Seven months, two dates

Dear Maya and Emi,

Despite the fact that daddy has a few weeks off work, we're all feeling exhausted. Maybe it's the lack of a normal schedule, but each of us has had lots of cranky moments and cross words lately. Well, Emi, you don't have any words at all so I guess that's not really true for you. But, dealing with a baby who still needs to eat a few times a night and a headstrong 4 year old who doesn't get enough time running around outside (thanks, polar vortex!), mommy and daddy are in a bit of a slump.

It didn't help that mommy made the mistake of scheduling three appointments this past Monday. Emi you went in for your 7 month check up and, thankfully, are starting to gain weight again. Then, as soon as we got home, we turned around and headed to the dentist so Maya and mommy could get cleanings. Maya you were SO good during your appointment! Afterwards we did some grocery shopping and by the time we got home we were all so tired.

Emi, you've been eating well and trying all kinds of different foods without prejudice. You even ate Brussels sprouts the other night without batting an eyelash. You've also gotten even closer to being able to crawl, but sometimes you switch into a 'downward dog' pose instead. It's all good.

In the past week, Maya, both mommy and daddy have spent time alone with you. First, mommy took you to the state museum. You were not really interested in most of the exhibits about New York State history and culture, but you enjoyed the animal exhibits, the train car, and of course, the carousel. The annual flower exhibit was also going on throughout the museum and, instead of a toy from the gift shop, you chose to buy a rose each for mommy and yourself. Wow!

Then yesterday you had a special day out with daddy, Maya. Like when we went to the museum, you chose a cute dress to wear and hair accessories, though this time you went a little overboard. Daddy took you out to the hardware store and for milkshakes. Sounds like a nice time to me!

Well, mommy needs as much sleep as I can get. Love you both!

Clare's party, Nancy's party

Dear Maya and Emi,

Remember what mommy wrote the other week about cold temperatures and snow? Yeah, that again. In the meantime, mommy's dear friend Clare came to visit us this week from London. We had an early birthday celebration for her the night she arrived. Maya, you helped mommy make a cat cake, then when it was time you took charge by turning out the lights and leading us in singing "Happy Birthday" to her.

Daddy held down the fort a couple days with you guys and let mommy go out and about with Clare while she was here. It was so wonderful to have time to catch up with her and time to recharge my batteries. A long winter cooped up with you two crazy kids was wearing on me a little!

Emi, you surprised us during Clare's stay by trying to crawl the 'normal' way as opposed to the back arch fish flop method I described last week! You haven't quite gotten yourself coordinated enough and sometimes revert back to your old ways, but I don't doubt you'll master it soon!

Maya, you and mommy went to the library's Fancy Nancy tea party on Valentine's Day. You loved playing with bubbles and blocks and running around with the other kids. Also, we discovered a pretty new hairstyle for you that is durable enough and Frozen-esque enough that you kept it in all day!

 

Time for some sleep for mommy! Love you both!

Hungry caterpillar, flopping fish

Dear Maya and Emi,

Tonight's post is just going to be a quick one as we've had a busy day and mommy needs her rest! So, in a nutshell, here's what we've been up to this last week:

Maya:  You played in the snow, played with old toys unearthed while mommy was reorganizing our whole living space, and did some fun arts and crafts. These drawings are of mommy when Emi was in her belly--the one with the extra lines is some combination of me and rays of sunshine. I like it!

Emi:  You've been perfecting your unusual form of movement--instead of regular crawling, you arch your back like a fish so only your feet and one poor balding spot on the back of your head are on the floor, and push with your legs. Then you roll over to check your progress, roll back, and so on.

All of us:  We went to the Eric Carle Museum! It was a quiet weekday there so we pretty much had the run of the place. We saw a few exhibits, watched a children's book film, played with toys at the library, made a sculpture out of found items, and bought a new Japanese book for our collection. Fun!

 

 

Well, it's time for mommy to sign off. Love you both!

P.S. Mommy totally jinxed the good sleeping I mentioned last week, Emi. A day trip will do that, though, and today's multiple errands probably won't help our chances for tonight, either. Sigh...