christmas eve

we've had a couple presents from grandma and grandpa under our tree, since we got our tree! the girls have been great leaving the presents alone, except for the last two days, during which emery has repeatedly tried opening hers...unsuccessfully. today, however, avery helped auntie lanie wrap gifts for her boyfriend, chris, and so when chris came to our door, avery asked auntie lanie if it was time to open presents...she said chris would open his, and as he came into the kitchen to say hi to me, avery ripped open her present from grandma and grandpa and ran into the kitchen with such joy and excitement on her face as she showed me her "camera from grandma grandpa!" her little feet couldn't stop dancing as we decided to let her open it today.

so we had a wonderful day, and she took a bazillion pictures, and as we put her to bed (after she took her own pictures of santa's plate of milk, cookies and carrots) she put the camera next to her bed so that she could "take a picture of santa when he comes with his reindeer and i'm going to feed them carrots". so cute!!

it's 19 minutes until christmas day, and peter and i are done for the night...

merry christmas to all, and to all, a good night :)

shadows...

cupcakes

santa's lap

moonlight magic in shelbourne falls...

i love em's face...

avery told santa she would like a baby guitar...

a butterfly & a caterpillar

emery tries applesauce

buddies

real men wear their babies

(and what their babies ask them to wear)

:)

apple picking

we went apple picking in ashfield - www.bearswamporchard.com - a really cute little organic orchard. i called ahead, because their website said they were only open till 5, and we weren't going to get there until 5:30- steve & jen said to come anyways, and were so welcoming, they even let us use their bathroom! we picked one peck of tiny, delicious apples, grabbed some of their cider, and were on our way. i think we will visit them again next year - although it was a drive to get there...new england is just so beautiful this time of year :)

it's been too long...

it has been too long since i've updated! i thought things would slow down once we got into september - you know, back into a routine - but it's taken all the way into october.

we had a very busy summer - with grandma & grandpa, uncle goga & babushka lucia visiting us, trips to 6 flags, the beach, NYC, camping in the cape, visiting friends, swimming lessons, citizenship - it's exhausting remembering it all.

emery is sitting up all by herself - and she is very close to crawling. she loves to get up on all fours and rock back and forth. she'll scoot to get something (if she's interested), and she has tasted an apple, carrot and ice cream (thanks, daddy.) no teeth yet, but i think they might be coming soon. she is a happy, happy girl, always laughing and smiling, who loves being held by mommy, tickled by daddy, and entertained by avery.

avery is so funny. she likes to feed her babies from her "boobies" and wear them in a sling. she plays with her stove and makes dinner; she colors and draws; she rides her trike; she knows all her letters and numbers 1-10, she knows left from right, she quotes movies, she pretends she's a puppy named "webster" and brings a blanket and bowl for herself all over the house. she loves getting her back rubbed, and she is still eating everything we put in front of her, even though sometimes it takes a little coaxing. actually, at the big e last week, she didn't even like the cotton candy, but was thrilled to have chowder, cider, and raspberries (of course, she also enjoyed chocolate and maple candy).

avery starts dance class with auntie heather next week - i'm not sure if she understands what it is all about, but i am extremely excited for her!

we are doing good - ready for fall and loving life.
oh - we are blessed.

playing doctor...

Cradle | LEARN SHOP CONNECT

Cradle | LEARN SHOP CONNECT

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she's a big girl!

even if she looks like a peanut, she is trying to leave infancy behind far too quickly for mommy & daddy. emery had her first giggle and even a full- blown laugh, a few weeks ago...what do you think she was laughing at? her big sister, of course! she rolled over from back to tummy for the first time two days ago - she's movin' and shakin'. and although there's no evidence yet, we think she's teething because of all the chewing and biting and hands in the mouth...it is early, but avery started all this around 4 1/2 mos and had her first tooth at 6 - emery is 10 days shy of 4 months old, so...

emery - you are growing too fast!! you are a very happy girl, usually smiling and laughing at everyone. you really like to be held facing out, so you can see your world and what's going on in it - in fact, if held the other way, you'll fuss until whoever is holding you gets the hint. you adore avery (who adores you right back!) and while you're still a mommy's girl right now, you love your time with daddy holding you and talking to you (he's talking to you only in russian). you are also very noisy - you will talk/sing/vocalize to anyone who will listen, and if no one is listening, you'll talk to yourself for quite a while. whenever avery laughs, you will crack up, giving me a glimpse into the joy (and trouble) i'm in for with two girls so close together. i can't wait to enjoy life with both of you girls, and see who you grow into

but please don't grow too fast...

i bet your laundry isn't as much fun as mine...

avery's styling some of katie's clip-on earrings...

daddy & emery's first talk about boyfriends

balloons...

happy 4th of july

we've been very busy! here's a briefing of the last couple of days.....

monday we went to 6 Flags for the first time:

thursday we went to Boston for the day, and peter was sworn in as a new citizen of the USA!

after the oath, the court clerk asked for all the children of the newly sworn in citizens to come up on stage and help lead the pledge of allegiance - once she was up on the stage in the courthouse, jason bay (red sox left-fielder), who was also being sworn in that day, went up to lead the pledge, and gave avery a high five on his way up the stairs!

friday we went to westfield for the fireworks display:

avery had to go potty, so daddy took her into the woods because the portapotty line was too long for a tiny two year old bladder :)

when we got in the car to go home, we asked her if she had fun. she said she liked the boom in sky, it was so pretty, she had to go potty, and she was scared of the woods = when peter asked her why she was scared, she said "because i need you, daddy"..... awwwwww!!

Emery, these were your first fireworks! before they started, we sat on the blanket and played with you - you have started "talking" so much! you just make noises all the time, even if noone is talking with you! you've also started laughing a little bit - you're very fun to entertain and you always make us smile! when the fireworks started, you had just drifted off, but you woke up right away with a furrowed brow. every "boom" you would peek out from under your blanket and gaze at the sky, and then snuggle back under until the next. you fell completely asleep about half way through, and slept the whole walk back to the car. i love these snuggly times with you, and i can't believe how fast the time is going. already when i'm holding you, you arch your back and try to wiggle around so that you are facing the world. you always want to see what's going on - i love when i'm nursing you and you stop and look up at me with milk dribbling, then smile a big smile and go back to eating - these moments are so precious to me!

Avery, these were your third fireworks, and daddy and i can vividly remember your first. this year, instead of mostly snuggling with us, you wanted to play with katie and van...running around in the grass, chasing the ball. laying on your belly with them, looking at pictures on daddy's phone, you looked like such a big girl - i almost couldn't see the baby anymore. but then when the fireworks started, you crawled into daddy's lap, wrapped in your blankey (puppy side up, of course), and curled right into that spot in his arm that you've loved since you were 2 months old, and i saw my baby. you were actually a little scared of the fireworks this year - not at first, but after a few of them had come up, you started to cry a little. daddy asked you what was wrong, and you said they were coming to get you...he said, they're so far away avery, as far away as the moon, and i will protect you. you calmed right down and started laughing at how big and bright they were - you and daddy have a beautiful relationship.

these are the moments i want to have forever, because before we even turn around....