Christmas!

What a wonderful Christmas! It truly was magical with both girls. Christmas Eve was spent with great friends and family, an easy bedtime in anticipation of Santa and a Christmas Day filled with joy! Not too many gifts to overwhelm the girls, but just enough to keep the fun going. The sun even came out and Dalia got to ride her new bike from Santa. A gift, indeed, to go outside for a walk in December!

Had so much fun with Dalia helping me wrap presents and write messages

fun at Thom and Steph's

partyin' with Gigi

Gigi (the smartest grandma ever) brought her iPad to share with the girls

didn't want to leave Owen and Cecily's, but was almost too tired to walk to the car

Christmas morning! Santa came!!!

I think this is when she got it

what's next?

sunrise

Dalia was so happy to give her gifts (personalized books she wrote and illustrated herself) to her grandparents

Eloise gave Dalia a watch. I think it's her favorite gift.

snuggling at quiet time

a much needed rest for Daddy

sun worshipping. mommy's favorite gift this year!

Christmastime

There have already been so many special holiday moments with our girls this year. It's really different with Eloise around and sharing in the fun. Decorating the tree was by far the most fun. But, also making gifts for family with Dalia and watching Eloise love the ornaments. Dalia has been exclaiming things like, "Merry Christmas in 4 days!"; "I love you at Christmastime!" and wrapping up "presents" for us all in blankets. Anyway, before the big festivities I thought I'd post a few pictures from the past few weeks.

 

school pictures

As is true Dalia fashion, she wouldn't hear of sitting down and letting some stranger take a posed picture of her the way everyone else was doing this year. We'll see what happens next year. I am supposed to get my money back, though I'll probably be able to laugh a little when we get the class picture with Dalia sitting backwards in her teacher's lap (that's right, facing away from the camera). Anyway, here's something I love so much about her school: the school director is always loitering with her awesome camera and love for the kids. I was joking with her about Dalia's school photo - lack there of - and she decided to shoot these. I couldn't of dreamed of better pictures to mark the passing of this time in her life. Way better than a posed shot in a wooden chair with a blue background. Her friends running behind her and the fall leaves all around her. Every day we are more proud of her. This week's favorite activity? Counting to 100. Over and over and over again. We counted together to 112 in the car this afternoon. 

ONE

My baby Eloise is one. My surprise, my sunshine, my heart incarnate. I'm so in love with my little girl I can hardly believe a year has gone by. There've been some hard days, but really, what an amazingly joyful year it's been. I feel more myself than ever, thanks to her. I feel more confident, thanks to her. I feel more capable, more loving, more compassionate and patient, thanks to her. She whispered her name to me as she was placed on my belly and seems to have been whispering the truth to me ever since. If I'm quiet enough, I can always hear. 

turkey

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at Thom and Steph's with Scott, Robin, Connor and Pops! Eloise enjoyed the table time - she was a perfect little lady using her fork and everything for dinner. Dalia was brave enough to try turkey and some sweet potato casserole this year. Pops carved the turkey. Mark and I loved having a clean kitchen to come home to. Thanks Thom and Steph for hosting a wonderful year with absolutely amazing food.

movin and groovin

On this week before my baby turns one (!!!!) I thought I should post something reflective of how she keeps us all happy. She loves music and moving. She does so many silly and sweet things these days. We all get a kick out of her dancing and spinning around. She's also turned into such a little snuggler. She hugs us all the time and hums, "ohhhh". She does the same to any baby doll, stuffed animal or anything soft, really. It melts my heart every time.

Park

 Big and little, these girls love the park! Yes, yes Dalia can do the monkey bars! 

Also, we got a treat yesterday! An afternoon visit with Stephanie. We love Aunt Stephanie!

fall leaves and Halloween

Yesterday was a great day for some yard work. So beautiful and warm. We scooped up some of our fallen leaves and let the girls play in them for a bit. Eloise, of course, wanted to eat them all. Dalia was, of course, a super sweet big sister. She made a HUGE fairy bed for "eleven fairies." Mark, the awesome dad he is, left some of the leaves and her fairy bed in the driveway for her.

Today was the neighborhood Halloween festivities, the annual Monster March. We braved the drizzle and it was worth it. So fun! As we were parading through the hood Dalia turns to me and says, "when are we going to get to the parade?" I told her we were the parade and showed her the people watching us. She couldn't believe it. Too much candy later she ran home in the rain with some friends, systematically removing her butterfly fairy costume as she went. I was a five minute Pipi and Eloise napped in her cow costume. Mark wore a black sweatshirt. Wait, he always does that. 

Then we came home to carve our pumpkins and enjoy the evening. Dalia designed her own face while Eloise rocked out on the piano. I love this video. It so captures our family right now. Check out Eloise's dance moves!