Big girl pants

Gage had a nearly dry week in Dora the Explorer underpants. She seems to love the new change and seems so much older so suddenly. My favorite potty story came today though when Gage sat for the first time on a real toilet at the YMCA after swim lessons. She sat on it backwards (the hints you can find on the internet!) and put her hands down in front of her to hold on just as she noticed her reflection in the water... she couldn't have been happier. "ME in potty!!" was all she could say. I can only imagine what the people outside the stall were thinking. She is becoming quite the conversationalist lately and the things that come out of her mouth keep both of us giggling. Rich asked her last night what a polar bear eats and she said with certainty, "cheese." Since then he has taught her to say something all of his Bowdoin friends would appreciate...
"Gage what do polar bears eat?"
"cheese"
"yes, but what else?"
"moo cows"
"what color cows"
"pupple" (purple)
Nice Rich. :)
The little man has also made some big changes this week. Big grins greet us now each morning. His dimples are awesome. (I'm biased but they make me melt everytime he smiles). He has been going to bed at Gage's bedtime all week and other than me waking him up at 11 to feed, he only gets me up once during the night. We moved him to his own crib and this positive change in his sleeping habits happened immediately. There is now peace and quite in our house after 7:30! Tonight's peace and quiet followed Gage and Ber's first bath together. Gage couldn't have been happier. Ber seemed a bit more skeptical but had a few grins to share.

Gage at Cannon on the Tuckerbrook chair! A happy and busy spring break in NH. After a few trips to Cannon with Daddy that ended in tears but no skiing, Gage found her love of the slopes when Mommy took charge! It was a fantastic break and we enjoyed sunshine and warm temps along with fantastic snow. Life with Ber has been wonderful thus far and although we're a bit short on sleep, we've been loving visiting with grandparents and friends.

FAMILY :)

Some of the photos from Ber's first week and our trip to New Hampshire. He's feeding and sleeping pretty well and Gage has taken to her little brother (whom she refers to as "roar.") Rich has been a busy Daddy and has spent some quality time with his little girl between library trips, playground trips, and a morning open gym in Littleton. The pace of this spring break is slow but slow - good. :)

he's here!!!

Ber Bishop Calhoun arrived two days ago on March 4th at 4:34 in the morning. We are home and in love. Gage seems to think he's pretty neat but won't call him anything but "roar." We went to the drugstore this morning and I asked her if Ber was in the car. She said "noooooooooo, Roar home." She spent the last two days with Gran and Grandaddy and loved it. If asked where mommy and daddy were she replied, "momma, daeeey dockers" (mommy, daddy, at he doctors). The photo was snapped of Rich this morning. After he sat down with Ber, Gage brought him all of her other babies to be held. :)

Just a funny little story...
Gage has a little wooden shape puzzle that she likes. Under the square puzzle piece is a picture of a present. She really likes presents (perhaps something to do with Christmas, her birthday and my birthday!) But, today she pretended to pick the present up and brought it over to us. She lifted up my shirt and patted her pretend present on to my belly. "For baby" she said. :) I think she's ready!

Gage with her "baby" in her baby doll bjorn that's just like mommy's

Kissing her baby brother


Saying "cheese" for the camera

Time is hard to find these days for blogging and it has been awhile! Gage is keeping us busy, but so far has been a pretty funny and delightful two year old. (Of course she has her "moments" too.) Yesterday after I came home from a meeting with the trustees she came and sat between my legs and said "mama, blue, black, blue, black." I was being called out by my two year old for wearing two different colored socks. I can't really see my feet these days! Hopefully she was more observant than the trustees. I am enjoying teaching but am very tired from not sleeping very much. About one more month to go. Gage is acting very excited about the baby but we don't think she really knows what is about to happen. If you ask her what the baby's name is, she'll usually tell you "roarrr" ???? and then kiss the belly. Hopefully she will be as sweet when the little boy arrives. She has been going to swimming classes with me at the Y each week and is loving the water more and more. When we go by the YMCA during the week, she's quick to say "mama swim?" It is fun to listen to her voacab grow.

first day on skates

I'm not sure which made me smile more today...
a) Gage making her first strides on the rink
b) Gage running around naked with a bucket over her head and running into the wall... and then laughing hysterically!

Unfortunately, we only have video from the rink!