The End of an Era?

Abby turned nine last month. For the first time since she received a Bitty Baby for Christmas of 2003 she did not request anything from the American Girl catalogue. Instead she requested a locket and a scrapbooking kit. Wow, I thought, is this the end of little girlhood and the beginning of the 'tween years? I asked her if she thought maybe she was getting to old for her American Girl dolls (Felicity and Elizabeth). She assured me she was not, she just wanted something else this time. She also confided that she knew Grandma Willis and Aunt Coco had gifts for her from AG. She is growing right up. It is hard to believe how quickly it has gone. She is turning into a beautiful and loving young lady and a wonderful and helpful sister and daughter. Rest assured, the era is not over, she already has some ideas for her Christmas List from American Girl. Thank goodness.

It's SNOOOOW!

Alex

Pete and Abby

Shoveling the driveway for mom.

As the rest of the country has been blanketed and sometimes downright pounded with the fluffy white stuff this winter, we here in the Washington Metro area have had nothing. Okay, there have been flurries a couple of times, but never enough to play in, (unless you live in Olney). But today that changes! School has been cancelled, the kids are outside, and the hot chocolate is on the stove. Winter has finally arrived for the Willises. Of course it waited until: Jen is finally trying to get to the gym on a regular basis (she officially began training yesterday for the Charlottesville,VA half-marathon), Grant is going back to work on crutches after missing a week and a half for ACL repair surgery, and the kids already have a shortened week because of the end of the marking period, but, we'll take it!

Hot chocolate waiting inside. Ben skipped the cold but participated in the hot chocolate.

Jacob's on the Move

Jacob, apparently unsatisfied with life on his back, has decided to make a move. He rolled! The first time we discovered him on his belly we wondered if it was a fluke, but over the last few days, each time he was placed on his back he would end up on his tummy. At 2 1/2 months, he has achieved this milestone earlier than any of his siblings who were each between three and four months.

Because the bassinet does not provide enough space to safely complete a roll, this event has also led to a move of another sort: the one from the bassinet next to our bed to a crib in his own room.

Baby Jacob is a joy in our lives. We love his sweet smiles and his growing interest in all of the hustle and bustle around him. We are treasuring each moment he is small, for we know how fast babies grow.