Craft Time with Mrs. Emily and Cohen

Yesterday Mrs. Emily and Cohen took their craft show on the road!  Cohen was learning about fish thanks to Emily's impressive mommy skills.  She had planned crafts, Bible stories, and the whole nine yards.  After nap they came over on an errand of mercy to visit the shut-ins and teach Stella how to make cool, fishy postcards.  Here is Stella receiving her instructions...

This is what we call "independent practice" in my profession...



Cohen was a big fan of the shark stickers.  Typical boy...



And as Cohen would tell you, no trip to the Pourciau house would be complete without snack time!  Emily brought over a healthy snack to share.  Don't worry...I slipped the kids some Doritos after this...



Guess we should have eaten Goldfish, huh?  That just occurred to me.  Again you will notice from these photos that Stella and Cohen like to mess with their moms by refusing to look at the camera at the same time.  We'll outsmart you one day, two year olds...



Earlier this week Stella and Molly went to story time at the library.  I had to include this last shot of Stella dragging Molly over to the kids' section.  Since both Stella and Molly are used to being the princess in their respective castles, I always find their interaction very amusing...

The Summer of the Bounce

I promise we don't bounce everyday.  It just seems that way.  First up, the action shot...

I had Stella wear her leotard to bounce in hopes that it would encourage her to stay in the bouncer.  She usually jumps for a few minutes and then heads for the swing.  Turns out all I needed was her friend Molly Jane...



I am posting an obnoxious number of pictures of these two bouncing, but look at how much fun they were having...



They LOVE "Ring Around the Rosies"...



Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!



Molly liked screaming inside the bouncer.  Maybe it echoes?  Stella immensely enjoyed listening to Molly scream...



How much fun are they having?  It makes me want to be a toddler again...



Ethan, the only 9 year old I know who would follow up the comment, "I want to hold the baby!" with "I need to wash my hands first."  The Millets have them so well-trained!  Please also note Stella's enthusiasm for showing off her baby sister.  I'm pretty sure she was looking at the TV...

I'll never let go, Jack; I'll never let go!

The unthinkable FINALLY happened around 4 this morning...Cille's cord came off!  That's right, our one month and 4 day old daughter was still sporting her umbilical stump.  I guess it was my payback for all those "cut the cord" jokes.  Cille flat refused to give hers up.  Thanks to much diligent work on the part of Mommy and the bottle of alcohol and a couple of sessions of therapy with our wonderful pediatrician, Cille now has a nice, cord-free belly button.  As soon as it is healed up I'll post a picture, since it is still a little irritated from its long ordeal. 

Princess Stella's Castle

Prince Charming (a.k.a. Daddy) and Princess Stella have been having tons of fun bouncing around in their castle...

Cohen came over to join in the fun, and insisted that his mom join him...



Stella and Cohen enjoy bouncing on the step just as much as they enjoy bouncing in the castle...



Aren't they cute? 



See how much fun it is at our house?  This is a photo testimonial from a satisfied customer...

She Can Do It Herself!

Stella is really turning into Miss Independent these days.  Although she is not yet "payin' the bills on time" to borrow a phrase from Ne-Yo, she can dress herself.  Check out this ensemble, complete with glass slippers...

She can also help make muffins...

And babysit!  Okay, maybe she's not ready to be left in charge of Cille yet, but don't these "girls" look happy swinging with Stella?

Just Hanging Out Around the House

Since Cille is not allowed out in the wide world until after her two month shots, we have been spending lots of time hanging out at home.  Here is Daddy enjoying his two little cuddle monkeys...

Cille's favorite time to sleep: anytime someone is holding her...

Stella the surfer girl showing off her new outfit from Aunt Sheila...

And finally, poor Cille being subjected to more tortuous tummy time.  This time we let her use the Boppy, which Daddy says is cheating...



Darryl says if you smile with your mouth open, you look like you're having fun...

Playing Dress-Up

When Stella was a baby, I spent lots of time dressing her up in her outfits and taking her picture.  Now that Cille is here, there is less time for playing dress-up since I am usually busy chasing her big sister around the house.  One night while Daddy and Stella went out to dinner with Mawmaw and Pawpaw, Cille and I decided to play.

For our first ensemble, we chose a beautiful smocked dress from our sweet friend Randie Bailey.  Cille was a vision in her coordinating hairbow...

Cille basically has two modeling looks: blue steel...

And magnum...

Princess hands, out and ready to twirl around!  We just have to learn to walk first...

In this one she was singing the "Hallelujah" song from VBS...

My one coquette...

Hmmmm...let me think about that...

I got it!

Oops, I forgot to address her costume change.  This is Stella's "coming home" outfit.  It has a coordinating bonnet, but Cille felt that was overkill...

Tummy Time!

At the Pourciau house, working out is a top priority (for some of us) and we like to start 'em early.  Already we are subjecting poor Cille to mandatory "tummy time" workouts.  Check out how high she can hold her head (note look of intense concentration)...

Stella is a little indifferent to Cille's success.  She doesn't really see why holding you head up is a big deal. I mean, she's been doing it for years...



I also snapped this shot of Cille stretching her legs in her bassinet.  I think she's getting taller, and I'm not sure how long we'll get to keep her in our room...

My Big Girl and my little girl

One of my favorite times of the day is when Stella wakes up every morning and comes to "Daddy's bed."  (Amazingly, Daddy has a bed, Stella has a bed, and Cille has 2 beds counting the bassinet, but I have ownership of no bed.)  This morning when Stella arrived, we already had a visitor.  Here are my two girls ready to snuggle...

Recently Heard in our Truck

A few days before I had Cille, our family was heading into town to run some errands when I overheard the following exchange between Damon and Stella:

Stella: "Daddy, you are big and you are fat."

Damon: "Yes, Stella, I am."

Stella: "No, Daddy, you not fat!  Mommy's fat!"

Damon: Uncontrollable laughter.  

Thanks, guys.  

Roll Tide?

The girls have received many generous gifts in celebration of Cille's arrival. We've gotten creative gifts, practical gifts, and fun gifts. Thanks to Jamie, there is an additional category: Alabama gifts. Introducing Cille's little "Roll" and Stella's big "Tide"...

Between learning LSU cheers at Mrs. Paula's, wearing Razorback gear from my family, and being indoctrinated with Crimson Tide cheers by Jamie, Stella and Cille will be two very confused young ladies when it is time to choose a college. Right now Damon says Harvard, but I say Rice. Go Owls!

Through the Eyes of a 2 Year Old

One super creative idea that our great friends Jace and Emily Raney had when Cille was born was to give Stella her own disposable cameras so she could capture the occasion from her perspective.  Stella loved her cameras and was very eager to use them.  Without further ado, I present Stella's first photojournalism project: Having a Baby Sister...

First up, a portrait of Daddy...

I'm not sure if she meant to take my picture or a picture of Daddy's empty Coke bottle...



Mawmaw and Daddy.  They never smile like this for me...



Daddy and Pawpaw.  I like how she used her finger over the flash to add a dark vignette to the shot.  She's so talented...



Mawmaw, Pawpaw, and Cille!  Again, please notice the finger usage to add a peachy vignette.  Watch out, Dara...



A sneak attack on Mawmaw as she brushes her teeth...



Is this Pawpaw or Aunt Ruby? 



Daddy, Pawpaw, and Grandma Tonie, who was not quite sure if she was in the picture...



Bro. Sandy Sherman and Mawmaw, the person responsible for the photography gene... 



I think Stella is adding a camera to her wish list...