los cater(s)

*breastfeeding basics

2012-02-16T13:24:00.002-07:00

I have been wanting to share some of the tips we give pregnant/newly breastfeeding moms. Basically we call a month before, a week after and 4-6 weeks after with specific things to share at that point. I started this post last week and it was turning into a LONG post, so I just deleted it and thought I'd write some of the most helpful tips. These are things that really seem to help a new mom - things that we might not have thought of. I love when I'm talking to a mom and a piece of advice 'clicks' and you can see that it will help her situation. I wish I had someone call me every couple weeks to share some advice!

So here you go...

Before the birth:

*Let your doctor/midwife know that you want to breastfeed your baby, that way they can support you and will [hopefully] not do things to interfere with that. The biggest thing here is that your baby doesn't get a bottle in the hospital. There are many other ways to make sure the baby gets anything extra they may medically need! NO BOTTLES. I can't tell you how many moms don't breastfeed because baby got bottles in the hospital [though it doesn't have to be the end - get help from an LC]

*Colostrum is the first milk you make and it is a super baby food! It only comes in tiny amounts, but is just perfect, absolutely perfect for your baby. Your mature milk won't come in if you are not nursing your baby! I've talked to moms who give bottles while they wait for their milk to come in. ?!!

*Along the same lines, nurse the baby as soon as you can. Ideally they should put the baby on your chest skin-to-skin. I always thought this was for "bonding purposes" - but really it is the perfect time to start breastfeeding [obviously sometimes medical needs arise and you can't do this right away] - the baby is usually quiet and alert and just ready to nurse.

Just after the birth:
*It's normal for it to hurt a little bit right when baby latches on. If it hurts the whole feeding or your nipples are shaped funny afterward or you are starting to crack - get help! It might be an easy fix. For soreness, put a little breast milk on your nipples and let it air dry - so helpful.

*Around 2 weeks babies will go through a growth spurt. It will seem like they want to eat really often - like every 1/2 to 1 hour. If you go ahead and put them to the breast again, your body gets the message to make milk. If you think "I'm not making enough milk" and give a bottle - your body will get the message it doesn't need to make any extra to keep up with babies growth! For most women, the more you nurse the more you will make.

*You can know you are making enough milk if your baby has 6-8 wet diapers and 3-4 dirty diapers and is gaining weight. Babies cry - it doesn't necessarily mean you are not feeding them enough!

4-6 weeks after birth:
*You might not have that heavy, full, leaky feeling anymore. so many moms [myself included] think this means they have less milk, or that it is drying up. It just means that your body has adjusted to what you baby eats. The milk is still there, it still flows whether you feel it or not. [One time I felt like there was nothing there, but knew Edie was eating at home so I pumped. I got 4 oz out of the side that felt empty!]

*If you give a baby a bottle after a breastfeeding session, the baby will probably drink it! Babies like to suck. If you are worried about your supply, it is better to feed a little more often to increase your production. I always share this fantastic article about low milk supply/increasing supply.

*valentimes

2012-02-14T13:55:00.001-07:00

We had a lot of fun with Vera's valentines this year. I found this idea maybe last year or even two and it's been sitting on my desktop waiting. I made a grid on some white paper and then we filled in the squares with different shades of pink - mixing our own from red, white and a little yellow paint. It was a fun little project for the two of us after Edie went to bed one night - I think I will frame the original for her. She kept commenting, "well pretend that someone, well an artist, says they like your side better, and well they like art and they like yours, well that would make you happy!" I think she was saying that she liked my side better and that I should be flattered :)

We took it to kinkos and had several copies made [don't you love to see designs repeated??] and then she cut that into hearts and added glitter glue too. I love to see her go through the process of making things like this, seeing the finished product all lined up, choosing which one to give who.

little helper

[who can climb onto the chair by herself now!]

and last year:

*angelita

2012-02-13T21:01:00.000-07:00

It's hard to resist taking a picture of your sleeping child!

So peaceful and sweet and lovely.

She told me this morning that Becca [Edie's rejected lovey] had a sleepover with Bunny. Also the Baby doll has been sleeping with Vera lately too - mostly so that Edie can't get her hands on her in the morning :)

*fabric

2012-02-09T16:58:00.000-07:00

I went to the fabric store last week to get ideas for Easter dresses for the girls. For some reason I was drawn to this teal fabric with little orange stars. My mom made matching dresses for Liz and I with a teal-ish flowery fabric many years ago - maybe that's why I liked it. Anyway, I went back to today and bought some. It's not super Eastery, but I think it will be sweet. I don't have a pattern yet - looking for something easy and simple and that will be a cute summer dress too.

I also bought some more of this adorable fabric. I used it last Fall to make one of these stash baskets from the Purl Bee for baby Jubilee. I don't know what I'll use it for, but I just think it's so cute. I'm sure I'm not the only one who buys fabric when they have plenty at home, don't have a project in mind for it or really the extra $ .... : )

I've made several of these for gifts - I remember I took a picture of each but can't find them. They're a great way to use all the cute prints out there.

*

2012-02-08T12:56:00.001-07:00

I'm just loving watching Edie busy playing lately. She always has some plan in her little head and works away at it busily. Here she was off somewhere with her little basket. I bought this for her for Christmas and love when she uses it - usually of course she prefers a paper bag or the ugly yellow bucket :) Also I loved seeing her in this little dress. I bought it at Oneity [such an amazing long-gone store :( ] with Jenny when we were pregnant with our first babies. I remember it said 2T and I was like, I'm going to have to wait for-ever to see the baby in this!! And here I have my second little one in it... sigh.

I let her play outside by herself today [I ate my lunch by the door watching her] and she was so busy and focused in the sandbox moving dirt around and then into this watering can. I am so thankful for this mild winter!!

*4 and a HALF

2012-02-04T13:23:00.004-07:00

I forgot that last year I regretted telling Vera that she was officially three and a half. She is now 4 1/2 and it's practically all she talks about. I'm as old as Sam and Mimi now! I'm older than Robbie. Cheri is older than me, when I am 5 maybe I can tell her I have a loose tooth... I am going to be 5!! Is Stella as old as me?

Though she does seem like such a big kid now, I do love that there is still a lot of sweet child-like things about her. She still says breakfix, birtday, b'squetti (of course), aminal (sometimes) and still thinks it's soo funny to hide and have us pretend we don't know where she is. Her play is super-imaginitive and creative and she thankfully doesn't complain of being bored. When do kids learn that? One of her imaginary games is "bug and bee." I have never talked about them here because I guess I just keep hoping they will fade away :/ Ben holds up his pointer fingers and they talk to Vera as Bug and Bee. She seriously talks to them like they are real and is always calling them over to talk/play with her. ayyyy I know I should get over it, it's just a little too weird for me.

She spends a lot of time making elaborate little outfits and contraptions and who-knows-what with these leather strings we have and ribbons and bags and necklaces. She is almost always dressed up and loves to play in the small space behind the couch - sometimes it's a house, sometimes it's the sea [if she happens to be the little mermaid]. She's been playing with the baby doll a lot lately, dressing her up and taking her for walks around the house.

Her favorite books at the moment are the Knuffle Bunny books [a friend just told me there was a 3rd - I didn't know! I had tears streaming down my face when I read it the first time :( ], One Morning in Maine, Fancy Nancy [again - we don't own it so, a couple times a year I take it from the library and it becomes a favorite again], the Value Tales [we got the whole collection from ebay last year - she loves Louis Pasteur and Will Rogers the best] and a big book of [non-disney!] Fairy Tales she got for Christmas..

She can read 3 letter words now which is pretty exciting. Our neighbor lent us a phonics set and we were doing it pretty consistently before the holidays. She also likes to add small numbers with her fingers and also keeps expressing interest in learning more Spanish. I wish I were more consistent in teaching her! She still loves art and mostly likes to make fancy letters and designs [no cute stick figure people lately :( ] So crazy she will start kindergarten in the Fall. Where will we be???

She is so different than me in many ways. When her friends come over she is ecstatic - so excited and loud and happy. She just loves them so much and loves to be a hostess, making sure they are happy and taken care of - bordering on controlling [trying to gently steer her away from being the bossy one!!]. In the last few weeks I've noticed a little change in the way she relates to her friends. Before, it seemed she gravitated more towards her boy friends [specifically Jack and Sam] and they would play so well together. Lately I am seeing her prefer more girl things to play [yes, she has been girly for a long time now, but that didn't enter into her play before! Like the last couple times she's played with Jack, she holds onto his little sister's ballerina Barbie the entire time, trying to incorporate it into the superhero play. Of course, she really does love them all so much still - maybe it's just a thing this month.

three and a half

two and a half

one and a half

*bebitos

2012-02-03T09:58:00.001-07:00

I finally watched this documentary the other night that people were talking about 2 years ago. It was really sweet and fun to watch - really wished I had someone to comment on it with [ben of course working]. This opening scene was almost too cute to handle. The baby on the right totally reminded me of Edie - that's exactly how she would bite!

*de la camara

2012-02-02T13:54:00.003-07:00

I keep having certain posts in mind to do, and then a week or two passes and the pictures pile up and I just don't get to it. So here is some random photos that were on the camera this week:

:::

Vera is really into her baby doll again. I had put it in the downstairs closet in an attempt to simplify the toy situation here, but she asked for it the other day. She has been nursing the baby a lot, because, "she missed her mommy and wants to nurse."

:::

I wish I had the pictures from the house when we bought it - you wouldn't believe how spacious and stylish it was! You probably know Ben is graduating in May and the hope is that he will have a job somewhere and we will be moving [sadly there is nothing open here in Utah or I would happily continue to grow our roots here!]. Anyway, so my point is, we are probably going to either put our house up for sale or rent. We will have to have it 'staged' - you know, simplified, clean, spacious. I would really really like to do that now. So we can live in simplified bliss for a few months. I've been trying to put away some of the toys, books, random bits but am looking forward to an afternoon in the future where I do a major major overhaul. It will feel so good!!

:::

We are still loving the new Museum of Natural History. It is seriously the most beautiful, interesting, enjoyable museum I've ever been to. It's about a ten minute drive and so we can easily go for just an hour. This last Saturday we went with Jen and Graham and a couple other friends. Vera and Graham had a lot of fun together as always. Edie is really into Graham lately too and loves to point at his picture on the fridge and go to the window looking for "Daaa?" [Jen I'm pretty sure he's who she's calling :) ]

:::

Edie is in a big sorting stage. The other day I emptied some dried beans into these pots to buy myself some time to get dinner going - she loved it of course! This morning I caught her sorting all her toys into the dirty diaper pail. She then proceeded to re-sort all the things I'd put away. I put the blocks on the shelf, she moved them to the chair. I put the books in the box, she moved them back to the floor.

:::

Baby super hero!

:::::::::::

*disfraz

2012-01-27T20:11:00.004-07:00

I think that's how you say dress-up/costume...

Anyway, Vera is really into her dress-up box lately, coming up with all sorts of fancy combinations. She plays pretty well by herself, lost in make-believe worlds. I love love seeing imagination at work!! She also puts on nightly performances where we have to sit on the couch with most lights off as she dances ballet around the room or sings a modified Cinderella or Tangled song.

I thought this fancy footwear was pretty special!

a little friend from church who we are trading babysitting with:

she tied this one on herself!

she can now tie bows and is pretty proud of the new skill.

rapunzel is a big theme - see her loonnnng hair?

