Another treasure

Our family is growing. This pregnancy has been so strange for me, very different from my first with Ginny. During earlier months I definitely spent a lot of time being worried that it wouldn't work out. This is because before this time, we lost two pregnancies very early in. Our first go round was so easy, it seems now.

But as the weeks have gone by, it has become more and more likely that this time it will be okay again.
We will hAve a new brother or sister joining our family sometime around February 17, and within the next couple of weeks we will find out if it is a girl or a boy.

Quite frankly, Steve and I really both would love another girl. From my perspective, I really can't imagine life without sisters. But I love my brothers too, so it will all work out in the wash.

I am starting to get more and more excited about #2! Everything seems to be moving so quickly.

Whoa.

Ginny, tomorrow is your first day of preschool. I am feeling very emotional about this, excited in some ways, and nervous in others.

We decided to go with a co-op preschool, it's the right price and it allows us to be really involved. I suppose really what's making me nervous is the idea that your world is going to be expanding very quickly.

You will be going out into the world and having experiences that are just your own. While this is a wonderful and necessary thing, it's the end of an era.

It is the first of many many steps in you becoming your very own person, and in us making way and letting go for you to do so.

I am so proud of the kid you are: funny, empathetic, strong and kind and am excited to share you with a bigger world.

Singin'

Fun in the backyard

My oh my how you love playing in the dirt! Even more than water. I would estimate a minimum of 2 hours dirt time a day these days. Here is one of those recent days with Alex in the backyard.

Closing monologue

Tonight listening to you before you fell asleep was an absolute joy. It went something like this:
"somewhere over rainbow, skies are blue. I like crackers. I like graham crackers. I like mommy. I like yoga. I like fruit strips. I like, uhhhh, apples. I like watering cans! Whoa look at that. It's an elbow right here. Mommy has one, Ginny has one. Wheels on the bus round and round all day long. Money on the bus clink clink clink clink clink clink clink clink clink all day long."
Followed by about seven minutes of motorboat noises.
This nightly monologue before you fall asleep has been a regular occurrence for the past couple of weeks, it is so sweet to hear you relive your day. It feels like it is helping your brain cement some connections before you sleep, and it astounds me to hear the things you are thinking.

A parade and your first carnival ride!

Saturday, April 28 was a super fun day. We went to the 82nd Ave. parade with the FiveCrows where you surprised us by sitting very calmly on the curb with a lollipop. You experienced your first ever carnival right too! You a love with it and we're so sad when it was over.

The most remarkable thing about that day, is your insistence on not having mommy next to you while Lucy was around. I felt one tiny little string snapping. I was so proud to see you be so independent, but with that came the first indication from you that there are more interesting people than mommy and daddy. Bittersweet, for sure.

New haircut

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Easter is the new Halloween

Last night in the middle of the night, I woke to cries of "hide the egg! Hide the egg!" I think Easter has replaced Halloween, at least temporarily, as your new favorite holiday. We were so lucky to have had wonderful friends coming over to play that day, and you are particularly fascinated with this idea of the egg hunt. Quite often lately you will come up to us and say "hide the egg! Candy in it!" we play this game, substituting fruit and other healthy snacks for candy most of the time. I think your dad and I will both be sad when it is no longer a fascination. So for now, we plan on hiding eggs all summer long!

Overheard today

After telling me you needed to be "alone" in the laundry room, this is what I heard: "Hi pepper! More food? Okay. " The two of you are getting to be better and better friends every day, and it's no wonder why.

So many things I want to remember From Christmas 2011

Dear Gigi- that's what you call yourself these days,
During this last Christmas vacation there're so many moments that I wanted to capture and keep forever. Every time someone said Merry Christmas, you promptly corrected them by saying Halloween. You continue to be fascinated with Halloween, and ask us to be to your Halloween books over and over again. you're also obsessed with the book called uh-oh calico,and ask for it all the time even though we had to take it back to the library.
You absolutely love looking pictures and videos of yourself especially when you're dancing! It absolutely amazed us that you were able to learn the names of all of your cousins and took a special shine to the oldest ones, Marshal and McLane. I think the oldest ones played with you the most and were very kind to you. On Christmas morning you got every present had a baby in it, it was so sweet. Going back to work after being with you for a couple of weeks has been so tough on both of us, I think about you all the time and miss you terribly when I'm away. Being your mother continues to be the most amazing experience of my life, I wish I could slow it down a little but I do try to enjoy it as much as possible!