Babydolls, Babysitters and Miss Hannah Leigh

Say CHEEESSSSSE, Baby!


"Dink Bobble"



Cause "bobble" is going in sissy's ear!


She's a nurturer, this one! But, make no mistake, when she is finished caring for baby, it is alarming the dexterity Hannah exhibits to toss Baby clear across a room, proclaiming, "ALL DONE!"

Our little girlfriend is on the move...running (oh, we have left walking in the dust) yes, running to our next conquest. Hair flying in the wind, complete with maniacal laugh and the falls that only Pampers can cushion. Here in "the gated community", we have to watch our step these days as Hannah explores and causes her own brand of mischief. Her favorites are closing doors and holding them shut and trying on everyone's shoes (what is it about girls and shoes???) She has begun to get shoes, hand them to us and balance to lift one foot then the other. She is extremely annoyed when she selects a doll shoe, which of course will not fit those pretty little toes. At this point she takes matters into her own hands, plopping down and grunting as though the harder she works the more likely she will actually get that shoe on her foot!

Hannah is also partial to Emily's clothes and (shame on me for not having a camera on hand everytime she has done it) takes off wearing her shirt or unmentionables on her head. Emily laughed so hard the first time, she couldn't breathe. We both laughed - the kind of laugh we all wish we could bottle - the one we heard in our dreams during the long and seemingly endless wait.

This week, I returned to work. I do not work much, enough to help us, not enough to be away much. Being a mom, it is hard no matter how we do it. Fortunately, I have a wonderful mother, who is fabulous with our children and offers herself for the times I cannot be home. (I will never be able to thank you enough, Mom) Buuut, this also makes her "the babysitter". Emily loves the one-on-one time and has always enjoyed those times when Mommy goes to work. For Hannah, this is a new experience and we have practiced. The tears last only seconds (just til I leave the room) but they are still tears - cried by my little one, who has probably cried more in her little life than I would ever want to know about. Hannah always gives my mom, "the look" (many of you have probably seen it!) Today, we had a milestone though...when I returned from work and my mother was leaving, she hugged Em and gave out kisses and then Hannah ran from me to my mom and hugged and kissed her and then did it again! I was overjoyed and Nan? She just beamed!

So, yes, in honor of Thankful Thursday, for this I am truly grateful!