Halloween 2011

Well, even though I took some time off of blogging it doesn't mean we didn't do some really cool things in 2011. For instance, Halloween!

Sofia has a lot of good ideas - but too many sometimes. She came up with a new idea for a costume at least once a day. So, we set a deadline of October 21 and started journaling all of her ideas. I wish I would have kept the list but it ranged from princess to Spiderman and I think there were about ten ideas on the list. One of which was Menchie,



the frozen yogurt mascot from the shop up the street. That would have been fun to figure that one out!

But she ended up surprising me and choosing an idea that I had come up with - a butterfly. I loved the idea because we could coordinate Ana's costume. I took inspiration from one of our favorite children's books, Eric Carle's A Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Ana would be the hungry caterpillar,



and Sofia would be the beautiful butterfly.



Ever since the success we had making Dan's robot costume the year before I've felt compelled to make the Halloween costumes when I can. The butterfly wings were pretty easy - just a ModPodge project with colored tissue paper. But for the caterpillar I attempted my first sewing project on my own. I started it by hand and thankfully my friend intervened and showed me how to use her sewing machine! I purchased some crocheted caps from an Etsy seller and we had our little caterpillar,



and a grown up butterfly!



It was a special year because not only was it Ana's first Halloween but it was also Sofia's first time to trick-or-treat with her classmates. We live on the same street as her teacher, Mrs. Kuhnen so I thought it would be fun to invite the class over for a little party and trick or treating on our street. It was a blast! I'm so glad we did it - Sofia had so much fun having everyone over and we had so much fun seeing her in her element with all of her buddies.







I think normally she would have been shy approaching each house but with the added security of all her friends around she just loved running from house to house screaming, "Trick or treat!" What a joy!

A Weekend With Dad

I am the luckiest girl! I got to spend a last weekend in New Orleans with these girls,



our friend Tracey and my sister.

I love that city, it was my fourth visit and I never get tired of it. We spent some time in the Garden District, ate a fancy lunch at Commander's Palace and walked around the French Quarter. All the while, Dan was home getting some one on two time with our sweet girls who, despite my elation about my alone time, I missed like crazy. I kept begging him to text me photos and videos. I'll share some of them here so you can see what a weekend with Daddy is like.

So while I shared with him pictures like this,



he would send me sweet shots like this. Quite a contrast, huh!?





I was sad to miss Russian Christmas this year while I was away, but I thought of the kids as we passed by the nativity scene at the St. Louis Cathedral. I sent this picture to Sofia since she has such a fascination with baby Jesus and the nativity. Notice on the face of the church the shadow that is cast from a statue of Jesus in the courtyard. Our tour guide called it a Before and After scene of Jesus. I thought it was pretty cool.



Dan sent me pictures from Grandma's house of Sofia wearing Aunt Mac's red hat,



and video of her playing with a new Christmas present from the Henkes.



and video of Ana being Ana... crazy.



I sent them video of the street music on Bourbon Street. (Turn down your volume; it's kind of loud.)



It was also a big football weekend so they laid around in their pjs watching the game,





and Sofia got her puppy ready for the Dog Show



before heading out to the park.



They're so sweet - all three of them. We sure are lucky we have such a great daddy! I know they probably had even more fun than I did with these girls - and that's saying a lot.





But it's true what they say... "distance makes the heart grow fonder," ...I came back loving my kids even more than I did before. Thanks, Daddy!

She's Here!

We welcome to the world, Ana Mercedes Coussirat.



This photo was taken by her proud Grandma when she was exactly one week old. But she made her debut on Friday, January 21, 2011 at 2:34pm,





weighing in at 6 lbs. 15 oz. and 19 inches long.





Her mommy was so relieved to hold her after nine long months,



and she is so loved by her proud Daddy and big sister.









So, if are you wondering why Dan's donning that sexy mask - he had the flu. He got it the day before Ana was born, which stressed me out beyond belief and made him feel not just sick and miserable, but sad and worried too. Luckily, we caught it in time and we were both so relieved that he could be there with me during the C-section to witness the birth of our second daughter.

Here's video of the first time Sofia got to see her. She celebrates around the one minute mark by eating a booger. I'm not kidding - but wish I was!



Lots of other family were there to welcome her as well. Thankfully, her Tia Emily was in town and able to accompany me to the hospital until Dan felt well enough to join us.



Grandma, Tio Louis and Emi were all on hand to meet her too.







She's two weeks old today and we've been home and enjoying every minute of this new little creature. She's eating well and every one is getting along great. I've felt progressively better with each day but have had lots of help from Daddy and Grandma and have yet to feel just what life will be like juggling these two little ones but I think we'll be just fine.

We've had lots of people come to visit. She finally got to meet her Bobo and Tio Louis came back to visit again.





Our friends Mel and Dee came by to see her,



and so did our friends Kendra and Bryant (who are having their own little baby girl any day now) which Sofia loved because they brought Ella!



Aunt Betty also came by but I somehow didn't get a picture of her. My former boss, Michael Strickland came by to meet her, as did Liuda and Gustavo. Sofia loved seeing Gustavo especially as he brought his harmonica and they played a little duet.







Besides feeding and changing diapers the rest of our time has been spent playing with Sofia and loving on our newest addition









snuggling in bed, reading stories





and trying on hats and bows.











We even took her on a short little walk one day before the ice storm blew in.





And taking lots of pictures. Even Sofia ran to get her camera out!







We are beyond happy and oh so blessed!