white apples . a blog

The Day After

As much as I love Christmas Day, the Day After might be my favorite. A day of unwinding and exhaling, with no expectations, no obligations. Presents are still scattered around the house. Leftovers are still in the fridge. Lights are still twinkling. This is the time to appreciate the love and thoughtfulness and generosity of all our family and friends. This year, our Day After couldn't have been more perfect. An overnight snow storm transformed the rush and excitement and chaos of Christmas into a soft, silent, sparkling wonderland. We spent the morning in our pajamas, playing with new toys and reading new books. Then we bundled everyone up and headed out into the snow. Snowballs, sleds, snowmen, silliness, then the warmth and comfort of a good hot chocolate and a handful of marshmallows. Perfect.

nineteen months and far, far away

At nineteen months, she loves to read and scribble and run and squeal at the top of her lungs. 

She loves to feed herself and then clean her tray. In fact, she loves to clean anything. And throw things in the garbage. 

She helps me empty the dishwasher and knows where most things belong.

She loves Greek yogurt and calamari and lima beans. She hates carrots and anything carrot-colored.

She has particular opinions on how scrambled eggs should be prepared. And grits, as well. Don't even think about serving her overcooked eggs or bland, soggy grits.

She loves to scold me for spilling ice on the floor, which I do every time. She also puts each fallen cube in the sink, whereas I would otherwise let them all melt on the floor, leaving a minefield of slippery little puddles for the rest of the day.

She is finally, finally starting to say several words consistently, though she has already earned a referral for a speech evaluation in August. She loves to point out animals (Bee! Pig! Duck!). She is also particularly fond of declaring herself a "good girl". I can't argue with her.

Somehow she understands everything that she is told. And she knows things. Things that I don't remember ever teaching her.

When I am spending too much time on the laptop instead of playing with her, she will push the button that puts the computer to sleep.

She knows how to unlock my iPhone and choose her particular apps of interest. She also dials my mom on a regular basis. And has called Poison Control.

She gives the sweetest hugs and kisses. Even to the dog.

She is alarmingly fearless and independent. I, on the other hand, was a big, clingy chicken for the majority of my childhood.

She dances just like her Daddy.

She savors a chocolate chip cookie just like her Mama.

She is hilarious.

 

The dress is another reversible sundress with fabric from Heather Ross' Far Far Away collection (unicorns on one side, snails on the other). This pattern is just too irresistible since it take perhaps an hour to cut and sew up. Instant gratification. The fabric is a soft, airy double gauze, making the dress perfectly sweet and twirly for a little one on the move.

A Very Eggy Easter

We spent our Easter weekend in New Jersey with Charlie's family. In addition to a new house and new people and new books and a new dog to play with, this meant not one, but three Easter egg hunts for Juniper. I had forgotten how magical an Easter egg hunt could be for a little one - the process of searching, finding, gathering, collecting. The joy of holding something pretty and egg-shaped in your hands, a secret hidden inside. The early heat of Spring. Bright green grass, new and soft. The thrill of the hunt, indeed.

weekend bits

 

 

 

 
 
  

scenes from a snow day

Snow has been falling steadily for almost a day now. At times it has been fluffy and soft, swirling around silently for hours. Other times it has been a sharp, tinkly sleet making music on the rooftop. Since we have neither snow shovel nor snow clothes, we have kept inside for the most part, eating doughnuts and watching old movies. After some brief reluctance this morning (she peed on our back deck rather than venture forth into the yard), Sydney has thoroughly enjoying romping around in the snow, diving in and out of snow drifts and splashing in the half frozen stream next to our house. Juniper has also been fascinated with the snow. We bundled her up in her warmest clothes and took her outside to catch some snowflakes. She was completely delighted. Every time I tried to bring her inside, she would cry and scream and squirm and point to the front yard. She has spent much of the afternoon with her nosed pressed against the window, marveling at the falling snow. Neighborhood kids have been sailing by on sleds and making snow angels in their yards. What a rare little treat.