A "snow walk," anyone?

The snow finally fell in DC!  It wasn't too much, but it was enough for a little playing in the snow.  I had hopes of sledding, making snow angels, and jumping in snow banks with Cate.  But, with a newborn and a toddler, these hopes didn't quite materialize today. Instead I talked up the fun of a "snow walk" and we headed out with Emma in the Ergo.  Luckily, I convinced Cate a snow walk was fun enough, and we managed a little snow sculpting in our backyard too.

Cate attempting to jump into a snow bank.

With Emma settled happily in her baby lounger (as my friend Maria aptly called it - the "neglecter"), Cate and I made a snow family.  At this age, it's more of Cate directing me as I create.  She did assist with attaching the arms and the eyes, but snow daddy had four eyes, so I intervened and decided we could give him two.   The poor snow family didn't get mouths or noses, but, hey, that happens when you have a six-week old in the house.  I know we have many winters ahead for more elaborate snow adventures!

One of my major goals with two is continuing to get out and about, so here's my latest transportation creation.  Cate and I installed a Buggy Board on the back of her single BOB stroller, and I added a car seat conversion kit to the front.  I'm not sure Cate has mastered the ride, but we are working on it.

Over the third hump!

We decided, partially within our power and partially by chance, to cram three life changes (new baby, new house and new job) into three months!  Well we went over the last of the three bumps this week as Charlie started his new job!  I was nervous about losing my ability to lean on Charlie during the day for help, but we are going on day three and seem to be falling into a bit of a routine.  Here's a few recent shots!

I dressed Emma yesterday and had to capture shots because I realized she is getting older - both physically and mentally.  She's much more alert these days and awake a bit more.

 Of course, Emma still sleeps a lot, and Cate peeks in on her often.  Quite different from her big sister, she is quite content sleeping in her car seat.

Cate bounding down the stairs and ready to go see "buddies" for some play!

Cate making me some coffee in the bathtub - likely a sign of how coffee is my best friend these days.

Below is a dream come true for Cate.  She's mildly obsessed with Fancy Nancy (thank you Jen and Elizabeth for introducing us), and a package arrived from her Gigi with a Fancy Nancy dress and tutu.

Still loving art!

Cheers to Vitamin D!

As some of you know, we said hasta la vista to D.C last week, and headed to Naples for some much-needed sunshine, a warm breeze, company of family and, and as added bonus, grandparent babysitting relief.  Yes, Charlie and I have enjoyed several afternoons and early evenings off to roam Naples while Cate napped and played with her grandparents (Emma of course is in tow, but still sleeps an enormous amount of day).  And, I finagled a pedicure.  The pedicure, in fact, turned out be an extra treat.  When I google-mapped "spa" from my current location, Golden Door was the closest result that turned up.  Since I've had a few dreams of visiting a destination spa, I knew exactly what Golden Door was.  But I didn't know they had an outpost in Naples.  It's not a destination spa, but the experience was fantastic.  The product line used, SpaRitual, is one I'm already a fan of (yes, I'm a product-junkie).  I love their Indonesian ginger hand and body lotion.  The spa also used the line's nail lacquer, a vegan nail lacquer free of formaldehyde, DBP and toluene.  I'm now a fan of it too.

Today is our last day here.  We head back to DC tomorrow, and I hear snowflakes may be there to meet us.  That's reason enough to head to the beach for a little vitamin D.

This is Cate as she landed on top of our first sand castle.

Once we decided to decorate with shells, Cate's focus changed, and she worked steadily to craft "Shell Mountain."

Cate, who has been tracking all bird movement outside our back patio, finally discovered how to make lots of bird company - bread.  I tried to suggest that she and Charlie go down the beach as myself and others enjoying the beach maybe didn't share the same excitement for the company of fifty seagulls, but they didn't hear me in time. 

Trying to buy Charlie and I some time to enjoy watching gentle waves and feeling the nice breeze, I worked to convince Cate to take Emma's lead, and go for a a nap in the "tent."  Not a surprise, but she didn't go for that.  After hearing "I wake up" about fifteen times, we opted to pack up and head home for a less-stimulating nap experience.

Below is Cate on the little tram that we ride down to the beach.  The entire ride Cate repeats, "This is fun, Mommy!"

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for letting us visit.  We think you chose a great place to hunker down and avoid the cold, grey months NYC and DC face.

Beaten to the Punch - Again!

With Cate and Emma tucked into their cribs and nodding off to sleep, I crept out of the bedroom using my iPhone as a flashlight.  I thought to myself, wouldn't it be so convenient if my iPhone could also work as my baby monitor.  And then it happened - again.  Someone beat me to it.  Charlie was reading the WSJ on the sofa.  I looked over, and the front-page article of the Personal Section featured new gadgets for 2011, including a camera that turns your iPhone into a baby monitor, aptly named the Smart BabyMonitor.  The camera clips to the crib.  If you've balanced a baby monitor on pillows or the edge of the crib, or tried to find a place for the camera that is safe from reaching toddler arms yet captures your little one, a clip-on camera sounds great.  Of course, it's more than a camera.  It measures temperature, humidity, and, best of all, besides the typical microphone, it has speakers so, as the WSJ puts it, "parents can sing the baby back to sleep with a remote lullaby."  Or, if remote lullabies aren't your little one's taste, I'm sure it could also be used to remind your toddler to lay down, stop throwing everything out of the crib, or keep her clothes on.  Sound familiar anyone?   One last plug for the item - distance is not an issue.  For me, this sounds great since my monitor sometimes doesn't pick up Cate's room from our kitchen, which, for those who haven't visited, is not far.  This is the point where the technology starts to creep me out a bit because now your baby monitor works down the street, wherever that may be -  your friend's house, your office, a shop, the grocery store, a restaurant, or, better yet, a bar.   Okay, I still love the product, so long as one doesn't get carried away with it!

We did it... we did it... we did it... yea lo isimos...

Sound familiar, anyone?  With Dora playing A LOT the past few weeks, these lyrics just won't escape me.  So, we did it - we have a blog.  I've oohed friends blogs for the past few years.  Little did I know that it takes about five minutes to start one.  So, here goes at our attempt to update friends and family with the happenings of our little ones!  Here's some photos to recap the weeks since little Emma entered our world on December 14th.


At the hospital on December 14th ....

A little flying with daddy to pass the time...

Good luck . . .

Emma arrives, weighing 7 lbs, 6 oz. . . .

A few shots of little Emma . . .

Emma's first bath . . .

Emma's bow is courtesy of big sis Cate...

Cate's amazement when her "chocolate cake arrived" - who knew it was going to be so grand!

 Cate and "her baby" . . .

Christmas Eve Dinner (Emma is sleeping!)

 Rudolph making some "tookies" - which really involves lots of icing in Cate's mouth