Food Negotiations
It’s always a bit of a challenge to get Natalie to eat enough—at meals that is. She’ll eat plenty of snacks without any encouragement.
But this morning’s negotiations baffled me.
Natalie: I’m full (she’d eaten two bites of oatmeal, a food she loves)
Me: Ok, 5 more bites (knowing that otherwise she’d be begging for snacks in no time)
Natalie: No, 6 bites!
Me: 6 it is!
I love an easy victory.
Celebrating Miranda’s First Birthday
Lucky Miranda got to have cake three times for her birthday! Once at a party with a few friends the day before her birthday, once the day of her birthday at home with us, and once at her family party the following weekend. She really, really loved it! We love our sweet Miranda so much—we were so happy that she got to enjoy so many celebrations with so many loved ones.
Happy Birthday Girl
Parallel Play Miranda plays with Yoshi and Artie at her birthday party.
Yummy cupcake!
Pinkish-Red frosting
Who like’s cupcakes? "I do!!!"
Opening a gift from Josie
Cupcakes Revisited I
Cupcakes Revisited II
Cupcakes Revisited III
Cupcakes Revisited IV
Birthday girl with Meema
1 year old!!!
Heart Birthday Cake Mom is still learning how to pipe frosting.
“Happy birthday to you”
“You want some?”
“On second thought I’ll eat it myself”
“Here I am!” Wearing her mom-made birthday shirt
Present Time! 
Two favorite gifts A cat from Grandpa and Cora and a stroller from Meema and PopPop.
Auntie Jodi and Uncle Jay tickle the birthday girl
Not cooperating for a picture with Grandpa
Poor Sick Natalie with PopPop 
Storytime with Grandma and Meema
Aunt Kary with Miranda and Daddy 
Proud parents Cherry Blossoms 2011
I {heart} cherry blossoms!! I am officially obsessed with cherry blossom season. Perhaps it’s because they are one of the first spots of color after the long winter, but I find cherry blossoms to be quite magical. Since we live in Brooklyn now and we are members of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, we’ve gone to see the trees three times now. If it were just a bit closer (and we had nothing else to do) I’d be taking the kids there every day.
The first time we went, Josie and Meema & Pop Pop were with us. Then we went with grandma and some friends from NJ, who were lovely enough to trek into Brooklyn to visit with us and the cherry blossoms. Yesterday I went for the third time with the girls by myself, determined to get some nice photos. Today it’s raining, so most of the petals probably fell. I’m glad that we got to enjoy them so much while they lasted!!
Early blossoms
Birdies Looking out of their nest
Rocks in water Entertainment for hours!!
Bonsai Wysteria
So cool
Checking out the fish
Hydration and warmth from Meema & PopPop
Andrea, Cindy & Amy
Kids! It’s very difficult to get 5 kids under age 4 to all look at the camera at once!
Natalie and Grandma
The big kids Natalie, Jamison & Nathan
Smooches! Charlie plants one on Miranda
Tickle, tickle!! Soon to be big sister Charlie practices on Miranda
Consulting the map
Cindy & Jamison
Honk, honk! Nathan is an experienced big brother and very tolerant of Miranda pinching his nose!
Charlie 
Jamison
Laying under the trees looking up
Petal walk
Beautiful view
Running Being under this canopy of trees was incredible.
Always on the go It’s hard to get Natalie to stay still long enough for a picture.
Big Smile!
Big Smile!
Hugs! It’s hard to tell, but Miranda’s smile is as big as Natalie’s.