375 mL to freedom

Me on our walk this evening:

"What a beautiful evening! I'm high on life... uh, and wine."

Robin, 3 months/13 weeks

Robin is officially out of her fourth trimester.  A miraculous transformation occurs at just about 13 weeks or 3 months.  Babies start waking up, start observing the world, start engaging.  Robin has all of this going for her and more. She is joyful, pudgy, intrigued by her surroundings, and always desires to talk to whomever will look her way.  She is a charmer for sure.

Her 3 month picture:



Her 13 week picture:

Dixie Cat, We'll Miss You

Dixie was a wild kitty we got from the animal shelter as a companion to Steve, our other kitty.  They were both born within a few weeks of each other.  Dixie was probably feral, she initially didn't know how to use a litter box (hence the nick name Poo Kitty) and she was always careful around strangers.  She was a cuddly companion to us, however, and loved to have her belly scratched.  She would cuddle her whole body around our hands and look like a little monkey.  She had a quiet purr that could be felt more than heard.  She loved to be cozy and would find the softest, warmest place in the house, typically a sweater or throw blanket atop a bed.  She loved to hunt. She was fierce when it came to tracking prey, however, she was timid when anyone new was in the house.

Interestingly, when we moved to Orinda, she became a much happier kitty.  She was no longer shy; she even loved being around a rambunctious two-year-old.  Our little black kitty was a California girl, who knew?

Our little Dixie cat was hit by a car this morning.  We found her as the girls and I were setting out on a morning outing.  I think she was up to one of her favorite things - chasing a mouse or bird.  We buried her out in a forest, built her a small cozy nest, and gave her some flowers. She will forever be free and wild. 

Both Brian and I thought we had at least 4-5 more years before we had to do this blog post.  But, we don't always get to choose what happens in life.  Dixie, we will miss you.  

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Robin, Week 12

Big things for our littlest this week:

• She can turtle like it's nobody's business.
• Drool.  Lots of it.
• Awake.  Gone are the 4 hour naps, 20-45 min is all she does these days.
• More talking, laughing, gurgling, cooing.
• Bye-bye 3-month clothes.  

Crowded campsite

Currently in the family room:

1 green built-in bench couch
1 rocker nursing chair with matching foot stool
1 pack n' play portable crib
1 kids' kitchen play set
1 antique easy chair
1 coffee table
1 wall-mounted 38 inch TV
1 wooden toy box

2 confused cats

1 2-person 3-season tent containing husband and 2 1/2-year-old daughter

Starting out to be a rough week

Erin woke up this morning in a strange mood, quite unhappy, complaining that her feet hurt. She was very warm. Yup, the kid had her second fever of her life. It's thrown her for a loop and we hope she feels better soon. In the meantime, she's surviving by repeated Sesame Street and Sid the Science Kid shows, milkshakes, water from Brian's running hydration pack, and her "nest".

Dad's first Family Circus moment

Driving back from taking Erin to see "Oceans" today, her first movie seen in a movie theater, with the windows rolled down:

B: "Hey E, what are you doing?"
E: "I'm taking a shower."
B: "What?"
E: "I'm taking a shower with the wind."

Hi, Bil Keane.

Erin's first trip to the ER

It had to happen sometime.  Friday night, we were having a lovely BBQ with A, J, A and M.  Erin and the girls were playing in her room.  Erin was jumping on the bed.  Suddenly, Erin's lip met the edge of the bed.  Tears flowed, followed by blood.  Mom and Dad wiped most of the gore off with a cool, wet cloth and assessed the damage. It appeared she had bitten through her lip.  So, everyone piled into the car and off we went!

Rather than ice, Erin preferred popsicles to soothe her wounds:


The waiting room :


The wounds (although you can't see the inside of her lip, which was more mangled than the out):


A few hour later, the Dr. determined no stitches were needed, but since the teeth had pierced the lips, yucky tasting antibiotics were in order. Erin was brave the entire time and passed out in the car a few minutes after setting off for home. It was, after all, 2 hours past bedtime. Dr. A hopes that all future trips to the ER are as uneventful as this.

Mary's, here we come!

(OK, It's not what you think.  I sold some stuff on Craigslist and got paid in one dollar bills.  100 one dollar bills.)

Robin at 11 weeks

New-ish this week - Full out belly laughs, lots of new vowel and consonant sounds.  And probably the most exciting thing in her world: grabbing an object

and shoving it in her mouth.

Awwww yeah!

And she still gets much love and affection from her proud big sister.

Eat your heart out, Bob Ross!

Erin's knocking out the milestones

Two recent advances in Erin's life this week.

1. (Warning to the 16-year-old Erin.  Sorry Kiddo.  I know this is probably mortifying for you but I had to share.)  Erin went to preschool 3 days this week in BIG GIRL UNDERPANTS!!!!  Woot.  No accidents (yet).

2. Erin had her first haircut today. For those of you in the know, Erin is very protective of her scalp.  She loathes the hair combing process and the hair washing procedures are so traumatic (for us) that it rarely occurs. So it was with great apprehension and much delay that we took her to get her first ever haircut.  But the nappies were out of control.

She did great!  Didn't even whimper.  Thanks to the amazing haircutter Erin was kept entertained the entire time and even got primped up to a super-girly extreme, including pigtails, bows, earrings*, necklace, glitter in the hair, a balloon, and a lollipop. The post-cut proceedings took longer than the actual haircut.  Ms. Karen leaves no distraction/reward avenue unexplored.

Again, Erin looks, to her parents, that she is 2 1/2, going on 18.

* They were fake stick-on earrings.  The ear piercing privilege is solemnly reserved for Auntie Dr. Tina.  

Robin Week 10: Super Baby!

Yes, the child does wake up, and when she does she makes it count.

New this week: rolling! 9 weeks, 5 days. Sure it was just one time, but it counts! And the grabbing is getting more determined. You can almost see the little brain gears working as she carefully positions her arm, slowly opens her hand, and grabs her squiggle toy. Focus and determination: check.

Thanks to Dilettante for the shirt.  It took Brian half a day to get it.  She wore it to a 10 year olds birthday party.  None of those kids got it either.  We must be old.