small fry

Four years old!

February 7, 2012

Oh Lily. I have no idea how to begin this birthday letter. I’m simply stunned that you’re FOUR years old. It wasn’t long ago that I was counting your age in weeks, months. You are no longer a baby (although you’ll always be my baby). You’re a little girl. Growing like a weed, talking up [...]

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A party fit for a princess

February 6, 2012

February is a tough month to have a birthday party when you’re a kid. You can’t go to the pool. Or romp in the back yard. Or ride the train at your favorite park. And when you’re terrified of giant purple mascots (or large creatures of any color), places like Monkey Joe’s are out of [...]

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Happiness is: a frozen yogurt date with my almost-four-year-old

February 3, 2012

This weekend’s about to get crazy. So before the birthday girl launches to another planet, I took her out for some quiet Mommy (and Sophie) time this afternoon at our favorite fro-yo spot. She chose chocolate with marshmallows, M&M’s and chocolate chips. Because if every food was made of chocolate, she’d be totally cool with [...]

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Just a typical lunch with Lily

January 23, 2012

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Girls’ night in, with my number one girl

December 12, 2011

Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There’s no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com ——— Lily is getting to be such a big girl. Four years old in just a couple of months. And there are all [...]

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Dear Santa

December 11, 2011

Lily dictated her very first Santa letter to me. It was hilariously complicated. We went through two drafts before she finally decided this was the one. I love how she asked for stuff for each member of her family. And how she kept saying “Dear Santa,” with growing enthusiasm each time. Christmas with an almost-four-year-old. [...]

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Because they’re too good not to share

December 9, 2011

Here they are! The 2011 Christmas card outtakes. This was such a hit on our Facebook page last year, I couldn’t resist sharing this year’s reel. Out of about 200 frames, we got three shots to work with. That’s pretty good, considering one of my subjects has the attention span of a flea and the [...]

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Little bruiser

December 5, 2011

I’d forgotten that I’d taken these photos of Lily with my phone after her procedure Saturday. Since so many of you have contacted me to express your concern (thank you), I thought you might like to see how well Lily did. A happy camper, indeed.

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Because I have to write it out

December 4, 2011

Food poisoning, croup, a busted chin. We’ve been to the ER three times with Lily, and it never gets easier or becomes less scary. Yesterday evening, just as my sister- and brother-in-law arrived to take Marc and me to the hockey game, Lily jumped up from playing Legos, slipped and fell. As she hit the [...]

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Happiness is: Decorating our Christmas tree

November 30, 2011

Meet Frasier Saint James McFir. He thinks he is a very grand tree. He stands proudly, showing off his one symmetric side. He smells oh so heavenly. And he has a lovely Charlie-Brown-esque quality — a crooked trunk, we think — that truly makes him ours. The best part? Lily L-O-V-E-S this tree. She and [...]

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Kid DIY: Thanksgiving turkey hat

November 23, 2011

When I spotted this turkey hat tutorial, I decided then and there: my child needs a turkey hat. I’ve been on a turkey hat crusade for days. Finally, Lily obliged me and we got down to some serious crafting. Materials: Construction paper in six different colors, including black and white for eyes. One paper plate [...]

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Kid DIY: pressed leaves

November 17, 2011

I am a sucker for craft time with the three-year-old. Lily is always game for anything, especially when she’s allowed to make a mess (see: here). So with all of the pretty leaves on the ground — this fall has been particularly spectacular in North Carolina — I decided we’d try an old school craft [...]