Books, Books and More Books

We LOVE books in our family. No, I mean we really love books. A lot. A whole lot. We would rather read a book than watch a movie or tv. We would rather read than clean (okay, that's a no brainer!). We would rather read than see a movie. I would rather spend time reading a book than doing just about anything. So would Brien.

Thank goodness the girls seem to have inherited this gene! From the time she was five months old, Hannah would pore over board books. By a year she could keep herself entertained for at least twenty minutes just looking at the books on her bookshelf.

I had feared Lily wouldn't get the gene. She just didn't seem as interested in books as Hannah. We would try to read to her and she would be squirming to get off our laps to go off and do something else. I was very worried and wondered how in the world we could foster our love of reading in Miss Lily.


As you can see, our fears were for naught. The child adores books! Her most favorite of all is Doggies by Sandra Boynton. She is a particular favorite in our house, having written Moo, Baa, La La La, and Blue Hat, Green Hat. She makes us all laugh and her illustrations are colorful, simple and delightful.

Lily will find the book she is interested in, bring it to whomever she wishes to read to her and look at them pleadingly asking, "Eesh, eesh?". Well, how can you tell her no when she asks so sweetly?

Christmas helped us continue our love affair. Between Lissie and Jessie, the girls are SET! My girls already had too many toys and I am fairly picky as to which toys I'll have in my house. Therefore we decided to give all the nieces books. Additionally, Lissie, as a college professor is sent many children's books. Our children are the beneficiaries of all this generosity. Yay!


While we were out shopping today, Lily was riding in the cart and started trying to climb out. Although this is a fairly common occurrence, the frantic "eesh eesh" that was coming from her was not. Lily had spotted a book that caught her eye and was desperate to get her little paws on it! We let her look at it and then put it back on the shelf. She was NOT happy at that turn of events!

Lily loves the books her Aunt Jessie, Uncle Bob and cousin Ella gave her for Christmas. She is particularly enamored of lift-the-flaps and puzzle shape books.


Jessie, meanwhile, knows her eldest niece very well. She gave Han a Princess Primer handbook and oh, was it fun.



There are flaps to lift, envelopes to open with letters inside to read, and a whole host of important information on how to be the perfect princess!

Thanks to my family's generosity and kindness, we now have books to last us for quite some time. =)

Monet in Raleigh

Yesterday was well worth the exhaustion we're all feeling today. It was simply amazing. The Impressionists have always been my favorite artists and Monet and Mary Cassatt top my list.

We drove to Lissie's late Wednesday evening and arrived around 10:00 or so. Yesterday morning came way too early for my exhausted little mind, but we had to get to Raleigh. We stopped first to have lunch at a lovely little Italian restaurant, 518 West. I don't know how Mom manages it, but she always knows the best places to eat! Brien and I went halfsies on two delicious paninis--one a portabello, the other an open-face chicken. Both extremely delightful =).


Then, it was off to the North Carolina Museum of Art and the Monets! Lily had not had an afternoon nap so I was very nervous about taking her into a museum. I always try to be mindful of small children, taking them to "adult" places such as museums. I'm also very cognizant of how over-tired, over-stimulated children (my mom calls them NNSs or "No Nap Syndrome" children) have a tendency to act and had no desire to push my NNS child on someone else and ruin their enjoyment of the art.

I put Lily in the Mei Tai, Mom took Hannah in hand, and we all headed to the exhibit. First off, it was packed! There was barely any room to move or to see. I'm a reasonably tall woman, I had the added benefit of heels, and I still had a difficult time seeing everything as well as I had wanted.


Lissie took Hannah around pointing out certain features here and a well painted object there. Hannah was in heaven. As many of you are aware, the child loves to surround herself with beauty, and Monet's work has beauty in spades. She and Lissie observed, compared, and overall enjoyed themselves immensely. Hannah had only two complaints--one, it was too hot and two, she wanted to stay longer and explore the rest of the museum!




Lily meanwhile stayed attached to me. I read the plaques to her and she and I looked at the bright colors in the pictures. She also spent much of her time people watching. She and Brien and I stayed together and braved the crowds. Lily was especially enamored of all the long hair that was seemingly right in her reach! I saved many a poor soul's scalp from her clutching fingers.

We visited the gift shop afterward to see if we could find anything worthwhile. I typically avoid gift shops at all costs, but for me this was a special occasion. I wanted something to commemorate our visit. We purchased a poster of the painting below for Hannah. We loved the muted pinks and greens and how Monet really conveyed a sense of early morning peace and calmness. We (Hannah included) also enjoyed the reflection of the trees in the water of the River Siene.
The painting below was my favorite of the day and we purchased it in poster form for Lily's room--waterlilies for Lily. I have seen images of Monet's waterlilies in pastel again and again, but these were different. They were so very vibrant and full of color, the reds and pinks very rich and they jumped off the canvas at me.


