E & A in January

Who knew that diapers would yield more comments than anything other than giving birth? Thanks for the thoughts from all quarters. We're impressed with how many of you have mastered the use of cloth or are preparing to take the plunge. We've been moving ahead with this project slowly, currently at about half cloth and half disposables as we navigate the various logistical challenges--like having a diaper bag too small for a stack of quilted cotton squares and finding that Alice tends to soil diaper covers at the same rate as diapers themselves, meaning we run out of covers pretty quickly. The various newer models--BumGenius, FuzziBunz--are tempting for their ease of use (if not for their cutesy names), but we're thinking it wouldn't be cost efficient if Alice starts daycare come summer and we're back to disposables much of the week. So for now we'll attempt to master the old-fashioned type. (Though if anyone has thoughts about the all-in-one brand that Babies R Us carries, Bumkins, let us know, as our gift certificate credits are BRU are abundant.)

And now for the promised photos. At church this morning four people commented on how much Alice suddenly looks like Edith. We can't see it, so you may judge. Many more commented on how much Alice has grown, and on that we concur!

Sisters hanging out on a quilt made for Alice by Desi's grandmother:


Alice is already watching big sister closely:

Another fabulous handmade cardigan, this one by Alex, elicits more smiles:

And serious mode (7 weeks):

Reading, I:

Last weekend Edith astonished me by accompanying me (and Alice) on a one-mile walk through the bitter, windy weather to the public library without once dawdling, complaining or asking to be carried. We made it because she suggested I pass the time by telling her the story of Peter Pan, which lasted us all the way there. When we got to the library we found a beautifully illustrated copy of the J.M. Barrie original, and Edith blew me away by listening to me read aloud, in chunks and with some spur-of-the-moment abridgment of the more sophisticated nonsense prose, for three hours. We parked ourselves in a corner on the floor, Alice alternately nursing and dozing in my lap, and Edith prompting me to continue whenever I paused. She was especially fond of this painting of Mermaid Lagoon. Maybe I should suggest that the church pastoral staff try to work Peter Pan into their sermons...

Reading, II:

"Hey, Mom..."

"Psst, Edie, Mom is watching us..."

"Um, Edie, Mom is still here..."

"Mom, some privacy, please!"

Teaching Desi about little siblings, as he's a few weeks away from his own.When they'd had enough of babies, Desi proposed that he and Edith have "a book party," then write their dissertations:

Finally, some of the promised cooing. We're having regular cooing chats these days, but the minute the camera comes out Alice stares at that and lets go her end of the conversation. For what it's worth: