Good Morning Sunshine

Here's a glimpse of what we're typically greeted with in the morning when we come into Mabel's room. Not a bad way to start the day!

My Girls

Mabel is actually not my only baby. Before she was even a glimmer in anyone's eye, there was Walnut, out youngest kitty who showed up under our azalea bushes one day and never left. I found her and brought her inside and she just stuck to me like glue - everywhere I went, she was there. And then ... we had a(nother) baby. She has still not really recovered from Mabel making the scene, but little by little she's making her way back.

So This is What Goes On When I'm Not Around

I've often wondered what Mabel and Dylan do during the day when I'm at work ... out having fun, doing cool things without me. Now I know the truth - they are taking naps and hanging out in our big comfy bed. See attached proof. I always knew I was missing good stuff.

A Very Mabel Christmas

After we got home from celebrating Christmas in Ohio, we had a second holiday to look forward to - Christmas in Shepherdstown. We went last Sunday and spent the day with Dylan's folks and his granny. A grand time was had by all. Lots of great presents - including a fairy princess puzzle that Grandma Sandy and Mabel will work on together - and a delicious roast chicken dinner. Mabel went to sleep in the jazzy pack and play that Grandma and Grandpa got for her. The gift Mabel was most intrigued by was the pack of napkins I got from Sandy, as you'll see from the accompanying picture.

Sleeping Like a Baby

Mabel is a really, really good sleeper - we are definitely lucky. She takes pretty regular naps during the day and goes down for the night around 6pm, typically sleeping through the night until 6 or sometimes 7am. Her favorite new position for sleeping is on her tummy, tush up in the air, knees crossed under her, sometimes perched on her forehead and other times on one cheek or the other. I know every kid in the world has slept like this at one time or the other, but naturally Mabel does it the best. Here she is on two recent occasions.

Hello Gorgeous

Happy 2009! We predict big things for Mabel this year - walking,talking, teeth, writing the Great American Novel ... the usual. Right now we are working on her waving skills - they are stellar, thanks to much patient coaching from Dylan. He is also teaching her not to pull the cats' fur and how to cook. We celebrated the arrival of the new year with some very fancy accoutrements: turkey sandwiches, tortilla soup and a bottle of really good champagne. All enjoyed while wearing fleece pants and watching an episode of Boston Legal we'd recorded. Asleep by 10 p.m. In short, the perfect new year's eve ... and Mabel slept in the next day 'til past 8 a.m.! Lovely. Here she is, practicing her waving skills. (I know, just humor me.)

Trip Report

We're back from Ohio and all went well. Mabel was a total champ on the drive to and from, and she slept like a baby (interesting!) in the hotel crib and at my cousin's house. We were visiting a family (my cousin Dave and his wife Amy) with three little boys - ages 5, 3 and 2 1/2 months - and Mabel was fascinated by the older boys - so much activity! They were very sweet to her, and played with her and called her Baby Mabel. We had a great time and it was wonderful to introduce Mabel to her Hyland relatives. My great aunt Mary Janet, whose mother was the first Mabel Hyland, brought us several things that had belonged to her mom, which will be very special for Mabel to have one day. Here are some pics from the trip. The other baby in the picture with Mabel, Aunt Jan and Aunt Mary Janet is Nathan, Dave and Amy's youngest. He was the best baby, very quiet and mellow, only crying when he needed something ... otherwise, no worries, don't trouble yourself, he'll just hang out and chill.