Here are some random pictures of the kids...








Nothing much new to report. They are past their cold and we are almost past ours too. I, for one, am so tired of them (especially David) being sick. He always gets it worse than Belle and it hangs on longer. I guess you either have them sick now or keep them out of the petridish called daycare and have them sick constantly when school starts. Please tell me it's not both??!!

Anyway, one new development is that David has begun to fight back against Isabelle's sisterly abuse. He used to just cry a little and them go on his way. Now she sits on him, he pulls her hair. She takes his toy, he pops her in the head. All's fair in love and family. And it's teaching her that hitting others results in being hit back. Good life lesson I think.

They are both learning in their own way and establishing their own unique and lovable traits. David has always been more of a cuddler and a hugger than Belle, but now she is starting to spontaneously hug and kiss and tell us she loves us. It's nice to see... Isabelle is also so creative I think. She listens to music and talks in pictures about it. For instance John has some "house" music that we play in the car sometimes and Isabelle calls one of the songs "the spider song." Something about the music reminnds her of a spider building it's web, and then the music changes and she talks about how then the spider dances. Then at some point the roly-poly bugs do soemthing else. Is this normal for a 3 year old? Even if it is, I think she's amazing.

David is wonderfully "boyish." He's busy and precocious and persistent. He loves to tear things up and get into everything he isn't supposed to. He walks with funny swagger to show off his big buddha belly, doing everything very deliberately and with rare gentleness. He does know what 'gentle touches' mean and sometimes will use them when prompted to. He's got a great sense of humor and a contagious laugh. His way of learning appears to be less about observing and more about conquering and (still) tasting. He has such a joyful spirit.

Love those kiddos... best thing we've every done. Will we ever get more than 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep again?

Well, the little ones are sick again. But enough about that.


Last weekend we traveled down to Pleasanton for a lunch with my family, and a gift exchange for the girls birthdays. We stopped in at a little brew-pub located on main street near the old historic hotel and train station. The place was all done up in Mardi Gras fare, which was very interesting to David. Isabelle didn't really seem too interested in any of it. I think she may have still been recovering from the previous gut flu. She didn't want to talk much that day either. If you ever find yourself out that way, I'd go with the porter or the IPA.

Of course everyone was glad to see the kids, and they always enjoy seeing family.

David found a new little stinker trick of the week. The kids were in the bath tub, and I was still letting water in. I had Isabelle all shampood up, when all of a sudden, I don't hear the water entering the tub anymore. For one of those very long seconds, just before you know something is going to happen which you may not want to happen to you, I glanced over at David to see how he turned off the water. Then, WHOOSH! My head was soaked, and Isabelle was getting all the spray from the shower. Suddenly, it became very clear how David made it all quiet, for a second.

So, what's worse than a baby with the stomach flu? TWO kids with the stomach flu. Oh, lordy, it's been fun. Somehow I don't feel the need to go into much detail. For those of you who have been through it, you already relate. For those that haven't, it's just not that pretty.
I would like to take a minute to highlight one of the many virtues of my perfect husband. He doesn't think twice to get up at two in the morning and deal with the uh... stuff that results from the stomach flu. All those nights I had to be up with the kids when I was nursing are a good trade to have a dad that gets up to deal with sick kids.
Hope all of you are well!!