Teeth

 You know what's hard to photograph? Baby teeth. The only fortunate thing about it is that when you have been bugging a baby to try to get her to show her teeth for a while and she finally says, "waaaaahhh!" tada! Teeth visible. But not a cute picture. And poor baby, as if cutting your first teeth weren't enough trouble for a little person. All that said, here are some pictures of Nora's new little teeth that have just broken through. The cute ones do not display the teeth. The bad photos do show them fairly clearly. So here you go. Cheerios here we come!

Toddler theology

Today, Ella picked up my Bible off the table and brought it to me saying, "Mommy Bible." Then she opened it looking for "baby." Her children's Bible has pictures of several babies: Moses, Jesus, and the little children who come to Jesus. Since her language has been getting so much better lately, I thought I would try to teach her a little about the Bible. She noticed all the words, and started randomly saying the letters she knows, "a, e, l, r . . ." I tried to explain that the Bible tells us about God. "Do you know who God is?" "Baby cooow," she responded. I did try to correct the baby cow thing, "well, no, God made everything," but maybe it's still a little early. : )

Little helpers

Sometimes actually helpful, sometimes at least occupied without making a big mess, sometimes making a big mess, and sometimes definitely dangerous, Ella is majorly into helping these days. Also, Nora can hold 2 brooms at once, quite advanced for her age too, I'd say. : ) It just gets better and better as they get bigger, even though it's more challenging too.

The activity room

We are back in business! Today I did my inaugural sewing project in the new house. It is so nice to have my sewing machine set up again. Somehow it makes it feel like I'm really home even though we've been here 4 months now. What did I make? A little throw pillow cover that involved no cutting and took about 15 minutes. Perfect. : ) But now I'm all geared up for the dress order I'll be sewing next week.

Want to see the rest of the room? It's great because there's space for a little play area for the girls. They dig it.

It feels so good to have this room functional! For so long it had been that room that you don't go in because you just about can't, due to all the junk in the way. It was always "the activity room" in my mind. But for a while there, some had taken to calling it "the storage room." Hopefully it's purpose will be clear to all from here on out. I should also mention that in the side of the room I'm shooting from, Paul has some of his activities too. But somehow shelves of tents, bike equipment, and fishing stuff didn't call out to me to photograph them. Just my taste, I guess, sorry Paul!

In other news, Ella has learned "smile" and "picture." Our sweet and funny cousin Isobel has been cutely mugging for the camera for ages, but Ella has just figured it out. Sort of. Frequently she'll say "Picture. Smile." and then crouch or lay down on the floor while looking tentatively at the camera. Then she always wants to see of course.

Nora's a bit more natural at this stage of the game. : )

My funny girls.

Toddler fashion

Ella do you want to put your pants on?

No Mommy, no pants.

OK well how about your sockies, your feet are going to be cold?

No Mommy, no sockies. Neak-uhs.

Nora's baptism

 Nora was baptized on Sunday. She wore the same special dress that Ella did (and I did!). It was sweet for many reasons, but one memorable detail was Ella holding her hand while we were waiting on stage--the second newest member of our family's part of the covenant community reaching out to welcome the very youngest (Ella is so deep, right?). Having our babies baptized is such a reminder to me of why God has given us these precious little girls. They are for us, in a sense, but ultimately they are for him. By putting them in our family, he has given us the responsibility and joy of bringing them into his family. What an amazing thing and a high calling!

Oh, you again

Regular visits from the stomach flu were an unexpected part of motherhood for me. I used to expect to be sick to my stomach somewhere around once every 5 years. Ella is not 2 yet and this is my third stomach flu since she was born. (On top of and totally separate from morning sickness. I am really honing my puking skills.) My dear babies bring me these things and what can I do but pick them up, baby and bug together. Poor little Ella was miserable with this thing yesterday. She would cry "no no no no no" whenever she was about to throw up, and made several pitiful little declarations of " I sick." It was a non-negotiable, and was really somehow sweet also, that I was able to snuggle her and hold her most of the day. So. Today is my day on the couch. I'm in for it. But thank God, Paul is here for some non-negotiable sweetness today. I don't know what I'd do otherwise. Same day airfare, Mom?

So, I do have a sick picture of me, that I took to go along with this one, but guys, I just can't post it. Come take care of me when I'm sick sometime (shouldn't be long!) and you can see me in all my pale, sad, and listless glory. But I cannot put it on el internet. But here is a picture of the little one who came to comfort me with a sympathetic "Mommy sick."

This was written yesterday. But thankfully today we are back to playing. 

As for the dishes and the laundry, they should recover mid-next week I expect. 

Still funny

Funny hat is still funny. Really funny. In fact, having somebody else to share it with makes it even funnier.