Happy Snow Day!

We saw our first real snow on December 16th, and this was the first time Maddie would really be able to play in the snow! We pulled out her new snowpants and began to get her suited up...


Clearly, she was not thrilled. It was reminiscent of dressing up for Halloween...


Once she had donned all of the necessary equipment, she was feeling much better!


We went out to play (Gavin was sleeping - no snow time for him!) and Maddie had her first snowball fight with Daddy!


Ok, so it was really more Dakota throwing snow at her, but she loved it.


Mommy made a snowball for Maddie so she could get Daddy back.


But Maddie decided that eating the snow would be more fun than throwing it.


Maddie summed up the experience with one word - "Happy!"

Tummy Tub

So we all know that Gavin was nice and cozy in the womb, so it's no surprise that he's a big fan of the tummy tub, a rather ridiculous invention that preys on bobo parents looking for the most natural introduction to the world for their precious babies. I know, I know, it's a bucket. But it's a pretty awesome bucket.




And some more uber-cuteness, just because...

Baby Babywearer

Gavin's already been carried in a ring sling, Moby wrap, woven wrap, and a mei tai, and he's only (almost!) three weeks old. Maddie's been watching all of this and she decided that she was ready to carry her baby, so I busted out the mei tai that I made her earlier this fall. She was so proud to carry around her doll! Mama was bursting with babywearing pride, too.

Pop-Pop

Grandpa Revenaugh, or Pop-Pop, as Maddie calls him, came to visit us last weekend. Gavin had a great time being held by Grandpa.


Maddie helped him open his suitcase...


...and found Elmo inside!!!


She was thrilled. She was also thrilled to teach Grandpa how to use his camera.


Apparently my Dad has gotten a little less anal about how lights and cranberries get put on the Christmas tree, so he made fun of me while I fretted over their placement (even though it's clearly HIS fault that I'm anal about it). Maddie and Gavin checked out my progress the next day.


It was a wonderful visit, though we all began getting sick while Dad was here. Hopefully we'll all be feeling better before the next visitors arrive!

2 Weeks Old!

Today is Gavin's second birthday, and in honor of that, he got to go to the pediatrician! Whoohoo! He was 21 3/4" long, weighed 10 lbs 9oz (up from 9lbs 2oz just last Monday), and has a head circumference of 39cm. He's in the 98th percentile for everything, though his head circumference was actually off the chart. Dakota says big heads run in his family, in more ways than one. I will refrain from commenting.


Because he's pretty much the size of a 2 month old, we get to skip the one month visit and won't go back to the pediatrician until he is actually a 2 month old. All of this growing and eating and being giant means that we've already given away the newborn clothes and have moved on to 0-3 month ones, but next week we may be ready for 3-6 because the kid is loooooong! And cute. Don't forget cute. He's in the 98th percentile for that, too.


Zoe and Gavin have recently started hanging out. She's excited to have a newborn to cuddle with again.

Hugs!

At the end of playgroup today, Maddie and Julia hugged each other goodbye but we didn't get a picture. So, we encouraged them to hug again! Maddie didn't quite know when to stop hugging, and she eventually toppled Julia to the floor. Fortunately, no toddlers were injured in the making of this photo.

He's Here!

Baby Boy Bailey made his grand (and much anticipated) entrance into the world on December 2, 2010, at 1:18pm. He weighed in at 9lbs 8oz and was 21 1/2" long (no, those are not typos). We're all back home and doing well after a wonderful and natural birth! (Birth story to come later, for those that are interested, and when we have a name, we'll let you all know!).

And now, for what you're really here for:

His first photo!


Cuddling with mama


And cuddling with dada


Getting weighed


More snuggling


Our new addition!


Introducing Maddie to her little brother (it didn't all go as well as this shot!)

Thank you all for your well wishes! Feel free to come by and meet the boy!

This Could Be It

After 6 weeks of prodromal labor and contractions, one can't be quite sure, but we're headed to the birth center in hopes of becoming a family of four today. We'll let you know!

