Fun in the Snow

Sim and Ana are obsessed with snow. Obsessed. Since the first flake of the season fell, they have been talking about going to the mountain. Well last weekend they finally seized the day and drove up to Mt. Hood. They did some tubing at Ski Bowl and some sledding at Trillium Lake (while Hadley and I stayed in town and went to see the new Harry Potter movie). That very evening Ana asked her dad, “Was that the only time we get to do that? Or can we go back to the mountain again?” When Sim said they could, Ana promptly followed up with, “So it’s five days til it’s weekend again, right?”

Since Ana proved she could handle a day in the snow, Sim decided to try and add to her winter recreation repertoire. Ultimately he would like Ana to be his snowboarding buddy, but since she is still a little young for shredding (ski lessons start at 4, while snow boarding lessons aren’t until 7) he wanted to get her up on the skis. We borrowed a pair of beginner skis from our friends (thanks, Cyndie!) and let Ana try them out on the carpet. She had a lot of fun “skiing” around our living room.


Ana’s only complaint about their last snow trip was that Hadley and I weren’t there to enjoy it with them. So this time we all went as a family. (Hadley and I watched them play from the comfort of the warm car, while listening to an audio book.) When we got to the mountain, Sim and I decided it would be best for Ana to start with skiing since it would take more energy and patience. Sim strapped on her skis and let Ana get a feel for them in the snow.


Next they added the poles…


And she was off…



And then she was down.


She did several quick runs, but having more of a “need for speed” Ana decided she wanted to take a break from skiing and hopped on our new sled.




Then she gave our old disc sled a few tries.



Not wanting to be left out of the fun, Sim hopped on the large sled with Ana.


A day in the snow just isn’t complete without a little wrestling!


As our day of winter fun was coming to a close, we bundled up Hadley and brought her out to get a couple family shots out in the snow.


You can see all the pictures from our day at the mountain here.

2 Month Doctors Appt

Hadley had her two-month doctors appointment today. Here are her stats from the appt:

Height: 23 1/2″ (85th percentile)
Weight: 13 lbs 9.5 oz (97th percentile)
Head: 39.5 cm (75th percentile)

Hadley had several immunizations today. She turned bright red and screamed bloody murder, but as soon as I picked her up she instantly calmed down. The doctor commented once again (as is only natural with a baby in the 97th percentile with as many chins as Hadley has) on my impressive milk supply. I asked about her projectile vomiting and he agreed with my guess that Hadley was just eating too much. In the past few days I have been strictly nursing her on one side per feeding (since I have no way to know how much she is eating) and we haven’t had any trouble. *Knock on wood!* He also said she is very strong for her age and has great muscle tone. That’s my girl!

A Letter: Two Months

Dear Hadley,
Yesterday you turned two months old. You have been an amazingly well behaved and easy going baby. For that I am eternally grateful, and don’t think for a minute that I don’t truly appreciate it! It has made the transition to having two children a whole lot easier to handle. Your personality is pretty laid back, and allowing you the occasional scream session when you are strapped into your car seat but you would much rather be held (and who could blame you for THAT?!), you are incredibly portable. I can take you just about anywhere and you are happy to go with the flow. As long as you have a clean diaper and access to boob, you are one happy camper. So much in fact that we took you up to Mt. Hood for the first time today. You father and sister are obsessed with the snow and really wanted you to come along on the adventure. It was a nice quick trip and you did amazingly well. Even when we covered you in layers of fleece and made you pose for pictures in the snow.



Your sweet, mellow personality is very comforting. So much in fact, that everyone wants to be around you. Where ever you are, so are we. Your parents, your sister, even our pets. The dogs and cats have even taken to curling up in your room while you nap. The cats sleep on the rug or behind the chair and the dogs surround your crib. Two months old and you already have groupies.


Hadley's Guards
The only thing about you that isn’t particularly easy or fun is when you throw up. The quantity that you are able to expel from your body is quite impressive. I wouldn’t believe it was possible if I didn’t see it with my own eyes. Quite frequently. The nice thing about it (if we must find a silver lining) is that it doesn’t seem to bother you in the slightest. You don’t fuss or cry. Or make any noise at all really. You just open your mouth and projectile vomit. Then look at us like, “Huh. So that’s why I was feeling a little weird.” Then calmly watch us while we frantically strip you (and often us) of the now soiled clothing and plop you straight in to the bath tub. And you loooove the bath. We joke that you just keep throwing up as an excuse to take another bath. If that is really the case, please know that I can give you a bath WITHOUT you puking first. I assure you.


The only one in our household not phased by the puking is Ana. (Probably because she has yet to be puked ON, but I digress…) I don’t think there is anything you could do for her to look at you with anything less than pure adoration. She loves you with every fiber of her being. Ana wants to be next to you, hugging you, kissing you, or tickling you at every waking moment. And you love it. You are constantly searching the room for your sister, offering up the smiles you save just for her. The bond between sisters is a special connection and I am so happy you have that with Ana.



It has been such an amazing month with you. You are smiling all the time now. You even smile with such enthusiasm and the cutest little gurgles that it almost, almost, could be considered giggling. I know you are going to be a talker because we are already having some intense “conversations” of coos and squeaks. I am trying not to look forward to all the things you WILL do, but enjoy the things you ARE doing. I know you will only be this small, this young, this innocent for a short time and I want to savor every minute of it. You have already changed so much in such a short time. Every day I wrap you in my arms, kiss the top of your head, breathe in your heavenly smell and tell you that I love you. So. Much. And I promise I will do that every day… for as long as you let me.

All my love,
Mama