King Henry Dethroned

The question I get asked most often these days, after "Are those real?" (sadly, yes) is "How is Henry adjusting?"

Well, he's had his moments of jealousy and aggression which is normal, but mostly he has been very sweet with Baby Loretta.

It gets a little easier every day as life becomes more normalized and our daily routines include her and he gets used to this tiny person.

Loretta comes home from the hospital. Henry looks dubious.

"Yeah, I'm wearing my baby sister's crocheted hat. What's your point?"

"Don't mess with my sis."
"Oh the mischief we're going to create together! Bwah hah hah!"

A lifelong relationship is forged.

Loretta Turns A Week Old!

It's been an eventful week for little miss Loretta. She's had lots of visitors, visited the pediatrician, had her first home sponge bath...

"Youch, Nonna! That's cold!"

And of course lots of snoozin.'

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Hear Ye' Hear Ye'

Please welcome with love...

{drumroll please}
Loretta DiFranco Pfeiffer

(with her Nonna)

IT'S A GIRL!

From this moment on, January 10th will be a special day in our lives as it's our new daughter's birthday. It happened at 1:08pm yesterday via a C-section scheduled 5 days after the due date. She was born at Inova Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, following in Big Brother Henry's footsteps. Here are a few preliminary pictures before mama does the real entry in a few days when she gets home from the hospital...

Pre-Surgery Posturing

Two Minutes after Birth.

Proud Mama...Proud Papa...

Dr. Rambhala, the first person our daughter saw.

The radiant, after-surgery look: look past the morphine eyes, and into the glowing soul of a deliriously happy mama.

Big Brother Henry gives Lil' Sis a kiss.

The girl, alert, and in all her glory.
Our family.

Anticipation. Anticapay-yay-shun.
My due date is January 5th, but so far, no signs of impending arrival from Mr. Humphrey. They have scheduled a C-section for me on January 10th. Everyone please send me good ju-ju that I go into labor before then so I don't have to go under the knife.

Things I am trying to move things along: Evening Primrose Oil, Raspberry Leaf Tea, "romance" and walking and walking. Your additional suggestions are appreciated.

Henry Hits The Two's

(only he's not allowed to hit)

I can report that he has entered his two's pretty normally. On New Year's Day we told him he'd need to take a bath, then take a nap. He announced very seriously and clearly, "No bath. No nap." Todd and I both burst into laughter because the cliche had come true.

The kid does speak his mind and share his opinions a lot. But although he's two, he's not terrible. He's still a pretty sweet kid.

RINGING IN MALAGASY NEW YEAR

As most of you know, Henry marks his birthday with a huge worldwide celebration

also known as New Year's Eve.

This year, we counted down and celebrated with Madagascar at 4pm, EST.

Henry trying to strangle Rob with some beads (like we asked him to).

"Hey, have I got a hardware store to sell you..." --Todd

Making as much New Year's noise as possible.

Turning two!

Enjoying the festivities.

Miles pinning the ring tail on the lemur.

Gabriela having a go.

An actual ring-tailed lemur...

And Todd's poster rendition. Pretty good, dontcha' think?!