We got to see Stella and her mom a couple times just after Christmas! It was really wonderful to see them, felt like no time at all had passed.. Stella is starting Kindergarten in the next month - it is so neat to hear all the Dutch she is learning!! Did you know knuffle [as in Knuffle Bunny] means hug in Dutch?? I love that :) Anyway, the girls didn't skip a beat and got right to playing - not even any of their usual sibling-like bickering :) Vera talks about Stella a lot still - wouldn't it be fun to visit them someday?

oops accidentally uploaded this one of edie putting pennies in the piggy bank...

a favorite activity!

*adios food co-op!

2012-01-23T21:15:00.004-07:00

I'm sad I didn't take my camera to the last day -

our good friend Dale gave me this copy.

I've often meant to write about the Food Co-op here, but never did. We all got an unexpected email a couple weeks ago that they were closing up and this past Saturday was the last distribution! Five years ago I was feeling like I needed to volunteer in some way at our church - to be involved, to serve and really to meet people. Soon after I started, they asked me to be "team leader" - basically coordinating the site volunteers and communicating with the warehouse people. I was pregnant with Vera when I started, and after she was a few months old started coming with me. It was really neat to have her help out, to see people in the church serving the community and especially when she'd come along to drop off boxes of food at the YWCA etc. When she was little [and now Edie] she looved to hand out people's share list and say "thank you!" and she loved getting her bagel with pink cream cheese from Einstein's [later years that would be my bribe to get her to come], helping prepare the bagels for people who'd come, doing little tasks other volunteers would give her and of course she LOVED the boxes. We almost always have a co-op box in our living room that is of course used for a million different "not a box" things.

I was so grateful for the people I met through the co-op. They really showed me what it means to serve Christ not by standing on the corner with a sign or by handing out tracts, but by joyfully giving their time and their money to help out the community.

Really sad to see it go - a lot of people really counted on it for low-cost fresh food. That box Edie is sitting in would be almost full of produce for just $10!

::on another note::

I posted on my other blog tonight! It only took me like 3 months to write the post and find the photo to scan. I feel like I am so out of practice writing - I write fewer letters now, and it sometimes seems like my head thinks in facebook 'likes' and texts. That's not a good thing, so this was good exercise getting my brain working.

*el clima

2012-01-20T20:12:00.002-07:00

It's been the mildest winter so far this year! Pretty nice, really :) We had so much snow last year, at least the average of the two years will be decent.

Here we are on our way to drop off some muffins for our neighbors. After we got everything ready to go and had all our big, hot snowgear on, we spent what seemed like an hour looking for Edie's other boot. Seriously sometimes it is so exhausting to just get out of the house!!

A super fun morning at Sam and Amelia's this week where they painted on the snow with food coloring and then moved on to the sandbox to make some slushy, muddy, food-colored cakes:

Then today it was a balmy 55 [is that right?? I think that's what the car said] with a nice overcast sky and none of the typical January haze. We walked around the block and Vera rode her bike through the puddles in a cul-de-sac, came home and they played on the swingset a bit. Sadly we had to cut it short to get to Edie's 15 month well visit. Hopefully tomorrow is more of the same!

it's not letting me embed the video: click here if you want to see it.

*más disney

2012-01-18T14:07:00.005-07:00

Here's some more pictures from our day at Disneyland:

a still from the video Ben B. took on Thunder Mountain:

Edie's early exposure to Disney princess (sighhh):

Posing on the princess throne while Vera met Aurora:

listening/dancing to a fun pirate band after pirates of the carribean:

It was so pretty and magical on Main Street!

*más

2012-01-16T15:50:00.003-07:00

Posting some pictures that Jessie forwarded from her camera. So many good ones!

she looks so pretty and grown up here!! I love how she always layers on the Christmas gift costume jewelry as she opens it...

fun with uncle ben - matty and tio playing a duet in the background:

a delicious Christmas dinner. the stewed prunes were such a good accompaniment - who would have thought? I can't remember the funny nickname someone (ben b?) gave them, but that's just as well.

helping edie with a drink on the way to the mission:

waiting for tacos at pedro's:

the mission was so beautiful. we had such a nice relaxing afternoon, just walking around, sitting on the grass, feeding the fish in the fountain. reminded me of some of my favorite isabel allende novels [I think her Zorro takes place in this setting?]

even more to come!

*cotidiano

2012-01-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

It's nice to have things back to normal after the busyness of the holidays. Here's some *everyday* moments from the last 2 nights:

Vera dressing up as a "movie star fairy cinderella who cooks dinner":

She's so cute with her daddy. They both are.

vera made us all get fancy tonight for dinner. edie even had a barrette and a necklace.. then she picked up a disney princess coin purse thing - nooooooot yet!

I remind myself of my mom here.

cheering for the 49ers [such a good game!! I do like to watch football - it reminds me of growing up] I love how babies always seem to think you are clapping for them and then they clap too.

*15 months

2012-01-12T21:37:00.000-07:00

At some point during our trip, Edie transitioned from that cute wobbly toddly walk to a little speedster. Like you take your eyes off her for a second and she has disappeared around the library shelves, or into the front yard of your relatives' house and is walking over a stone bridge toward the little garden waterfall... She is just the cutest thing still and we are having so much fun getting to know her. She has stopped biting when she's angry or tired - now she throws down whatever she is holding and then will throw down anything else in reach too. She also will swat at my face or grab Vera's hair. Sometimes my reprimand sparks the cutest little quivering lip sad face and she is quick to give a kiss and a hug, signing "sorry." It's so stinkin cute and hard not to laugh at her feistiness.

In the last month she's also started signing please and thank you, several animals, friend... She asks to watch Baby? Baby? all the time and knows how to open the DVD player. It doesn't matter how many times I say no, Mama does it. She also will not stop walking around to the back of the tv asking for "baby" - I'm wondering if she thinks the babies from the video are behind there?? She LOVES babies, followed a poor little 3 year old around the library today asking to hold her baby doll.

What else is she doing...... one thing that I want to remember from our Christmas vacation was sitting around the dining table 'quizzing' her on all the family's names - we'd say wheeere's Lola? and she'd look right at her or whoever else. She knew she was on the spot and had the cutest look.

She and Vera are so cute together - giving each other lots of kisses, falling down hugging, playing hide and seek, reading. She asks for "Wawa?" a lot, I love it. She's also saying "Daddy" and it's so adorable. One day at the tidepools I was wearing his flannel and she thought it was so funny, kept patting me and saying Daddy! Sorry I keep saying it, but it really is all so adorable :) She will often babble away about something and then laugh about it, and then repeat the gibberish again. Babadbda ghheez hahahaha. babada gheez hahahaha.

She's a pretty good little eater, though if she doesn't like it she will not just spit, but sputter it out her mouth all over the place. She seems to be gaining some weight which is great. I am still nursing her twice a day and she is finally doing ok with cow's milk. I think she's just got a sensitive little gut that takes some time to get used to digesting new things - even as a newborn with breastfeeding, starting solids, milk protein..

I'll take a picture tomorrow perhaps and add it later...

*quilt!

2012-01-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

I have had "make a quilt" on my list of things to do for a long time now. I saw this one on Katie Did a few years ago and have had it in my head ever since as one I'd like to try. She later did a tutorial of this go-to quilt. [her blog was one of my absolute favorites as far as the beautiful, creative, original, modern things she sewed up. her girls were adorable, fun little models too! thankfully she still has her archives up, you should look through them if you need sewing inspiration] With Ben's immediate family we choose one name and have to make our gift - I knew this was what I wanted to do this year for Matty. I even copied her colors because I liked them so much and thought he would too.. though I did choose the quilting thread colors :) As usual, it took me forever to accomplish each step: buying the supplies, the fabric cut, the layers assembled, etc. I had the invaluable help of my friend, Sydney, from church - she is an accomplished quilt maker, winning first prize at the Utah state fair at least once [imagine the quilters here in mormonland!]. She showed me how to get started and some really good tips along the way. It was a little embarrassing to show this expert my sloppy job, but I guess that's the nature of your first project. I am really excited to experiment and get a little more creative with piecing things together and such. I started a board a while ago on pinterest of all the quilts I am inspired by.

Anyway, I was awful proud of myself
and glad I have a blog to let you all know about it :)

It was about 60"x70" and a little difficult to manage through the sewing machine at times!

*flores

2012-01-08T21:11:00.003-07:00

Edie is really into smelling flowers lately [wait I just realized it was only in California... no flowers around here!]. I just follow her around, my heart swelling with the cuteness of it.

she tried to eat this one if I remember right.

*navidad

2012-01-06T22:03:00.001-07:00

We had a very memorable Christmas this year at Ben's parents! The days were filled with activities: a hike above El Moro, tidepools at Shaw's Cove, shopping in Venice Beach [walked out of a store as Tim Robbins walked in!], Disneyland, San Diego [among the highlights were my turkey cobb sandwich at Con Pane], the Mission at San Juan Capistrano and visits with friends. It was pretty busy and I did feel badly for Edie who only napped in her bed twice the whole time. She was a little trooper though and is on her way to sleep recovery now :) It was really neat to get out and really do and see some things I hadn't before - and with such good company.

We ate extremely well as always - I especially loved my poké bowl at Tommy's, the take-out Indian for Christmas Eve, the smoked salmon spread on Christmas morning, the gorgeous roast and fixings Christmas night, and then a veritable feast of Chinese and Filipino food that we had on January 1st to celebrate Ben's grandmother's 100th birthday [she was in Hawaii]. I wish I had pictures of it - artwork I tell you!

There was plenty of downtime at the house too. It was so special to see the girls really feel at home with everyone! There is nothing, nothing, like seeing your kids connect with your families. I didn't take a whole lot of pictures, but am hoping for the rest of the family to share theirs... :)

peeking into her stocking while waiting for everyone to wake up:

I always look forward to how Matty is going to wrap his presents each year. This was a teeny japanese chapstick [bought at the amazing japanese imports store in venice beach, such beautiful things!] in my stocking:

Lola and Grandpop and their two grandgirls:

nice, Edie:

Our old neighbor, Tio, lives in California now and came down to spend Christmas and the week after with us. It was very sweet how Vera still connected so well with him after all this time!

Her playdough ice cream store. Such a hit - I always wanted something like this too!

a beautiful long hike the day after Christmas
[longer than we'd planned but wonderful nonetheless...]:

watching some baby signing time together:

Vera taught Edie ring around the rosies while we hung out on the lawn at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano. Edie looved it. So cute to see her try to figure out how to fall down.

it was such a gorgeous day

watching the waves over sunset cliffs... crazy to think I walked along them every day for a few years! we are on the point loma campus here for those of you who don't know ben... not bad, eh?

in venice beach:

I love this picture of Vera and Jessie! Reminds me a bit of this one which I've always loved:

I just spent 30 minutes looking for that picture, mostly just reading old posts. I really really love that I've kept a blog, it's so much fun to look back and remember things.

***Hope you all had a wonderful, memorable Christmas too!***

*disney - la segunda vez

2012-01-05T08:08:00.002-07:00

I have so many things to share about our trip, I really don't even know where to start!! I guess I'll go with Disneyland because I don't have very many pictures to choose from. We went the Thursday after Christmas and I was really surprised that Vera didn't ask about it before then - especially because she talks about it ALL the time at home! Anyway, it was really an amazingly fun day with Rosie, Jessie, Ben B., Ben and the girls and I. I almost didn't even care it was packed with people, it's just such a happy place to be. Even standing in line isn't so bad if you have good company to talk with :)

On our way to first stop [after eating the best corn dogs you've ever had]: Peter Pan! Vera really remembered so many things from last February - like that this was our first ride, what she wore, the teacups, the Small World song, going through the whale's mouth on that one ride..

