Ready for tap dancing class!

We signed Anika up for a Ballet & Tap dance class, and today we finally made it to the store that sells dresses, tap shoes and ballet shoes. Anika was very excited and wanted to try it on when she came home. She wore the dress the rest of the day. Isn't she pretty?

Promising...

This past week, Freya slept through the night a total of 3 times! Approx. 10.30pm until 6am. What can I say other than I hope it will continue? It has been very nice since I went back to work part-time this week.

Our little princess is growing

Freya is now 6 weeks old, and she has become very alert and is smiling and cooing with anyone interested in 'chatting' with her. Last night (crossing fingers that it will happen again tonight!) she slept from 10.30pm until 6am! I didnt believe my eyes when I woke up and saw the clock in the morning, and Freya was still half asleep and not crying for milk yet (my breast was crying for help though...)

BTW, what color is Anika's eyes? I've always said grey, but they do have more brown than I thought. Perhaps hazel?

Fun at b-day party!

Anika celebrated Tadeusz' 2nd birthday at a playground in downtown Washington D.C. We had lots of fun, especially in the slide that made Anika's hair very static! Thanks Taddy and his parents Dorota and Joaquin for a great party!

Visit to Virginia countryside

We drove an hour west of Washington DC and spent the day in Hume, where they had a Hume Day; vendors, animals, jousting (I didnt know what that was!) and food in fresh air. Neighbors Robyn & Gary w/kids and Michael & Mirtha w/kids came along. We were exhausted by the end of the day and after eating delicious take-out pizza at the Saakians', we all crashed in bed.

more train

here's one more picture of the mini train at Burke Lake

First bath together

On Friday night, Anika and Freya had fun TOGETHER in the bath tub for the first time! Big sister Anika was very gentle and nice to Freya, and she even helped us poring warm water on her to keep her warm and rinse off the soap.

Toot-toot-train

Steve flew to Geneva for work yesterday, so I was home alone with the girls from Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. To get out of the house I decided to drive to Burke Lake, where they have a big park and lake, and lots of activities for kids. We tried the carousel and the mini-train, and Anika loved them both. Anika agreed that mamma sometimes could come up with fun things to do. We think Freya enjoyed it too ;)
Hopefully we can go back and show pappa the park when he is home again.

Beautiful smiles!

I ALMOST caught one of Freya's beautiful smiles on camera yesterday. She is now 1 month old, and she has gained 3lb since she was born! She now weighs 11lb12oz or 5.3kg, which puts her in the 97th percentile for her age. She still sleeps well through the night, for example yesterday she fell asleep at 9.45pm and slept until 4am, had some milk, and then slept from 4.15am-7.15am. I can't complain!!!

Kathleen turned 60!

Grandma Kathleen and Uncle Chris visited from Brooklyn over Labor Day weekend. On Friday, Kathleen turned 60, so Steve had planned to make an extravagant dinner to celebrate. Unfortunately (or fortunately we all think after the fact) tropical storm Ernesto passed that day and we lost power for 24 hours! So dinner was in jeopardy for a while, until Steve decided that he could prepare the meat on the grill. So for hours he and Chris hoovered over the grill and our gas stove and prepared a fantastic birthday dinner.
The entire house was lighted up with candles, and together with the wonderful dinner it was a very memorable night and birthday celebration.

Misc pics

Freya cuddling with mamma











We both love the Maya Sling!









Mamma with her two beautiful girls Anika & Freya








Roxane with twins (Kian and Laya) and helper Tina.











Anika took a dip in Roxane's swimming pool :)

Freya's first few smiles :)

Freya has officially started smiling at the age of 4 weeks! Official smile date is September 1, although my mom claims that Freya was smiling to her when she was only two weeks old... First smiles were given to grandma Kathleen, but we have all received cute smiles in the last day or so. This is so exciting - she is slowly turning into a person that we can't wait to get to know. She is still sleeping like a champion, and her pattern right now is cluster feeding from 6 or 7pm until 9.30pm, when she falls asleep. She then sleeps until perhaps 3am, when she gets some milk, and then she sleeps until 6am, gets some more milk and then some more sleep until 8 or 9am... Hope this sleep pattern lasts for a long time!