melted smoosh

for the past week, i've felt an almost physical itch to write -- to untangle these wisps of thought that dance around my head. but sometimes they're so wispy they almost vanish before i can pin them down, and most of them probably aren't interesting to anyone but myself, and i can't decide which to write about first, so in the end i just read other people's blogs or Facebook statuses and then Elizabeth needs to nurse again.  today, though, i'm determined to put some of them down on paper and then hopefully they won't keep chasing their tails around and around in my brain. so, here's the first: recently, i've rediscovered tea. i went through a phase in college of drinking Lady Grey tea in the afternoons and feeling quite polished when i did so. i had a whole gallon Ziploc bag full of individual tea bags, and would boil water in my little white hot pot which was probably against all dorm living rules. when i was sick there was Throat Coat; when it was

it's been almost a year (!) since i shared some of Cecilia's musings on life, but i have been steadily documenting them in the Notes app on my phone -- enjoy!  "I know what windmails do! When the wind blows they spin around, and they mail us the electricity. That's why they're called windmails!" (no one ever better correct her on this.) before Elizabeth was born, a few times a day she would come up to me, pat my belly, and ask, "Mommy, how's the baby going?" glancing from the pork on her plate to me and back again: "Are humans made out of meat?" it's 8:30 AM and we finished eating breakfast an hour ago. Cece, hopefully: "Is it lunchtime?" one evening i was kissing, hugging and snuggling her in her bed. Cece, looking pleased: "This is like how Jesus loves me!" and the best of all ... after watching a kids' show about science, she proudly announced: "Mommy, I know what light is made of! Tiny, tiny little t

dear Elizabeth, as i type this, you are sitting in your bouncer watching your older sisters gallivant around the family room. you certainly never lack entertainment when they are around! this month has been more structured and mellow than your first month of life, as we returned to the regular post-holiday routine. the highlight was Auntie Kira's trip back here to finally meet you, since you arrived after she left in December! at last she was able to snuggle you.  while you are proving to be one of the most serious, solemn babies i have ever met, this month you did start smiling when you deign to do it. our best chances of catching a smile are right after you eat, and whenever your sisters are talking to you. and whenever you do smile, we just melt! most of the time you're quiet, but you have also started cooing to us, which is the cutest thing ever. last night you even let out a laughing shriek that startled both of us! you love to look outside at the snow in the yard, and you