On the Casey Jr. train. I love this picture because it was right when the train jolted to a start and Edie's teeny tiny smile is so precious to me.

toon town:

You might not know that Vera LOVES Goofy and Mickey and Donald Duck - she and Ben love watching classic Disney cartoons on youtube. Anyway, so we were standing here in Toon Town and all of a sudden Goofy showed up right next to us. A mob of kids and parents immediately formed and it turned into a line to take pictures with him. It was like an assembly line, super fast to get your second for the picture. Vera though really wanted to "tell Goofy something" and after another kid was whisked into the picture spot her lip started to tremble and I could tell she was going to start crying [not in a tantrum kind of way, in the genuine sad way]. Rosie slyly inserted Vera back into the very front of the line and Vera shared with him that, "my Dad can talk like Goofy!!" He made a big "WOW!" gesture with his hands and she was content. One of my favorite moments.

Other favorites were Thunder Mountain - we told Vera it was a roller coaster, but didn't elaborate so that she wouldn't get too anxious. I'd forgotten how fast it was!! A few times during the ride she'd say my stomach hurts it hurts I want it to be ooooverrr!! Afterward though she was able to laugh it off and I could tell she was really proud of herself. Hopefully Uncle Ben can send a snapshot from the awesome video he took... :) Pirates of the Caribbean was super fun, especially now that Vera is so into pirates. She also got to meet Aurora this time which was very exciting, though I am pleased to say that her interest in princesses has waned a bit - whew. Rapunzel did walk by us at one point and Vera looked starstruck and said quietly as she passed, "Hi Rapunzel." Rapunzel sweetly waved and said hi back, it was pretty cute. What else... we did the Jungle Cruise which I'd totally forgot about! It was fun in that cheesy old Disney way. Edie liked it. The people watching was awesome too, of course. It was really fun just experiencing it together with family and watching the girls' excitement. Fun fun memories!!

*FOUND

2011-12-20T20:38:00.001-07:00

So my sister-in-law sent an email today saying that the package [that I hoped contained Puppy] had arrived in Seattle and Puppy was not there. The stomach ache that began when I saw her message in the inbox went even deeper. I can't express how sad it has been these last few days not knowing where Puppy was. She would randomly ask "Bapa?" during the day and I would just reply "bye-bye" and divert her attention - we even started the code name Doug around her so she wouldn't hear us and start thinking about him. I tried to get her to think Vera's old Monkey was what she wanted - she did start to fall for it which made me feel badly for some reason. She had a hard time going to sleep and staying asleep - I'd hear her calling for "Bapa" in the middle of the night - so so very sad.

So anyway, I went downstairs to tell Ben the email, and to have him go in and rock Edie who was having a hard time going to sleep - and I told him to just pray. He went in and I looked through his recycling box praying fervently. I looked in a box on an ottoman under his table that I'd already checked and then behind it. and there was Puppy's little head poking out!!!!! I couldn't believe it!! THANKYOUJESUS!!! I ran in and gave him to Edie and rocked her a bit telling her Puppy is back! Hi Puppy!! Poor thing looked a little confused but started sucking her thumb immediately as tears streamed down my face. Ben went to tell Vera who also teared up. Seriously this little family loves their lovies :)

You should hear some of Ben's family lost-lovey stories!

*14 meses

2011-12-16T23:24:00.002-07:00

Little Edie is 14 months! Thinking back to where we were a year ago - Ben in New York on a research trip and me reaching breaking point late into the night with a colicky baby... whew, anyway now she is a little joy. A feisty adorable little bug of a girl. She walks around the house calling Mama? all day. Mama? Mama? Mama? Then when she sees me she quickly toddles over with her arms in the air and buries her head in my knees - I love it. She and Vera also have a lot of fun playing getcha behind the couch, tickling each other, getting pushed in boxes, looking at books - it makes me so happy.

Right now she loves shoes, cheese, Puppy ['Baba', who for the first time was nowhere to be found at bedtime. We have looked everywhere. I think he may be in the package I sent off to Seattle today :( ], emptying the dishwasher with me, Baby Signing Time [she's only even seen it like 5 times, but it is just so cute to watch her watch it: her little clasped hands, anticipation, pointing, smiling... aaaahh it's so cute], Brown Bear Brown Bear, babies, her sister, Tia [she shrieks and kicks her legs if she thinks we're going over there]... what else. She loves markers. It's hard to keep those things away from the second child!! She has words and/or signs for milk, apple, more, all-done, water, bird, fish, cheese, shoes, diaper [she'll tell me when she's gone poop - once right before she went! yes it's silly that I think that's pretty amazing], baby, book and of course Puppy, Vera, Daddy + Mama. She seems less fearful of things than I remember Vera being - though she is scared of the doorbell which is kind of funny - really the only thing that freaks her out. She cries in fear and scrambles for me to hold her, little sweetie.

Anyway I really should be getting to bed. I have a feeling I may be up several times when she realizes again that Puppy isn't with her :( On a sweet note - Vera gets extremely concerned and even teary for poor Puppy and how sad Edie must be.

This is the usual "I'm ready for bed" position. Puppy against her cheek, left thumb in her mouth.

That's me under the covers getting a morning hug:

Looking at the fun wallpaper at the Rose Establishment. Yummy coffee and treats, beautiful space if you haven't been there yet:

bundled up and ready to go caroling with our church:

playing with playdough for the first time:

*first born

2011-12-11T21:46:00.001-07:00

I'm really loving the stage Vera is in. We had an extremely rough patch there back in August - I thought a grumbling, stomping, screaming b-r-a-t with a stinky attitude had come to stay. I literally thought we were done - our child had already become a teenager and a very difficult one at that. Thankfully it passed - as all these phases do. She's not without her problems now, but she's calmed down and is growing. "I love to clean up!" and "I don't have fits anymore ever" are her favorite things to declare - we've talked a lot about showing these things instead of just saying them :) We've always talked a lot about behavior and about how you show God that you love Him and are thankful for what He does. The other day we played that game in the car, naming things to see if they show love or not - she's a pretty smart little girl. Who's as stubborn as I was :)

ANYway. I love this stage now where she still has that playful, creative silliness. She's not embarrassed and has never thought something was too "babyish" to play. Jenny and I were talking, wondering when that starts... 5 or 6?

She always has "ideas!" Here she tied a little boat behind the mouse to pull some animals in, pulled both her superhero and sleeping mask over her eyes and scooted off.

finishing her cards for the candycane playdough we made for our neighbors:

her performance of "the queen of the snowflake." I wish I could have tape recorded our bedtime conversation with her still in character, it was incredibly ridiculous.

She kept looking for Chip and Dale in the Christmas tree [you've seen the old short of them in Donald Duck's tree??]. She was sure she'd found their little home in there.

she is such a good big sister!

*a long post that doesn't stay on topic

2011-12-10T21:57:00.001-07:00

It's been a long week. I am overwhelmed. I know everyone else is too, but I guess I'll be the first to express it :) I think for the first time we are over-scheduled: I am racing to get somewhere and back and in time to put Edie down and to work and finding a time to sit and nurse and kind-of clean our house and feed everyone and wash diapers and clothes and shower and try to be super-creative crafty Christmas mom every--single--day. It hasn't been working!!!

My friend Jenny wrote about it -and it's been on my mind lately too- a talk a lovely woman made at the mom's group I attend. She is a nurse-midwife and came to talk about our emotional health - about the need for moms to sit and tend to their children directly, about their need to be with other women sharing and giving counsel and friendship. That's one reason I feel I've over-scheduled a bit, is that I never ever miss an opportunity to spend time with friends [a philosophy I've held since college: relationships above studying for a test or starting a silly paper]. I talked about it a while ago, but I really felt pretty depressed during Edie's first 4 months, experiencing all sorts of awful feelings. I can tell you though that if a friend stopped by, or we went to someone's house, those feelings vanished. This lady at the mom's group, Claudia, shared that women's oxytocin levels actually rise when they are with other women, and I can see exactly what she means! Another way our oxytocin levels are high is when we tend to our children - as in holding them, cuddling with them, touching them, feeding them. Last week I had a very ambitious list of things to get done while Vera was in preschool. I didn't end up getting a single thing done because Edie wanted to sit in my lap and read Brown Bear, Brown Bear over and over and over. For like two hours, give or take a snack and a diaper change and heating up my yerba mate. I kind of wanted to get to that list, yet it felt pretty nice to just sit on the floor with my sweet growing baby in my lap, kissing the top of her cute little head. The next day at the mom's group I learned that there is a physical, hormonal reason that it felt so good! God is truly amazing to have designed us in such beautiful ways.

***

Anyway. So an overwhelming week with all that tending/befriending on my mind [read Jenny's post - always so well-written and just right]. However, today was wonderful. Fairly unrelated to the previous two paragraphs, because my good day was really due to two other things: 1) Ben took Edie on errands both before and after her nap, and 2) because I didn't race anywhere [or even step foot outside the house] until like 4pm. Seriously, those of you who live near parents or in-laws should never take it for granted!!! If I could just have my mom or Rosie take the girls on an outing for an hour a week, I could get so much done. I'm really grateful Ben could take a little break today and I could organize some things and finish some projects that I had half-assedly started here and there. There is some blog-venting for you. Now here are some pictures. They don't quite capture the week, because they actually look quite peaceful:

Edie likes to scoot her little bottom up to the couch when she reads her books, it's pretty cute.

*molly mouse

2011-12-05T21:44:00.001-07:00

Vera and I went to see a ballet on Saturday and had such a great time. I'm so glad some friends invited us - I am so bad at finding out about these things on my own. The production was called Molly Mouse and it's like the Nutcracker for a younger audience: a really great introduction to it with all the same wonderful music. It was so well-done, I thought it must be some sort of franchise or something, but met the lady who wrote it and produced it all right here. If you are in this area, look into going next year!

All dressed up:

We went to brunch first at the Grand America Hotel - our little friend calls it *The Palace*, and so we did too. Sooo fancy. They are still 3-4 year olds of course and got a little too silly at times. Us moms were busy enjoying the de-licious buffet.

After the performance we happened to walk out of the theater next to the director. She spontaneously invited the girls backstage - it was so neat!! Vera was awestruck. I was never a performer - in just one play when I was little [I was a mexican jumping bean]. I remember though a few times getting to be backstage and it is so magical. I just loved watching the look on Vera's face as we saw the dancers and the costumes, the big heavy curtains... One of my absolute most favorite things about having kids is watching them experience something new, watching the joy or curiosity or amusement in their faces. Anyway what a kind lady to invite us back like that!

the girls who played Molly Mouse - they were so sweet and happy to pose:

two cuties:

*

2011-12-02T21:36:00.001-07:00

This video is from a couple weeks ago - she took a liking to carrying Puppy around in this bucket and has been doing it ever since. I love how she purposefully hooks it over her little arm. This first time she got really frustrated with the bucket for some reason and had a little yell at it. I love her.

*lately

2011-12-02T21:00:00.001-07:00

Monday Vera and I shared some chamomile tea and watched the final of "The Sing Off" - a fun little time together. She spoke in a British accent and called me dearie and darling. She was so happy the team "with the girl" won!

I love when babies "talk" on the phone :)

These sisters are so affectionate with each other! It is the cutest thing to see Edie wake Vera up in the morning - she kisses and pats her, babbles sweetly, hands her Bunny. She sometimes says her name: "Wawa."

