Of Bellies, Bubbles & Babies

This is what Russ was working on this January. His baby. Don't worry, it is gone now.
Megan loves her bubbles. Not to actually play with them per se, but to hug, kiss, shake and wrap in blankets.

Of course not for the camera, but she likes to wrap everything she can. Or have mom do it.

Helping mom with the dishes. Our new obsession. Plenty of bubbles here. And water on the floor (and mom).

I finally caved into pressure and put up a belly shot. Enjoy while you can.

Megan's First Haircut

We took Megan in for her first official haircut. I have cut her bangs a little bit, but it was getting pretty obvious that more was needed. She did so well. Only a little crying at first and when she got her bangs cut.

Her hair was getting a little crazy
Right before

After.

As you can see, we didn't do anything drastic. Just a little trim.

Some Christmas Pictures

It has been so long since we posted I thought I better get on it. We spent our Christmas vacation is Utah and Indiana (and airports!!). We had a great time playing with cousins and puppies. This year, only mommy got sick, so that made the vacation much easier. We are now back in Connecticut realizing that we must had a mild winter last year compared to this. Russ has made stupid comments like "What if we get a snow storm and the baby is coming and no one can get in or out?". He now has to memorize one page in "What to Expect" on how to assist a birth without medical help. That should teach him to keep his month shut.
Anyway, on to the pictures!

Cheese! And I must say that the toy she is holding is delightful. Simply delightful.
She went to Discovery Gateway in Utah. She had so much fun!

She and daddy went sledding. Dad almost didn't make it back.

Megan feeding the baby.

Megan loves our Christmas tree.

Christmas Past and Present

It is amazing how much change one year can bring to a family. Merry Christmas!

Dinner time

Elizabeth and I had a discussion about whether me contributing 23 chromosomes makes Megan half mine. I said it is like I provided half the blueprints for a building and Elizabeth provided the other half, the labor, materials, and all other construction costs. Plus since birth, she has provided the lion's share of the child rearing. So I maintain she is more responsible for Megan's behavior than I.

What, pray tell, precipitated this conversation?

We were sitting down to a lovely dinner Elizabeth fixed--marinated chicken, peas, and baked potatoes. Elizabeth dutifully made Megan a peanut butter sandwich, gave her her some peas, a glass of water, and at Megan's insistence, some pickles. It seems, though, that what Megan really wanted was soup. She smushed the peas between her fingers and threw them into her water, smiling with delight each time. Pea soup, I thought. Then she smashed the peanut butter sandwich in her face, leaving a dignified peanut butter mustache, and submerged it into the soup. Peanut butter and pea soup? No, she can't be hungry; She is just playing, we thought. At last, Megan Triumphantly raises her pickle high into the air. Like a graceful cliff-diver, the pickle plunges into the soup. Megan repeats this process several times, but each time she raises the pickle offering to the gods she decides that they want her to have it instead. So one bite at a time she finishes her peanut butter sandwich and pea soup soaked pickle.

That is what started the discussion. Which one of us is responsible for this little mess. What ended the conversation is when Megan picked up the cup and downed about half of the concoction. Elizabeth and I both almost puked. Megan on the other hand thought it was just fine and took another swig.

Mozart

Megan and her cousin Lily had a great time playing piano together.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Megan likes pumpkin pie. She must have got it from her dad.

The 3 Musketeers being spun by Grandpa.

We got to go to Evansville for Thanksgiving this year. It was my first time since 2001. It was so fun. We had a blast and really enjoyed being able to hang out with family again. We can't wait until Christmas to see all of the family. We love the holiday season.