Yup, Still Pregnant

I removed the ticker because after our due date, it cruelly began counting UP. That's so wrong. Baby has until Dec. 7th to choose his birth day, and then we get induced at a hospital.

In the meantime, Maddie continues to be absolutely adorable, of course. She's gotten to visit with her Aunt Katrina and Uncle Kenny last weekend, and she's been playing with Grandma Jean and Grandpa Rob for the last few days!

As you can see, she's thoroughly enjoying all the attention and doesn't seem bothered in the slightest that her pesky little brother hasn't chosen to make his presence known!

Guess Again?

See that ticker? It's down to 8 days now, and today was the last date/weight guess. So ha! You're all losers! Wait, I'm the one who's still ridiculously pregnant and downing quarts of labor tea, evening primrose oil, and crawling around on my hands and knees to try and motivate this kid to come join us out here. Hmmmmm...perhaps YOU are not the loser.

But a few people have told me that they're sad that no one won. Or, more specifically, that THEY didn't win. Well, me too. So, if you want, feel free to guess again! Baby Boy Bailey is due 11/23, seems to have recovered from his bout of making us think he'd arrive early, and is quite cozy. We may not see him until Christmas. Meanwhile, I may have to invest in a muumuu in order to leave the house, because I am gigantic, as my friend Fran screamed at me in Federal Hill the other night while I was waddling to the thai restaurant for spicy curry, all in an attempt to induce labor.

So, when's he coming and what's he going to weigh? If anyone guesses more than 10lbs, you are instantly disqualified from all possible winnings, and possibly from our friendship.

Don't know what I'm talking about? Check out the Wanna Be a Winner? post from almost a month ago (le sigh).

Art Time

Maddie and I have been trying to do more art projects recently, but every time I get out the earth-friendly eco-dough and put down some wax paper, the child loses it - screaming, crying, generally throwing a fit. So, today we tried the more traditional Play Doh with no wax paper. Think she's into it?


I guess I need to get more Play Doh!

Double Wink!

Dakota's been teaching Maddie how to wink. She thinks watching him is hilarious!


So far, she's only mastered the wink the Mommy way - we can both wink with BOTH EYES at the SAME TIME!

Goodnight, Maddie!

Maddie has recently become obsessed with reading books (much to the delight of this Momma!). The other night before bed, she showed us she can read her bedtime books all by herself in her special rocking chair. Could she be more delighted with herself?

Pioneer Woman

I have a list of crafty projects to complete before the boy arrives, and I have this weird compulsion that these things HAVE to be done in order for me to go into labor. But add in not sleeping and dealing with an increasingly difficult toddler, and these projects are just NOT magically getting done. However, I'm feeling very Pioneer Womanish today and making our laundry soap. Maybe I'll bust out the sewing machine tonight and get a few other things done, too.

Party Time

Yesterday Mommy and Daddy made me put on my Halloween costume again.


I was outraged!


Daddy told me that little fairy princesses got to eat cookies, and that made things better, so then I went to the party.


Apparently dragons get to eat cookies, too.


And farm girls.


But I still wasn't really happy and so I got to get naked at the party. Then Mommy took me home.

Today, you wouldn't believe it, but my parents put me in the costume AGAIN! But then they gave me another cookie and we headed out to the neighborhood Halloween party. They're getting pretty good at this bribery stuff.


I decorated a treat bag with Mommy. We used crayons and stickers, but then I got glue on my hand and that was icky.


There were a lot of people. It was overwhelming and I kind of just wanted to go home.


But Mommy said, "Not yet," so I decorated a cupcake and ate it. Nom nom nom.


Then my friends Ty and Sophie played ring around the Maddie and I loved it!


I kind of have a little crush on Ty. He's three!


Finally, we went home. I didn't even protest a ride in the stroller. Party's are so tiring!


Who knows what's going to happen tomorrow. I bet they make me wear my costume again. There better be some good cookies, too.