The Mama, The Daddy, The Sister, and The Baby: May 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Making Bread

Easy and delicious!

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Monday, May 30, 2011

Independent Girl

Sean sent me this pic of Cary drinking from her bottle on her own ;)

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Sunday, May 29, 2011

After weeks of watching basketball with daddy, Stella is working towards her basketball scholarship. Quotables: "I think I'll go and hide now."
"I'll hoop it in the hoop."
She'll be ready for a little one on one with Tio Lorenzo in no time!

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Saturday, May 28, 2011

Little Word Processor

The amazing power of teachable moments (and admittedly some help from Word World-a cartoon). Without any formal education, Stella can recognize most of her letters and also say what the letter is much of the time when presented with a sound.
For most letters, as I sounded out her name, she was able to tell me the letter that made the sound, find the letter on the keyboard and type her name!

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Friday, May 27, 2011

On a Roll

Last night, Cary rolled over for the first time! Of course we were all in the room, but managed to miss it--no worries, she was happy to repeat it a time or 2. Like her sister, her first rolls have been from back to tummy. About 3 minutes after getting over onto her tummy she is yelling in frustration as she can't go back again!

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Thursday, May 26, 2011

Why The Mama Has A Big Lap

Location:Aspern Dr,Elkridge,United States

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

The Return of Miss Holly

Stella is so excited to have a same aged friend to play with all day long!

Wild times

Cutting grapes for fruit salad.

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Baby Gets Clean

Here she is all snuggled up in her ducky towel. We've got another little water baby--no complaints about bath time :)
I look forward to the days when the girls can play in the bath together.

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Sunday, May 22, 2011

The Daddy

The Daddy put together the bike trailer this weekend and he and Stella have been out for a few turns around the neighborhood. Fun!

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The Mama

This weekend was The Mama's long anticipated retreat weekend.

A little modified as I came home each night to nurture Cary. Big thanks to The Daddy for single-parenting and GrandMom Tina for her support.
This was a reunion retreat with fellow educators. Beginning about 4 years ago, I attended a series of Courage to Teach retreats (based on the teachings of Parker Palmer - www.couragerenewal.org ). Boy, has my life changed since then. It was wonderful to reconnect with some friends and have some time for *silent* reflection.
Here is the scene when I left Saturday morning and a few pictures from our beautiful retreat spot.

'If you can't get out of it, get in to it.'

Theresa and Frank...beautiful music, wish we could have had the whole weekend with them!

'Assume and extend welcome.'

'Circle of Trust'

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Friday, May 20, 2011

The Sister

Make believe play abounds with Stella these days. We catch little snippets of conversations between wooden giraffes and the My Little Pony figure or other such characters. Here, she is demonstrating how MLP gives a hug to each giraffe with her mane. Also, a motley crew of animals (said giraffes, a cow flash light, a small horse, as well as MLP) have been exploring the 'forest' that she created under the chairs.
Stella loves the little voices that the Daddy has created for some of her stuffed animals and has animated conversations with 'not a bunny-rabbit' and Mickey.

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Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Baby

Cary, 4 months, 12lbs, 13oz; 27"

I've decided it's time to take this blog to the next level and add a bit more journal style writing.
I can't believe that we are already at 4 months, the first 3 months sort of slipped by in an emotional, sleep deprived haze; I remember now why it is called the 4th 'trimester'. Month 4 really saw us emerging from our haze - getting out more, developing and perfecting routines for our new life as a family of 4, and bringing a little client back into the house (3 month old Lorenzo).
I love the relationship that is developing between Stella and Cary; Stella loves Cary to bits and 'you're the sveetest (sic) little baby ever,' is an oft heard sentence. As a sister from a pair, I know we've got years of bickering and outright physical fighting ahead of us, but for now this is so touching to watch.
Stella is very entertaining and on more than one occasion has been the person to calm Cary down.
Cary is being nourished with both breastmilk and formula-about 1/2 and 1/2. I've come to the conclusion, having tried almost everything, that I am one of the few people who truly can not produce enough milk to meet baby's needs. It has been emotionally painful, but at least this time, there is something about Cary's personality that has allowed for us to do both bottle and breastfeeding, she seems equally happy with either.
Cary's current favorite activities these days involve, grabbing and shaking, gnawing on anything she can get her hands on, grabbing her feet and occasionally putting them in her mouth. She is holding her head up well and likes to stand assisted for small amounts of time (another early walker I bet!), and she's getting close to rolling over. She has a ready smile and laugh, cries very little, and entertains herself for relatively long stretches of time. Here are a few pics from her 4 month photo shoot. :)

Mama and Baby shots by Stella (really!)

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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Hanging Out With Daddy

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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

At the Doctor

Cary for 4 month well visit, Stella for a shot; somehow Stella has figured out how to bring on a low grade fever and avoid getting a shot! Very clever, but we just have to go back on Monday now.