I've been making a more conscious effort to reduce my [computer] screen time during the day when the kids are awake. I was getting into the bad habit of spending too much time online - facebooking, catching up on blogs, etc. - and leaving the kids to themselves - much too often at moments when I needed a break...but the girls needed me. Not good. So I'm finding other times and ways to recharge, and kind of quit cold-turkey here. Sorry, I guess I could have warned you. It did me/us immeasurable good.
A quick catch-up post...
Where did we leave off...before T-giving? Yikes. Might have to do this in parts.
----------------------------------------
Daniel's parents, Abuelita (still Lipa...I have a feeling that's going to stick) and Pepere, came to see us for Thanksgiving, and as always it was fun sharing the kids with them. :) We continued our effort of the last few years to have healthier holiday meals in more realistic portions (e.g.- less leftover). Hence, our crust-less, slightly sweetened pumpkin pie in personal-sized bowls:
The chocolate chips? My valiant effort to un-healthify my portion. :)
Have I mentioned that the girls are sharing a room now? This was their first night together (back in November).
(Excuse the mess)
Also in November, we finally got Blake into her cloth diapers!
Look at that grin :)
Blake laughs up a storm, but rarely for anyone but Big Sister! Sisterly love, lemme tell ya. Blake is getting stable enough while sitting that she can reach out and grab Hollie's sleeve (or whatever she can reach) and Hollie just gets a kick out of that. Hollie smothers her with hugs and kisses, and Blake just laughs and laughs, so my reminders of "Hollie, be gentle!" go ignored.
Try being mad at these faces, though...
Yes, you got that right - Blake is sitting up really well! She wants to crawl, too...she tries so hard! Exhibit A:
Lately she has been getting all the way up on her hands and knees, but just can't get the forward motion going. She can scoot backward on her tummy, something Hollie never did. Pretty quick, too! We're always having to pull her out from under chairs and tables, and she's always surprising us with the places she ends up in. Of course, this is really messing with her sleep. People warn you about those sleepless nights with your newborn, but they never tell you about the sleepless nights with your six-month-old-learning-to-crawl.
Blake had her first rice cereal a few weeks ago. We took some great video, but it's long, so we might edit it down a bit before we post it. She gobbled it up! We've tried banana and sweet potato as well, but she didn't seem to like them as much. I suspect she will be like her sister, and enjoy eating much more when she can hold solid pieces in her hands.
She also found her toes...
...and has hardly let go of them since, and it's making diaper changes very difficult.
Hollie is using the big potty! I miss cleaning out that little bowl in her potty chair....NOT.
Have I mentioned Hollie loves to cook? Let me elaborate...
Left the kitchen...accidentally left out the vanilla extract...
Again, try being mad...
---------------------------------------
I think that pretty much gets us caught up to this point...with the glaring exception of Christmas.
Our Christmas was wonderful. Our first Christmas in our house (that we have lived in for over two years!), just the four of us, and the first Christmas that Hollie could really grasp the whole idea of Santa and reindeer and trees and stockings...absolutely magical. But this post has gone on too long, so I will save all that for next time.
Blake says good bye!
...and good night
....and mwahahaha!
