Emerson is already 5 months old...

This little boy is incredibly strong, incredibly sweet natured, and growing so fast it makes me wonder if somebody has been stealing time...

He sits up (supported) with such a straight strong back -- loves to survey the world around him from an upright position.  He reaches so eagerly for things I sometimes wonder if he could launch himself right off the ground.

His giggle is so contagious. Has a great sense of humor.  The Jumping Johnny is a great invention -- he loves it as much as Evey did.  I love watching him bing around on chunky legs, springing to a solid stand on those impressive trunks of his.

His toes are always clenched unless he's sleeping.  Like his toes help him concentrate.

It won't take this guy long to start crawling around.  He isn't going to just sit there and let the world move around him.  It's quite apparent that this little man is interested in joining in on the all fun.

Frozen Mayhem

The world has become obsessed with Disney's Frozen movie. Our family is no exception.
When buying a birthday gift for a friend at the Disney store a few weeks ago, the young woman behind the counter strategically asked, "Would you like to pre-order your copy of Frozen today?" to which my 4 your old naturally replied, "Yes!!!"  We'd already seen the film at the theater. Twice. So of course, we pre-ordered and got the limited edition set of lithographs and double-disc dvd pack and joined the throng of crazy movie lovers.

I actually do love this movie. Olaf warms my heart. I'm happy to watch it again (and again). Beats Dora the Explorer, thats for sure. And my daughter is such a treat to watch while she's watching -- she sings, she gets up and mimics the moves of the characters (particularly Elsa. when leaving the theater the first time she raved to me, breathlessly, "Mamma! I love Elsa. I want her hair, and her dress, and her voice, and her magical powers, and her ice castle.").  She's totally into it. And apparently every single solitary friend of hers feels exactly the same way. Which is why I thought it would be fun to invite her buddies over for a Frozen viewing party.  Best idea EVER.

Ev was so super excited about hosting this party.  We hit Party City and luckily they still had some Frozen plates, napkins and cups left.  We baked rainbow m&m cookies and set up the upstairs with blankets so they could all hang out in pjs -- even the adults showed up in pjs ! -- we served pizza and chocolate milk, and Ev insisted that I make popcorn "just like Poppa" -- (Tag was up in Michigan this week, caring for his dad so he missed the Frozen Frenzy -- Ev kept him posted during phone calls).  We had 8 little Frozen Followers over, and they had an absolute ball.  Wish I'd had more photos taken.  Here's a few from the pre-party:

Princess Poses

Getting in the Princess mode

Even Ms. Nessa came to hang with her "Favorites"

Our babies are beautiful.

March 2014

Ev has us on our toes these days.  Whew, she's a handful.  Being on spring break this week has been tough on her.  The familiar structure of her school day is missing.  She's around the baby more, which brings out conflicted feelings in her.  And she doesn't quite get the mental workout that she needs.  We try our best to give her things to do and trips out in the great outdoors to fill her lungs with fresh air and exercise those amazing limbs of hers.  But it's never quite enough....and we feel as though we've been wrestling a crocodile by the end of the week. She is full of energy and spitfire.

The other night we took a fairly late trip to the pizza parlor and I was worried about what sort of meltdown we'd need to manage through...Well, we were happily rewarded with a friendly, generally happy and very funny Evelyn.  She packed a "picnic" dinner and had a cornucopia of snacks to choose from (all quite healthy), including a banana (she informed me ahead of time that she did NOT like the YUCKY pizza at the restaurant).  She announced that it was a banana phone, so naturally we had a banana phone conversation.  And then, to officially end the conversation, she peeled it and stated proudly, "I'm eating the phone now!"

Tag called Emerson "moonbeam" the other morning while he was beaming happy smiles at us.  I love it.  I'm going to keep calling him that.  Evey made up a new version of "you are my sunshine," and we sing "you are my moonbeam" to Emerson now.

A Girl in Control Taking Potter for a Walk. 

Milking a fake cow at the CMOM

Sleeping Angel

Fun with Poppa at the golf course

Princess Evelyn visits the hardware store...

Just another day in a ball gown

Talked me into a pink sparkle feather boa at Target.  How could I resist?? 

Off to school fashion

More school day fashion

Ice Day - March 2014

Otherwise known as a Snow Day in Memphis.  Roads too slick to drive buses to school.  They even closed my office today. So we stayed home, in our pjs most of the day, doing our best to juggle our work and a 16lb infant and a lively 4yr old.

Evelyn and I finished up her art book, a collection of her artwork going back to when she was just a tot in daycare.  Funny how she remembers her work -- she directed me to reorient a couple of them "this side is up mamma" -- and told me what they were so that I could include the titles.  I think she's part elephant honestly -- her brain is an incredible system of connections.

She is so great with Emerson now.  She has her moments, but I can pretty much let her do her thing. Emerson is tickled to have her company, following her every move and giggling with delight at her goofy antics.  He's getting pretty sturdy, so having her hold him is less nerve wracking.  Too bad he's less content to just sit there now and has to twist and kick and grab at her face and hair -- he's a handful at only 4 months of age.  She may have met her match...hee hee hee.

Emerson is such a joy.  He wakes up in the morning with a big old grin, grabbing at his toes happily.  I sure miss the mornings; today was a wonderful extra day bonus.  Gave him a bath, with Ev helping to get the supplies in order and gently pour water over him.  He just goes along with whatever we have on the agenda.  No fuss.  His legs are getting so chunky - and his skin is so baby smooth.  Can't get enough of this little guy.

He's decided that sitting up is more fun -- grabbing at everything -- he'll be sitting up on his own very very soon at this rate.  Magazines are a new obsession -- just try to flip through one with him in your lap.  Good Luck! Busy busy busy little man.

There was just enough snow on the ground by lunch time that Tag and Ev bundled up and took the sled over to the hill behind our house.  Only 9 degrees out there in the wind, but Ev trundled up that hill over and over again to slide down all by herself.  Even wiped out a few times (backwards flips !!) and got right back up and went at it again.  She's so big now!  Came back in the house with big red cheeks and a huge smile on her cold face.  Slurped down some cocoa with mini marshmallows in front of a movie to warm up and relax (she wanted to watch Elf).  Tag told me that when he was carrying her up the stairs to get her ready for bed she said to him, "This has been the best day. Poppa, I'm going to remember this day."  How perfect is that?