Buggy Beauty

The weather was beautiful here for the last few days. On Tuesday, we decided to take Lily out for her first buggy ride. No single stroller, no double stroller, no being carried..... Lily could ride in the buggy. I have very fond memories of buying this buggy for Anna and watching her delight while she rode in it. It was a favorite of hers for months right around the time she turned one year old. Well, since Lily is getting close to that milestone and because the weather was stunning, we all went out for a ride. I hope that you can tell from the pictures that Lily was ecstatic. She thought she was hot stuff riding along with us. I am not sure that the smile ever left her face and we walked for a good long while. She was the most happy when Anna was pushing her although she also really liked turning the steering wheel. I think you will agree, this is definitely a DWI: Driving While Incredibly cute.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Here they are......

The first official pics taken with the new camera. Aren't they purdy? These are two or three of my favorites from today. We had a fabulous time at the lake. We celebrated Ethan's amazing family and breathtaking first year. We played on the playground, chased ducks and walked along the water. We ate pizza, cupcakes and even stole some of the chocolate from Anna's goody bag (thanks, Joye!) And lastly, we slept. Let me clarify: two little ladies slept. I will post more pics of the day but I did want to post two or three of my favorites.

Petite Picassos

Our little Anna does love arts and crafts, particularly painting. While she is a fan of all mediums, her favorite seems to be watercolors. I must say, she has created some lovely pieces for a 3 year old. Our refrigerator is covered in her artwork and we enjoy watching her love of art evolve. Some of our favorites have had the titles, " The Shadow Taker-Awayer", " Daddy on a rocket", "Waternoose", and "Nana wears her glasses on her head". I love hearing her answer when I ask her what she is painting. Today, she simply said, " Mom, I am gonna paint you a sunset because you are my best mom". Okay, I admit it. I cried. Just a little bit.

Well, now that Lily is moving so much she frequently ends up at Anna's arts and crafts table. Said table is VERY close to Lily's favorite spot: the dog's bowls. My parents have told me that Lily loves to sit in their little table and chairs at their house... but we really don't generally put her in the chair at our little table at home. In the past two days, John and I have put Lily at the table with Anna a few times. Wow! It seems that little Lily is quite the painter. We have been SHOCKED at how much she likes to paint and how mature she looks sitting at the table. She has sat there for over 20 minutes finger painting, painting with brushes, etc. She REALLY seems to enjoy herself. Anna paints a sunset like Monet: soft colors, no sharp edges and a feeling of calm. Lily paints a bit more like Pollock: bright, vibrant colors, abrasive strokes and lots and lots of drips! Okay, okay.. they are munchkins that paint more like they are on Romper Room than in the Louvre but let a mother dream! I like these pics for two reasons: first, they both love what they are doing. Second, seeing them both sit there gives me a glimpse of the years to come.

Momma's got a brand new bag....

....with a camera in it!

After months of saving, here it is: Meggie's new camera! As you guys have probably noticed, I take A LOT of pictures. Pictures of the kids, of the hubby, of the dog, you name it. We started out a few years ago with a Fuji point and click. We used it on our honeymoon and until right after Anna was born. Then, we upgraded to a Sony Cybershot point and click. That is what we are using now and we really love it. It is 7.2 mega pixels of happiness for me. However, it is a bit slow and it can't catch any action at all. Now, I don't mean I am trying to shoot Anna bobsledding down the track or Lily street luge-ing. (Let me pause here for a moment: how do you make LUGE into a verb?) Anyway, my point being: we are not talking about hard core speed here. Anna or Lily turn their head and my pic is blurry. So, I have been saving for awhile and doing a lot of research. And..... drum roll please...... today was the big day. I am now the proud owner of a Nikon D5000 DSLR. I am very happy. And, more than a little scared. For someone who has never owned a camera that cost more than $175 bucks, this was a heck of a lot of money. The controls are a tad overwhelming and I feel like I have just thrown my Ford Escort aside for a Lexus. So far, I have charged the battery, put the lens on and taken three pictures. I am hesitant but very excited. Oh, and here is a bonus: the camera came with lessons. I can't wait to take them!

So, tune in folks. Hopefully, the photo quality of this blog is on the rise! I am excited because tomorrow is Ethan's birthday and he is having a party at the lake. This should give me lots of opportunities to take photos of my favorite things: CUTE kids!

Sweet Sisters

Eleven is Heaven

Lily is 11 months old today. Our little sweetie has officially given up baby food, opting instead for pancakes, sausage, meatballs, Peppermint Patties and cheerios. Unlike her sister, she does not seem to like vegetables. She is crawling everywhere, pulling up on everything and doing some assisted walking. Lily giggles often, laughs a lot and loves being included in our family routines. Her laugh makes our hearts smile because it is really just a loud, high pitch inhalation. She loves to point to things, wave, and blow kisses. She has a boyfriend named Will and they like to gaze lovingly at each other. Her hair and eyes are lighter than Anna's and her personality is totally different. No one rains on Lily's parade. She loves Elmo and adores the Backyardigans. She dances often and is really drawn to music. She likes to scribble with crayons, crawl through Anna's legs as a tunnel, and is very helpful to me as she is good at taking things out of the dryer. She hates wearing socks, and having her nose or face wiped /cleaned. Although ironically, she doesn't' mind dabbing water from the toilet or dog bowl all over her face. Bubbles are her great love. She seems to be getting attached to one particular blanket and she is good at typing on the computer.

Happy Eleven Months, sweet Lillian Grace.