*kind of* playing together this morning - it's very amusing to watch

*el museo y el parque

2011-12-01T13:53:00.001-07:00

The day after Thanksgiving we thought we'd go to the new museum of Natural History. We've watched it under construction for the last year (more?) or so and it completely surpassed any expectations I had. I was seriously blown away at how beautiful the building was, how modern and clean and artistic the exhibitions were, how many interactive things there were to do and how much I learned. We happened to go on an absolutely beautiful, clear, smog-free day and the view was just amazing. Afterward they let us apply the tickets toward a membership - I can't wait to spend many a dreary winter day there! [pictures by matty]

uncle matty got her some rocks for her collection

***

The weather was pretty mild, so on Thanksgiving day we took a nice walk to the park. Vera had just rode her bike for the first time the night before so we wanted to see if she could do it again. She was actually pretty shaky and hesitant and not really getting it again for the first bit. By the time Graham met us there it had somehow really clicked and they rode around in circles for quite a while - so fun.

***

Thanksgiving Crew 2011

*dia de gracias

2011-12-01T13:14:00.001-07:00

We had a really really wonderful Thanksgiving here at home. Ben's brother and my sister came and we had such a great time with them. I'll add more pictures later, but here's some from the dinner.

Whew - the preparation! This was my first Thanksgiving dinner that I was in charge of. It was a little mind boggling to map out how to get everything done on time, but really I had so much help that it wasn't a big deal. I bought a special edition of Gourmet magazine with their all-time best recipes and I made everything from that. The appetizer - goat cheese with warm lemon zested olive oil and olives was amaaazing, the gravy was AMAZING, the stuffing tasted great but was slightly dry. The turkey would have been perfect but of course I messed that one up - I checked the temp near the end and then when we took it out to rest I forgot to check again - oops! Ben carved it up and then we realized it was undercooked, so they put it all back in the oven. Everything would have been perfectly on time - oh well :) Matty also made the spicy candied nuts that we all loved so much last year as well as boiled chestnuts. We had more than enough wine - good wine, which was a super treat [especially the Ridge Zinfandel - mmm]. I am so thankful for all my family: this little family here, my own parents and siblings and my extended family. I feel so blessed to love and enjoy them all.

big little helper

little did we know it wasn't done yet...

matty and his camera - he has the magic touch! and a killer camera that I am coveting : )

oh the pie....

*bicicleta!

2011-11-23T20:17:00.001-07:00

Vera rode her bike for the first time today!!!

Sooo Ben got her this little bike with training wheels early last spring. I immediately could tell why a balance bike is so.much.better!!! I had thought we would look for one on craigslist or maybe find a discount one somewhere, but if she had to use training wheels - no big deal. I mean most of us learned that way right? But watching how easily some of her little friends transitioned to pedals, and seeing all the horrible habits that training wheels introduced, I really regretted not finding the balance bike for her. I'm not concerned that she be an early achiever [though I admit a wee bit of jealousy seeing her little friends, wishing we'd gone that route] - but why start something that will only make it harder to learn in the long run? So last week we borrowed Sam's and she rode it briefly twice and then all the way to the park this morning. That was enough to help her understand how to get started on her real bike and this afternoon she practiced and practiced. I was so proud of her!! Anyway, if you have the opportunity to get your kid one of these, I highly recommend it - it's so cool how they teach balance and stopping yourself and needing a little speed to get going. They're not just for the urban/whole foods/REI crowd :)

I LOVE her smile here at the end!

I also brought out this little toy I found at a garage sale when I was pregnant with Edie - she kind of scooted around a bit and loved it:

*el bautismo

2011-11-21T23:07:00.001-07:00

I recently realized I didn't print any pictures out from last Thanksgiving and have been going through some on the computer to do so. I don't think I mentioned it back then, but we had Eden baptized that weekend since Ben's family was here. I do regret a little that with all the Thanksgiving busyness it seemed like a hurried affair - I remember realizing as I sat down in the pew that her gown was on inside out! Anyway, I'm glad I have this sweet picture. I really love the way our pastor does baptisms - it feels very meaningful and special and genuine as the church welcomes the child into the family. Whether you believe in infant or believer baptism [or have no idea what I'm talking about], the church is making a vow to love and protect and teach that child about Christ. Our church does feel like a family - we've started so many meaningful relationships there. Personally I have learned a lot about loving God through serving others - there are some amazing people there that I look up to in this way.

Back to the baptism. Look at my two sweet girls there - here's a reminder for me to pray and pray for these two little souls every day.

*insólito [random?]

2011-11-15T22:58:00.001-07:00

I can't find my camera. I'd really like to get back to posting our daily life - I just love to have it to look back on. Let me think of some daily life going on around here... Vera and I have started [only a few so far, and definitely not a habit yet] having a little devotion time in the morning. I figured it wasn't a bad thing to use chocolate milk as a bribe to get her to sit down with me for a few minutes to start our day off right - I mean I have my mate right? She memorized the first part of Psalm 23 a few months ago, so I read that to her and then we each pray for something. This last week I read with her in Galatians about 'the fruit of the spirit' being love, joy, peace, etc. It's really neat to talk to her about these things and to hopefully be touching her little heart. She really is a wonderful, sweet little girl. She loves us so much - always telling us so, and always including how much she loves Edie and her friends too. Anyway I was saying she is really a wonderful little person - who still struggles in big ways with wanting to do things her way and not wanting to be corrected or disciplined.

Edie ... wow she is really her own person too. I don't know quite how to deal with her little bouts of aggression - you tell her to not do something or take her away from a situation and she swipes at your face or grabs your hand to bite you! For now I calmly hold her hand away and say ouch that hurts, you may not hit, etc. or put her down away from me. She really is the cutest little thing though, I still can't get enough of her - just watching her toddle around accomplishing her little baby plans. So stinkin cute. She signed "please" yesterday trying to get some of Vera's chocolate ice cream - it was really cute how quickly she learned it to get that ice cream!.

She is sleeping amazingly right now - at night from about 7:00pm to 8:00-30am! She sometimes wakes once in there and if she doesn't settle down quickly I go feed her, just hoping I don't encourage a bad habit! She doesn't take a morning nap anymore, but does take a good 1-2+ hour afternoon nap. I know everyone is really interested in all this! Speaking of sleep, I always wondered when Vera would sleep soundly enough that we could go in to tuck her in or just look at her sweet sleeping face. Sometime in the last year it finally happened! She is sleeping right there next door with the door open and we go in and out of her room, the bathroom, do the dishes and she sleeps through it all - I love it!

Lately Ben has been writing non-stop. Literally all day, every day, late late into the night. He takes a break usually between 5-6 when we eat and he gives Edie a bath. It's crazy and he is so tired. I'm really proud of him - I mean I would have crumbled about 5 years ago!

All right, there were some random thoughts.

*la abuela

2011-11-09T15:15:00.003-07:00

I have a picture of my mom and newborn Edie in this same spot one year ago.. will find it.

My mom is so.... productive. She doesn't give an extra thought to baking bread or sewing up a doll dress or fixing Bunny's face, making a Halloween costume, baking a pie... What is wrong with me?? Seriously I think a major hindrance is this internet!! So many ideas, but I spend most my time collecting the ideas and little effort implementing them. One afternoon while I was working, my mom got Vera started on her own little flower embroidery. It didn't take a Soul mama book to inspire it! I really want to be more like her [and Ben's mom too] in this way. Once I publish this post, and check facebook one more time [jk jk].

I'll post a picture when she finishes - it's really cute!

After my mom had left I caught this sweet moment of Edie looking at the pictures of both sets of grandparents.

*caminitas

2011-11-06T20:29:00.002-07:00

Ben and I always comment on our "favorite thing" about Vera or Edie. Right now I just love watching Edie toddle around. She'll walk to the end of the room, circle around and back again, maybe moving a toy or a cup from one spot to another. She seems very purposeful about it all. I spend a lot of valuable clean-up-the-house, finish-the-dishes, get-myself-ready time just watching her.

I want to eat her up, I love her so.

she loves these rainboots - just you try to take them away!

and a cute one of another favorite thing: seeing my 2 girls play together. Edie was pushed around on this favorite chair today, she loooved it.

*varios

2011-11-06T14:17:00.000-07:00

Some random photos from lately::

We've had such a nice string of seasons this year! Summer was pretty mild and pleasant and we had a nice long Fall. It snowed the other morning, but now it's sunny and crisp outside - perfect Fall weather. When it was still quite warm, Vera and Edie had fun in the sandbox - so cute seeing them playing together :)

a cute one from the day before halloween:

Edie got a bike helmet for her birthday! I had taken her once in a while to the park in the trailer sans helmet [it's super close and I stick to the sidewalk], but the other day we ventured all the way to the library! I thought it might not work as obviously she is going to notice and dislike that huge thing on her head. I put it on quickly and gave her a little piece of cheese to hold in each hand: just enough distraction and the trip was a success.

Trying to capture her cute expressions while watching Baby Signing Time:

Posing with Edie in her new chinese pajamas. I had put rags in Vera's hair the night before - it worked and she looked so cute!

I ♥ my baby:

more sandbox:

*tarjetas

2011-11-05T14:10:00.004-06:00

I finally just updated my etsy shop with some notecards :
send me an email if you are interested!

It's a weird, embarrassing thing to try to sell something you've made : / I just have to say that.

On a more professional note, my cousin has recently worked really hard to update her online stationery shop,*Blissfolio*. It's so pretty :) Check it out if you are planning to do photo Christmas cards! or get some personalized stationery - so fun.

*nevada day (aka Halloween)

2011-11-01T13:44:00.001-06:00

You might remember how I "pledged" to sew an hour every day for a week. Well a couple birthdays that week, a visit from Ben's dad and a terrible bout of flu that weekend and I pretty much didn't do a thing. I cut the pattern out is about it. With the sickness, things around the house were just piling up and Ben is really trying to get his 3rd chapter written on his dissertation - so I invited my mom to come help out for a week. It was definitely a huge help for all of us! In fact I'm sitting here eating fresh homemade bread with my mate as I write this :) She got right to work on Vera's Tinkerbell costume [I did cut out and sew the petals!] which turned out amazing - so cute!!

ready just in time for the preschool halloween party:

sweet little sister moment:

The Halloween weekend was really busy! She got to wear her costume to ballet - they were all so cute! I think only 2 girls weren't wearing wings of some sort.

We may have started trick or treating rather early - I wanted Edie to get to go before bed. We did a second round later with Graham which was really fun. Graham was so cute - Vera kept trying to hold his hand and he'd wiggle out of it. When I told them they were serious trick-or-treaters he said, "Me not trick or treater! Me fireman!!" :) Vera kept saying, "I sure love trick or treating! Why do I love it so much?" She got a lot of candy. I have never really liked Halloween - especially the gory, ugly stuff [and the pressure to have a creative costume], but it's fun to see how excited the little ones get.

We've recently met another neighbor, Evie. She and Vera get along really well. She was sooo excited when we rang their doorbell!

Edie kept trying to go in all the houses.

I love this costume! Before Vera wore it, it was Marie's and maybe Olivia's too.

