Cloth Diapers

Cloth Diapering has been great with both girls. After all, who could resist putting such fun names on their baby's bottom like bumgenius, smartipants, Fuzzi bunz, Thirsties and Happy Heiny's. They all work really well at containing waste, the baby's skin is happy, and I think they look so cute. I still use disposables on long trips as I'm not willing to travel around with poo. Maybe when I'm more reliable with infant pottying, we'll use cloth even on long trips. For now, at home and around town will do. Hooray for the inventors of modern cloth diapers!

Genevieve in her new smartipants.

Going potty.

Ah. Finished.

Even when she is stuck in her boy cousin's hand-me-down blue tool shirt, she can still feel feminine in a nice purple Mommy's Touch.

Picking out a diaper for the next change.

Mom on the Zip Line

I love this clip. Here is my mom having some fun on her grandkids' zip line. I dreamed of having a zip line when I was a kid but it never happened. My dad put one in for the grandkids (Grandpas are supposed to do things like that) and they love it. When I was visiting in June, there it was, inviting me to have a ride. I passed Genevieve off to Karrie and hopped on. Weeeeeee! It was just as fun as I always thought it would be. My mom decided that she could ride it too. After all, I didn't drag through the yard during my ride. So here she is, half way through chemo, gliding through a tropical rain forest with ease. (I mean there are some big mosquitoes and its pretty humid in VA) Listen for Rachel saying "Mema, you're so awesome!"

Lego wall

I'm impressed. Our 2 and almost a half year old built these very ordered structures with her first lego set. I had to post this picture. Ok, ok...she may have had some help with the one on the right. But look at the wall on the left.

Good Friends

We got to visit with the Hilleary's in Mobile, AL. We had a wonderful time! (Who wouldn't with such sweet people) Shay and Rachel were great friends shortly after building with Legos together. They were so fun to watch.

Playing in the kitchen

Looking innocent...mostly.

Beautiful weather on the Gulf

Dinner at Ed's

Seamus, Brendan, Malia and Michelle
One amazing family

More giggling together.

In the hotel at 4:30am and ready to fly.

Flight with Daddy

We spent the day with Daddy at work. Here are John and the girls on a flight to Mobile, AL.

Fire it up!

On and Ready.

Genevieve takes care of last minute paperwork.

Rachel calls for permission to push back.

Studying the approach plates for landing.

Genevieve's turn.

Mmmm. Always time for a little cuddle with Captain Daddy.

We made it!

De-planing in Mobile.

Pirple Girls

Gyamma, Rachel and Genevieve enjoying purple together

Back Yard

Active Little People

Here they are, playing together. I love it when this happens! This tunnel inspires all kinds of squealing and laughter.

Dresses from Titi Joanne

Rachel still fits in the dress she wore for her first Birthday. She still loves it. Here she is with a rabbit that her cousin Emily gave her. This is Rachel's first toy to receive a name: Akum. Her favorite baby, referred to as "Pink Baby" may also have a name: Rusty. She always remembers to call her rabbit Akum, but Rusty is interchangeable with Pink Baby, the baby that closes her eyes, or the baby not travel baby.

Genevieve does not like hats on her head. She is examining this one rather seriously. I think she chewed on and then dropped it after this picture was taken.

Fourth of July 2009

Celebrating our Nations independence:
This year on July 4th, I told Rachel that when it was dark outside we would hear and see fireworks. She waited all evening, frequently checking outside to see if it was dark yet. I put Genevieve to bed and we waited for dark to fall. As it began to get darker in the house, I turned on lights. Rachel followed me around turning off the lights, fearful that it would never get dark if I continued turning on lights. Finally, it was dark outside. I thought having the lights off would be fine so we could see the fireworks from inside. (There were 4 fireworks displays all around the house. Our neighbors turn the neighborhood into what sounds like an artillery testing site for 5 days, surrounding the 4th. hooray for the legal sale of fireworks (the really big and loud ones) in SC.)
Alas, it was too dark. Rachel went around to the same lights she had turned off 15 minutes earlier and turned them all on. We went outside to sit in the front yard and watch the show. She was so excited all day for the fireworks. When the first large rocket was launched, she buried her head in my neck and requested that I turn the fireworks off. We went inside and heard the fireworks from a safe distance. Watching from the window was just fine.

Here are the girls before it got dark outside; before the fireworks were turned on.