Five months old...

Simba is five months old this month and it's fascinating to watch her interactions with Nemo. As you can see below Simba loves nothing more than watching Nemo. She laughs at her sister's antics and finds her generally delightful. 

The admiration is mutual! (most of the time)

Yes she picked out this outfit herself. And she was very proud of it.

Nemo was introducing Simba to all of her "guys". 

These girls are something else. I often watch them and think about how my relationships with my sisters have developed over time. I am so grateful for my two sisters, they really are amazing and gifted people who enrich my life everyday. I hope that I can somehow help my girls to see each other as precious gifts, even when they argue or get frustrated with one another.  

Sleeping...

I posted this picture to Facebook/Instagram earlier this week and it's one of my recent favorites. There is nothing quite as nice as wearing a sleeping baby against your chest. Simba is still at an age where she will fall asleep anywhere when tired enough. It's quite delightful. Tonight I just want to remember her delicious baby smell and totally relaxed body when she releases herself into sleep. Also those cheeks! So kissable and delightful. She is quite the baby, I know that soon she'll be moving onto her next milestone but I just want to remember her tiny babyhood, I know it will be gone so soon. Love you girlie, to the moon and back.

Pictures of our doll baby....

I think she may be the very best baby! We love her so and love having her in our family. She is the most delightful little one who seems to bring joy everywhere!

Girls together...

The other day while I had my camera out and was snapping a few pics of Simba I heard Nemo yell from the other room, "Take pictures!" and she came running out to see what was happening. She must have heard the click of my shutter and recognizes that this means it's time to pose for the camera. I know I have my camera out a lot but gees! So she was delighted when her dad suggested she hold Simba for some pictures. I was equally delighted that she was distracted by holding the baby that she left her headband in for the pics. Of course when we were done she promptly removed it.

She is becoming quite the big sister who pays attention to what Simba needs, whether that be eating, sleeping or a burp cloth. Often she will bring some toy to Simba and say "Show Simba??" It's very sweet. And though it may look like she is torturing her sister in some of these pics, I assure you she was being very gentle and not holding her too tight.

I look forward to taking many many more photos of my girls together. Also for a laugh check out MSD's blog to see his take on one of the photos.

Birthday kitchen

For Nemo's 2nd birthday MSD and I dreamed up a play kitchen. We weren't thrilled by the mostly plastic options out there. They are fine but usually pretty big for our small house and this kitchen lives in our living room so I wanted to like looking at it. Thus we turned to Ana White, the amazing builder! She has easy plans for a play kitchen and I emphasize EASY since MSD and I are totally inept when it comes to building things. We have way to many educational degrees between the two of us to be any good with wood projects! But we had fun and we both really like it. 

I was determined after I saw the plans to make a kitchen for Nemo and eventually Simba to share as well. And this is what we came up with. We are pretty happy with it, though it's far from perfect and not even close to square!

Kitchen built by MSD and myself, food from Melissa and Doug and Ikea

A real faucet and a dog bowl as a sink

We made the oven door open to the side because it seemed easier to play with.

Dressing Up

So this post is late but I have a four week old so I am cutting myself some slack. In addition to welcoming a new baby we have had a number of other interesting visitors in the last few weeks...

First there was a renegade Tigger roaming the halls...

But terms out she was pretty tame, though a bit suspicious of this photographer...

Then a bumblebee showed up..

And this pumpkin (there are no words)

Bumbo! (pumpkin in Nemo speak)

Turns out more than one pumpkin hangs out around here...

Nemo's first experience Trick or Treating (though she still doesn't know what candy is..)

With her wand!

Oh and a really cute skeleton stops by occasionally ...

We've been having a good time with all these visitors... 

Welcome Simba!

On a crisp, sunny fall day in Chicago...

We welcomed Simba into our family!
(not her real name, hers is much less Disney)

We think she's pretty awesome

And so do most of her admiring fans!

Many more pics and stories to come. But for now I will say that Simba is fitting nicely into our family and we are incredibly grateful for her!