Mots d'enfants

Margot is officially 13 months tomorrow, and she is not at all interested in walking yet. I think it is because she is rather into talking right now. She adds new words often, the latest being "night-night." She also has added the word "butt" to her repertoire, thanks to big sister Chloe. I don't think Chloe really knew what she was doing, since we really don't use the word "butt" often in our house (Jerome, of course, opts for the French "fesses", and I actually use the Polish word "dupa"). Well anyway, Margot says it clear as day. Often.

We had a great Memorial Day weekend here. Friday, Chloe and I gardened with my dad, ripping out enormous weeds that had taken over the south side of our house and replacing them with hostas and lillies. Chloe has really taken an interest in flowers and planting. Then, Saturday, we spent the evening with neighbors, including Chloe's best bud Ava and some new friends, two more little girls, she has been playing with lately as well. Sunday we spent with good friends who are moving within the month. They are not moving far away, but we will miss having them just a few blocks away. Chloe has always played well with their older boy, and they have a younger boy who is Margot's age, too (though he is only three months older, it really makes a hug difference at this age).

Soon, it will be June, and then July: time for France!

Bonne Anniversaire Margot

Margot turns one today, and last night we had a birthday party to celebrate. She did great. She enjoyed her banana cupcake and did well opening her presents. Her favorite present so far is a pink ride-on car. Chloe was such a patient, helpful big sister at the party. She helped Margot open presents only when Margot needed it, and she helped Margot blow out her candle.

It's been rainy here again, but Friday was beautiful. Chloe was absolutely delighted to blow bubbles, water the plants, and jump rope (or at least trying to jump rope). As for Margot, she has been making some big advances lately. She now also says "bye-bye," "hi," and her first French word--"tiens." When Jerome gives her food, he says "tiens" ("take this"). She says it now when she gives us something! So cute! She has also started feeding her doll with a bottle or spoon of pretend food.

Happy Birthday, Margot!

Joyeuses Paques

We had a great Easter--Easter basket hunt in the morning followed by brunch with family at my parents. Here the girls are in their Easter dresses.

Now we are lucky enough to get to enjoy a week with Papa home from school! It will be busy (I'm finishing my preparation for my comprehensive exams for my masters this Saturday), but fun. The girls have some new toys to play with. Chloe got a great doll from the Easter bunny--a Corolle doll that speaks French (it asks to go peepee, to drink, to eat, to go to bed, and more). We can also change the language to English, Italian, or Spanish. It is so sweet. Margot got a toy telephone, which she is delighted about (so is Mama--maybe I can have my phone in peace now!). Also, Margot got the sweetest music box with dancing frogs from Uncle Joel from his recent trip to Switzerland--this is the current favorite toy of the house. And hopefully the weather will warm back up again so we can play outside!

Happy Spring everyone!

Les bonhommes de neige, et ce n'est pas un blague du premier avril…

Well, the weather has been "pourri" here--all rain and snow and chilliness. On Saturday night, we got six inches of snow. Chloe and I were driving through it the next day, passing snowmen everywhere, when I asked if she wanted to build a snowman when we got home. She said no, because, "She wants it to turn summer." My thoughts exactly...

To escape the cold rain, we went to a new story hour today with our pals Kristen and Sophie. It was insanely packed--mamas and kids everywhere. The story was impossible to hear, but Chloe was excited to see a real fireman! That explains the chaos! Still, he gave out fire hats to all the kids, so Chloe was delighted.

Other than that, with this weather, it has been a lot of playing inside for us. We need to get creative with new games. The picture above is of Chloe's new one: fixing Margot's "hair." As you can see, Margot just wants to read her "boo." She still says "boo" (book), "ba" (ball), and "more"all the time, but she throws a mama and even a papa in there every so often for good measure. The other day, I thought I heard "hi" again, too.

Now the girls are napping, and I am making a big pot of soup to warm the house and our souls.

Margot sait ce que elle veut.

We've had wonderful weather here, and the girls have enjoyed being outside again after the long winter. We went to the park on Tuesday (it was 70F). Margot loved swinging. She laughed hysterically the whole time. I'll try to get a picture of it next time we go.

Margot is saying "boo" for book and "ba" for ball. She seems to be picking up words more quickly than Chloe did at this age. I am sure that is partially due to Chloe, who talks all the time.

Another cute Margot thing: when I put her finger food in front of her, she picks out what she doesn't want and throws it on the floor before eating what she does want. It is funny to see her little personality developing.

Chloe has a fixation on time lately, telling me that she will do something in 14 minutes, for example. If I ask her what time it is out of the blue, she always has an answer, something like "30 o'clock." She tries to read the clock, too, but just focuses on the minute hand to tell the time for the hour.

Chloe went to a birthday party last Sunday at a "FunWorld"-type place. She liked all of it, except the big air-filled castle where the kids can jump around. She was terrified in there. She loved the smaller version of it, though. Overall, she had a great time with the kids.

Les filles dansent

Margot "talking" to a doll


Chloe sewing on my old sewing machine


Margot's smiles


Chloe laughing

If flickr is looking a little strange lately, it is because I am using my account to hold some pictures for my last master's course: Multimedia Concepts and Authoring Tools. That is also why I haven't had to time to post pictures of the girls, but my parents have uploaded some on their page. I put my favorites above.

Chloe has loved her "big girl" story time at the library; she has one more week left. A few weeks ago, she went to a sock hop, which she adorably calls a "hop sock," and had so much fun dancing with the kids. She showed me a new dance move when she got home: spinning on one foot. Margot has started to dance, too--so sweet. I'll try to get a video of it to post. Margot has been also going through some major teething. Two more popped out last week, and her gums look all swollen. I'm sure more are on the way.

Les filles grandissent...

Little Margot is keeping me on my toes, crawling all over the place and exploring everything, especially the phone and the vacuum cleaner. Chloe's places to play with her big girl toys are slowly reducing when Margot is awake. Margot loves all of Chloe's tiny toys, and she can reach everywhere in the living room. Two days ago, Margot even managed to climb up two stairs.

Chloe is getting so big so fast. Today, she is going to her first library story time for big kids, which means that she goes without Mama or Papa. We also got word that she got a place in the preschool class we wanted, which will start next fall. She'll go in the mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Last weekend, I took the girls up north. Chloe loved it even if there was snow past her waist. She even went with Grandpa on the "big icy lake" to go ice fishing. Grandpa was a trooper--carrying Chloe down the hill, through the woods and deep snow, to the lake. The girls had a great time (check out a few pictures on flickr).

I forgot to mention a couple weeks back that Jerome took Chloe to her first symphony. The MSO holds Kinderkonzerts every once in a while, and this time they were playing Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty (La Belle au Bois dormant), among other things, upon which the Disney movie songs are musically based. Chloe was so excited, telling Jerome, "Papa, they're playing my songs." So sweet. She also got to attend a workshop beforehand where she was able to try playing a violin.