It's been a while...

I have received a couple of complaints about not updating this blog often enough (that's you, Mum). Sorry! I will try to slap up some new photos of Paloma and Semilla this weekend.

Paloma was sick last week - some sort of tummy bug that kept at her home on Friday with Howard while I went judging at the local science fair. Howard had a great time at home, watching Paloma nap and having lots of snuggles. I had a pretty good time at the fair too! The students working with me are getting ready for Research Day in the Biology Department, so we are all busy collating data, building graphs and constructing posters.

Also, Howard has been busy with fish illustrations and preparing for his show at the Outpost in May. He has some interesting new pieces that you New Mexicans should come and see. The opening is part of the First Friday Artscrawl in May.

See? We have been really busy! That's why I'm a bit slow on the blog...

In the meantime, here is a vintage photo of Paloma enjoying a nap (that I just found on my work computer!).

Teeny tiny!

a new car!

Remember, a couple of years ago, we got a new car?

Our snazzy black Subaru (December 2008).

We love that Subaru - it's a good size for all four of us (with Semilla in the boot/trunk) and we can get off-road for our little camping adventures.

Now we have a second car. Thanks to our lovely friends (Tal, Shantih and Barak), Paloma has wheels of her own!

"Look at me behind the wheel!"

Paloma was so excited when we brought the car home. She is so lucky that Tal wanted to pass on the Cozy Coupe.

"Toot! Toot!"

It didn't take her long to get used to the idea of driving around in the car, making brum-brum sounds.

This really is Paloma's car, one all of her own. Howard and I both tried sitting in there: neither of us could fit.

"Uh oh, Papa."

Of course, we had to take it for a spin outside too. Paloma got dressed up in her driving gear and out we went.

Now she even has keys to the car!

She's very proud of her new car.

Doesn't she look dashing?

I am sure that this car will get used A LOT while we are in the garden this summer.

Thank you Tal, Shantih and Barak!

Happy, happy birthday Aussie Grandma!

Dear Grandma -

Mama tells me that it is your birthday today. Have a wonderful day! We wish you a very happy year and we are all looking forward to seeing you in August (maybe we will be together in Paris this time next year?). In the meantime, here are a couple of videos to give you an idea of what happens in the day while we're all at home.

Happy, happy birthday!

Love,

Paloma xxx

1. Everyone helps out cleaning the house. I really like to help hanging out the washing too. Actually, I think I prefer taking it off the clothes horse and giving it to Mama (whether it's dry or not). She tells me that I am very helpful!

 

 2. Papa and I like to spend some time on the weekend making art. He paints and I draw and do other things (sometimes Mama draws too). When I have finished drawing, I like packing up my paints and crayons and keeping everything tidy. (Well, everything except my hair. My hair never stays tidy for very long.)

bed head #2

Paloma's morning hairstyle just keeps getting better....

and better!

Is it time to give her a haircut?

sleep little baby...

We just removed the side wall from Paloma's crib (cot), thinking that it would give her more freedom to move in and out of bed when she wants. She loves climbing up into bed!

However, she hasn't quite mastered staying in the bed all night. We keep finding her like this in the morning:

Note the blankets and bolster next to the bed
to ease the transition onto the floor....

It looks like Paloma likes freedom and exploration in her sleep too!

Any suggestions on how to keep our baby in her bed?

head for the hills!

The weather has finally started to warm up, so we decided to take the girls out for a walk on Saturday afternoon. We headed up to the foothills of the Sandias to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.

Paloma liked snuggling up with Papa. There was still snow on the ground, but it didn't matter.

You can see snow on the mountains in the background. But we were lovely and warm (in fact, a little bit too warm!).

All that hiking is thirsty work!

It was nice to get home and have a refreshing cup of tea.

Paloma has a new Paloma-sized table
(that was used by Howard when he was Paloma-sized).

my little chicken

Paloma loves anything that is outside, and takes every opportunity to get out and get her hands in the dirt. But we think that getting dirty is probably a good thing (most of the time), so we encourage her to spend time in the yard. 

Come on Mama! Let's get out here and play in the dirt!

She likes to hunt around and find interesting things buried in the mulch - a bottle cap, a twisty little stick, or a smooth stone. Once, she found an amazing little seed pod that had been laying in our yard for years without us grown-ups ever noticing...

Paloma spends a lot of time looking at rocks, turning them over and knocking them together. Fascinating!

She really is very happy and keeps herself pretty well occupied while we get about and do things. Fortunately, she isn't all that interested in putting things in her mouth, so we can let her go off on her own for a little bit.

What else can we find in the yard?

And, oh boy, does she love those chickens!

She likes to feed them, to hold the eggs, to watch them through the wire, to pat them, to cluck like them...

Hello Spinderella! Thanks for all of those yummy eggs!

But, we can't stay outside forever. We have to go back inside eventually. (Even though it looks sunny, it can be chilly out there: look at those cute rosy red cheeks!)

Paloma closes the gate behind her as we head back inside.

We are all looking forward to spring and spending lots of time working in our vege patch.