Happy 1st Birthday!

She came into the world right on time, calm and happy, and has maintained her cheerful demeanor throughout her first year with us. She is a perfect mix of Mitch and I, easygoing and lovable, but with a (not so) quiet determination when she wants something. Her smile and snuggle make me melt every day, and I can't imagine life without her. She loves her sister more than anything in the world, and I love watching the two of them develop their lifelong bond.

Happy birthday, my dear sweet Genevieve. Our lives are complete with you!

A Day in the Life

Gonzo developing her motor skills.....although she is easily distracted by her sister.

Gizmo showing off her strut (she has several), this one to music.

Gonzo practicing her standing - and flopping.

Gizmo, who is getting better every day at playing with her sister, reads a book to Gonzo.

Gizmo wired from chocolate-chip pancakes at 7:45am. (She's singing the "Sesame Street" theme song, if you couldn't tell.)

Spring Fever in Full Swing

This weekend has truly been beautiful, in every way it could have been. Both Saturday and Sunday we broke temperature records in the Twin Cities (it's been in the 60's!), and we were finally able to open the windows and get some fresh air in the house. Our day included cleaning, laundry, and a walking trip to the park with the entire family. Mitch and I finished the day with a date night (thanks Grama JG for volunteering after our normal sitter got mono!), where we had entirely too much food and drink, and it was wonderful.

Sunday we had "an adventure!" into Minneapolis to visit Aunt Katie and Uncle Boston. In the car, Gizmo gave Gonzo speech lessons ("Can you say 'Min-ee-app-ol-is', Gonzo?"). Gonzo happily babbled back. We had lunch at Panera, which, if you ask Gizmo, was the best part of the day, and then went for a walk through the park adjacent to Katie and Boston's apartment. We also walked over to the Sculpture Garden, where I viewed for the first time the Spoonbridge and Cherry. Gizmo and Gonzo happily rode along in the double stroller while Mitch got his workout pushing the two of them through the almost hour-long walk. After naps, we finished the day playing outside in the sand table.

The weather forecast calls for continued warm weather and record-breaking heat. Hello, spring!

He's a Celebrity

Boston was awesome last week and came to my school to celebrate Read Across America week and Dr. Seuss's birthday. Both kids and teachers gave him rave reviews (although he made no friends when he predicted we would have a lot of snow, which we did not), and the kids were captivated by his great "Lorax" voice.

Thanks for coming!

Christmas in....March?

Today Gizmo started singing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". I'm not quite sure why - she hadn't been watching or reading "A Charlie Brown Christmas", and in fact just last night we discussed that Christmas was Over because she was singing a different Christmas song.

It has not stopped her from belting out the song at the top of her lungs while she was taking her bath tonight. If you can figure out some of her alternate lyrics, I'd be impressed.