Summer is here...

And the time is right for sisterly bonding. Fiona really can't sit in this position for long. In fact, a few secs after this photo was taken, she started to topple to her right. She is just about turning herself over these days. She is desparate to catch up with her big sis, poor girl! She wants to get up and go and her little legs aren't ready yet. This purple elephant toy is a favorite. She shows more interest in holding toys and objects than Cecelia did, or does. Corduroy is one of Cecelia's faves. Jim and I have it memorized. "Corduroy is a little bear who once lived in the toy department of a big store.....".
Here is Cecelia Rose on the J Bar (from Bousquet Ski Area in the 80's) swing at her great granny Barbara's house yesterday. We were there for her cousin (once removed) Katie's graduation from high school party. The young man standing behind her is Martin, Jim's Uncle Joe's three year old son. He was very kind and shared the swing with Cece. She was not so kind in return and followed him around all afternoon insisting that whatever he happened to be touching was 'My, my...no, MY!!'
Awwwwwwwww......here is Granny Rose and the two girls. Cecelia is the 'I-want-to-be-on-your-lap-too-if-she-is' phase. Fiona just wants her Counting bugs book.

Father's Day and one year ago......

This was late afternoon today in the back yard. Doggie Alice checking out sweet-smelling Fiona here. As you can tell, Fiona is somewhat more chunky and shall we say, 'filled out' than her sister was at the same age. She has prominent big, brown eyes, as you can see in image #3.
Cecelia has a new slide for the yard thanks to our neighbors, and she enjoyed standing on it and walking down the slide. Luckily it is about 2 feet off the ground. Here is her hands on hips, imitating Mommy stance. She is coming out with new words nearly every day now. The last few days the favorite was 'dirty', more like 'durry', usually about feet or clothing. Today she came out with 'shursh', as in 'Where's Mommy?' - 'Shursh' (church).
Aforementioned big brown eyes here. Fiona's new skill is grabbing and holding onto anything in her grabbing radius.

And here is a golden oldie. June 22nd, 2007, in Harvard Yard, Cecelia Rose 9 months old and Fiona hadn't even made herself known yet..........And Baby #2 is now, at 3 months, wearing this dress.

Three months old Fiona and new tricks by Cecelia

This first photo was taken this morning. Cecelia is very cute with her little sister in the mornings when we are all at our freshest. Late afternoons are not our best times. Fiona is looking more like her mommy lately, so they tell me. She is fitting into clothes that her sister couldn't wear until she was 5 or 6 months, and she just turned 3 months on May 27th. I went through a nasty bout of food poisoning this week and Fiona was my faithful, easy companion, satisfied to nap on the couch all day long.
Cecelia's latest trick is putting on her clothes and shoes! She insists, "Idoddit" ( I got it) and manoevers her right foot into the left sneaker, sandal, etc. She does better with dresses.
Here is the little one. She is mellow and smiley, making gurgling noises and charming us all.

Franklin and Mothers Day

Fiona and Mom went to Colorado to visit my Peace Corps friend Linda and her boy Franklin, Fiona's soulmate. They were born on the same day! This pic is Linda's mom and daycare provider, Ann, holding both babies when Linda and I returned from a quick escape to Starbucks. Pic #2 is self-explanatory; Cecelia studying doggies on cuteoverload.com. And pic #3 demonstrates Fiona's not knowing what to make of her funny Grandpa David at our Mothers Day brunch. Spring is here and next time we venture onto the playground I will bring the camera, promise!

Good times (w/ a touch of competition) with cousins

On Saturday we had a great visit from my cousin Eileen and two of her brood, Eamon and Declan. Eamon is six, Declan three. Cecelia was a bit shellshocked for the first hour or so of the visit. Not used to rambunctious boy energy in the house. (or 'sharing' her toys. She showed interest in objects long forgotten as soon as Declan occupied himself with them.) It was traumatic to watch the boys get their turn on the lawn mower, too. And Cecelia thought Mommy's car was HER car. (Her regular mantra these days is, " Mommy, Daddy, baby......MY.")

My favorite of these pics is the last one. Eamon and Cecelia collaborated pretty well on pushing Fiona's stroller, although Eamon had to step widely to avoid colliding with her. The verdict of the day was, we really like playing with cousins.

Daddy and his girls take 2

Fiona is fitting into the clothes her sister wore at 4 or 5 months. (Fiona will be 8 weeks on Wed, April 23.) She is very fond of her older sister, and is starting to smile more often and more clearly for all of us. She turns her head to Cecelia's voice, even when it is raised to a screech.

Cecelia got a bit too much sun yesterday during our visit to Jim's Dad's lake house in Connecticut, unfortuneately, and she was out of sorts this morning. But as you can tell from pictures two and three, she is recovered enough to enjoy a jump in the wheelbarrow, and a try at her new drawing toy. (thanks to cousins Jim and Lisa Brady!!)

Focus on Fiona

People tell me that baby#2 gets, if not ignored, then neglected in the photo taking department. I am trying to prove them wrong, but I don't seem to be toting the camera around as much as I did with Cecelia, it's true. Fiona is already much bigger than her sister was at 6 weeks, more than 11 pounds. And she continues to be a good sleeper, although we think some of her 'good babiness' comes from our ' more relaxed parentness' the second time around. Cecelia is crazy about her little sister, and kisses her constantly, when she is not poking at her eyes and ears and nose and feet and leaning on her belly. We are all very glad it is finally spring, and we took full advantage of the 70 degree temps today to have a family picnic and hike. (sorry no pics of the picnic, didn't bring the camera.... I assure you it was lovely.) We are looking forward to swimsuit weather. Well, the babies are, I personally am not looking forward to the swimsuit part.