Mom, Hannah and I agreed this was our most favorite painting of all. The parasol in the foreground seemed to pop out of the canvas it was so three dimensional. I could just imagine a holiday spent in leisure by the sea, feeling the breeze ruffle my dress.

These last three were other paintings we saw yesterday as well. I'm always disappointed the richness, vibrancy and brush stroke details are lost when in poster form or viewed on the internet. For example, the haystacks above were very orange and you could just see they were painted at sunset. Here the colors are sort of hot and smooshed together.

I loved this little cottage and wondered about the life of the customs officers who lived there.


Finally, there were a series of three of this image, each slightly different from the previous one. Brien liked these the best.

The girls were dream children, never once fussing, crying or complaining and in fact, Brien and I received numerous comments/compliments on how well behaved the girls were. We are planning on finding other art museums for Hannah to enjoy and hope Lily has an appreciation for art to match her sister's.

We returned to Winterville, had dinner and hit the road. We were able to sleep in our own beds last night, a relief for all of us. I'm road weary and exhausted, but the paintings were well worth it!

Tomorrow

We are off to Lissie's house tonight so we can go to Raleigh tomorrow to see the Monet exhibit there. I'm pooped, exhausted and tired and know the exhibit will be worth the three hour drive to my mom's and two hour drive to Raleigh and then back tomorrow. But...

I wanted to get some pictures of the children playing with their toys posted before we left.

Hannah and her plethora of small plastic toys with small plastic parts. Yippee! But, she loves them and plays with them for hours on end, so I guess I shouldn't judge or complain.



Here all the pets are caroling for the small spotted dog, Jessie.


Lily received this really nice tent toy for Christmas. She will crawl in and out and in and out. She also received a number of balls including some roll-a-rounds. Who knew Lily loved balls? I sure didn't. She will try to crawl around with one in each hand. Maybe this is the impetus she needs to start walking?

Lily also received these really cool toys called "Magneatos". And the are pretty magneat-o! Paul and Brien have both had a great time with them. Aw, heck, I have too, as have Hannah and Lily. They are loads of fun and there are TONS of balls!

Finally, here is a video of Lily I took this morning. I received some perfume for Christmas and opened it and put some on. Lily watched the whole process and when I left the bottle lying on the floor, picked it up, opened it and put it at her neck saying, "Eesh eesh", her words for "please please!".

I squirted a small amount on her neck and she learned where the perfume is put on. Now, she'll take the bottle and ask, "Eesh eesh" and give me the bottle and then will pull down the neck of her shirt so she can have a small squirt. In the video I only give her one small squirt of perfume--the second time I pretend to and do NOT fool Lily.


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Christmas, A Story in Pictures

Here's how Christmas went:

Thursday-Brien's parents' house with all seventeen of us there.
Friday-Mom and Paul arrive, Jessie, Bob and Ella arrive
Saturday-Play all day, hair done by Jessie and fancy Christmas dinner
Sunday-Jessie, Bob and Ella depart for Christmas with the Gauldens, Brien, the girls and I head over to Mom and Dad's to visit with Grandma and Bill before they leave to go have Christmas with his daughter and grandchildren.

Christmas Eve was beautiful. We were sad to see Jessie, Bob and Ella leave, but still had a good time. We made sugar cookies (um, such an incredible recipe--which I promise I'll post before I go back to work...) decorated them, Brien made chili and then we went out to look at the Christmas lights. We put Han and Lil in their jim jams and went riding around listening to carols and enjoying the beautiful and super tacky. It was fantastic! We got home and the girls were unconscious.

We put them in bed and the Christmas hectic-ness began. I put together potato salad and layered jell0 salad and got everything ready for the next day's breakfast--monkey bread made with sweet rolls.

Christmas morning we opened our stocking gifts, had breakfast and went to town on opening gifts. I like to have each person open one gift at a time so we can savor what they receive and make it last longer. Hannah played "Hannah Claus" and passed presents to recipients. I LOVE to watch people open presents--it's my most favorite part of Christmas. For me, it really is about the giving, not the receiving.

Around noon we headed to Mom and Dad's and had dinner with them and Josh and Dana and did gifts there. When we got home I was so wiped out I could barely talk. I was honestly slurring my words I was so tired!

Here are some photographic highlights of the visits:


Our family all dolled up for Christmas dinner. When Jessie cut my hair she removed a lot of the weight and it now looks as if I have a perm! Who knew my hair was so curly??



