Random Acts of Cuteness

We're getting into that dreary, dead-of-winter time of year again. It's far too cold to go out, so most days we just make the best of it indoors. Lily doesn't seem to mind being housebound, though; it's given her an excuse to really peruse her toy collection, and apparently, the girl can find fun, frivolity, and silliness in nearly anything.

Like parading around the house in Mama's hat:


Or putting every bow she owns into her hair at once:


Or canoodling with brother Luke when she's supposed to be taking a bath:


Or riding her beloved rocking horse with her ladybug "hat" on:


Or rearranging Mrs. Potato Head, a task which, apparently, is best accomplished en tutu:

A Sunday Stroll

When you can't decide which bow to wear, wear them all. Then make spitty noises for the camera.



This is our block. She chose to hold brother Luke's hand for the start of the stroll. He's not disgruntled, just tired (he stayed up all night chatting online and playing games, but was still game for a stroll).



In the coffee shop. Checking out dad's brew. Believe me, you don't want this. Brother Luke snoozing in the background.



"Hey, wake up!"



He wakes up. She wants up.



At the park. You have no idea how hard it is to take a picture of a child swinging when you're using a digital camera, which has roughly a one second lag between when you hit the button and when the camera actually snaps. We must have tried a dozen times between the two of us, and got a lot of pictures of feet, heads, parents in strange contortions, and, once, a long-distance view of the other end of the park with no human being visible. Now I wish I'd saved all those.



This one looks pretty good. The swings usually are her first stop at the park. She can go for quite a while and appears to be lost in thought while she goes back and forth.



The jumpy thing probably has an official name, but it's just a platform attached to a couple of C-springs, and she gets a kick out of it.



"This way, mommy." Heading home. The beads were an impulse purchase by Amy, and she loves to wear them everywhere.



Walking home. When she's not blazing the trail, she likes to push the stroller.

That was Sunday. Monday's walk was similar in its course but couldn't have been more different in its outcome. At the coffee shop, we sat out back in the yard and she threw dust all over herself like Job in his misery, except she was in her glory. Then we took her past the park play-fountain (see video clip below) and she ran around yelling and getting soaked, but somehow no cleaner, till she looked like a mudskipper. Mommy's tolerance was worthy of sainthood.

First Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Luke and Lily's birthdays in fine style with family and friends. A wonderful time was had by all, but most especially by the birthday girl!


Lily eyes her balloon bouquet.


Got it!


Cousin Grace and Maddie show off their party hats!


Luke artfully arranges the candles.


The result: A blazing pyramid of chocolate and vanilla cakey goodness.


Luke and Lily are serenaded with a hearty rendition of the Happy Birthday song.


Lily shows off her birthday hat.


Contemplating her very first cupcake.


The icing is a big hit.


Afterward, Mom and Lily open presents.


Maddie and Grace lend their present-unwrapping expertise.


Daddy and Lily check out Lily's new three little pigs toy, an instant favorite!

Happy Birthday, Brother Luke

Lily sez: Happy Birthday, brother Luke! I have so much fun playing with you. You make me laugh like no one else can. You're the best big brother ever!

Brother Luke

Luke has taken to his sister in the sweet, protective way of a solicitous older brother. To our amazement he is more comfortable with a newborn baby than many adults with children of their own. He has proudly hit upon his own very effective methods for calming and amusing his little sister when all the best tricks of mom and dad have failed.