Vera wouldn't even pass this freaky cat to get to the door - I had to carry her. Edie wanted to cuddle with it and flipped out when we had to move on:

*la mayor

2011-10-24T22:10:00.000-06:00

My relationship with Vera has really changed over the last year or so. Even when I was still pregnant, things were beginning to change as I was just so tired and uncomfortable. I should have written about this sooner, because it's evolved so much since even six months ago. I would say that during Edie's first few months I really 'mourned' the loss of our close relationship. I mean it's inevitable that we can't be tied at the hip like we were - total buddies, doing everything together always. I will say that especially at the beginning I made a conscious effort to give Vera extra love, to include her in meaningful ways with the new baby and I think I did a good job at it. But, inevitably, caring for a newborn requires constant attention, attention that is often diverted away from the other child. I felt this sense of loss and it made me really really sad. During the last year, then, Vera has grown even closer with her dad [they have always been pretty close] and I felt the distance; I felt the preference for him. It hurt. Like when she told me a while ago that she wanted him to put her to bed, because "he's my favorite." It's obviously not a competition, but I was sad for the distance I felt widening between us.*

I actually started this several months ago and just found it in the drafts. Even since then I feel things have settled down in this area and I am less emotional about it. Partly it's just the way things are. I remember writing a long post right after I nursed Vera for the last time - I felt that tiny change, that first separation and knew it would never be the same. Since then it's been a slow moving away, moving towards becoming her own little person. I think with Edie I know what's coming and it makes me so sad - I just want to s.l.ow. it all down and keep my baby, my baby. I think Vera and I have found other ways to be close, and I want to keep encouraging that. Anyway... I just love these two so SO much, that's all.

*Have you seen the episode of Modern Family where Phil is "the fun one?" Well that's us - haha. I'm Claire. I am the serious one, the let's please eat your dinner now, enough silliness! That's been hard - because obviously the 4 year old is going to gravitate to the fun one. I had a bit of a hard time with that but am feeling fine now - I just need to spend quality time with my kids in a way that's me - walking at the park, cooking, drawing, reading, making things, etc.

*un añito

2011-10-24T20:15:00.001-06:00

One year! Forgive me for saying that I can't believe our little Edie is one! Seriously, we all just think she is the cutest, most wonderful little thing ever. How fun this next year is going to be as she starts talking and playing and dancing and learning :)

She is walking a lot now - reminds me of my Grandma 'Dine with her short little steps, arms at her side. She says uh-oh, leaf, book, bird, baby, hot, mama, dada and up [most of course in a way that only the mama can understand] and will try to repeat the sounds of anything you try to get her to say. She rarely does it in front of anyone else - you'll just have to take my word for it! It makes me wonder if she will have a good ear for music or other languages? She also signs more and baby - I LOVE seeing a baby sign baby :) She communicates very clearly when she wants something or wants you do to something for her. She hands you the thing and says dis! and then you do it and she pushes it back again, dis! She's also showing her little temper. Cute now, but not for long! Today she got so mad that I wouldn't let her play in Boone's water - poor thing it was so cute and funny. She loves to pretend with an empty bowl and spoon, to open and close doors in the toy kitchen, to tickle our toes, read books. Loves her tubby, waking up her sister, cuddling with her Puppy, blowing kisses, putting tops on things, playing "I'm going to getcha!".... She is generally pretty mellow and happy, though like I said, in the last weeks we've seen the infamous little *will* emerging.

She is pretty mini - at 17 lbs. in the 2nd percentile for weight!! Partly because she had a little stomach bug over the last couple weeks, partly because she isn't a big eater. However, I am going to be a lot more purposeful with her meals now. She does love cheese and yogurt and avocado and peanut butter, so that's good! I have been terrible at giving her a good variety of things, especially vegetables. I haven't given her straight cow's milk yet.. since she had the little tummy issues the last couple weeks I thought I'd wait. I have given her a couple bottles of almond milk and she really likes it. I plan to keep nursing at least a couple more months - she's more into it than Vera was, so we'll see what happens. I seriously didn't think I would make it this far with all the painful issues I had the first 3 months.

Anyway, that's our little Eden at un añito ♥

*unas fotos

2011-10-14T14:17:00.006-06:00

Sitting here having some mate during quiet time and thought I'd post some random photos...

***

Matty sent this beautiful shirt for Edie, but it fits Vera perfect right now. I knew if I suggested she wear it, she wouldn't. I've learned to just put something new in her drawer and let her discover it :)

the other day I looked back and was really struck at what a big girl she is!!

wearing an old bonnet from when I was a baby:

checking out that cute baby in the mirror:

she loved the little dog figurines Lola sent:

talking to the baby on the yogurt cup:

someone in my brother's neighborhood has a baby zebra in their yard. I do not know how they got it, but it sure is cute!!

***

*la fiesta

2011-10-13T21:07:00.004-06:00

We had a fun, simple little party for Edie with a few friends and neighbors. She, of course, had no clue, but definitely had a great time.

waiting for the guests to arrive:

Below is Edie's newest baby friend, Jubilee. That night when we prayed before dinner, thanking God for Edie, Vera interrupted saying she needed to tell Jesus one more thing: "and thank you for baby Jubilee" :) Edie is sometimes interested in the baby and sometimes doesn't see her at all :) It's been fun seeing the age gap close between her and Fiona [above, center]. It makes me so happy to see my girls connect and have little friends.

Some coconut cupcakes frozen from Vera's party, some carrot cake from my bday and a few store-bought chocolate cupcakes - nice and easy :)

She thought about the chocolate for a minute, but opted for the Barefoot Contessa coconut - that's my girl! It was quite a big cupcake, but she ate the entire thing.

I've had this felt for like 3 years and about an hour before the party thought I'd make a little birthday headband. It took literally 5 minutes! She looked pretty cute.

Vera was so happy for it to be Edie's birthday - such a great big sister.

*feliz

2011-10-11T23:17:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday little Eden Violet Siu-Lan!

I will elaborate later, but we are just so grateful for this little sweetheart.

*el perrito

2011-10-06T20:12:00.005-06:00

In the last couple weeks Edie has really grown attached to Puppy. Puppy was one of the original trio along with Bunny and Monkey [Ben and I are as into the loveys as our kids are. and obviously we are very creative with their names]. She does love Becca Bunny, but when you lay her down in bed she will toss all other animals aside to snuggle up with Puppy. Tomorrow I need to make sure he's not in the same room when we start a meal or her bath because she freaks out if you try to remove him. It's so sweet - seeing a baby attach to something like that and find such comfort in it.

♥

*field trips

2011-10-05T19:35:00.007-06:00

Families from Vera's preschool have been taking a little field trip every Wednesday. I've really enjoyed it - sometimes without a scheduled or purposeful outing I end up wasting the day around the house. I also really like all the other moms and love just getting out and talking to people. ALSO we live in an absolutely amazing place with so many things to do.

The first one was to the Snowbird ski resort where we rode the tram up and then walked around on top of the mountain. It was so incredibly beautiful!! I really love these mountains.

Another one we went to This is the Place heritage park. Basically where "Brother Brigham" saw the Salt Lake valley and decided they'd found the promised land. Or something like that. It would have been fun to have Ben along to add more historical knowledge - there's some interesting and fascinating things he's learned that you don't necessarily learn on your tour at Temple Square! Anyway, it was really a neat place - they got to see how they lived in the old times, got to pan for gold, see a working blacksmith shop, ride a pony and pet some animals.

Vera plowing:

washing and ironing the linens:

holy cow this bunny was so cute. teeny teeny tiny!

unfortunately it was behind wire mesh and I couldn't hold it.

The schoolhouse was really neat. I wished Vera had worn her sweet little yellow Little House on the Prairie dress.

This week was up at Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon. We've done this little walk several times - it was fun to reminisce: the first time when I was pregnant with Vera, once when she was a month or two old and we saw a big bull moose just off the path [along with crazy tourists approaching it to take pictures!!], the time we went with the Hunts and our cute little toddlers had such a good time together... It was raining and storming in the valley, but I decided to go anyway. I figured at least we'd see the Fall colors before the snowstorm later this week wipes it away. It rained the whole way up, was clear for our walk, and then rained the drive down - perfect!

*el baile

2011-10-03T22:09:00.003-06:00

Vera had her first ballet class this afternoon! I think I was almost as excited as she was! As we pulled up to the center she said, "I get to meet the wonderful wonderful girls!" The class went even better than I thought it would - the teacher was incredibly sweet and fun, but also very professional and kept the class so orderly. All the girls were completely captivated - it was adorable!!! There is nothing like seeing your children radiate happiness.

She's wearing the pink leotard with no skirt - on the right::

***

and a video:

*la nena camina

2011-10-03T21:29:00.002-06:00

Edie took her first steps a couple weeks ago, but hasn't really felt much like moving forward from there. I always try to get her to walk more, and it's so cute how she'll grip my fingers even harder - knowing what I'm trying to do :) Anyway, today I was taking a video of her being silly and she took these 5 little steps! Most she's done so far:

*de la camara

2011-10-02T20:35:00.006-06:00

These were on the camera from the last few days. Taken by mom, dad and Vera. We really need to take more pictures outside!

she also got one of me bending over to pick something up .... I'll post this one:

little birds waiting to be fed:

he's a good dad.

*cloth this time around

2011-09-29T10:15:00.004-06:00

I love to see clean, colorful stacks of freshly folded diapers.

I was pretty good at using cloth diapers with Vera [look how cute she was!] - especially from 6-7 months on. However, I never used them at night and I would often use a disposable if we were going to be out of the house for a while or if I just felt like it. I was a little more determined with Edie, since I had all these diapers that I'd already bought! I also received a few new ones as gifts, bought some nice used ones on diaperswappers.com (some I think weren't actually even 'used'), and borrowed some extras for the newborn stage. Ok and I bought 2 expensive ones for nighttime use. For the first few months I would still use a disposable at night and sometimes during the day. I finally decided I needed to go all or nothing to really reap the savings.

So several months ago I made a little challenge for myself [usually a good way to get myself to do anything! I am a little competitive you could say]: mid-May I had one pack of diapers and told myself that I couldn't buy another until July 1. I started using them verrry sparingly - like just at nighttime. Then one night I didn't have one to use! I'd even searched in the car, the strollers, under the bed, etc. And guess what?! It wasn't that big of a deal! I'm not saying she smelled super fresh in the morning, but it hadn't leaked and I was doing a wash anyway. After that I bought some diapers when we were at Lake Tahoe [though I also used some gdiaper compostable inserts we were given - they are great!] Then I *challenged* myself to not buy any more wipes. I mean $6 for a pack that lasts ... a month? That's 2 lattes :) I already have a lot of cloth wipes that were given to me, the wipe solution, a wipe warmer - but was often using disposable because it's slightly more convenient. You throw it all in the washer together anyway. So now I don't buy wipes except for the diaper bag. I will admit that laundering has been a bit of a hassle. We have really hard water and a very small front-loading machine that doesn't use a lot of water. It's taken a lot of experimenting to see what gets the diapers the cleanest. I think I figured something out, hopefully it will keep working until she potty-trains [hopefully earlyish like Vera!] So that's my long story. I doubt anyone is reading anymore, haha. I like to have it documented.

*

2011-09-26T21:01:00.002-06:00

The other day, Vera colored for almost six hours straight. I am not exaggerating! She started around 9:00, took a small break for lunch and then kept on coloring through quiet time. She worked through 2 hello kitty books [one of those really fun books where they give you the ideas to fill in the picture], a do-a-dot coloring book and some melissa and doug pages. It was quite amazing - I doubt she has ever in her life focused on one thing for that long!

I love the smiles she added to the hello kitties!

