Snow! Sledding! Swinging?

Gary, Kari and Linnea came over for sledding and lunch. What a beautiful day.

Linnea was delightedly rolling around in the snow. It was amazing. Face and all. Just getting on in it. Lucy was a bit more hesitant. Although she happily partook of some good ol' mini-snowperson tipping.

Yep. Our swing is still up. And it's a little snug in there with snowpants. I thought I'd have to cut Lu out of the swing a while back. Then I realized that the bar goes up. Phew. That was a close one.

Linnea takes a spin on the toddler sled.

Big girl bed

I think she likes it. Climbed right in after her bath. Ready to go.

Giving a wink

Slow dancing.

Ponytail from daycare.

Practicing her winking.

Moments of "AHHH" and moments of big love

A Huffington Post article about parenting recently made its rounds across the inter-web. In it, the author describes parenting as being both totally exhausting and pure magic. It's worth the read no matter whether you're a parent or not. It speaks to keeping perspective in all things in life. It's nice to be reminded to note moments of beauty without worrying about EVERY moment being unattainably perfect.

I thought about this article often this weekend. I fluctuated between "Please teleport me to a beach with my book" and "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now, this kid is hilarious". Here's the scene: Our kiddo is teething (working on 4+ at once); we're still piecing together allergen triggers (thus itchy excema city); I've been going steady for more than 3 weeks with work/family travel etc. and Ry was out of town with college buddies. Please know that I don't begrudge Ryan his fun. I'm looking forward to my own college pal get away in May.

So Lu is also VERY attached to me right now. The toddler websites/books say that this happens. Kids want to know that you're there for them and may choose one parent over the other one day and flip flop to the other the next. Lucy was attached and interacting most of the last 48 hours. She was there when I stepped into the shower to rinse the child snot off of my body, she asked for my help with her cute little "please" sign after she threw a bowl of cheerios all over the room and she took up more than her fair share of the bed, at one point demanding a mid-night graham cracker (one of a handful of recognizable words she says). Those were some of the "please send me to the Caribbean" moments. 

Some of the awe and wonder ones are as follows.

1. Laying in bed in the dark listening to her crunching on that graham cracker.

2. Her total giddyness as we put together the treehouse tent in our living room.

3. Watching her concentrate intently spooning dry rice from one container to another.

4. The look of genuine surprise when she upended those same containers sending rice dancing all over the hardwood floors.

5. Dancing and marching around the living room to rockin toddler tunes.

6. And baking bread with her for the first time. That's a pretty big one for me. My parents were always great about including my brother and I in their activities. Baking bread was one of those. There are pictures of Ben and I wearing aprons, standing on chairs at the counter completely covered in flour helping my Dad make anadama bread (a dense molasses bread). For our midwestern readers - molasses is a staple ingredient in many traditional New England recipes...bread, beans, cookies...you name it and it's probably better with molasses.

All in all it was a great way to wrap up the weekend. All of us in the kitchen baking bread and our flour covered child reminding me to acknowledge these moments of big love and awe even while counting down the hour until bedtime.

Odds and ends of things

We've been home with Lu a bunch lately. Ear infections, no daycare, etc. It's been a good time.

Want to walk the Polar Bear? He's very tame. I promise.

Studying up for when she starts her stand-up tour. Coming to you in 10 cities in...2040...

This potato is about a toddler size 5.

"Well hello there..."

Christmas part 2

Clare's rustic cabin in New Hampshire. She's a pioneer in so many ways. And she's certainly going to need some warm socks. So wonderful to see her. 

We stayed in the mountains for a few days (thanks Mom, Dad, Ben and Trish!). Lucy in her Christmas pjs (from Mimi) hanging out with Grandpa Matt. 

Ah. Fresh air. 

On the hill with my dad. It was fun to be out there although my legs didn't last all that long. 

The family that smart phones together....After a day on the hill. 

Elmo loves you

As previously shared, Lucy got a rock and roll Elmo for Christmas. At first I was uncertain about how many loud toys we were gifted...but Elmo has been hilarious. Not so much his 4 standard songs but what he makes Lucy do. She often opens her mouth really big like he does as she's "singing". She also likes to dance with him. It's pretty amazing how tuned into this singing red robot she is.

Remember those "my buddy" commercials. That's what tonight felt like. Strapping Elmo into her highchair made her eat more of her dinner. Whatever works. A couple other notes - she insisted on wearing the floral coat and that little arm over Elmo's shoulder was a natural spontaneous move.

Lu and big E also did some cruising and singing before bedtime. What I wasn't able to capture on film was her basically swing dancing with him. There was some serious laughter on my part. 

Baby high fives are hilarious

Dear Kate. If that lighting design thing doesn't work out...baby entertainment might be a good fit. My favorite part is Lucy's total collapse because she's laughing so hard. 

Christmas/New Years in New England part 1

We just got back from a trip to New Hampshire. It started with a trip to the mountains (pictures coming soon) and then a bit of time in Rochester. It was great to see folks and especially fun to see everyone play with Lu. My parents, Ben and Trish all took lots of time out of their busy lives to hang out with us. Unfortunately we have very few pictures. Must be because we were busy having fun. 

Playdough factory was a hit

Ben and Trish got Lucy a floating flying shark. Lu was a big help putting it together. One of the funniest moments of the trip was filling the balloon at the grocery store...

I went to Allenstown to see Clare (who just moved from MN to NH!) and while my Mom was working the guys took Lucy to the local children's museum.

The "kitty" has always been a highlight of visits to my parents' house. Lucy and Hannah have a bonding moment on the stairs. But what I really think Hannah is thinking is, "Go ahead kid. Grab my tail. I double dare you."

Walking the polar bear AND the new barking tail wagging bell ringing puppy that was a gift from my Mom. 

"Graham cracker" was a new phrase this trip. Look! She can reach the counter. 

Kate drove all the way from Troy, NY to visit! Thanks Kate! We went to see the horses but they were too far away to see well. This is about a 10 minute walk from my parents' house. 

Lucy is bigger than the "Lucy tree"!