Thea turns two!

Thea's birthday e-mail from Todd:

Hey Thea,

Today was your 2nd birthday celebration. When you woke up Daddy got you out of your crib and then took you to get Mommy and Liam up. Then we all went downstairs to the living room. There you were very surprised to find your first gift. Mommy and Daddy got you a play kitchen set, complete with spatulas, pots and pans, plates, cups, forks, spoons, and even play eggs, green beans and mac'n'cheese. You really loved it. Within minutes you found your other big gift in the dining room, your first Tricycle. We were gonna save it to give it to you later in the the day, but that's ok. you're a very clever girl.

After your nap, at 4 o'clock, your two friends Alex and Lila came over to celebrate with you. They brought you gifts too. Then we all had cake and ice cream. You and Lila and Alex had a lot of fun together and you did pretty well with sharing your toys with them. After you played together for a while we got pizza and had dinner. You still love black olives on your pizza, and Mommy opened a can of them for you too. You just can't get enough of them.



You are talking so much now. Every once in a while you ask us if you can call Heather or Grandma. Mommy helps you dial and then you hold the phone up to your ear and wait for an answer. Then you have a conversation. That is very grown up for a 2 year old. You simply are the sweetest, smartest, most beautiful little girl ever. Mommy and Daddy love you so much.

You also are doing well with having a little baby brother. You give Liam lots of kisses and really seem to love him a lot. You like to hold him on your lap. You're a great big sister!

See also:

• Thea turns one!

Xmas with friends and family

Liam's first Christmas! Doesn't he look thrilled?


We spent part of the day with Lila.


The next day we hung out with other friends.

Liam's one month old

Dear Liam,

You're one month old today! Congratulations! You don't do a whole lot right now besides eat, sleep, cry, and get your diaper changed, but we love you a lot and are so happy to know you.

Your sister Thea loves having you around. She insists on holding you every day and gives you very sweet kisses. She also cries when you're upset and gets really mad at Mommy and Daddy, as if we're doing something mean to you. We've tried to explain that you cry because you can't talk and tell us what you need, but I don't think she buys it.

You're slowly getting over your jaundice, which you've had since birth. Thea was jaundiced when she was born, too, so it must run in our family. But your color is more and more natural, and I can't call you Yellowman in a Jamaican accent anymore and have the joke make any sense.

All things considered, you're a relatively mellow baby. You usually only cry when you're hungry, overly tired or stimulated, or in some kind of intestinal distress. You have a bit of reflux, so your doctor recommended we have you sleep in your carseat. That's helped you sleep a little longer at night, for which your mom is grateful. You still don't sleep more than two or three hours at a time, but you're a growing boy so we understand. At your last doctor's appointment, you weighed 10 pounds 6 ounces. Well done, son!



Much love,
Mommy and Daddy

Xmas card

The final version:



Sadly, as weird as we look, it's the best of the 20 or so that we took. Here are some of the out-takes:


(God, don't I look exhausted?)




I kind of like this last one. It's a pretty accurate picture, anyway.

Thea is a great big sister

I was rocking Liam and singing to him, trying to calm him and stop him from crying. Thea came running into the kitchen where we were, took one look, and ran back out. I was worried that she was upset that I was spending so much time with the new baby, but she was running to get a doll that she could rock and sing to, too.

Best big sister ever!