*la cocina

2011-09-20T13:49:00.010-06:00

Like everyone else, I am LOVing the Fall bounty. That along with that slight difference in the light, the cool air in the morning, a sweet little baby more lovable every minute, Vera so glad to be back in school - well I am just feeling happy. I feel in a rush to eat as many fresh herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, herbs, basil (along with fresh mozzarella, goat cheese, feta...) as I can!! and wine, it goes pretty well with it all too. There's [almost] nothing I love better than pasta with fresh herbs, tomatoes, pinenuts, garlic and parmesan. This has actually been the worst year ever for my garden, especially for tomatoes. Bummer because I have the time and energy this year to can/preserve! Last year I had to force myself to can the remaining boxes and boxes that ripened in our basement after Edie was born. I think the cherry tree by the garden shaded it too much and I may not have watered enough in the beginning. Also it was a slow, wet start to the season and I know a lot of farmers haven't done as well. Not my neighbors though - theirs are exploding. and I know Tia doesn't mind if I hop over to borrow a few :)

My favorite way to preserve the tomatoes is making a roasted sauce and then just freezing it flat in ziplock bags. I got the recipe from this awesome Stonewall Kitchen harvest cookbook I have [maybe I've shared this before?]. Basically you just half a bunch of tomatoes [I scrape out most the seeds and liquid], quarter an onion or two, a couple whole cloves of garlic, some red pepper flakes and chop up any sort of vegetable you [or your neighbors] have: zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, bell pepper, fennel... Then drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper and roast it hot for about an hour, stirring once or twice in the middle. You can then add some fresh herbs, sugar or balsamic vinegar, puree it and then eat or freeze! It's especially good with rigatoni, italian sausage and mozzarella. I LOVE this!! It's so great to have in the freezer all winter.

We've been going through a pretty rough period with Vera. A lot to think about. One thing I realized [again] the other day is what a nice, sweet time we have together when she helps me make something in the kitchen.

When Vera was small, I rarely attempted to cook anything if she was awake. I guess I've figured out how to manage a little better. Edie will stay content in the ergo for a little while, in the high chair with some snacks for a bit and then is pretty happy to play around in the living room for a while too. I usually have time to make the thing, but not enough to clean up : )

I ♥ my plate from Granada!

Speaking of good eating, Ben and I got to go out last weekend for a really good dinner at the Copper Onion. We shared a really really amazing caesar salad, beets and fries. I had a tri-tip steak with chimichurri and fingerling potatoes and Ben had beef stroganoff on house-made pasta [that sounds gross. but it was amaaaaazing]. For dessert I had a goat cheese with quince paste. My whole meal felt "típico" of Argentina. So I was happy :) and the wine was so good! Juan Gil - look for it. Ben's mom treated us to the wine as a congrats to Ben who won a fellowship in the last week. He's been working so hard on his dissertation [chapter 3!] and it was a nice treat to go out.

*más videos

2011-09-19T13:22:00.006-06:00

Vera has a renewed interest in dancing and I finally got a video the other day:

and another of Eden:

Edie is so excited when I get home, it really makes me feel loved. I tried to catch it on video the other day - her reaction wasn't quite as intense as it usually is, but still sweet :)

I made the mistake a long time ago of letting Vera play with the couch cushions - it's hard to go back on that rule. Anyway, we took them all off the other night and Edie thought it was so fun. They were so cute bouncing together. and yes, Edie is wearing a coconut bra.

*this is edie!

2011-09-17T20:42:00.004-06:00

We have a lot of videos of Vera as a little one, and so I've really been trying to catch some good ones of Edie. I finally just compiled bits from the last couple months, so we can remember what she was like at this stage. Of course she would rarely perform her tricks for the camera, but I got some cute moments. Mostly of her looking at books - I guess I just like to see her little brain working as she flips the pages, thinks about what she's seeing. One video in the middle I saved because there was a presidential speech on in the background. I thought it will be interesting to hear it someday in the future. He talks about the "dismal state of our country" - it's kind of sad to hear as you watch an innocent little baby playing on the floor! Anyway, here it is. You will likely find it boring, but I'll have it to watch over and over when my baby is no longer a baby:

By the way, I added a link to our youtube page on the right of the blog. For you family members who like to watch them over and over too : )

*

2011-09-16T10:07:00.005-06:00

Sam and Amelia came over yesterday after school as their mama was getting ready to have their baby sister (!) They had a great afternoon playing together - such good little friends. When we dropped them off, Vera said she wants to live with them.

This was right after Vera asked Sam to marry her, "because she's a grown up now." I think he said yes - see her smile :)

Here they are discussing what they are going to play. I didn't catch all of it, but wrote down a few snippets.

We are good princesses and you are a king.
How about I be a bad turtle?
No, how about we be bad princesses and you be a bad king and...
Do you want to marry us?
No.
Ugh! You have to marry us!
Ha, I turned you into a prince.
I don't want to - I turned myself back into a little boy.
[not too much later] Ok. I will marry you, as long as you don't be mean.

*déjala sola!!

2011-09-12T20:50:00.007-06:00

[leave her alone!!]

Vera is constantly wanting to hug and squeeze and touch and kiss and grab and pat her little sister. Mostly it's harmless, but it still drives me a little nuts. Please just let.her.a.lone.! I've tried to not let it bother me as much in the last few days - I mean she really just loves her to pieces and can't help herself. A few times it's not so innocent. Like yesterday: Vera what happened? Well, um, you see.... um well my teeth were there and then her hand was there. and um then her hannnnd was um, near my teeth and...

*11 months

2011-09-11T15:02:00.004-06:00

What an incredible incredible joy this little Edie is!!! Her first 5ish months were a little rough - she always seemed to have little tummy troubles and was quite fussy. You could never tell now - she is so happy and fun and mellow and silly and wonderful. I absolutely love all her little ways and keep failing at catching them on video. The way she shows you something, snatches it away, shows you again saying "zshish!", how she babbles and talks like she really thinks she's saying something, how excited she is when Vera gets up in the morning or when we say hi to Daddy after nap or how she reacts when I get home from work. How she sucks her thumb when she is sleepy or wants to nurse or lately when you hand her any of the soft little toys she usually sleeps with. How excited she was when I started giving her whole crackers not too long ago. I love her teeny little wiry body, pulling herself up on any and everything.

as far as development.....

She is cruising pretty easily and took one kind-of step yesterday. She was standing away from any support, took one step in place and then fell down. I kind of think it doesn't count as a first step - but it's a start! [Vera was already walking by this point] She has a couple words which is hard to believe, but she has said them more than once in the right context. She says leaf "zsheaf" and started saying bird "biiir" the other day. When she sees Boone she says Ba or Da and I think she gets Mama and Dada. She can bockbock like a chicken and woof [kind of ] like a dog. She is good at mimicking what we try to get her to say which is pretty neat. She has said byebye a few times and signed "more" for the first time yesterday - we'll see if it repeats. Her napping is inconsistent - sometimes great, sometimes not, but at least she takes them! I'm also muuuch more relaxed about it :) She sleeps downstairs in the guest room now and pretty much sleeps 12 hours at night with a few minor cries here and there. and she has four little tooths.

I wanted to get a picture of her in her sweet little dress today - I remember it being the same one Vera wore when she was exactly 11 months, but she somehow took it off during her nap today. Ben said she cried out once and then fell back asleep - poor thing, kind of funny imagining her trying to take it off :)

Here is Vera at 11 months. [Jen, the picture was from Graham's baby shower!]

*Bun

2011-09-09T10:18:00.004-06:00

Bunny lost one of her eyes [again] a week or two ago. Vera was really upset and wanted to take her to a real hospital. I suggested we call our neighbor, Bryan, who is a nurse but she was concerned because he's not an animal nurse. Anyway, Bunny spent the day sick in her little sleeping bag. I still haven't fixed her eye - I'm worried about making things worse!

It all makes me think of the Velveteen Rabbit. A friend gave us a copy not too long ago and it was really interesting watching Vera as I read it to her. She was intrigued, but also a little wary. She does not want her Bunny to leave anytime soon to become real. At the end of the story I had big tears streaming down my face - it's such a sweet story and pulls at your emotions in all sorts of ways. It's been really sweet to watch Vera grow with her relationship with Bun and I don't want to see it fade because that would mean she's growing up :(

I made this little sleeping bag for Vera's birthday :)

*libritos

2011-09-09T10:01:00.003-06:00

Edie is really into books lately and I LOVE it. Yesterday I watched her flip through this big animal book for like 15 minutes. She was making all sorts of noises, pointing at the pictures, kissing them, growling at them, talking to them. I just sat and watched - it's so magical to see a baby become aware of the world around them. Then I tried to sneak away to grab the camera and of course broke the spell. The ones she usually gravitates towards are the big "100 first animals" we have from the library, Where is Baby's Belly Button, Pat the Bunny, this little collection of Winnie the Pooh books [which I find surprising since she obviously doesn't understand a story.. I think she likes their size] and anything with dogs.

*

2011-09-08T22:31:00.002-06:00

She couldn't quite figure out how to eat a cracker and suck her thumb at the same time:

*un picnic

2011-08-31T20:32:00.003-06:00

We met up with James, Vicky, Jack and Fiona up at Mill Creek last weekend for a little walk and picnic. It's so awesome that such a fun, tranquil little place exists about 14 minutes from our house!!

Vera loves this guy:

Look at us hip mamas with our ergos! Edie and Fiona got a kick out of each other - it's fun to see them interact more and more each time we hang out. Sorry you didn't quite make the picture, Vicky!

whew the water was cold!!

thank you blogger for automatically rotating my picture the wrong way:

*

2011-08-28T23:14:00.003-06:00

And here's one he caught of me and my first little girl:

We both enjoy moments with just the 2 of us - like it was in the old days :)

*

2011-08-28T13:20:00.004-06:00

Ben brought Edie in our room the other morning and she crawled over to me, flipped around and lay next to me like this. She was completely still for like 10 minutes, just letting me rub her little back. She is so precious, it makes my heart hurt!!

*pescaderos

2011-08-27T13:58:00.007-06:00

::gorgeous photo courtesy of mike cater::

Ben and his dad went up fishing on Strawberry Reservoir one day and had such a good time that we all went up together again later in the week. We rented a big fishing boat and had a really nice day catching rainbows and barbecuing on the shore. Vera and I caught 2 decent trout on her new 3 foot long Dora pole!

I like this one:

Bummer her head is cut off here :/ can you believe she's holding the fish? She's come a long way: remember this video? one of my favorites!!

We also went to the pool a couple times. Vera is now "swimming" in the deep water with a life vest on - she's really proud of herself!

*qué calor!

2011-08-26T21:53:00.007-06:00

Whew it's been so hot this week! It's actually been the nicest, mildest summer yet - this is the first time I've really felt the heat. I think we've only hit 100 like twice [I like to throw it out there that the summer I was pregnant with Vera was the hottest on record with something like 20+ days over 100]... anyway, the temptation to stay inside is pretty high, but I really don't do well if we stay home and I don't have a good plan for the day. Usually I end up spending the whole day trying to clean up the living room or clean out their toys, moving piles from here to there while Edie and Vera mess them up. So anyway on Thursday we decided to take a little picnic to Red Butte Gardens, even though it was roasting outside. We had a nice little time together looking at the flowers and enjoying our lunch. I let Vera take as many pictures as she wanted which she thought was soo fun. A sampling:

***

I really want to learn how to grow/train one of these trees that make a little fort-space underneath - so magical :) Edie was piling wood chips up on the chair - she's starting to 'organize' things like that and it's so cute.

She took exactly 28 pictures of these fish:

*familia

2011-08-26T21:33:00.006-06:00

Ben's parents were here for a week recently and we are still feeling the emptiness after visitors leave. It was such - a - good - time! Really there is nothing like seeing your children get to know their grandparents [and cousins and aunties/uncles, old friends...]. It was especially wonderful to see them get to know Edie this time - she really has the cutest little personality now!! I loved hearing her giggle and 'talk' with them - so fun. Vera loved having them here too - she jumped right in with a picnic and a "hula-hoop show" in the driveway as they arrived and had painted them a welcome sign and pictures before.

