Spring!

We are loving this spring weather and playing outside every chance we get.



Poor Susannah had Roseola last weekend. She was spiking fevers close to 104 all weekend and then Monday the rash appeared. This was her first real fever and I have to say it was a bit scary. She is fine now and back to her old self : )

Growing . . .

Susannah's not the only one growing these days. As you can see from the baby bump in the pictures below, I have been very busy growing baby williams #2 (aka "beanie"). we learned quickly that "new baby" wasn't the best of nicknames, so "beanie" it is. I'm around 18 weeks and due September 27th. We're hoping for an on-time delivery or Susannah may have to share her Sept 29th b-day. Come July I guess I will be eating both ice chips and my words about never having another summer pregnancy : )

Splish Splash Susannah's Back in the Bath!

Susannah finally got her cast off today! The doctor said she might limp for a few weeks while she adjusts to using her leg again. Instead she ran out of the doctor's office and back to the car. We celebrated this big event by letting her get extra dirty in the garden and then a big long bath with extra splashing allowed.

susannah has gotten really good at building towers.

no, it is not time to send susannah off to school (though I know that time will come sooner than we like) she has just really taken a liking to the backpack her cousin Abby gave her. the basket was for susannah to collect all the treasures she found on her way around the block. sorry Mr. Black, we'll get those rocks back to you.

Excuses Excuses Excuses

I am very aware of the fact that another month has passed without any news. that is not because there wasn't news, we've just been a little crazy. As you can see from the first post, Susannah has her leg in a cast. Parents beware: those little feet catch easily when riding down slides. I was even being so careful because I know two other toddlers who have had this same injury. Two trips to the ER and one orthopedist later, susannah is sporting a beautiful bright pink cast. she has what is called a "toddler's fracture" - I guess it's pretty common. she has figured out how to walk, run, dance and jump, so bathing is the only difficulty.



These past few days we have been "suffering" greatly from SPRING FEVER. It has been so nice here. the daffodils are out and the bradford pears are in full bloom. Below is Susannah enjoying a late afternoon swing on our porch swing.

tromping through the neighborhood. For several months now a part of our daily routine includes a walk around the block. Susannah insists on walking the whole way herself so this can take a while when we have to stop to examine each and every stone.

Enjoying breakfast at one of the parks in our neighborhood. Susannah is trying to hand daddy his sippy cup. she loves to be helpful : )

Finally,breakfast at the cafe at Ukrops

Construction Zone

our second excuse is that our house is currently a construction zone. you can't really tell from the pictures, but we are adding a half bath on our first floor off the kitchen. Just in time for potty training : ) it looks really great so far and we can't wait for it to be finished - and to have our house back!

Chicago

Susannah and I just returned from a visit to the Healings in Chicago and boy did we have fun. Some of the highlights were going to the nature museum, a real (sorry Roanoke) zoo, and playing with her cousins. Here are some pictures from our visit to the zoo.

we're back!

we've been sick - note the pathetic picture of me and susannah laying on the couch. really, we haven't been up to much this past month.


here a few more pictures just to make up for some lost time.

taking baby horseback riding.

showing off her swimsuit before a trip to the Y during daddy-daughter weekend.

getting swaddled for old time sake. susannah was instinctively wrapping her baby in a blanket, so we let her in on some swaddling secrets.

Mommy's Little Helper

Susannah has really taken a love to vacuuming. I have actually been able to teach her to hit the corners and along the baseboards with that wand to collect the dust kitties. she has become quite territorial about this chore and won't let me help her anymore, so we just hope for the best and I finish the job when she goes down for a nap.

Christmas Highlights

Christmas in Maine was just as you would dream - a beautiful winter wonderland. We all got to play in the snow - from sledding, to snowshoeing - even susannah enjoyed it (though she didn't much care for her boots).

playing the piano with uncle dave.

giving MiMi a high five.

decorating christmas cookies and then eating them.

reading with cousins josh and abby.

Winter Wonderland

Christmas in Maine was just as you would dream - a beautiful winter wonderland. We all got to play in the snow - from sledding, to snowshoeing - even susannah enjoyed it (though she didn't much care for her boots).

a fun date

last night, grimes took susannah and I out on a date. we got some burgers and then went on a "tour of lights." there were an alarming number of tacky displays to gawk at. a extra fun part of the evening was that susannah learned a new word, wow. she also learned that she could vary the intensity of the wow. so, when the display was really spectacular she could say wooooooooooow. the other words she has accumulated over the last couple of months:

1. dada and mama (of course)
2: chuice (juice)
3. tee (tree)
4. ba (ball)
5. shoe
6. fish (grimes sees it as a good sign that fish made the top ten)
7. ut-oooooooo (sammy taught her this sound but forgot to teach her the meaning)
8. wow

Christmas Dress

I tried to get a shot of susannah facing forward in her christmas dress, but this was the best I could do. each morning when she comes downstairs we have a tree lighting. I cannot get enough of the awe and wonder this inspires day after day.

our beautiful tree

Grimes and I just finished decorating our Christmas tree. rather than hanging our stockings by the chimney with care and having visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads - I was drafting in my head an essay that I will most likely end up writing - it's titled "why families with toddlers don't get christmas trees". I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow when susannah wakes up to discover a "tee" in her house.

Back off Boys

Here is a rather gross picture of susannah eating spaghetti. we have a collection of such pictures that we plan to use to ward off potential boyfriends (until she is of an appropriate age, of course). she is really losing that baby look - I hate that!

Christmas Tree

Today we ventured into the country of southwest virginia with some dear friends in search of the perfect Christmas tree. It was a cold winter day (finally!) and susannah got to wear her snowsuit for the first time.

Riding the hay wagon out into hills.

looking for that perfect tree.

measuring in at 2 ft 6 inches.