Merry Xmas

Jiggedy Jig

We're home again, home again. And, the heat works again, thanks to that nice man who came over so quickly after we walked into a 48-degree house with a six-day-old. Surprise!

No pictures to post today - basically didn't take any, given packing up, heading home, getting lunch & the furnace fixed, and a shopping run for holiday provisions etc. But - the Xmas tree isn't (totally) dead, the house isn't (totally) a wreck, and it's conceivable that we'll be ready for guests tomorrow and Xmas the day after.

Anyway, we're home and on our feet - but bushed enough that I shouldn't dawdle while both girls (see how I said that so naturally) are sleeping. G'nite!

Isla, Day Five

Isla Pics

A few pics for those waiting patiently...

Sacked out in proper baby-suit and socks:

Candy-cane stripes:

Can you rub your tummy and pat your head?

Isla Has Arrived!

Not Quite Right

Christi and Margot were making muffins this morning - with Daphne the doll observing. Christi asked Margot to move Daphne out of the way so she wouldn't get messy... and a solution was reached.

Advanced Bookfacing

I don't want this to become an entirely specialized blog, but I did want to share that Margot's developed her bookfacing technique to a "post-modern" level where the book need not even technically reach the face.

First, I assure you that she's been asleep for some time in this one . . . but the book remains prime should she awake and need it:

Second, keeping a hand on things to make sure that one of her favorites doesn't get away, even when a-slumber:

Return of the Bookface

So - I have to say, Margot has lately developed a whole new technique of falling-asleep-with-a-book. A combination of reading some bigger books and tending to lie on her side more with the book propped next to her has led to a series of tableau with the book standing next to her thoroughly slumbering form. Tonight's is of the same ilk, but she's got her face well enough buried in there that I'm counting it as one of the old, if also one of the new.

(The hand stranded on top of the book is typical of the form...)

As long as we're at it, here are a couple more bonus shots (non-book-facey) since it's been a while.

Helping make ice-cream cake for Mommy's birthday:

Pigtails!

Chilly Fall Morning

It was cold overnight and still quite chilly (and a bit grey) this morning when we went for a dog-walk (gloves to push the stroller) and to the Farmer's Market.

Margot wore her long jacket:

... even though she probably didn't need the hood.

Craftiness

As fall settles in to New England, we've been doing more projects around the house and more crafts in general. Margot has become obsessed with the idea of making things to wear.* She apparently needs a new pair of shoes, so she has made herself some. This model is made from bristly blocks, pink and green, that were carefully engineered to be the length of her feet. She likes to wear two different shoes in general, so I think that the mismatched colors were on purpose. They don't stay on well and really only work on the floor (not the rug), but she's very happy with this prototype.



* Her first question about any article of clothing is "who made this for me?". I love that!

Off She Goes!

The first morning of pre-school is underway!

Ready to Go:

Out the door:

(and yes, we're doing some paint work in front.)

Walking over:

Happy Birthday to Margot!

We'll try to get to posting more soon, but suffice it to say that after some wonderful chaos, there was one tired little girl in bed (with some of her presents) at the end of the day:

A Little Brunch

Margot decided to have brunch at her little table on Sunday and she invited Daddy to join her.

Next First Post - Making Fingers

So, just in case other methods of communication have failed to reach anyone reading here . . . We can confirm that, as we say in this household, Christi's "making fingers". Which explains why she's been more than usually tired.

Here's the confirming evidence:

This time around we're taking the "making fingers" meme to heart, and calling the little tyke Fingers until they arrive (hopefully sometime in December). We're also not planning to find out if Fingers is a boy or girl, until that time.

Actually, to be quite specific, I think we saw some fingers - or at least hands - although we don't have a printout of such an image. Also (in addition to the head above) arms, legs, feet, spine, chest, and a bunch of internal organs. Everything looked great.

Margot is interested and excited, although I don't think she has any idea when December is.

I just like this one...

I dunno who taught her Harley-Davidson posture, but with her hair blowing back and the mean-but-determined expression I'm diggin' it.

Totally Unacceptable

Dear Whoever is Supposed to be Posting Here:

I've noticed that NOTHING AT ALL IS GETTING POSTED HERE! Who is supposed to be posting something? Do it!

Oh wait right, that's me... here's something from last weekend. I'll try to fill in the gaps separately.

Since you asked...

On the phone before bedtime, Grandma Lisa asked Margot, "Are you going to go put a book on your face and go to sleep?". Margot got this BIIIIG smile and said (of course), "noooo, that's re-dik-ee-less". As she does.

So, since you asked, fast forward approximately 45 minutes:

Overheard Last Night

Daddy: Do you want to sing with me?

Margot: I can't sing.
Daddy: Yes, you can. Why not?
Margot: I can't sing ... without my guitar!

(... and runs across the room to get the Rock Band guitar we've assigned to her.)

Book-Face Update (For) Two

Margot has continued to indulge in her book-faced sleeping habits, and has even drawn others into her patterns. Last week, Snuggle Bear succumbed:Actually, not all sleep-ins involve book-facing. A certain monkey came to visit this weekend, and ended up doing as he saw, perhaps:

OK, I posed his arm just a little bit. Still...

Someone Needs to Cut Back on the Caffeine

I overheard Margot talking to herself:

"Oh my gosh! My chargers plugged in and it's not working. And my new battery doesn't work. And my living room is missing from my house. And the new "doobers" don't work and they weren't fixed and they're impersonal and I don't want them to be broken. Oh my gosh!"

Faces

(Here's lookin' at you, kid!)

Book-Face Update

Reporting on progress in the book-face department, Margot managed to fall asleep in a more graceful position the other night. Her mother, we're still working on.

Fashion Shoot

Mama wanted some pics to share of Margot STILL fitting in the dress a friend made for her ages ago. This is Margot's best pose-for-a-picture pose, or at least her favorite one on this particular evening.

During the photo shoot we captured spinning...

... dancing ...

... and some form of pondering. Although, it might just be trying to recover from excessive spinning.

Her Own Room (and, a Warning)

Margot recently moved into her-very-own-room, and has adjusted rapidly to being Queen (or at least Princess) of her own domain. (Meanwhile, Mama and Daddy are re-adjusting to being once again relatively in control of their own room!)

Here's a pic of an early night in the new space:

HOWEVER, one dire warning is in order. We've tried to read to Margot as much as possible, and encourage her to read a book to herself in bed if she's not ready to go right to sleep. She even has her own little light for this purpose. But many nights, when we go in to turn out her light after she's succumbed, we find the horrible sight of . . .

BOOK FACE!!!

Channeling Scarlett O'Hara

A conversation with Margot who is gluing things onto paper:

Margot: Hey, there's some dog hair on here.
Me: Yep.
Margot: Why?
Me: That's what happens when you live with a dog. Dog hair goes places.
Margot: Jolly, I believe you go dog hair on here.

I was ready to respond "I do declare", but Margot wouldn't have gotten the reference.

Beach Work

A new floating method

Castelo San Margot

Margot and Grammy get ready to "snockel"

Margot figured it out - use the "snockel" as a cane to get up and down the beach!