Hopefully I can get the other pictures off Ben's camera - I hardly took any with mine. Here they are, mostly of the day we hiked up to Cecret Lake to see the wildflowers. Seriously, we live in such a beautiful place! That picture above is from Mike's camera - the flowers were so beautiful.

the welcome picnic:

lots of stories were read:

and of course, we ate really really well.

*thirsties

2011-08-25T23:22:00.005-06:00

I can't believe I'm doing this, but in order to get some bonus entries in this giveaway, I am posting about it! It's to win 2 of these Thirsties "duo" diapers. I bought one recently and really really like it! I've been using it for Edie at nighttime and it never leaks. I used a disposable a few nights ago and even it leaked onto her jammies! Also I'd get 2 hemp prefolds... I hear hemp washes better and I would really love to try it for free!! Anyway, hope I win a couple new ones :) Please forgive this shameless use of my blog.

I apologize for not updating recently: it's what happens when too many pictures/thoughts/experiences pile up - I don't know where to start...

Here's a cute little bottom in the meantime:

*birth-month

2011-08-22T21:24:00.003-06:00

Lucky Vera gets to celebrate her birthday pretty much over a whole month. A couple weeks ago Tia, who missed the first party, threw a little bday dinner for Vera and Graham [his is the 21st - I can't believe they are 3 and 4 years old!!!]. It was such a fun evening - she made them both feel so special and loved! What would we do without our amazing neighbors???

**I'm getting behind - lots to catch up on! Lots to get done around here too and I am finding how efficient I can be when I limit my internet time....**

*wings

2011-08-13T14:17:00.002-06:00

I forgot, she also really sincerely thinks she can fly if she's wearing tinkerbell wings. She thinks she just needs to jump the right way or maybe get some real pixie dust. Ben has a scar above his eyebrow from thinking he could fly at about the same age. Flew right into a glass coffee table, I think. So we try to tell her to be really really careful and not jump off things. "But I didn't jump! I flied!!"

*4 años

2011-08-13T13:25:00.003-06:00

It is so amazing to see how a child develops in 4 short years!! We enjoy Vera so incredibly much - it is so fun to see her still-sweet innocence and naivety, her joy, her curiosity, her silliness and her eagerness to learn. She can now swing all by herself, sound out 3 letter words [they have to be small: she tried to sound out the l-a-d-d-e-r phonics flashcard, gave up and guessed "window"!], get the stuff out and make a pbj, write Bunny, Mommy, Daddy, Edie and Vera, add small numbers [really small] ..... it's all truly amazing and so much fun.

She spends much of her time "making a stage," dressing up, making tents and forts, reading books, coloring and making things for her friends, playing in her sandbox, making a picnic, pretending it's Bunny's birthday, looking in Edie's toes for toe jam [yes that is gross], tickling Edie and trying to hug her.

Here she was dressed up, dressing up all her stuffed animals so they could get in a train to go to ballet class where she would be the teacher.

Here she was at UNO DOS and TRES años. It just took me like an hour to look up those links -it's so easy to get diverted reading back on the blog! I love it. I really really need to get it printed out somehow in case the internet collapses.

*

2011-08-09T23:33:00.004-06:00

Edie was looking so cute after our walk on Sunday in her Aunt Liz screen-printed t-shirt - I had to take pictures:

Her little bottom is pretty cute too:

Liz screen-printed my shirt too! She should sell them!

Poor baby had her first fever yesterday and today. She did have a tooth break through this morning - hopefully that's all it was :( So sad to see her a tad miserable. This morning she wouldn't let me put her down and just snuggled into my chest. Sweet thing, we all love her so much!

*caminata

2011-08-09T23:21:00.002-06:00

We went for a nice little walk up in Park City on Sunday - a thousand feet up is at least several degrees cooler! I wish I could say Vera is a good little hiker, but she just prefers to be in the stroller :) ... and Edie preferred to be held! Anyway, it's so pretty up there.

It's so weird to live somewhere that if I wear a t-shirt and a long skirt I can't help but feel self-conscious that everyone is going to think I'm mormon! Is that terrible?

You should ask Vera to tell the story of when we saw the little snake and Daddy got scared :)

*el hambre

2011-08-08T17:52:00.003-06:00

I just posted a bunch of pictures of new dress up clothes for my 2 healthy, happy, sweet girls. As I uploaded the pictures, we were watching the evening news. I often stress about having too many clothes and toys, and we were hearing about 37THOUSAND children dying of hunger in the last months [I didn't catch the exact time frame.] One mom walked 3 months toward food, losing 2 children on the way. It just makes my heart break - it is so incomprehensible, and makes me feel silly attempting to put such tragedy into words. I mean we're meeting at our neighbor's tonight for burgers and beer and birthday cake. I really hope that I would "pray without ceasing" for these hungry families, for grace and mercy and food. As broke as we are, we can still afford to donate something! Here's where we do.

*dress-up

2011-08-08T14:13:00.006-06:00

Rosie always gets the most fun dress up clothes! Here was an attempt to get a photo of Edie in the adorable baby rice hat Rosie and Jessie found in Hawaii. As you can tell, she thinks it's really fun too:

Vera wearing her super-fun new belly dancing skirt. She was making a "surprise dinner" for me here:

I love this picture:

This one was from Auntie Carol. I rarely let Vera wear dress up clothes out and about, but she really really wanted to wear this to the store the other day so I let her. She feels sooo special in it:

*dos videos

2011-08-07T13:30:00.004-06:00

1) Edie loved Gegi. Most or all babies/kids do! Everytime Edie saw her she would growl or laugh like they had a private joke going.

2)I haven't had a good video of Vera dancing in a long time. You probably can't detect the subtlety [I had to google that spelling!] of her little moves, but it was pretty cute. Especially the trying-not-to-smile-smile. Also George and Ben, pretty cool!

*in short

2011-08-06T21:37:00.001-06:00

We had a really really wonderful time!

*angora lakes

2011-08-06T21:24:00.003-06:00

I've made the yearly hike up to Angora Lakes since I was a kid. The first time I did it as an adult I realized it's not much of a hike - more like a little walk. It's so beautiful up there, quaint and old timey feeling. We got fresh lemonade and lemonade popsicles and sat on the beach just hanging out while the older cousins went across the lake to jump off the cliffs.

I asked why she poses like this and she said it's to look beautiful:

Edie was supercute that day laughing and laughing and making tracks in the sand with her funny little crawl.

*the lake

2011-08-05T09:06:00.011-06:00

A *few* more pictures from Tahoe....

Edie's first time on the sand. I was worried she would eat big mouthfuls, but she mostly picked it up and held it high, watching it fall, ran her hands through it. I did have to watch closely [I only actually laid down or closed my eyes on the beach like twice] or she'd eat a rock, feather, pinecone or piece of trash.

Vera and Marie are exactly 3 years apart:

Dad/Papa Sam/SamWard:

my handsome husband:

poor thing couldn't move:

on the way to Emerald Bay [saying that just got the M.S. Dixie song in my head]:

my Grandma Kay came up for the day, it was so nice to see her with all the great-grandchildren:

Vera and Eliot. They had a LOT of fun together - playing [and bickering :( ] like brother and sister. Ay, every year she learns a few new bad habits.

Liz and Sarah:

on our 7th anniversary - the little bday party for Vera and Marie. We're hoping to go out somewhere fancy this week or next...

the two biggest cousins - they were so sweet with both Vera and Edie!

Vera loved blowing up the inner tubes. The first day she blew it up all by herself and was so so so excited to float on her own. "Look I'm floating!!" over and over and over. I then went up to the house while Sarah watched her - they came up about 30 minutes later with Vera wailing because she'd "sunk." It was pretty cute listening to her story of how it happened :)

Cute mom+daughter:

cutie patootie. I loved looking at her cute little diaperless bottom in her swimsuit :)

We had a no TV policy and so Spitfire and Speed became the games of the day:

Dana, Tim, Ellie, baby Edie (barely 3 weeks! Dana is amazing) and Maiga came to visit for a day which was so great! Maiga came up for another day the next week - so fun to see her. I hope we can go visit someday - she lives in Hamburg just a 4 hour drive [according to google] from Stella in Holland ... maybe we can arrange it. If everyone reading this sends me $25.

cookies! Olivia was so kind and patient with a very eager helper:

*bebita y perrito

2011-08-02T14:07:00.002-06:00

Rooney is George's new beagle puppy. How cute are they together?! Over the 2 weeks Edie really started noticing/loving the dogs. She would even always seem to say "bah" when she wanted to see them and makes an attempt at "woof" when you ask what a doggie says. Vera, on the other hand, was scared of Rooney like he was a little monster or something. The first day Gegi had told her to be careful because he likes to jump and bite - Vera wouldn't take a step out the door after that :)

*primera fiesta

2011-07-30T21:01:00.003-06:00

Vera turned 4 yesterday!!!! We had a little party with the family last weekend, since Marie has a birthday this weekend too [she's 7 now, canyoubelieveit?] Vera has been SO EXCITED about it all - pure joy.

Marie after reading her parents' card saying she can get her ears pierced :)

*

2011-07-30T20:54:00.003-06:00

We got back last night from Tahoe and are slowly unpacking and organizing [a little procrastinating too]. I've had a few requests for updates, but in the meantime here's a little one of Edie before we left, signing "all done." She is starting to sign it at the appropriate time, at first she would at the beginning of the meal. Anyway, I just want to eat her up. ♥

*Edie crawls and climbs

2011-07-09T13:43:00.003-06:00

Edie is crawling now - a little wobbly and awkwardly, but moving nonetheless. She's also just started signing "all done", waving bye-bye [once in a while] and playing peek-a-boo [holding something up to her face or ducking her head and popping up again]. It's all pretty cute, hopefully I can get a video.

**Does anyone know how to post a youtube video without it cutting off the side?**

*el otro día

2011-07-09T13:29:00.003-06:00

Edie loves Vera's baby doll. Every time she sees it she says what sounds like a sweet "Hiiiieee" and touches her face and holds her close and then chews on her toes. She also really loves Bunny, but rarely will Vera let her be touched.

Vera posing too with Bunny and "Bunny's cousin," a half-painted wooden figure.

Then I tried for a little sister photoshoot - not very successful, but cute. I'm not as happy with our camera as I used to be. I don't know if it got on some weird setting, but the quality doesn't seem as good as I remember it...

♥

*

2011-07-07T12:22:00.003-06:00

I have to remember this one:

At Edie's appointment yesterday, Dr. Katie let Vera use her stethoscope. Vera put it to Edie's chest, listened hard and then commented that she didn't hear Jesus. Because, you know, Jesus lives in our hearts :) It was really cute - I loved how seriously she said it, not in any way trying to be 'cute'. In the past she has asked if Jesus is really tiny, and if he gets to our hearts by going down our throats.

It's really fascinating how a little child is such a blank slate - you have to explain everything! On the 4th we tried to explain that it was our country's birthday - first having to explain what a country is [I should scan and upload Ben's cute hand-drawn map :)] Yesterday in the car we had a fun little conversation. I remember my sister-in-law lamenting that her older daughter said less and less of these cute, innocent things - I want to savor it!

V: Why do cars go fast?

Me: Well because we want to get somewhere fast. If we had to walk, it would take a really really long time. A long time ago, like when Jesus was alive, there weren't any cars. They had to walk or ride donkeys or horses.

V: Well they could take a train!

Me: No, no trains.

V: Schoolbuses?

Me: Nope.

V: Well they could take a plane then!

Me: No, no airplanes either. They weren't invented yet.

V: How about a fairy house?

