Sarah smiling

 Sarah has started smiling and giggling a LOT.  We finally got her to do it on camera and video!

 

Well, ok, sometimes we just startle the heck out of her.

 

Cake anyone?

Emma just loves her sweets, especially cupcakes with lots of frosting.  Here she is with her frosting mustache (as she eats all frosting before any cake):

Emma likes to look at the pictures on the camera.  She got very sad when she saw the above picture and said "my face looks bad."  Mommy captured the utter sadness (after having tried to clean her face):

Cute Sarah pics

Sarah is starting to be able to control her head enough for the Bumbo chair, but her posture sucks:

And after trying to exercise all that control, she was so excited to get to crash, well-supported, in daddy's arm:

Happy Birthday Part 3

Emma really enjoyed her actual birthday day.  Mimi and Papa came to help celebrate and Emma got some nice new things.

Here is Emma's special birthday crown; it changes colors in the sunlight:

 Here is Emma opening up some new Play-doh:

 

Here she is playing her recorder (mommy and daddy could have done without this gift, though daddy sure had fun playing it too):

 Here is her brand new doll house, which she hasn't stopped playing with since it was set up:

 And here she is with a crowned Papa, Sarah and Mimi:

 Here she is with her cupcake and candles (3 plus one to grow on):

 And enjoying her cupcake (we aren't so sure of her manners; mommy swears she isn't raising her in a barn):

Thanks to everyone who have helped Emma celebrate her birthday over the last 3 weekends.

Exercising!

Mommy has started doing some exercise and Emma decided she needed to work off her little girl "chub" with mommy:

Happy baby

Sarah is a super happy baby (most of the time) and she loves to give a great big smile:

 But all that smiling really takes it out of a girl:

Chicago visit

We went into Chicago this weekend for a birthday party (Emma, Brian, Melissa, and Granny!) and also so that Sarah could meet both sides of Brian's family.  It was a ton of fun.

Here's Grandpa with the newest grandkid:

Emma opening presents:

Emma with new clothes on her favorite doll:

Grandma and Emma:

Grandma and a newly-washed Sarah:

Brian's cousin John holding Sarah:

Emma with her cousin Ellen:

Sarah and her cousin Emily (Sarah's the one on the left):

And, finally, a ToonCamera picture of Granny with her youngest great-grandchild:

We had a wonderful time in Chicago!