Recent highlights

There have been so many great things happening recently and, like a typical blogger, I keep thinking of this site and wishing that I had the time, energy and (dare I say it?) interest to update this space.  Here's a few of the highlights we will get to eventually:

* James and I took a trip to Utah to visit Erica and her family.  It was awesome.  Alma had a great time hanging out with my parents while we were gone and Joshua was at work.
* Alma loves preschool and happily waltzes into the classroom twice a week.
* James is in zombie stage: crawling around the house trying to find someone's leg he can try to climb up while making low moaning/crying/unintelligible gibberish noises.  It's the cutest.
* We finally admitted to Alma that the "music truck" actually contains ice cream and got her some one evening after dinner. She chose a popsicle that looked like Dora, who she refers to as "that girl from my pajamas."
* James had his first trip to IKEA.  This doesn't seem especially noteworthy but I love that place.  Since we broke one of the last dining room chairs, we started to get a new set.  It includes kids chairs that match!  Hooray for Alma not having to use a booster seat!
* We went to a petting zoo and Alma fed the animals from her hand.  This is HUGE for the little girl who didn't even want them looking at her last summer.

Pictures of most of these things will come along soon ... once the rest of life calms down a bit. 

Ice Cream Truck

Mowing with Daddy

Library Love

Can I brag for a second (wait, have I ever stopped bragging on this website?!) and tell you how much Alma loves the library and books?  After I went to a meeting at the library over the weekend and brought home some books, we didn't see her for the longest time as she carefully looked through each of the book's pictures.  I love how the above photo is such a common sight in our house. 

Most of our life is spent reading with her or with her following us around with as many books as she can carry and asking for us to read them to her.

Asleep on Daddy's shoulder

Random Photos

We made it through the first three weeks! The first week Joshua had off of work and my parents stayed with us to help, the second week Joshua worked half days and, while he worked full-time the third week, my mom was here to help. This upcoming week will be my first as a full-time stay-at-home mother of two. Exciting stuff. Now that I'm feeling (nearly) fully recovered from labor, I'm thrilled for the challenge. Thank goodness I had support the last three weeks! Here are two pictures from the little taste I had to parenting two on my own.

And a picture of James at 2 weeks old.

Best Days

We have been soaking in these last few days of being a family of three. 

"Loll-Pop"

Alma's love for lollipops continues.  She is amazed at the idea that they turn her tongue colors.  Although regardless of the color of the lollipop, she is convinced that her tongue is "boooo!" (a.k.a. "blue" for those not fluent in toddlish)

Fashionista

The other day during a walk along the Lehigh River, Alma and I stopped to rest and have a snack.  She found my Blackberry in my bag and asked me to take a picture of her.  I asked her what she wanted to do for the picture so she put on her hat like this and then said "cheese".  Could this picture be any more cute and silly?!

Our Little Grunge Kid

Every workday I send Joshua a photo that summarizes our day that I snap with my low-resolution Blackberry camera phone.  Most of those photos make their way onto the blog because they do a good job showing Alma's everyday life.  When I sent Joshua this photo, he called me laughing because she looked so much like a 90's grunge-era kid.

Illick's Mill

The other day we had a little bit of time to kill so we went to Illick's Mill near our house to watch the ducks, a man who was fishing, a train that drove by (the conductor waved and blew the horn for us) and a bat that was catching the early evening bugs.  I love these quiet times with Alma when we can enjoy being outside together.

Baker

We have gotten back into the habit of baking a few times a week.  Alma is so helpful in the kitchen these days.  It is a joy.

New Adventures in Food

Enjoying a pretzel at the mall after starting our Christmas shopping. (When you are due on Christmas, you have to start prepping for Christmas early!)

Eating a crepe filled with blueberries, strawberries and bananas during a mommy-daughter date night

Alma's first lollipop (ever) enjoyed after a swim lesson in which she swam by herself underwater from my standing lap to the wall (~3 feet)

Bread maker: Joshua --> Machine

After over five years of marriage and begging for a bread maker, I finally got one!

The bread maker was surprisingly inexpensive + the recipes are super easy + the bread is so good = I keep thinking that I will slowly win Joshua over to my side.  However, even though he is enjoying tasty toast for breakfast, I think he still isn't sure about giving up the role of bread maker to a machine. 

On another note, I'm realizing that I've totally become a gadget head.  Not with any fancy technology (computers still seem to repel me), but with household gadget that make life easier.  On a daily basis, I use a Roomba to clean my floors, a Cuisinart Mixer, a bread machine and an electric tea kettle.  I love them more than I imagined I would.  Remember back in the day when everything I owned fit in the trunk of my car as I moved to Seattle?  When we first got married, I didn't even want to own a toaster because then we couldn't pick up and move as easily?  Yeah, I'm a different person. 

When I Let Her Dress Herself

"You Had Me At Bacon" shirt, tutu, white patton leather shoes, hat with mermaids.  Her favorite things.  Beautiful!  I sent this picture to Joshua in the morning and he was amazed she was still wearing it that evening at dinner after a park play date, story hour and a trip to the grocery store. 

Sorting Game

Joshua and I have recently been discussing and implementing activities for Alma that are based in Montessori principles.  This is our first sorting game -- putting coins and beans in separate bowls.  Every day we play a version of this game that is similar but increasing in complexity.  It's so wonderful that I get to learn so much about the Montessori philosophy from Joshua.  I've been enjoying perusing his binder of lessons (from when he completed his Montessori training) for more ideas.  

A Very Good Mommy

Alma loves these sunglasses, wearing them every day as she pushes her beloved stroller around the neighborhood.  When I look at her, I kept thinking of the Jim Gaffigan routine which says something like ...

"I'm so white because my father was Swedish and my mother was Elton John.  He was a very good mommy!"

Reason #23,876 Why We Moved Out of South Philadelphia

This butterfly (or an impressive imposter) visits our backyard and says hello to us every day. 

Little Helper

Alma putting away groceries and helping Joshua make pizza crust (with her purple Playdoh).