Summer is finally coming

This has been such a wonderful weekend. We've just been spending a bit of it outside on the deck, enjoying the sun. Mira really loves to be outside, so she's content to run around on the deck and visit her bicycle and tricycle from last summer. Sitting on her little picnic table and having snacks there is also fun for her.

We'll be celebrating Mira's 3rd birthday in just 4 weeks. I can't believe she's so big already! Every day is a joy with her. She's really got a personality! We spent this weekend burning old videotapes of Mira to DVD. It's so fun to watch how she has been changing over the past couple of years.

Below are just a couple of photos of Mira recently. One is of what I call her "sassy pose." Can you guess which one it is? She's showing off her finger puppets from High Five magazine. It's Highlights magazine for 2-6 year olds. Mira really enjoys it.

Hope you are all well. 1 more week until Baby Cook is due. I keep hoping for today, every day. We'll see. I'm ready to have the baby!

Michelle

Here are a few cute moments of Mira recently. She's really taking an interest in being a big sister and was putting her dolls in the doll swing and being their "mommy."

The other day I was drying my hair and Mira was playing in the baby's room. I went in there and found her pretending to sleep in the bassinet! I guess she still wants to be the baby too.

And of course, there is no rest for Quincy. Mira likes to put hats on him. Yesterday he got some monkey ears! He doesn't look too thrilled.

Hope you are all well! 2 weeks until baby is due. It can't come fast enough for me. I want to meet her (oh, and sleep on my back, and breathe easy, and stop waddling!).

Love,
Michelle

Been awhile

I realized it's been awhile since I've posted. Been busy with baby showers, lunches out, getting ready for Baby Cook to make her appearance. So I'm taking some quiet time to add a couple recent photos of Mira and to let you in on her adventures.

Last night Chris and I took Mira to a class called "Sibling Silly." It was for her to learn what being a big sister might entail. It was an okay class, and Mira did learn a couple of things, like to wash her hands before touching the baby and to ask permission before holding the baby. They read some books and sang songs, saw a video. And they taught the kids how to gently hold the baby and swaddle them. She seemed to really enjoy it.

Last weekend, Mira gave us quite a scare. She was supposed to be taking a nap, and I'd heard her get out of her bed a few times. After awhile, I could hear Mira on the monitor saying, "Mom, my head hurts." It's not like her to get a headache, but she had been wearing a headband, so I went upstairs to check it out. What she had actually said was, "My hands hurt." When I got to her room, I saw that she had gotten her ponytail holder bowl from its drawer and had put about 10 ponytail holders on each wrist! Both of her hands were purple. Scared me so bad! I pulled them off quickly, so grateful that she had told me before it was too late. I also found another ponytail holder on her ankle. Needless to say, we moved the bowl up high. I never imagined she would do that since she's always had access to her ponytail holders. I'm just grateful she didn't fall asleep and not tell me or that I didn't ignore her when she called me. Something in her voice told me to go up and check it out.

Below are just a couple of recent photos, one from the park and one at a restaurant. Mira liked the daisies on the table.

Hope you are all well. Baby Cook is due in 2 weeks, 5 days. Here's to hoping for a little sooner!

Funny story: Today I was saying to Mira, "Mommy's ready to have a baby! When is the baby going to come out?"
Mira looked at me and said, "Soon, Sweetheart."
Too funny!

Love, Michelle

Happy Easter, everyone!

We hope you all had a nice Easter. We did! We went to Chris's dad's house where he puts on an Easter egg hunt every year. Mira had so much fun running up and down the hillside gathering eggs with candy in them. She was pretty smart this year and when all the kids went to one part of the yard, Mira went to another part of the yard and cleaned up! She even got a nice fishing pole as a gift from the Easter bunny.

At the bottom are a couple other photos. One is of Mira trying out her baby sister's car seat! She's been so helpful to me lately, helping me get the baby's room ready and putting together the bouncy seat. I think she's getting excited as it's not long now!

The other photo is of Quincy wearing a hat Mira put on him. He doesn't look thrilled.

See you all soon, I hope!
Love, Michelle

Easter basket and stickers

Kelly and Duey, and Jeff and Sara so thoughtfully gave Easter baskets to Mira this year. She really loves them! In fact, she loves them so much she ate most of the chocolate bunnies from Sara and Jeff's right away, then put all her stickers from Kelly on herself in the car. What a fun ride!