Me: Ummmm I don't think so.

V: Well they can fly.

*el cuatro

2011-07-05T14:11:00.006-06:00

We had a really fun 4th of July weekend! On the 4th itself we had our friends over for a little bbq. The weather was perfect - warm, but a little overcast. We could hear the big concert going on at the park and lots of fireworks going off all over the place. The kids were so excited and had a great time playing together. I meant to have Vera take a picture of us moms and dads at the table, but forgot.

Amelia preferred to watch some of the fireworks from inside:

*sparklers are so much fun!*

Saturday night we went to a church potluck/bbq which was really fun too. Good company, good food, perfect weather. We didn't stay for the fireworks, however, knowing there would be some near our house Monday night. Again, no pictures of the grown-ups. I will be sorry when we eventually move and don't have pictures of our friends!

Vera and Jack:

*los guisantes

2011-07-05T13:55:00.002-06:00

We loved fresh peas from our garden so much last year that I made a note to plant a lot this year. I did plant about 4x as many, but will do even more next time! I wanted to make a sweet pea risotto or something, but they all get eaten right there in the garden. So sweet, fresh, wonderful: nothing at all like the frozen peas I grew up hiding in my pockets or throwing under the table at dinnertime.

I tried to recreate the pictures from last year, but Vera of course wasn't wanting to cooperate. They're still sweet - she is such a grown-up kid!

*la nena

2011-07-01T14:26:00.003-06:00

Still not fully crawling, but mobile enough to get stuck in corners:

She can pull up on a few things - still hasn't learned that she has to hold on though! There have been a few sideways crashes.

*el dedito

2011-06-26T16:55:00.003-06:00

Edie has been sucking her thumb for a couple weeks and it is so freaking adorable - at least I think so :) She mostly does it when she's tired or hungry and when we [usually me, since I'm associated with food] pick her up or lay her down in bed. Ahhhh!! I love it how she snuggles into my shoulder, overcome with comfort.

*

2011-06-25T22:34:00.004-06:00

I just found my camera cord after a week or two of it missing - here's a few random pictures from the last couple weeks:

Edie loves her jumper more than ever. I get worried sometimes she's going to get shaken baby syndrome!

Vera and her little buddy, Graham:

making lemonade with Amelia:

a beautiful day at the park:

the double swing:

*

2011-06-22T14:07:00.003-06:00

Vera just came out of quiet time holding four bean bags: "These are to kill the Elians [Aliens] that are in our house! There are real ones - in my room! The bean bags are for shouting at them and saying go go go away! Then when they are gone we will have a party and Mom, you'll make a strawberry cake. Two of them! The Elians are going to die, so that's why we have to shout! and kill them!" She even showed me one of the Elians - a baby my little pony hidden in a rainbow slinky. There was even more about swords and spikey bodies and bean bags knocking them over, I lost track and can't transcribe that fast.

*Dad-o

2011-06-19T11:13:00.003-06:00

These two girls are so blessed to have the daddy they do. When I met him he couldn't even remember meeting a small child, and now to see him so natural, comfortable, FUN and LOVING with his daughters is just amazing. Vera loves him so so so much, you have no idea. Even little Edie's love for him is apparent and I just love to see her light up when she sees him. Fatherhood suits you well, Ben!

*

2011-06-12T14:44:00.003-06:00

Our zoo has a special exhibit going on right now with pretty realistic, moving, roaring, spitting dinosaurs scattered around the park. Vera had already been there with Ben, and so the whole ride there she assured me that they are just pretend and not to be scared. Well she was pretty scared! We had a fun morning checking them out with our friends. Thankful for the zoo membership my brother's family got us for Christmas!

I bribed her to take this picture with me:

Sam's not scared! Or at least doesn't know quite what to think...

*ocho mesitos!

2011-06-11T13:57:00.009-06:00

8 months already!! I hate to say it, because we all know it's true, but time is flying by. Seriously! Now that she's past the small baby stage, I want it to slow..down.. We all love this little cutie so much - she brings so much happiness and fun into our lives. She's on the verge of crawling, maybe another week or two [Vera crawled at exactly 8 mos.]. She has two little toofs on the bottom now and her hair is growing and not standing straight up anymore. She's finally started to seem interested in reading books, or is at least noticing the pictures. She's never been either excited about or averse to baby food, but seems to really like the tiny [more like micro] bits of solid food I've started giving her: mango, avocado and grape so far. I have a horrible suspicion that she is going to have major problems with dairy, which would be -to quote Vera via Strawberry Shortcake- the worst thing that could happen!! I'll try yogurt again in a month or so - the two times she's had it she seemed to have a major tummy ache the rest of the day: hopefully it's just coincidence. I just love her little babbling voice, when she puts her head on my shoulder, how she's started to suck her thumb [today she fell back on her head and was crying pretty hard. I cuddled her against my chest and she leaned against me, sucking her thumb for several minutes - it was really adorable], how she loves to laugh with Vera: it's all so fun.

She still doesn't nap well - anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour (once in a while longer). Nighttime is much much better than my last report. She goes to bed between 6-7 and sleeps until 5-6am when I feed her and put her back down for another hour or two. If she wakes before then I ignore her and she falls back asleep on her own pretty quickly, usually without even crying. She's been sleeping downstairs in the guest room for a few weeks now which has helped - it has actually been really easy! One night [the one I proclaimed on facebook] she slept alll the way through. It hasn't happened again, but I'm fine with waking once a night.

Every day when she wakes up from a nap we knock on Daddy's door to say hi and play a couple peek-a-boos. She gets so excited - I love it.

hanging out with daddy for a minute

*una lista

2011-06-08T21:06:00.002-06:00

I love lists. My sister's friend had a blog devoted to just lists of things which I thought was a great idea [she hasn't posted a new one in at least a year - are you reading this?]. Isn't it fun to get inspired suddenly to write a random list? I hate when a good list starts in my head when I'm out on a walk or something without a pen.

Anyway, I found this one in my cookbook binder today and I think I'm going to put it up in my cupboard. It's always so hard to think of what to make for dinner! This was a list of the top 20 meals I make on a semi-regular basis. I would really love to hear anyone's -say- top 5 list in the comments :) I like new ideas and am more likely to make it if someone I know [and trust] says make this!

In no particular order. With comments because I feel like commenting on them:

1. spaghetti
2. 5 1/2 hour no peek stew [via Rosie]
3. broccoli pasta [a nostalgic favorite from San Diego days and my friend, SH. Ben doesn't love it.]
4. chile verde [I have no idea how this made it on the list. maybe I made it for the first/only time that day]
5. meatloaf
6. rice and bean bowls w/ salsa, avocado, etc. [I could eat this every other day]
7. tomato/feta/basil/pinenut pasta [via Rosie. I ♥ it! ask if you want the recipe!]
8. lasagne [I like it w/ italian sausage, spinach, bechamel, red sauce and lots of mozzarella]
9. meat + vegetable [so simple but I never think of it. what my parents eat every day]
10. taco soup [via Jenny. soo good]
11. chinese chicken salad [Rosie's recipe is the best]
12. grilled cheese and tomato soup
13. chicken pot pie [I only made it once but Ina Garten's recipe is SO GOOD]
14. empanadas [I use an old recipe from saveur... I love empanadas. I could eat like 20]
15. crockpot chicken w/ greens [I made this once. can't remember]
16. pizza [jamie oliver's dough recipe + tips from Benji at Luna Notte: milk and honey]
17. baked rigatoni with italian sausage, marinara and mozzarella
18. creamy polenta [ben doesn't love polenta: I do.]
19. pasta genovese [a favorite from a jamie oliver cookbook: pesto, green beans, potatoes, parmesan]
20. macaroni and cheese

and 5 more I added today:
21. spiced lentil tacos [epicurious.com]
22. burritos with refried beans, cilantro rice and homemade tortillas [made with coconut oil, yum]
23. pasta salad with leftover chicken, random vegetables and a little balsamic vinegar
24. grilled burgers [how was this not on my original 20?]
25. panini with prosciutto and grilled summer vegetables. [so so good, I always forget about this one.]

and Ben added:
26. fish and chips [we get this good frozen battered cod at whole foods and those frozen sweet potato fries. yum. vera loves dipping the fish in malt vinegar!]

*please do add a mini list in the comments!* even if it's just carob chips ;)

*

2011-06-08T20:59:00.002-06:00

Ben got this old swing set from craigslist this weekend. It was going to be $20, but after he had to purchase a metal file to get the old bolts loose as well as kill the wasps' nest inside, she let him have it for free. Totally brings me back to our old swing set on Iris Street - especially the 2-seater see-saw swing. So far it's a hit!

*firefly (luciénaga?)

2011-06-08T14:35:00.006-06:00

The other day Vera had a great idea [she always has "an idea!!"] - she put her wings on and then had Ben duct tape this flower planter to her bottom for a tail. She put a small bottle of nail polish in the tail "so that it will glow." Pretty stinkin cute... and funny. She got really mad because Ben probably couldn't keep a straight face and took pictures - and then got really mad because she didn't want me to even see the costume [I was putting baby to bed]. The whole thing ended with her having a bit of a fit in time-out. Poor thing :)

*

2011-06-05T14:41:00.004-06:00

Edie loves this - I set her down in front of the toy box and she rifles through the whole thing. It keeps her busy for while - like long enough for me to do the dishes. One of those "antiSoulemama" moments we have around here :)

mom, look at this one!

*amiguitos

2011-06-03T09:26:00.003-06:00

This is Fiona - Edie's first little baby friend ♥. Fiona just turned 1 and was 5 months old when Edie was born. It's been fun to see the age gap between them slowly get smaller and smaller. It will be so fun to see them play together!

Vera and Jack (her big brother) are about the same age difference and they have always been the greatest little friends, 2 peas in a pod for the most part. They definitely love being super silly together - one of the first times we went for a walk with them they shouted nonsense words back and forth from their strollers the whole time, laughing hysterically. The last couple times we've gotten together they come marching in from the playroom playing their instruments in a little show, it's really cute. Here was a perfect little photo opportunity as they read together on his little couch - I was about half a second too late and will have to try again:

Edie at their house practicing crawling skills:

*del jardín

2011-06-02T21:58:00.001-06:00

*

2011-05-29T21:13:00.002-06:00

she *loves* rolling around on our bed!

*la pintura

2011-05-29T20:35:00.002-06:00

Vera has always loved to paint, but until recently she didn't get to do it too often. It always seemed like such a hassle and a pain to get everything out, to cover surfaces, get her clean water etc. However, in the last couple months she has been painting every single day. I just let it go and realized it's not that big a deal. Sure her space is kind of a mess, but it doesn't extend elsewhere. I do get her clean water, but she pours her own paint, finds her own paper and can pretty much do it independently. Once in a while I clean up her table and organize her paintings - which, of course, are impossible to throw away! I love each and every one :)

Here's a few...

a TV in the middle, a bottle of rainbow juice on the left:

She likes to fold the paper to make a mirror image [learned at preschool]. This was Edie's birth announcement which I've been meaning to post on here [for 4 months now] since I got really disorganized sending them out and lost track of who got one! sorry if you were one of those!

one of many family portraits - I love the little Eden:

the art table:

She pretty much does what she wants. I walked downstairs here as she was painting her hands to make prints:

*

2011-05-23T21:34:00.003-06:00

Ben sent me this picture while I was at work today - it made me smile.

"Edie's rehearsal dinner"

*el pan

2011-05-22T15:46:00.002-06:00

Hopefully Vera learns better from her grandma than me: my bread is always heavy and dense - my mom's is light and fluffy and heavenly :)