Paul with Ella. I'm going to miss him so much. He leaves in a couple of weeks and I've cried myself sick over it. He's leaving and that's that. =(



Santa's Christmas cookies. Hannah LOVES the sprinkles =).



Hannah's big Santa present, the Biggest Littlest Pet Shop. The thing is really just a giant piece of plastic but she LOVES LOVES LOVES it. She has played with it and all the other Littlest Pet Shop (LPS) items she received non-stop since Christmas night.


Brien opening one of his Christmas gifts. I feel so foolish. I always keep my camera handy and I completely forgot to take any more pictures from Christmas day. No pictures of the girls in their cute matching pj's, no pictures of Josh and Dana. No pictures of Paul with us or the girls. Nada. What is wrong with me??


Waylen chillin' on the fuzzy brown blanket. In our house, if you use the fuzzy brown (or blue) blanket, you had better be prepared to share it with a fuzzy critter as well! =)


Ella in her natural state--full speed ahead!! I tried to get some still shots, but well, Ella is NEVER still. Seriously.


Saturday was a lovely day, unseasonably warm, and Bob took Ella outside to play with Hannah. Hannah once again decorated the patio, this time with a giraffe and flower.

Ella beau Bella on the stool in front of the tree. Isn't she a doll?


I would like to crop the angel off the top of Bob's head--it would be such a lovely picture then. =)

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

For me, Christmas is about time spent with family and friends. This year we were very blessed to be able to spend time with Brien's brother Josh and his wife Dana and his little girl, Sammie, his sister and her husband and children, his grandmother and her husband, my mom and Paul and Jessie, Bob and Ella! I'm absolutely pooped out!

Our holidays began Thursday the 21st. Hannah and I were both released from school early and we went to spend time with the Davis clan. Josh and Dana live in Phoenix and Sammie lives in a small Virginia town so we are seldom all together as a group. Jen, Derek and the kids all came in from Richmond, and Grandma and Bill arrived from Blacksburg. There were seventeen people at Mom and Dad's that evening!

Everyone was so delighted to have the whole family together and we took loads of pictures. Above are all of the grand/great grand children. Miles, Hannah, Sammie holding Lily, Lydia, and Kelsey holding Jocelyn.


Mom and Dad were so delighted to have all their children together for the holidays. The last time we were all together over Christmas was 2001. Hm, I think Brien was wearing that shirt in that picture too...


Here Grandma poses with three of her six grandchildren. Her other three grandchildren are Brien's cousins Jeremy, Karen and Christopher. They made Grandma's sweatshirt in 1993 when they were all very young. I had hoped to be able to visit with the other part of the Davis clan yesterday, but our family was SO wiped out we just couldn't make the trip to Jen's house in Richmond where everyone was gathering to send off Josh and Dana.


I thought this was a lovely photo of Josh, Brien and Jen. I hope my girls grow up to be as close as Brien and his siblings. Jessie and I fought like cats and dogs when we were young, but have become close as adults. Josh and Brien were always as thick as thieves, getting into all sorts of mischief.


For example, here they are pretending to be Hans and Franz from SNL. "I am Hans." Und I am Franz." "Und ve are here to pump..."

"...you up!"

And Miles wanted to get in on the action. =)



There were so many for dinner we had to divvy up into two groups. Somehow, I'm not sure how, but somehow I managed to sit with the adults. That never happens. Yes, I love to sit with children and listen to their conversations, but sometimes it's nice to sit with the grown-ups and hear what they have to say.


Poor Chance! He was so nervous with so many people around. Chance is getting to be an older dog now (I think he's 11 or so) and crowds are tough for him. Especially crowds loaded with smallish, loud humans. He was a good boy though and found a quiet corner to curl up in. Cricket, the kitty, and Mason, the galoot-dog managed to stay completely hidden.

We left exhausted ready to begin part two of our celebrations--my family!!

Happy Christmas Eve

Here a a few pictures from the past few days. We had a very busy visit with Jessie, Bob and Ella and they are now home. We're taking it easy today, making sugar cookies for Santa and trying to clean a little bit in anticipation of tomorrow.


Here are the three grandchildren looking way too precious for words.


I just loved this one!


Big gummy grin from Miss Lily. I know that's a shock for you guys =).



Hannah was tickling and playing with her sister. We opened gifts with Jessie's family last night because they had to get on the road so early this morning.


Jessie opening a gift and Lissie opening a gift.

I'll try and update tomorrow if possible. Have a Merry Christmas!

