More Magnificent Than Mundane

The holiday break was wonderful. Cold, a little too much indoors, but still more magnificent than mundane. Husband and I worked several days in the middle of the break but were home and/or traveling a bunch with the girls. It's been fun spending so much time with them. Here's what they're up to.

• Bean's favorite sayings are "sure" (stated very obligingly) and "go away" (used when she wants to do something "by herself").
• She can sing these songs by herself: ABC, Twinkle Twinkle, Old McDonald and Row Your Boat. She can count to 20 but always skips 14 and 15.
  
• Bean is OBSESSED with Care Bears. Grandma & Papou gave Squeaks 2 Care Bear DVDs and 2 Care Bear stuffed animals. Who knew they were still around--aren't they from the 80s? Husband and I are convinced that there is subliminal kiddy crack in the DVD. Bean doesn't want to watch Dora anymore, only Care Bears.
• Bean also likes to pretend she's Dr. Arter, our pediatrician. She got a toy medical kit for Christmas and likes to treat all dolls and animals in the house.
• Bean is pretty independent. By herself she gets dressed (not usually matching), goes potty, washes her hands, puts on/takes off pull-ups, serves herself fruit, and works our iPhones to watch movies. See aforementioned "go away" for response we get when we try to help.
• Bean still loves to over-accessorize. Two nights ago she came out of her room in the outfit below and told us "I'm a princess!"

• Squeaker has about 10 words including: Daddy, Mommy, puppy, baby, cup, up, night night, bath time (sung to the tune of the Dora "Backpack" song), and happy (husband swears she says this when he lays her down in her crib at night).
  
• Climbing on things is Squeaks' favorite pastime. She's learned to climb on our bar stools. She also moves the kitchen footstool to wherever she needs to go, climbs up, and helps herself to anything on the counters. Bean was helping me make cookies, and Squeaks weasled her way onto the footstool to share in the fun.
  

• Equally fascinating to Squeaks are plastic buckle fasteners. She could put these together forever. Too bad she can't undo them. My stamina for unfastening is much lower than hers for fastening.
• Squeaks wants to do most things her sister is doing including dressing herself and eating with utensils. Eating is going better but is still a messy proposition.
  

Thanksgiving Road Trip

We were back in Texas for Thanksgiving--this time via a road trip. We spent lots of good time with family and friends.

We spent some time at the River. Squeaks enjoyed reading outdoors on Uncle Tom's tailgate.


We stopped in Dallas and spent the night with our good friends, the Swifts. Bean had her first sleepover with Maisie, and all the girls enjoyed playing together.


We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Pritchards. Bean enjoyed hanging out with Cousin Jennifer and Cholula, the Chihuahua. Actually Bean's *SMITTEN* with Cholula, and Cholula tolerates Bean (especially since Bean walked/dragged the poor pup around on her leash for two days).


The road trip wasn't nearly as bad as I had thought it would be even though there was less sleeping than I anticipated. We rented a minivan for comfort, but the girls ended up sitting about an inch apart. Here's a rare moment of simultaneous napping.


Aunt Tracy and Uncle Tom hosted a 70th birthday party for Cousin Mark. It was a great opportunity to see all of the Ohlendorfs.

Hiatus Justified

Stating the obvious: it's been a long time since I posted a blog. My excuse: I'm pregnant and really couldn't imagine writing about anything else, and until I was OUT and in public I couldn't write about being pregnant. Whew.

But you'll see a post I wrote the night we found out. Lots has happened since then:

1. We're thrilled to be expanding our family.
   
2. Our due date is May 15.
3. Baby seems healthy at this point.
4. It looks like a girl. Apparently, at 12 weeks the baby's "nub" points upwards if it's a boy and downwards if it's a girl. Our baby's was definitely pointing down.
5. My stomach is so expanded already that someone who I have met 5 times asked me if I was pregnant.
6. We told Bean that there's a baby in Mommy's belly. She heard my stomach gurgle earlier this week and with very wide eyes said "Mommy! The baby's in there makin' noise!!"

I'll spend some more time this week catching up on the last 2 month's highlights. Stay tuned.