Mary Baby!

This is Felicity's constant exclamation these days: "Mary, Baby!" She is so excited to have a holiday that focuses on someone she can really relate to -- a Baby held by His Mother. She will also include JoeJoe, if he is on the scene. We have been visiting the many creches and little statues and pictures around our home, our church, our neighborhood. I didn't realize how many depictions there are of Jesus' Nativity until she started pointing them out.

Right now she is laying on the floor, finishing a little fit over not getting her brother's candy as her lunch, repeating "Mary, Baby... Mary Baby" I guess that calms her down :)

Eloquent Felicity

Felicity's language development always seems to lunge forward in big strides. Yesterday was one of those days where practically every sound she uttered was a word, and lots of words were strung together as phrases or sentances.

For example, when she woke after an early morning nap, I offered to take her to the potty. She responded, "I don't want the pot." She also said Kwamai's name clearly for the first time yesterday, finally adding on the beginning K/Q sound.

It is so neat to have a more conversational relationship develop with her, and among all of us as a family. Last night during bath time we all had a good laugh over her insisting we call that slippery white bar "pope" (as she can't quite get out the "s" sound).

The Bloggable Kwamai

Kwamai's bloggable quote of the day: "When you die, I'm going to live in your house, but I'm going to change the phone number."

Golden Month-Birthday

Have I created a new concept here? Felicity is 20 months old today, on December 20th, so it's her Golden Birthday, month-wise. I figured I missed 20 seconds, 20 minutes, 20 hours, 20 days and 20 weeks, and it will be awhile before we get to 20 years....




Here's the month-birthday girl. Happy 20 months, honey! We love you!

Video Mania

Well, we're really getting into these digital camera movies. Sure wish I would have done one every day for the last few years! Here's today's semi-artless offering.

Lego Team Tired Out

Ok, so they don't know yet that I took this picture.

If I could have made it larger, you would see a room swimming in lego, and two tired engineers who essentially fell asleep in the middle of them.

I suppose I should go get them to the right beds to save their backs, huh?

Decorating the Tree

Felicity and I decorated our Christmas tree today. Well, ok -- I decorated; Felicity mostly undecorated.
Note that she is holding or touching the same ornament in each shot.







It was one of those moments where absolutely all beauty, truth and goodness sang in heavenly harmony, and the heart ached with the joy of it.

Kwamai Dancing

Here's Kwamai doing his favorite thing: dancing around, with an audience.

Chin People

Ok, I hope my brother and I are not the only people in the world who have ever discovered chin people.

When I was a kid I remember drawing eyes on my chin, hanging upside down, and laughing for a loooooooong time with my brother (he took a turn with the eyes, too). To this day I often picture a chin person while I'm looking at someone talk (particularly if what is coming out of his or her mouth is not so interesting).

So yesterday I introduced Kwamai to chin people. He found it funny too.

Then imagine my outburst of laughter when later in the day I picked up Felicity to nurse her and her dress slid up, revealing two eyes and a gaping mouth, er, I mean belly button. Her brother obviously decided she would have a turn providing entertainment, too. Felicity wasn't quite sure why I found her belly so hilarious, though...

Helpful Kids

I am very proud of my household helpers.


Felicity loves to put the silverware away after the dishwasher is finished running.


Here is Kwamai washing things the old fashioned way.

St. Nicholas Day Pictures

Last year on the Feast of St. Nicholas (December 6), we took some really nice pictures at home. That is, Kwamai and I did. I decided to do it again this year, to make it a tradition. Well, Felicity, who never hesitates to smile pretty for the camera, was not all that excited this time, and I was not having a particularly good day myself. But, we got some shots, so I thought I'd share.

Our "Minister"

For a few years, we have participated in a program at Franciscan University founded by Kimberly Hahn called Ministry to Moms. A young woman volunteers to come to our home three hours a week, and in exchange we share dinner with her one night. This semester we've had Katie come to our house, and Kwamai and Felicity both love her. It is wonderful just to have another grown up on hand if I need to run an errand, or, um, shower or get other luxuries done:)

Thanks, Katie!

Book of Poems

This afternoon we read Tomie dePaola's Book of Poems. Kwamai absolutely loved the one called Bananas and Cream by David McCord. Most of the rest were big hits as well, as long as they had a strong beat to them or weren't too long or conjured up a funny image.

In fact, as I sat down to blog this and asked him to bring me the book, he asked me eagerly if I were going to search the public library website for more poetry books.

I guess I'll do that now!