Folie A Deux

it has been so incredibly beautiful here lately. We have been spending a lot of time at the beach, and V has been loving it. Remember being a kid and making all those complicated sand sculptures, with rivers and lakes and lagoons? The desire to play with sand and water must be woven into the human genome, because all the kids get right on it as soon as the weather is warm enough. And almost invariably, once the kids get to a certain point, dad will step in and show them how it’s done. Here’s Violet and her friend Caleb, just before dad arrived on the scene.

Frankie was born at 8:01 on April 30. 6lb 9oz, 19.5in. I think she’s perfect. Violet thinks she’s a little boring but likes her okay. She enjoys putting a pacifier in Frankie’s mouth and generously sharing Woobie and Blanket when Frankie is sad. She helps with the diaper changes and tries her best not to yell in the house when Frankie is napping. That’s pretty hard though. We’re all a little tired and delirious but thrilled with our new family member.

Dear Violet:

In a month you’re going to have a baby sister. It’s been you and us for so long. We have established routines and rituals and our relationship is all about to change. I am scared and excited. I love our life. But I think this is going to be a good kind of new life. I hope for you to have a best friend for life, someone who shares your same upbringing and pathos instilled by your parents and each other. I hope for you to have someone who is there with you and for you no matter where your life takes you. I hope you love each other. We are going to do our best to raise you to be always good to each other. I love you, Violet. Happy Birthday.

Love,

Mama

Some of my favorite pictures from the past 6 months.

We just returned from a long weekend in Atlanta, and I finally got my camera some exercise. The weather there was amazing, 70-80 degrees every day with gorgeous, loud thunderstorms at night. We left Coeur d’Alene during a huge snowstorm. They had to de-ice the plane before we left. We stayed with my grandparents and Violet tormented them with kisses and hugs and dancing and My Little Pony and screaming for three days. They were troopers, and they didn’t complain when we caught up on our sleep while there. One night I slept with V for 13 hours straight. It was delicious.

We also got to see my aunt and uncle and cousins for a nice long dinner on Friday night and the afternoon on Saturday, during which Violet monopolized my lovely young cousins Savanna and Diana. They were so good with her. We went to the Aquarium one afternoon and saw the Belugas, which were incredible. They were these enormous, fleshy white blobs, and they were jumping out of the water and doing tricks for the audience. V and I got to touch a shark, and V was just enthralled with the big colorful fish, seahorses, and eels. It was a great visit.

Dear Violet

The past couple of months have been full of growth, within my belly and your whole being. Together we’ve outgrown our most adorable tights, jeans, shoes and dresses. Hopefully I’ll be wearing mine again in a couple of months, and in a couple of years your new baby sister Rose (or Eloise, or Ruby, or Frances) will be wearing yours.

But you’re not just growing physically. YYou’re becoming your own person, with opinions. And lots of them. A couple of months ago, I bought you some adorable little dresses. I didn’t even think to ask your opinion. Mistake. You hated them and have consistently refused to wear them. The next round of shoes and dresses were a successful collaboration of pink, pink, and more pink. And sequins and sparkles and hearts. Many mornings have been spent discussing the appropriateness of a princess dress for school, with promises of princess dresses and dances after school, and a few trips to the grocery have been made in a tutu. You have recently started to refuse to wear pants, saying “I’m not a boy.” No, you are not a boy.

Your dad has recently started trap shooting, and that interests you. You’ve been asking when you can shoot a turkey “for eating.” But not a deer, because then Santa can’t come. The corresponding times of deer season and Christmas were quite confusing for you, and you had a few words with Gramps about how he was not supposed to shoot a deer. (We didn’t tell you when he ended up successful) You have also become a valued assistant in your dad’s new home brewing hobby. The other day when I came home from work, you took me by the hand and asked me to “come check out the black beer– look, it’s bubbling like crazy!” You’re not a boy, but you’re no girly girl. Except for the princess obsession. And the princess dances.

You’re turning into an interesting little person. Every day wwith you is an adventure. Often frustrating, often hilarious, never boring.

We’ve had a good couple of months, though I haven’t been at home nearly as much as I’d like. I’m busy at work, which is good, because it means we’ll be able to stay here forever. I do have a lot of dinners, conferences, committees, and meetings- a lot more than I expected. It’s great to get out and meet the medical community and be involved in local events, but on those evenings I miss you just terribly. When I do get to come home and see you after work, you’ve started running up to me and jumping into my arms for a big hug and kisses, and then “come on, Mama!” and we go see what you’ve been up to. It’s the best welcome home I’ve ever had. I love you, Violet.

Happy Birthday

Mama