Our Cheeky, Chunky Ham.

E. makes us laugh. Often. She makes silly faces. Emphatically shakes her head "no". Picks up new words with her baby-voice on a daily basis (today I heard, "dolly"; the other day it was "apple" - only pronunciations a mother can understand). Laughs at Sister. Dramatically flails her body on the floor, against the furniture. 

She continues to spend most of her days walking back and forth. Back and forth. But thankfully all that walking isn't causing her to shed the rolls and rolls of baby fat that adorn her legs (so freakin' squeezable and cute!).

For as on-my-toes she keeps me and for all the chasing I may do after her, I'm not too exhausted to not appreciate her yumminess. If you're feeling tired, just sit on the floor and hold your arms out to her. She'll amble toward you with the biggest smile and fall right into your arms. Sweet, cheeky, chunky girl.

Let's Play. For A Few Seconds?

Every now and then - for a split second - I catch the girls playing side-by-side. And I love watching them figure out how to interact. Because, of course, A. has her own agenda for her toys while E.'s toy-playing completely does not conform to A.'s plan. It's a miracle when there's no wrangling, shrieking, and grumbling over one child holding something the other wants. But slowly, slowly . . . the girls will preoccupy themselves with the same activity and not try to control the other.

Their toy agendas, yes, will remain different for some time, with A. having more muscle and verbal power to call the shots. But E. is trying and appears thrilled when big sister is napping, allowing her to have free reign over sometimes-untouchable toys. And when it comes to the outdoors, their interests our undoubtedly the same: running, climbing, playing in the sand, and taking walks in the stroller.

I'd like to think these moments of playing together will increase and lengthen. What do I know? I grew up an only child! But we are trying. We refrain from using language that pits each child against the other (e.g., E. ate her dinner, you should, too!) - we can make our point and teach our lessons without creating animosity, the last thing we want to encourage. And if the relationships between M. and his brother or various friends and relatives and their siblings are any example, I think we're on the right path.

Dino Love.

A. adores dinosaurs. Previously, she favored the Brachiosaurus. Then, the Ankylosaurus. Now, A. loves the Maiasaura the most. (Let me pause to brag a moment. I didn't have to check my dino-spellings once just now. We read a National Geographic dinosaur book to A. daily (fantastic book, we've given it as a gift twice). Spellings, pronunciations, sizes, plant vs. meat eaters = down pat. I never, ever knew I'd have so much dino-knowledge. It shocks me, really).

These dinosaurs were a favorite toy for some time. Now, A. is giving them a vacation. They sit on her dresser until A. decides to play with them again. We joked yesterday that her preschool class picture - which may include a favorite toy - might include the blue Brachiosaurs (she opted for a kitten, but ended up missing class because of a cold, boo). We wouldn't object. We think it's pretty cool our girl loves dinos!

"Here Comes The Groom, Skinny As A Broom!"

Sometimes, the songs your child learns while watching the wholesome, sweet Little Bear can lead to something far less sweet and wholesome sounding. Such as our recent exciting trip to New Jersey for the wedding of M.'s cousin. That was when A. shattered the silence of a waiting group of wedding guests with a not-meek rendition of "HERE COMES THE GROOM, SKINNY AS A BROOM! HERE COMES THE BRIDE, BIG FAT AND WIDE!" Enter looks of horror on our faces (my only saving grace may have been that the many elders primarily - if only - spoke Korean and maybe - maybe - A.'s song went unnoticed?). And E., not wanting to be left out, enthusiastically yelled as the ceremony began: "WOW! WOWOWOWOWOW! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!"

Silliness aside, A. and E. had a good, grand ol' time at their first-ever wedding (See more pictures here). It goes with out saying that M. and I did, too. We saw Grandma and Grandpa D. . . . 