Holidays

Our internet service has been sporadic at best the past few days, which I have to say is extremely frustrating! Additionally, I'm preparing for a familial invasion later today. So, what all this means is I most likely won't be posting anything new until Monday evening or Tuesday. To all who celebrate Christmas, enjoy your holiday and time spent with family and friends. To those who don't, have a wonderful, peaceful weekend. See you when the craziness is over! =)

Joy and Tears

Here is the birthday girl! Wow, has this year flown by!!

Lily had a nice, peaceful, normal day, while mine was hectic and crazy. There's nothing quite like going back to sleep after the alarm clock has gone off only to awaken an HOUR later!! Holy moly!!


We got home this evening (I have once again left Bunny at Melanie's house--I really need to be more careful!!) and I began to frantically rush around the house trying to get everything in place for Josh and Dana's visit. B was also running around like a mad man. I had to whip up the mint butter cream frosting and frost the brownies and then work on cleaning up the clutter. Clutter is insidious and EVERYWHERE!! There seems to be no escape from it.

Lily had a lovely lasagna and some salad and Texas toast for her birthday dinner. I served Lily her brownie after dinner and she decided she would much rather have fondant instead--a girl after my own heart =).
After dessert it was present time. I must commend Hannah on a job well done. I know she was desperate to jump in and help unwrap, but she held back. I was SO proud of her. Lily received a Bitty Baby doll--which she really seems to love. Hannah gave her a talking puzzle and Bri and I also gave her some cheeping "eggs".

Nana and Pop gave Lil three new Gymboree outfits--and boy are they CUTE!--and a really fun Leap Start fridge magnet that makes animal sounds.


During dinner some carrolers came to the front door, bearing not only hearts full of the love and joy of the season, but also a plate full of homemade goodies! That family is one of the nicest in the neighborhood.

Dani also came over this evening. She'll be leaving Thursday for Germany! I'm very happy for her, but I've cried quite a bit this evening.

As I am currently fighting sleep, I appologize for any incoherence and choppiness. I hope to write a little more and a little better tomorrow. 'Night everyone!

Birthday Preview

Ah, this time last year I was in L&D at Mary Immaculate Hospital. Such an eventful evening and that sweet little angel was the end result. Miss Lily is a year old in 12 hours and I'm spending the evening preparing for her birthday. I have a batch of homemade brownies in the oven and will make mint butter cream frosting tomorrow so we will have grasshopper brownies. My darling lovey has shown herself to be a devout mint and chocolate lover. Who would have thought the little doll above would ever be old enough to have junk food????

She's a delight and a joy and I'm off to wrap her gifts. I hope to have images from her "party" tomorrow.

With Appologies to Sheri

I'm sorry, Sheri, I know I promised to post the recipes today, but I've been maudlin and reminiscing. Last year at this time I was beginning to have very minor contractions that I just knew were labor. That image up there? That's 366 days ago. That picture was snapped right before we left for the hospital around 7:30 the evening of December 18. I knew I would want one for posterity's sake if nothing else. Seeing how huge I was, I can certainly understand why my delivering OB was convinced I would have a nine pound baby!


But, she wasn't nine pounds. Miss Lily was an itsy bitsy 6 pounds 12 ounces when she arrived at 9:36 the morning of the 19th. See how tiny she was? She was less than 12 hours old in that picture. She was so small and snuggly. I'm getting maudlin because Brien is completely content with two children and really has no desire for any more. Meanwhile I'm beginning to feel anxious and panicky because I know Lil is it. She is no longer my tiny little baby who is completely dependent upon me for everything.


Nope. This big girl is struggling every day for independence. She desperately wants to do all the things she sees her big sister doing but her fine motor skills just won't allow it. At lunch and then dinner this evening, Lily was begging for the food that I was eating and showed no interest in that on her tray. Now, the food on her tray was far more healthful than the hot dog I was eating, but she really didn't care. =)

After her bath this evening (which is going much more smoothly with little to no crying, yay!) I was slathering her squrimly little body with lotion and again she was asking, "Eesh, eesh" and signing "please" and holding out her chubby little paw for lotion so she could put some on by herself. I'm amazed at how quickly my tiny baby has grown into a big girl!

But, in spite of all that, she still seems so young to me. As Hannah's first birthday approached I couldn't get over how old she seemed and what a big girl she was. Lily still seems like such a baby. I'm pretty sure her small size has a lot to do with those feelings. She is still in 3-6 month clothes and size two diapers. In fact, I purchased a case of size threes and tried to put one on her--it swallowed her torso and the tabs completely overlapped!! She is just an itty bitty doll baby who is anxious to be big. Ah, how time has flown...