Alice at 4 Months

Alice is exactly 4 months old today and she had a well visit with her Doc. She was 16.5 pounds and 25.5 inches tall (or long?) and she was sitting around the 95th percentile for both categories. I really doubt that will last but we’ll see.

Alice is such a sweetheart. She smiles and giggles on demand and has a very easy going temperament. In her free time she enjoys a good baby toy or a game of peek-a-boo. When she just wants to veg out she likes to sit in her bumbo and watch Norah. With our recent nice weather she has taken up strolling and finds it very relaxing.

I love this crooked smile. It is usually accompanied with a little giggle

I think I had just pulled her hand out of her mouth in this picture

But it was spring-loaded so it went right back in

Alice and Louis

We spent the day with Ashley and Louis and we got a whole bunch of smiles and giggles out of the two babies.These pictures may all look the same to you but I had about a dozen of them BOTH smiling and they were so cute that it was hard enough to keep it to just 3.

House Sitting Continued

We went to Dinosaur park with some Cornellians who moved to DC. Pictured: Penny, Norah and Lincoln. I have a picture somewhere of these three at the Vet School open house together last year and they were much much smaller.Norah did some triking with the neighborsWe went out for Frozen Yogurt, not once, not twice, but three times!And we saw the Cherry BlossomsNorah and Lincoln had time to catch up around the blossoms and the MLK Jr. MemorialThey were trying a little too hard to pose for the camera giving us smooches and such that it was hard to get candid picture but I think this one captures them nicelyAnd when we walked back to our car we caught Matt walking into in the Department of Agriculture – just by chance – and I took a picture of our Matt sighting to prove it!

House Sitting So Far

Bryan and I are house sitting while his parents go on a much needed cruise. We’re having a great time partying in their house and enjoying the local attractions.

Here is Susan with Alice just before departing

DC Zoo

We went to the Zoo on Saturday with Ashley, Matt and LouisAlice refused to hang out in the Ergo carrier so once Louis needed his front facing carrier we put her in the stroller and once Norah was exhausted from walking Bryan carried her. Norah has loved that carrier since she was a newborn. I’m so disappointed that Alice doesn’t also love it since it is so comfortable and convenient.The zoo was packed but it was worth fighting the crowds because we got to see this:We also saw a Giant panda and Orangutans swinging from ropes in the open air across the zoo but for some reason I only felt compelled to take pictures of the turtles.

Picnic in Great Falls National Park

Sunday we met up again with the Russell’s for a picnic and walk in Great Falls. Here is Matt checking out moss with NorahAshley with LouisI took lots of pictures of Alice

      

Here she is with CourtneyL to R: Norah, Bryan, Lindsey, Courtney, Greg

Norah

We’ve been running Norah ragged with walking, triking and playtime at the park so in her down time she likes to relax with some Disney princess time. She wanted to wear her recently acquired “princess dress” from Mimi while she watched CinderellaI took Greg and Norah for a walk today. Greg got pretty far ahead so I asked him to wait but Norah decided more intervention was necessary and took off running to catch up with him and hold his hand. They held hands the rest of the walk which is significant since Greg isn’t very touchy feely. I think they are kindred spirits. Norah and Greg have been having whole conversations with each other.We still have five days to go so there will be more pictures to come

Henry and Alice

Henry and Alice went to playgroup together this morning. Remember when they were just two overdue babies?

Thank you Emily for the pictures!

Cayuga Heights Fire Department

We had a little excitement this morning. Just as I got out of the shower someone was knocking persistently on our door so I hurried and put on a bathrobe and answered. It was my neighbor from upstairs telling me that we had to evacuate our building because their might be a fire. I had heard a smoke detector going off in another apartment but I assumed they just needed a new battery. The situation didn’t seem super urgent so I decided to take the time to dress and grab a diet coke before heading out with Norah in her nightgown, rain boots and coat and Alice still swaddled (she was asleep).  We made it out just as the fire engine pulled up complete with siren and then headed across the street to take shelter at the MacLennan’s since it was cold and rainy. I thought for sure Graham, being the fire truck enthusiast he is, would be perched by the window watching all the action but they hadn’t heard the siren. Once I told them what was going on Lindsey (my friend, not me) rushed outside with Graham in his rain boots and jammies to watch the firefighters. Norah had no interest. Graham on the other hand was thrilled.

Lindsey told me that the firefighters had to break down the door to the apartment with the alarm going off and found a pot of something burning on the stove. I’m have no idea where the tenants had gone with a pot on the stove at 8:30 in the morning. The firefighters were super nice to Graham. I just love our fire department. What great public servants! Rushing to the scene and taking the time to be role models too. The Cayuga Heights Fire Department also came around our neighborhood on Halloween to pass out candy and let the kids check out the fire truck. We really appreciate their service to our community.