by the mess she makes.  Ahem. Quotes from the week include:  'Poor Emmie- new boo boo', 'Papa is stinky' (he wasn't), 'Nina not tall', 'Moon is hiding', 'Maggie is not obeying' (the cat), 'Emmie want to shut her eyes'.  We've all been up around 5 most days thanks to the time change. Woo hoo.