Enjoying the Arboretum

While Steve was in Kansas City for the weekend, I decided to take the girls to the Dallas Arboretum to enjoy the beautiful weather and the scenery.

 Emma had so much fun feeling the grass.  I *think* I retrieved every piece that ended up in her mouth.

Loving the fresh air!

Sara toured all of the "play houses", and had lots of fun in the covered wagon.  She informed me that people rode on covered wagons before there were refrigerators and pantries, so they had to ride with their food.  There is truth and logic embedded in there!

 We all enjoyed our picnic on the grass.  As you can see, my girls are serious about snacks.

Beautiful sisters.

 

Sara loved all of the flowers.  She really wanted to pick some, but stuck to just looking and smelling.  Maybe she'll inherit the green thumb that my mom and sister have, but that skipped me. 

What a wonderful day with my girls!

Book Talk

Steve bought me The Girl Who Fell From the Sky because he thought it looked like something I would read.  He knows me so well.  I loved this story of a young biracial girl who moves in with her grandmother after tragically losing the rest of her family and has to find her footings both as an orphan and as a child who doesn't really belong to any one group (or anyone, for that matter).  Each chapter is told from the perspective of a particular character; engaging and thoughtful. 

My sister recommended this book of short stories.  I love short stories because they are easy to pick up here and there when you only have a few minutes to read.  I also like them because they always leave you imagining an ending ... there is usually a lot of "what ifs" left when you finish reading, and although I enjoy an ending that wraps things up, I also like the intrigue that short stories create.  This particular collection was well-written and, for me, perfect for bedtime reading - when you want to read a little bit, but don't want to get sucked in to a whole book when right before it's time to go to sleep. 

Changing gears ...

We decided it was time to introduce Sara to chapter books!  Steve and I each read her a couple chapters before bed, and I can say we're all enjoying them very much.  We are both avid readers, and so we are very hopeful that we'll be able to instill of a love of - and appreciation for - reading in our girls.

The Easter Bunny arrived with books #1 and #2 of the Magic Tree House series.  They are easy to read with occasional illustrations, a perfect introduction to chapter books.  Jack and Annie, a brother and sister duo, discover a magical tree house in the woods behind their house, and quickly learn that it will take them to the places they find in their books.  Sara loves their adventures, and at bedtime says, "I wonder what Jack and Annie will do next!"  The other day when I asked if she wanted to run to the store with me, she said she had to grab her Target "credit card" (aka gift card) to buy more Jack and Annie books.  Unfortunately, we weren't going to Target ...

Sara loved Beezus and Ramona. In this book, Ramona is four-years-old, and Sara thought her antics were hysterical. She has been begging to get another book about Ramona (which makes me so happy because, I, too, think she is wonderful).

"I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library."

Jorge Luis Borges

April

April has almost come and gone without notice for me this year.  We've had some beautiful weather, evidenced by a recent three-hour Sunday park stint.  And like much of the rest of the country, we've had some unseasonably cool weather, too.  For the purposes of catch-up, I'll give you a few highlights of late.

• Emma is finally out of her little bath seat and bathing like a big girl.  She loves to splash, and Sara enjoys her company now more than ever in the tub.
• Steve took both girls to the doctor yesterday.  Emma had a recheck on her ears: they are still severely infected (that makes it consistent since December), so we are headed to the ENT in early May.  Sara had her annual allergy check, and unfortunately is still highly allergic to peanuts.  When the allergy was first discovered, the doc told us that if she were going to outgrow it, it would most likely happen by age five.  It's not looking promising, but we'll go back again next spring just to be sure.
• We did a lot of spring cleaning in our yard a couple weeks ago.  The new edging and mulch look great, and I planted a rose bush for the first time.  I hope it flourishes despite my brown thumb. 
• I have a new job opportunity for next year.  It'll be very different for me - outside of my realm of experience (and in many ways, my comfort zone), but I'm very excited about it.  More on that to come.
• One day last week, Emma's teacher texted me this picture with the caption, "Don't kill me...":

Yep, that's her first cheese puff.  I know she loved every second of it.  Like her sister, she has become a huge fan of snacks ... yogurt melts, puffs, graham crackers ...

• Steve is headed to KCMO this weekend for his annual draft-watching event.  I so wanted to go, and am terribly jealous, but it just didn't work out this time.
• I'm sure there's more, but I can't think right now.  I'll try to be back again soon!

Bluebonnets in Bloom

 

 

{just two pics}

{cheering}

 {concentrating}

Seven Months

Emma Grace is seven months old!  She is back to sleeping much better (which may mean we've finally found an antibiotic that is helping the ear infections that have been lingering since January ...), but as I'm not in a rush for her to get bigger, I'm reminding myself to be okay with the interruptions to my sleep that will be over for good some time soon.  The beauty of doing this a second time is having the perspective and understanding that such phases will pass; I'm trying not to be in a hurry.

 Emma is such a happy girl. She rarely cries or whines, and is quick to smile, giggle, and squeal. She likes playing peek-a-boo, enjoys chewing on anything she can get in her mouth, and is still enamored with watching Sara's every move. Their bond has been special from the start, and I still find myself so delighted by the fact that my girls each have a sister.

Emma has moved past the indifferent-about-toys stage; now if she's playing with something that drops or finds its way out of her grasp, she'll wiggle and reach for it. She can sit up without assistance - not for too long, but she's getting better at it daily.  And my favorite: Emma also has started holding onto us when we hold her. I love that feeling so much. This beautiful, blue-eyed (I think they're staying!) little girl absolutely lights up our hearts.

This lounge position tells me she's really starting to enjoy the red rocking chair! (By the way, she was all giggles and smiles both before and after the camera was around.  Of course.  I guess she still just thinks we're weird when we all gather around and make stupid noises to encourage her to smile her big smile.)