Boy? Girl?

Has your nose been itching? Think someone might be talking about you? It's probably Mara and the conversation is probably something like this (yes if she knows your name she has probably asked and she is as likely to be right as wrong).
Mara: I'm a boy.
Me: No, you're a girl.
Mara: Mommy's a girl.
Me: Good job.
Mara: Daddy's a girl.
Me: No, a boy
Repeat and substitute other names ad nasuem.

Playin'

"Playin'" is one of the most frequent words we hear from Mara these days. It has been amazing to watch this transformation since her second birthday. Hello little imagination in there. Sometimes it's her in one of the many baby contraptions around the house and sometimes it's her baby doll. One day last week I asked her the dolls name and she told me "Kathryn Hall". Then I asked what her whole name was and she told me "Love buggie" (Thanks Doe). She walks around all day on her phone talking about friends bringing us dinner, calling people back and saying she misses you all lots. The basket of play clothes gets dumped on more than a daily basis. She runs for her baby sling if I pull out mine and has had to change the doll's diaper on the way out the door Last night as we lingered after dinner she was "playin' a game" of silliness with Tom and me at the table. She often tells me she is "playin' a game" with the color cards Doe brought. Last night a piece of bread left momentarily on the plate of oil and vinegar was a castle and this morning her French toast stick was a rocking chair. She makes birthday cakes in the shower and will play endlessly with water in the kitchen sink. She is also learning some of the joy of summertime play. She discovered the fun of playing in the dirt in the garden and remembered she wanted to return to this activity as promised after her nap. She's had lots of fun learning to blow bubbles herself and yesterday she had lots of fun with her sand toys in the water feature at the park.

3.5 weeks

Wow, that old already I feel most of the time, but then I look back at photos from the first couple of days and my has she grown. Yet it feels like she has always been apart of our family too. As you can see in the photo Audra has been introduced to many new things through her slumbering eyes in her 3 short weeks. In this instance Mara is showing off her new dress up shoes. Won't they have fun playing princess together in a year or two. Mara is an incredibly sweet big sister (though I think in speech she might be confused who the BIG sister is sometimes). She sings "Twinkle, Twinkle" to her when she crys and wishes Audra could sleep in her room. She attempts to dictate whether Audra gets more milk or not, but at least so far understands she only gets milk. We have been so blessed with the help of family and friends these past few weeks, so thank you all. We remain a happy, relatively well rested, and abundantly fed family thanks to all of you. I am sure this last photo will become a much more common occurrence in the weeks to come.

First of many photo shoots

Fancy Photographer

With all the picture taking going of course she wanted in on the action.

My sweet girls

I know I'm biased but I think she has a beautiful baby smile.


These were taken the day Tom's mom arrived. I have no idea when these were even taken, but I love them. You can't pose these moments. I couldn't even pick just a couple to show you.

Sisters

Sisterly love has abounded the last few days. This has been a common request and scene at our house. Sleeping, eating, at church, it doesn't matter Mara will ask (or demand) to hold Audra. Not that I mind in the least bit, I enjoy the precious moment and grab some photos if it lasts longer than .2 seconds (which is also common and pretty funny).