Grace and Hazel

BABY 11-18-09_7

Originally uploaded by Lincoln Topliff

Jenn thinks she looks like Grace. I think she looks like Grace rendered in wet cheese (so we can both be right). We managed to coax a smile from young Hazel during her ultrasound today.

She appears to be agreeing with Jenn MUCH more than Grace did. While, it remains to be seen if that will be a lifelong trend, Grace HAS set the bar is pretty low for her sister.

Hazel is measuring in the 65th percentile and–weighing in at an estimated 3lbs 6oz–she is bigger than Grace was at birth by half a pound. Dr Katz suggested that we have a 70-80% chance of making it all the way to January 25th with a baby in the belly! That’s our “take home baby” (poo, poo, poo)!

Share on Facebook

That may not sound like it’s worth blogging about but if you consider where we were 1 pregnancy ago, it is pretty noteworthy. Today “we” are 29 weeks along which–in my ongoing parallel universe theme–puts us at the day that Jenn went into the hospital. The next day, I would write this email and scare the hell out of everyone I knew. The good news, and the thing worth writing about is that we are happily sitting at home, recovering from Grace’s inexplicable pre-dinner tantrum and thinking about what kind of trouble two little girls could really be. Quiet is nice.

“Do these stripes make me look pregnant?”

”
“Hat”

Share on Facebook

Right on the heels of her counting trick, Grace proved that she she can get through (most of) the alphabet. She still prefers to point at her eye rather than say “i” but we think she is really getting it.

Share on Facebook

She may not know exactly what it is all about, but it gets such a happy reaction out of Mommy and Daddy! Imagine what “four” and “five” might do.

Share on Facebook

I don’t think I have to write anything at all about this one…but I will anyway. Crawling is, for the most part, passé in (and outside) our house. Sometimes Grace announces that she wants a hand and sometimes she just goes for it on her own with no sense of danger at all. Even falling doesn’t deter her from wherever it is that she wants to go.

Share on Facebook

Just like dogs that start looking like their masters, Grace has really started to resemble her best friend. She doesn’t really get the whole Halloween thing yet, but I think she had a good few days anyway.

Share on Facebook

As far as this blog is concerned, Hazel has been more of a pair of headlights coming at us than an actual “thing”.  It has become pretty obvious that that has to change.  Our “Grace Period” is over.  The first step was to get them a web address to share and move everyone over there.  Hopefully this part will be painless and, if you get an email when there is a new post, you will still get that email.  If it falls apart, I imagine my phone will be ringing tomorrow.

The second step will be to redesign.  I don’t think this is the final design but I am working on it.

The third thing will be to write a whole bunch of new posts about Thing 1 and Thing 2B.  Starting with Halloween.

Share on Facebook

The Fab Four, originally uploaded by Lincoln Topliff.

While everyone knows Bla Bla, the other two members of the exclusive club (and present at this breakfast meeting) are not nearly as well known.

To the southeast, sporting a bald pate and a pacifier, we have “Baby”. She is a relatively new addition, and not the first baby to become a member. In fact, she was introduced to Grace about 3 weeks ago, just after we moved in. The previous baby was no bigger than Hazel is now and really kind of creeped us out, but Grace loved her so we hoped she would equally love a normal sized friend. We were right. It turns out, Grace is just plain baby-crazy, which might bode well for her new sister. On the other hand, Grace might have picked up some dangerous habits, as she tends to throw Baby to the floor, in the same way she has with Bla Bla all along. It will be a few years before Grace and Hazel will be left alone in the same room together.

Slouching and confused in the southwest seat is “Bear”. Bear is slouching because he or she is all blanket from the armpits down. Bear is confused, because despite the name, as far as we can tell, Bear is a lamb. Grace has had Bear since her birth but only recently named it and insisted that it be included in club and in the nighttime ritual. While it doesn’t get the same attention as Bla Bla and Baby, the fourth chair would certainly seem empty without Bear at the table.

Share on Facebook

IMG_2025.JPG, originally uploaded by Lincoln Topliff.

Jenn and Grace took time out from searching for the perfect gourd to take a ride through the field on a cart pulled by a tractor. The ride was a little rough at first, but Grace got the hang of it and had a country good time.

Share on Facebook

We headed out early to Half Moon Bay this morning to beat the crowds and see some fields full of sacrificial squash. Along the way we met (and rode) a pony, did a hay ride and had an overall spectacular day. Halloween is officially in the air and we are enjoying the lead up a lot.

Share on Facebook