"I love my sister"

For sale at toy store

Emily is 4 months old today!

A napping necklace

Whoo Whoo

Just two little girls with owls on their shirts.

Ballerina Emily

Happy Purim!

Napping in the Bumbo Seat

"Watching Mommy wash dishes is soooooo boring. Zzzzzzzz"

World Travelers In Training

Belle and Emily now have their own passports.

A Proud Mom Moment

There are train tracks at our public library, but the librarians hold onto the trains and loan them out two at a time in exchange for a library card.  Belle wanted to play with trains, so we walked together to the circulation desk.  Without prompting or practice, Belle went right to the librarian and said, "Can I have a choo choo train, please?"  I was pleased with Belle's manners and delighted that she did the asking herself.  I was a proud Mommy at the library today.

Giddeyup!

Snuggling Sisters

Emily looks up to her big sister, while Belle loves to snuggle her little sister.

Trip to Grandma Ann's

I'm trying to get confirmation that Belle is holding a rare orange chocolate chip cookie and not a baby carrot.

Belle visited Grandma Ann's apartment last Sunday with Grandma Helene and Grandpa Richard as part of a sleepover party.

Rolled over and worn out

The girls and I slept at my parents' home last night, so I took advantage of the opportunity to sleep in. Grammy and Grampy watched, played with, and fed as appropriate  Belle and Emily while I slept an extra 90 minutes, which was much needed and greatly appreciated.

Despite the fact that I am within 5 feet of Emily 98% of the time, Emily chose this fine morning while I was asleep upstairs to roll over for the first and second times.

And now she's all worn out from the rolling.

Four generations

Never miss a chance to take a four generation picture.

Baking: the yummy, and the scary

With Purim coming up on Sunday, Craig suggested that I bake Hamantashen with Belle.  After Belle's nap yesterday, we began the baking process.  Belle was delightfully helpful and Emily was content to lie on a her playmat which we moved to the kitchen so I could keep an eye on her.  Everything was going swimmingly.

  

Since we don't own a round cookie cutter, I used a glass pint glass to cute the rolled cookie dough into circles to become triangular jam-stuffed cookies.  Hindsight is 20/20. As I write this, I can think of half a dozen other round object I could have used yesterday instead of a glass pint glass: the top to a jam jar, a sippy cup, anything round and less breakable than a glass pint glass.  Anyway, when my eyelid closed in a single blink, the glass fell to our stone-tiled kitchen floor and shattered in a thousand pieces.  

Emily cried because the noise scared her, but she was thankfully untouched by the pieces of broken glass.  Belle cried because she was also scared.  I then burst into tears, wondering how I was going to clean the mess barefoot (I am always barefoot at home) with two little girls around.  Belle saw my tears and said, "Don't be sad, Mommy," so I pulled it together.  I put Emily in the swing in the living, sat Belle on the couch, turned on Sesame Street (I have never been more grateful for On-Demand programming), and went to cleaning the kitchen, then preparing and baking the cookies.

Happy ending: the cookies came out well, the kitchen floor is clean, and Belle enjoyed a special treat of watching a whole episode of Sesame Street.

Everyday an adventure...

Belle and her "little sister" Emily

With Belle back from her sleepover with Grandma Helene and Grandpa Richard, last night was the first night  that we each slept in our own places: Emily in the crib in the nursery, Belle in her big-girl-bed in her purple room, and Mommy and Daddy in our bed in our room.  Like a real family : )

Sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's house

While Belle enjoyed a private sleepover party at Grandma and Grandpa's house on Long Island, Emily spent her first night in her crib!  She slept very well (10pm-3:30am, and then 4-6:45am). Not bad for a three-and-a-half-month-old breastfed infant.  Another totally insignificant milestone: I resumed wearing my engagement ring and wedding band, which I'd taken off at the beginning of the summer because I didn't want my rings to be uncomfortable or get stuck on my finger from the swelling from summer heat and pregnancy.  I hadn't even tried them on before last night, when Craig, Emily, and I enjoyed a nice dinner out.  So, Emily in her crib and me with my rings.  It's the little things....

Ball Pit and more

Belle was invited to an awesomely fun third birthday party at a My Gym.  There was a ball pit, trampoline, jungle gym, "trapeze," and "zipline."  Belle had a ball (pun totally intended).

Emily was a sport, too.  She was content to watch her sister have fun.

Too pooped to pop

Craig and Emily, all worn out.

Two in the Crib

Belle begged me to put her in the crib with Emily (both girls were awake). Belle seems to think Emily is the best doll ever.

Belle's Giraffe (peekaboo Emily)

Dr. Belle

Belle played doctor today with her little sister. Emily had a shot on her wrist, which is why she is wearing a bandage on her left wrist, and an eye exam. Belle also checked Emily's heart and temperature (via Emily's ear).  Time to start saving for college AND medical school.

Cousins!

Belle and Emily are no longer the youngest Ceplers: Aunt Julie and Uncle Mitchell welcomed their twins (a boy and a girl, Liam Robert and Scarlett Faena) this morning!  Little 3-month-old Emily is now among the older cousins/grandchildren on the Cepler side of the family.  Mazel Tov, Julie and Mitch!

Belle & Emily

"I see you!"

Hand-knit sweater and hat

Just chilling

Emily Giggles

Stamps

Belle overheard Craig ask me for a stamp so he could mail something. Belle said excitedly, "I will help you, Daddy!" Belle ran into her playroom and bounded out with a huge smile holding this: her heart and butterfly rubber stamps with the pink and purple ink pad. How sweet that she was so excited to help Daddy. How cute that she thought Craig needed these stamps. Belle blows me away everyday.

A family of smiles

Belle and Jake

Making friends

Belle saw 3 older girls holding hands and dancing in a circle so Belle invited herself into the circle and into the fun.