Sisters reading

I hope the rest of you can see that Eloise is having no problem holding her own with Dalia.

Kitty Kitty

Many of you know Dalia's lovey, Kitty Kitty. Well, on the way home from the coast Dalia planned his upcoming birthday party (apparently he's/she's six already). She'd made a birthday card for him a couple months ago and left it sitting on a table. The day after we got home I blew up a bunch of balloons and hung them up. She got the hats. I sang to him. Then I went about my cleaning up from the trip. I found her opening his card and a gift she'd put together for him with him sitting on her lap. It was heartbreakingly sweet. She posed for a picture with him (a rarity these days to get her to smile for the camera). Well, happy birthday Kitty Kitty! I'll never forget our trip through IKEA all those years ago while Dalia squealed and squeezed you tight. She's loved you best ever since. She bathes you, sings to you, asks you how you are, clutches you tight all night long. Please don't fall apart. Please.

Trip to the coast

Though it mostly rained or was cold and windy, we managed to find a little bit of peace and fun at the Oregon Coast last week. Gigi came with us, which was a treat, especially for Dalia who loves her so much. We did manage to get a little sun, but even still, Dalia and Mark (and sometimes the rest of us) braved the elements to enjoy the sand and surf. Thanks to our good friend, we also got to land in an absolutely beautiful house, such a retreat. Also, we visited to strange and wonderful coast must sees, Tillamook Cheese Factory and the Seaside Aquarium. We're thankful for the quiet time together.

One good thing about inclement weather - Kites!

Gigi relaxin'
Dalia is a true Oregonian. Played in the sand with Dad until soaking wet. Gigi, Eloise and I sat at home watching the rain come down in sheets from the windows. Apparently, it was Dalia who finally said, "let's go home."

Shouldn't we all be this happy to be alive?

Dalia and Gigi
My big girl playin' in the sand.

Asleep with the most incredible backdrop. We were lucky to get one beautiful day.
Eloise was completely jealous of Dalia's ice cream cone. I did give her just a teeny taste. Her first...of many I'm sure.
Our front yard. So serene.

Seriously, could she get any happier?

Vacation to Central Oregon

Last week we went on our first trip as a whole family with little Eloise. We went to Central Oregon, one of our favorite spots in Oregon. So beautiful and sunny. We had a great time! Though, we are learning that vacations do not mean relaxation these days, but thankfully, we had a few years of relaxing vacations before children. We'll get some more eventually. In the meantime, it's all about sharing our love of nature and exploration with our girls. We actually took some detours we might not have because we wanted to have an adventure with them. Particularly Dalia. She shares our love of exploring and Eloise had just as much fun touching the trees and smiling up at them. Soon enough she'll be making us let her crawl around in the dirt.

Each day we took a walk together and then hopped in the car to find a waterfall, a river, a warm patch of forest to run around in, even some snow!, and a trip to the High Desert Museum.














I'm currently battling sleep deprivation so it's difficult to muster up the enthusiasm I'd like to have. We are beat. A happy father's day for Mark is getting to read his book quietly for a few minutes (which he is doing right now) and hopefully have an hour to take a run up in Forest Park by himself. I'm so thankful for his partnership everyday, but having a whole week off with him to be together as a family makes me appreciate him and all he does that much more. Our girls are so incredibly fortunate to have a dad like Mark. He's thoughtful and patient, funny and loving all day and all night, and even manages to cook, clean up and make coffee for us everyday. My now permanent eye twitch from exhaustion thanks him especially for the coffee.

I wrote the above almost two days ago. We've settled back into our routine and both Mark and I have had some time to ourselves. Our girls show us so clearly how much better they are when we take care of ourselves, too. They both went to sleep well and left us with some free hands to finish this, water the garden and enjoy the sunny evening. We're so thrilled that summer actually looks like it's going to come.

Sitting up

Dalia was crawling by this age, but Eloise has been, well, mellow to this point. Now that she's trying to sit, roll, grab, hold, open, drink, eat, she's letting us know when she's frustrated. But, I couldn't feel prouder for her sitting up. She's so dang cute.

Yay Dalia!!!!!

After a very long process, Miss Dalia has finally let go of her potty protest. She has been out of diapers for a week now (except for night and the occasional number 2, which she now gets a cloth diaper for), but she's gone everywhere except the potty - the grass, the bathtub, the little cup that goes inside the potty - and yesterday she just decided. Now the flood gates are open (I hope) and she's wanting to go every 10 minutes. I have been promising her gelato for months - I mean since last summer! And we haven't been there since. Just keep driving by nearly every day. Yesterday we got to have her gelato just before dinnertime. She really couldn't have been prouder. We've got some treats planned for number 2, don't worry. A proud moment indeed.

Happy half birthday Eloise

She's always got a smile, she's sweet, patient and always wants to snuggle. Her bright blue stare captures our hearts and pulls us in, but makes us feel, more importantly, lucky to be ourselves. While she brings us just as much love and joy as her sister she couldn't be more different than our Dalia.

Eloise is clearly saying mamamama when she wants me and is practicing her da. I think she weighs about 16 pounds and just started sitting at the table with us. She couldn't be happier about this. She likes sweet potato, apple and avocado and it seems she'll have her sister's appetite. While she doesn't sleep as well as before, she's so easy to settle and can even settle herself (honestly did not believe that was possible).

I am still carrying her around mostly in the Ergo instead of putting her in the stroller, and can't seem to believe she doesn't fit in her 3 month clothes anymore. We're so excited about who she is becoming, but we're savoring every last bit of her babyhood.

So happy half birthday, Lovely Eloise. You've made us feel complete. We love you so much.