And we saw extended family we rarely see and met other family the girls and I have never met (the bride, her groom, and one of the bride's two sisters and her family, who traveled from Korea to the States for the first time). And speaking of this family, I have to say - M.'s family members are gorgeous - each and every one of them. More importantly, they're so loving, so sweet. It's seeing everyone like this that - not surprisingly - really makes me wish that everyone lived closer. What a treat for our girls to have such a loving family.

E. enjoyed dipping french fries into ketchup and was a bit frightened by the booming-voice of the entertaining D.J. while A. could not stop dancing. Our girl danced from the moment she entered the reception until we pratically dragged her to our car.

The trip there and back was an adventure, too. The wedding was at 5PM on a Sunday, just northwest of New York City (I always love passing the city when we head north on I-95. What a magnificent sight!). We decided to drive up and let the girls nap en route and then drive all the way home to D.C. after the wedding. For those wondering, in Sunday traffic = 7 hours there, 4 hours home. But it was well worth it . Congratulations, Bride & Groom! 

Girlfriend's Into EVERYTHING.

Right now, E. is awake. I hear her, in her crib. Babbling, calling out. But I have yet to come up with an afternoon-action plan for her. I need a plan. I need a plan because Girlfriend is into everything. Everything. And I don't mean your garden-variety exploration and interest. I mean, she's into everything (e.g., no more cupboards to open? maybe I'll empty the fridge . . . ).

For one, I think we have far more "things" in a smaller space than when A. was this age. For two, I just think it's E.'s explorer personality. And three, A. peaks her interest as A. plays with fascinating A.-age-appropriate things that E. just can't wait to get her hands on. Just yesterday when A. refused to let E. touch her "party", E. started grabbing items off a play table, feverishly chucking them over each of her shoulders as if to say, "if I can't have these toys, no one can!!!" Whew.

M. calls her a "little bomb," because when she leaves a room, it's in smithereens. And she's a climber, too. A fearless, too-young-to-get-it climber. For instance, she has no qualms about climbing up to a long, twirly slide; and she also has no qualms attempting to walk down it - not slide. Mothers of children like this, how do you do it?! I can handle messes, but constant attempts to scale things? That's for the birds (or climbers or whatever). Time to go gather our girl. Wish us hours of safe, tornado-free fun!

Check Your Hands, Feet, And Mouth At The Door.

One reason I've fallen behind on chroncling A. and E. is the seemingly non-stop viruses that have entered our home this extremely mild winter and spring. I'm not talking about a sniffle here or there. I'm talking colds with fevers. High fevers. 3+ day fevers. And, most recently - hand, foot, mouth disease. How could such dear, pretty girls have something that sounds so unpleasant?

With our current infection (which also infected Mama and Grandma T., who couldn't escape the germs with out a 24-hour achey, chilly, fever bug), neither girl had an especially noticeable rash. Just several-day long fevers, copious drool (E., not A.), and lack of an appetite. Only after A. presented some sores that we decided needed doctor inspection did we learn of the diagnosis.

I trust what friends and experts say: this intense period of the sickies will result in seriously awesome immunities for my girls, who desperately need a solid week of play time, visiting, and outdoor adventures - not a week of kleenex, watery eyes, and tired faces. Nearby friends, we hope good health is around the corner and that our days of canceling playdates are over (fingers crossed!).

Happy Third Birthday, A.!

Oh, how time flies when you're having fun! And fun has certainly been had during the last three years, beginning with the news that we were expecting baby D. (pssst! A.! the miracle of you is in your mama's belly, below! Just a few weeks before the big day!), to the moment our dear A. was born, and for each year after.

  

And this birthday was no exception. We are thrilled to celebrate dear A.'s third birthday, her accomplishments, her growth, her smile, and her future.

At age 3, A. is so cool, so fun. She doesn't even blink at a vaccination; she loved her first visit to the dentist (today!). She loves singing at the top of her lungs. Her favorite toys and reading subject: dinosaurs! A. digs puzzles. She adores school. She has a "best friend" - S (yes, a best, dear girlfriend!). Most of all, A. loves animals (her favorite: "real" elephants) and nature. Here she is with Papa, examining her homemade treasure map and preparing to explore our local wetlands.

