Yesterday, Meryl and I joined the neighborhood outside for one last play in the snow. We co-built a snowman, and five hours later it was melting in the rain. Dare I say I miss the snow?

Breaking out of the house today was...therapeutic.

And just like that, he drinks from the bottle! While we still have some things to work on therapy wise, we’re over the bottle hating to bottle loving hump. Well, bottle loving IF the milk is warmed juuust right:) Holmes has acquired Frank’s fervor for food and is sure to let us know if the temperature detracts from what should be an optimal milk drinking experience. (I’ll have you know we won’t be a slave to the bottle warmer forever; but for now, it sure does align all the stars!) Also, Laurel stopped by to visit! And then she had a mad dash to the airport in our impending snow storm, boarding the plane to San Diego without any minutes to spare.

Last night, Meryl donned her gown and headed downtown with Frank to their second Father Daughter Dance at the WAC! She sipped Shirley Temples, dined on delectable party food, and ate FIVE butter balls (two from her bread plate, one from Frank’s, and two that she stole from her friend, Catherine, sitting beside her). She ran circles on the dance floor and in between walls of curtains, and then stopped in the middle of the scene to stare at the big girls dancing - making sure to take off her party shoes too, because that’s what big girls do. Our little butter ball.

Well, it seemed that Meryl threw back one too many Shirley Temples as all that sweetness came back up late into the night. Surprising and scary as it was for her, it also meant that we got to watch the ‘pillowcase jig’ while Frank helped to change all her bed sheets:) (Now, why is it that us parents feel like we’re the ones with the hangover?)

Another snow day! Luckily, Baylie made it up the hill so that she, Meryl and Maya got to play outside together (cabin fever averted!). Holmes conked out early after PT, and Frank and I are celebrating Lunar New Year (as well as both kids in bed) with orange beef. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

For real, it did actually snow! (Oh, when snow days were quiet days to telecommute and make soup. Not with kids!) Meryl threw snowballs, attempted a snow angel, romped with Lummi, and feigned despair when a neighbor took our picture. We’ll see how the weather holds and if cabin fever strolls into the house tomorrow:)

When we weren’t outside, Meryl decided to take all her toys out without any intention of putting them away. And she got away with it!

 It snowed! We also braved the elements and headed to Costco during the game. And while it was less busy than normal, it was not the vacant warehouse of my dreams. Costco.

 The next installment of Meryl’s cooking, learning how to make rice! Washing the rice first is critical, so is using a rice maker!

Seattle Children’s Museum for the win! Meryl literally skipped and sprinted from exhibit to exhibit, where she decided that summer sausage is a grocery shopping staple, learned about optometry, tried out being a short order cook, and swam through kelp like a sea otter. We’ll be back for more!

Last day of paternity leave, and he’s crushing this parenting thing:)

Hummus party! We brought hummus, veggies, and pita bread to Meryl’s class for the next edition of dippable snacks. And they ate it all!

 Lounging about, stretching his neck muscles.

Frank was able to feed Holmes 3 oz. from a bottle in one big gulp! (Thus far, bottle feeding has been touch and go, with me having the most success. Not the point! Independence, please!) 

Turns out, Holmes has torticollis - he stuffed himself in my belly with his head turned right, shortening his left neck muscles as a result. It’s affected the muscles on the left side of his mouth too and made sucking from a bottle...work. No one likes to exercise, let alone when it’s required in order to eat, so he’s been very successful at avoiding the bottle. Well, we wised up in the last couple of weeks and found him a pediatric speech therapist and physical therapist, who in turn gave us ‘exercises.’ And, they’re working!

QT (quality time) with this cutie!

Our version of the ‘end of the road’ just behind our house!  Pretty darn pretty.

Meryl loves spotting buses when we’re out and about. Today, we took an adventure walk around the block and discovered the bus stop!