February 23, 2010 – 2:46 pm

in Austin! Whole inches of it.

Ben made snowballs with our friend Kristin and smashed them against trees.

His first time ever to play in snow. Who knows when we’ll see this much of it again?
February 16, 2010 – 3:42 pm
with green blankie and Mr. Bear:

My first little love smiles at me. I see myself, and his father’s eyes.

Ben is finally well after being sick all last week, and he’s apparently very hungry. When I picked him up from preschool co-op this morning, his teacher reported, “Ben ate a lot today. Like everything. In sight.”
February 16, 2010 – 3:10 pm

Madeleine No-nappin’ Rose. I feel that happy, too, when I’m completely surrounded by books.
While Ben was at pre-school co-op this morning, Maddie and I went to the bank and opened her first savings account. Something we’d meant to do for a while now with her accumulated holiday moneys but only just now got around to. Felt good to do that with her, one woman for another.
Nearly fifteen months old. She is a joy, and she’s mine, and there’s not a thing I could have done to deserve her. Sweet, unanticipated Grace. I’m humbled and grateful.
February 11, 2010 – 6:59 pm
Watching The Very Hungry Caterpillar on a rainy Thursday sick day:

We’ve read books, worked puzzles, cooked, sang, stacked blocks, cut paper, watched videos, thrown stuffed animals down the stairs, and now we’re running out of things to do. Can’t wait for the cold rainy weather to pass so we can take our little people outside.
Also can’t wait for cold season here to be over. It’s been a beastly one at our house this year. Seems like the kids are coughing and congested every other week. We’ve had to miss lots of preschool, cancel dates with friends, and we’ve had lots of restless nights of coughing. Building up little immune systems is tiresome work.
Dinner time now. Here’s hoping Ben will eat. The only foods he’s accepted so far today are hot dogs and crackers.
February 7, 2010 – 11:35 pm
Where does the time go?



Just a moment ago she was a babe in arms. Now she’s a big toddler girl, taking steps, speaking her words, and charming us daily. Amazing. We do our best to keep up.
February 7, 2010 – 11:30 pm
These photos are a few weeks old now, but too sweet not to share:




February 4, 2010 – 2:40 pm
after music class on
a rainy Thursday morning
gritty mud puddles
in the parking lot
buckling the baby
into her carseat while
he’s stomping, splashing, falling
down in his new
navy blue rain boots,
his first pair,
still a little too big