A. also challenges us - constantly. Whew. Whether it's questioning whether I know or understand something, e.g., - "yes you do!" - or testing the veracity behind our rules - "A. - STOP RUNNING IN THE HOUSE OR . . . ", A. keeps us on our toes and keeps it real, keeps us honest, and requires us to be consistent, unwielding. 

A. is also a sweet big sister. Before leaving the house with one of us, she'll say to the other, "keep an eye on E.!" That doesn't mean, of course, that there isn't the daily push or struggle over a toy (E., of course, wants whatever A. has and A., of course, wants everything E. has). But A. means well and she seems to enjoy making E. happy (this morning, A. was the first in E.'s room, which produced peels of laughter from E. - then a moment of tears when A. decided to jump ship).

For the big "3" celebration, we hosted a dinosaur-themed party in A.'s honor. On her actualy birthday - the next day - M. and I took her to her first movie EVER - "Coral Reef" at National Museum of Natural History IMAX Theater. The girl was mesmerized. Later that day, we embarked on A.'s one birthday wish: a boat ride. (For more birthday celebration pictures, click here.) 

Happy Birthday our dear, dear, dear A. We love you from here to infinity. You're a treasure. You're awesome. Love, Mama, Papa, & E. 

One Misty, Moisty Morning.

As the Mother Goose rhyme goes, "one misty, moisty morning when cloudy was the weather, I met [an old elephant?] a-clothed all in leather . . . " I must admit, my favorite time to visit our National Zoo is neither a sunny nor a dry day. We fancy a visit on a cool, slightly rainy, not-close-to-a-national-holiday-day (think: few tourists). Before 11AM, the place feels nearly empty. Kind of like it belongs to the community and not a nation. This day was no exception.

The highlights of this visit included standing above and spotting three elephants (A.'s favorite) and the swimming or land-loving turtles in the reptiles house (E.'s favorite). And we can't forget the pandas. Taking shelter indoors this day, A. and E. pointed and stared as the only-ever cute bears dined on bamboo. And, it will come as no surprise that both girls were especially smitted with a random, non-zoo resident mallard duck wandering about the grounds in search of a handful of popcorn.

Our Town's Blossoms.

I stand corrected. Let us endure a few more pictures of blossoms. While trekking all of 6 miles into the city to see the Japanese-gifted Cherry Blossoms is easy and thrilling, there's nothing easier and more enjoyable that wandering around your own flowering neighborhood.

Our town was bursting in bloom in early March. And we were beside ourselves enjoying the early warmth, the early color. We delighted in our local cherry blossoms, magnolias, and - A.'s personal favorite - the bluebells. Tulips greated us much earlier and pink apple blossoms sprouted as our pretty cherry blossoms melted into the ground. Spring - save for the early allergies - has been glorious. Let's just hope that winter doesn't arrive in August.

Cherry Blossoms '12.

Admittedly, you can probably have too many cherry blossom photographs. You've seen one, you've seen them all. But it's just so hard not to photograph these gorgeous, briefly-blooming pink beauties! And this last peak season, dear cousin E. was with us, in from the west coast. This was her first time seeing the trees, so many of them simultaneously in bloom. So, as you might imagine, it felt like our first time. Enter (seemingly) a million photographs . . . 

Layer upon layer upon layer of blossoms are really quite breathtaking. And the trees surrounding the tidal basin and complimenting the white stone monuments just create such a scene. The girls, too, loved our morning - for as long as a 1 and 3-year old might. Okay, that's enough cherry blossom pictures for now. No more, no more. (At least for a year . . . )

(And for those of you who are also tired of looking at our cherry-blossom photos, might I suggest you visit us during peak season? You won't regret it!)