Daniel the Artist

Daniel has just recently started drawing things other than scribbles. Here are a couple of his drawings. I just love them.

A family portrait he drew around Valentine's: He said it's Mommy and Daddy with Nora between us and Daniel in the air. His first "real" picture. I loved it so much that I scanned it and made it into a Valentine card that he sent family.

This picture he just drew yesterday. He said it's a family of horses (3 of them). Isn't it cute?!

Bath Time

Nora drying off after a bath: I love the face she's making.

Nora 6 months

Nora will be 6 months old this week! I can't believe how much she has grown! My good friend Lillian offered to take pictures of my kids on Friday - even though she is 9 months pregnant and due any day! She is in the hospital having her baby today actually (good luck Lillian). I really appreciate her coming over. Here are a few.

I love this picture! Nora loves her toes and chews on them all day long!

Valentine's Day

Shannon did not disappoint - Valentine's Day was great. He spent all afternoon in the kitchen preparing a wonderful dinner and to top it all off he gave me an awesome pair of earrings - made by my good friend Darleen.

Shannon made steak (it had a yummy marinade), a quinoa and black bean salad, and the most awesome veggie kabobs with a balsamic glaze (red and yellow peppers, tomato, zucchini, eggplant, fennel, red onion, mushrooms, and potato)!

Darleen is so talented! All of her jewelry is amazing! http://www.darleenmeier.com/shop.html

Daniel eating his breakfast on Valentine's morning.

She looks so cute in her tight red jammies!

A recipe that flopped: I made these cupcakes and thought they looked so cute - but they did not taste good! Better luck next time!

Bedtime Reading

I have been reading - Miss Maners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior and it is so entertaining. I pick it up before bed and randomly read a few entries. I mean who wouldn't want to brush up on things like - Common Courtesy For All Ages, Business Entertaining (Neither Businesslike Nor Entertaining) or Manners for Particular (and Ornery) Foods?! I now officially know what to do with a finger bowl, how to handle spontaneous outbursts, and how to behave if I'm ever invited to the White House.

LOVE

Every year for Valentine's Day - Shannon cooks me dinner. I absolutely love it. It's the only time he ever really cooks and it's always fabulous! I can hardly wait!

Daniel's 3rd Birthday

Daniel's birthday was on January 4th - and we had a chance to celebrate at Christmas with all of his cousins - which made it extra special! Daniel loves pirates so he had a pirate party - everyone walked the plank, wore their pirate hats and eye patches and had a great time.

Pirate cousins: Sam, Annie, Kate, Ruth, Maya, Leah, and Seth

ARRR! Shiver me Timbers!

Oops...where's Nora?

Walking the plank!

Daniel with his sweet cousin Annie playing with his pirate treasure chest!

Back in Connecticut - his actual birthday was pretty low key. A cupcake to celebrate!

Three years old!

Cupcakes at joyschool

Nora 5 Months

At 5 months Nora was 12 lbs. 4 oz! She couldn't be sweeter!

A little sunshine...

A Date with Mommy

Daniel has had a bit of a rough time adjusting since Nora's been born. I'm sure it's hard learning to share your mom and dad with another sibling and not being the center of attention anymore. So, I decided Daniel and I needed some special one-on-one time. I told Daniel that we were going on a date...just mommy and Daniel. First of all he thought the word "date" was funny. Then he looked a little confused and said "And Nora?" so I said "No, not Nora. Just mommy and Daniel!" You could just see the wheels turning in his head as he processed the idea. It was nice to have some time with just the two of us. Our date consisted of pizza (Daniel's request), cupcakes at a cool bakery called Crumbs and a trip to the library. It was perfect. What a sweet little guy I've got!

Mommy and Daniel: ready for our date.

Sweet kisses

Making funny faces.

Daniel LOVES pizza!

At Crumbs for cupcakes (Every kids dream!)

Yummm!

Nora 4 months old

Nora is almost 5 months old now - but we had her 4 month appointment before Christmas. She was only 10.8 lbs. and 23.5 inches long. She is tiny but strong! Nora is such a delight. She rolls over now, loves to grab toys and her feet, and loves to watch Daniel act crazy. Daniel is the only one that can really get her laughing a big belly laugh. She has a low voice and growls a lot when she "talks." Her most talkative time is usually around 7 or 8 p.m after Daniel is asleep. It's like she knows Daniel is asleep and she doesn't have to worry about him coming over to clobber her.

4 months old

A serious face

Nora and mommy

The girls