Babyish New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve encompassed all of the adult thrills one could imagine with a newborn and preschooler. We did have fun though.

Sara, Brandon, Elliott, and their new baby boy, Nicholas, came over to spend the evening with us. Maya and Elliott attempted to have a mini-sleepover so that the moms and dads could have a little grown-up time after dinner. Between trying to get the babies to sleep and trying to get Elliott to stay in Maya's room, the adults had their hands full. At around 10pm, us party animals called it a night. Ah, the thrills of parenthood.

Look at those neck muscles.

A highly sophisticated dinner.

2011 was great year because we got to meet these two cute dudes (Nicholas, on the left, is one month younger than Dexter).

Elliott, Nicholas, Dexter, and Maya.

No party is complete without an exercise ball bounce-your-baby-to-sleep-a-thon. Jealous?

Waffle Time

Maya and her good friend Riley making some waffles together on the last day of the year.

Thanks to Riley's dad, Nick, for taking these cute photos.

Happy Boy

Hello cutie...

Hello.

Hi.

Happy.

"Dancing To The Muppets" video

Maya and Dexter make great dance partners...

The Princess And The Skeleton

Maya was enjoying her holiday break from school, but was getting a bit frustrated with the limited activities because of her new little brother. So, Daddy took her out on a few solo adventures.

Here is Princess Maya on a trip with Daddy to get some sandwiches.

She commands that Daddy drive forward...

...to the deli (where all princesses hang out).

Two days later, Maya convinces Daddy to take her to the Academy of Sciences.

Our little skeleton was thrilled to get back to one of her favorite San Francisco spots.

Santa Visits

Christmas has been a very exciting topic at our house for weeks and even months before the big day. This year, Maya was asking questions about every facet of the big night. She thought she even heard Santa's reindeer overnight. We had a wonderful Christmas for the first time as a family of four.

 The tree on Christmas morning.

No fireplace means stocking hanging over window.

Stocking stash.

Dexter's stocking gifts move menacingly toward his head.

The expression of the day.

Maya got an adorable robe from Grammy and Papa and new light-up slippers from Santa.

The Kender-Page gave Dexter the best onesie ever.

Momma looking slightly insane with the officially 3 month old Dexter.

Santa delivered the coveted gift of a Supergirl costume.

It included a cape which was the primary appeal.

Maya now switches to a beautiful princess outfit which was another gift from the Kender Page.

Dinner was a low key affair except for the thrill of the Christmas crackers.

We look so regal (Note Dexter in mid-spitup). Merry Christmas to all!

Baths Are Better With Two

Maya was very excited to share bath time with her little brother. Tonight she finally got her chance.

So cute.

Happy boy.

Maya helps Daddy with Dexter.

Bath kiss.

San Francisco Mamas

Our San Francisco Mother's Group has now been together for more than 4 years. Kathy invited us all to a lovely holiday brunch. I can't believe how much they've changed.

Gabriel, Olen and younger brother Jonathan, Miles, Sadie, Maya, and Charlotte.

Getting sillier. It wasn't as hard to keep them on the all on the couch way back when.

Now the kiddies with their mommas and two new arrivals, Dexter (9/25/11) and Westin (9/1/11).

Bed Hugs...

...much better than bed bugs.

Dex and Maya in her bed. So cute.

Christmas With St. Nick

Okay it's not Saint Nick...it's just Nick. We seemed to have developed a couple of fun Christmas traditions that involve Nick and his family. Delightful.

First stop is the zoo for a photo on the fake Christmas train.  Maya and Nick did ride on the actual moving train on their own.

No trip to the San Francisco zoo is complete without seeing the grizzly bear's morning hunt for live fish.

Laura never fails to mention that bears love fish, apples and small children.

Two days later we found ourselves at the now annual trip to BADM to make gingerbread houses.

Construction begins.

Two candy cane chimneys.

Nick's finished masterpiece.

Their excitement is partially due to the fun of constructing a house out of candy and partially due to ingesting the construction materials.

Family Photos

Our neighbors are professional photographers (Nick + Laura) and they volunteered to do a quick photo session for our Christmas card. We couldn't believe how many great shots they got in less than a half hour. Thank you!