Family Photos

 Lots of people got selfie sticks for Christmas, and I got my own version - a tripod for my Nikon.

 While we had family in town (in December), I attempted a family photo.  The lighting is bad and the kids are unsure, but it's a family photo that I'm in, so I'll take it.

 Bennett boy also got in some photos with his Grandma before she had to head back East.

 We spent January without any visitors here to help.  Somehow it's already February and we survived and found our rhythm alone.  We are so grateful that we had so much support when Bennett arrived and are looking to more family visits soon!

Valiant Effort

I tried.

Valiantly.

But somehow after deleting and deleting, I still have 98 photos of Bennett in these overall on this white blanket.

He's not smiling in all of them.

But he sure is smiling in most of them.

Maybe it's just me, but I have a hard time letting go of photos as cute as this.

Those cheeks and those eyes.

They are everything to me.

Oh look, I turned the camera.  This shot is very different than the previous ones.

This one is zoomed out enough to see the elephants on parade.

Wow, a vertical shot.  Better keep it forever.

I apologize for the length of this post with nothing but the almost identical photo over and over.  I am just a mother besotted with her son.

I'm pretty enamored with Miss O, too.

And her surprise kisses.

And soft snuggles.

Be grateful I didn't post all 98 photos.  I'm saving the rest of these to show his prom date.

Little Miss Warby Parker

Orelia was beyond thrilled when John received a box of Warby Parker glasses in the mail to try on.

These frames are really like costume glasses to her since there aren't any pesky real lenses to mess up her vision.

And there are no pesky stern words from parents about being careful (or at least less stern words).

John and I couldn't get over how cute and nerdy she looked.

And Orelia loves to be fawned over.

If one pair is cute perhaps two pairs of glasses will be cuter.

And just like that she was over the photoshoot and over the glasses.  We sure do love our little Urkel.

Capturing the Light

She's finally letting us put her hair in a ponytail, and I love having her climb onto her stool while I take out the brush and the world's tiniest rubber bands.

After a recent salon session I couldn't get over how pretty the light was in the bathroom streaming through the tiny window above the shower.

Bennett was napping, which left me a few minutes alone with my beautiful girl in this most beautiful light.

She rarely gets to see herself in the mirror, but I always let her have a glimpse after her hair is put up.

The pure pleasure on her little face as she preens is almost too much for me to bear.  We sure do love our ponytail gal who is full of life and light.

Bennett at Four Months

This little guy is four months old!

 He's 25 inches long and 15.3 pounds (both a little under 50th percentile).  Growing well and keeping everyone cheerful with his beautiful smiles.

He's started rolling from back to front a bit, and doesn't usually like it when he does.  We are experimenting with cloth diapers (Orelia's old pink and purple ones), and I find that makes him even more mobile because they have extra padding.

He loves to be entertained by smiling faces, silly dancing, mirrors (what a cute baby in there!), and dangling things on play mats.  

He enjoys a nice warm bath and a long walk outside (especially if I let him go without a hat).

His grip is fierce, so make sure you don't let him near your hair or necklaces.

Every morning when I go in to nurse him and am greeted by his smiling face, my heart swells with love.  I especially love him after a nice long twelve hour snooze.  Good job, B!

Now that I'm alone with both kids, he has learned how to fall asleep on his own (without a paci or rocking).  Siblings mean that the young ones need to learn to fend for themselves earlier, which is good in the long run.

We are so happy to spend our days with this fun and cheerful baby.  Bennett, we love you to pieces!

Sums Her Up

 Glancing through my favorite photos from an afternoon at Natalie and Mitch's house, I realized I had captured the essence of Orelia at this moment.  She spends her days smothering/loving her brother, doing flips, and maniacally eating orange peels.  January 2015 Orelia is here, with no further comment necessary.

We sure do love this crazy munchkin.