Erin has flown the coop!

Yesterday afternoon, while Dan and I looked on with a complicated mix of horror and amusement, Erin jumped out of her crib....over and over and over. It was never very pretty or very graceful....a delicate leg thrown over the top and then a free fall the rest of the way. Our pretty little babe is now the proud resident of a "big girl bed"..... and sleeping as we know it may never again be the same. She did sleep 12 straight hours last night but I fear that afternoon napping is going to be a battle.....that I am determined to win!!! Good luck, Erin.....may you only be slightly less determined than your mother.

Chocolate Cake!

The girls and I made a chocolate cake for my mom for her birthday. This was their first experience with chocolate cake batter. It's probably pretty safe to say that they liked it. Fortunately, Grandma was standing about three feet away, waiting to wisk them away for a bath!

Snuggle Puppy

Bath Baby

Annie's favorite place to be these days is in the tub!

Big Day for Annie! (5 months and 6 days)

Annie did not cry in the car today! It's a miracle! We drove to Gymboree and home this morning and to the doctor's office and home this afternoon without a single PEEP! It's like she's been reborn! Heck.....it's like we all have! I am a proud mama.

Erin's Lunch

Many of you may have seen this before, but I thought it was worth posting here. It makes me smile every time I watch it!

Happy Birthday, Danny!

Danny Gomez....lover of trains and cousins and little brothers and family get-togethers....passionate and funny and loving and sweet....is THREE! Happy Birthday, buddy! We love you!

Daddy and Erin

Danny and Emma

The cousins, yesterday, at Danny's birthday party. These two make me laugh!

Ego Boost

More than I ever thought I would, I love the "I Love Mommy" onesie.

Annie is 5 months old today!

I Do

4 great years and 3 beautiful daughters later....and I'm so glad we did.

Miss Annie Magoo...

...or so I like to call her!

Erin

Pizza Night with Daddy

Most Saturday nights in our house, you can find Dan and the girls in the kitchen making pizza. The girls are learning how to work the dough and put on the ingredients. Dan is learning patience and the beauty of imperfection. To all of their credit, it's hands down the best pizza I've ever had!

Snow Day

Kate had a great time playing outside in the snow yesterday afternoon. She shoveled, blew bubbles (who knew?), discovered to her absolute delight that the bubbles made the snow pink, played on her swing set, and even recruited our neighbor Judy in a rousing good game of catch. What a day!

Dr. Hemsworth

I remember as a kid dressing up the barn cats in various baby doll clothes. Fortunately for Kate and her pretend play, we've been able to provide her with a real live baby.

Superstar!

Sorry, Annie....even you are not immune to having your parents take dorky pictures of you and then posting them on the internet.

Kate and the Dentist

This is Kate, leaving to go to her first dentist appointment with Dan. This was a much talked about visit, with lots and lots of discussion about what exactly would happen, including sitting in the big chair, opening her mouth when asked to, getting her teeth cleaned by the hygienist, and letting the dentist look and count all her teeth. According to Dan, she did sit in the chair (on Dan), and she did let the hygienist count her teeth (20), but that poor dentist never stood a chance at seeing the inside of Kate's mouth. Ah, well. We'll keep brushing and hope for the best in 6 months!

Sweet Pea Lounger

By the way, thanks for the outfit, Aunt Mags. We love it!

Raspberries

Annie is so pleased to have found such a loud, noisy, messy, delightful way to deal with all her excess drool. She will happily blow a raspberry in your face at all hours of the day.....even at 5 AM in response to the suggestion that perhaps it's a little too early to start our day...