Tilda and Ursula, September til' Thanksgiving...enjoy!


what's so exciting? Ursula's good friend, Shelby, just turned 2!


ms. party pooper runs away from the b-day festivities (no, she didn't steal this from the screaming boy lying on the ground behind her)


reading to a handknit friend


the beach is officially closed (you can see all the cars from people cleaning the lagoon and beach from the oil spill)


up in the Headlands


getting breakfast organized for the next 3 months


um, frozen milk

happy bath

Nov 16 She laughed (Tilda)! It took me a moment to realize it was a laugh, that she wasn't about to cough up a hairball. Every time I would lean forward she'd give a big grin and a throaty "huhhh!" - like, ten times in a row. I don't even remember when babies are supposed to start laughing, and with two kids now I don't really have time to read up on it in one of our books, but we've been trying to get her to repeat it ever since.

This week Ursula revealed just how bad-ass she is by savoring pilfered ginger Altoids, lapping up red pepper-spiked carrot soup (adult spicy) , and requesting some Robert Plant ("pee-ant moozik") to soothe her to sleep. I must say I was relieved. She's been insisting on Christmas music for a straight week. I needed some variety. Thank god I was able to figure out what pee-ant moozik was in time (before the meltdown - we've had some rough bedtimes since "baby sister" sunk in). [s]

one of those good moments

Nov 13 Some notable quotables from Ursa:

"Deers don't eat oranges...Deers love oranges"
"No sleep...where did boy go...boy chase me"
-in reference to mom and dad doing housework,
"No apron", "No kitchen", "No sit on couch"

She asks us to be wizards in our spare time. She's individually asked for Aunt Nancy, Aunt Erin, Aunt Martha, Shannon, Shelby, Grampa and Nani to come over. Like we can whip up some kind of special visit at any moment in the day.

She has daddy's cellphone speed dial memorized.

She thinks going to the park and the beach is a night-time activity.

And her newest cool event is to take a big girl shower. Standing while water falls on your head is just too cool. Being able to "drink da water" and go potty all in one big event must be special. I guess we take this for granted (and yes, fess up, you've gone potty while standing in the shower too). [e]


Daddy kibitzes while Tilda and Gramma Kay play a game of chess
(yes, this is how she described the playmobil moment)


Nov 10 Family time is getting easier, more flexible. The double screaming kids in the back of the car...well, that still occasionally happens, but we successfully ate out, climbed mountains and have pulled off a double baby switch doctor visit while dad was advising students in his office... I suppose the students enjoyed seeing life after graduation (otherwise known as LAG).


tongue in cheek, enjoying the cold fresh air in the canyon


Thousands of dead animals. an untold environmental castatrophe and 30 years of oil slowly damaging the bay- all because one egotistical pilot thought he can see through the fog while driving a multi-million ton ship into a bridge.


just a little luggage to carry


enjoying the stairs near the Coastal Trail


strut like a duck


a little map to remember those special days



catching up to daddy on the eucalyptus trail

Nov 4 One of us emerged from the restroom and Ursa exclaimed 'feel so much better', yes, apparently we must have uttered this in the past. We went up San Bruno yesterday (almost to the summit) and Ursula walked the entire trail herself. Pretty good elevation gain for a toddler. We're pleased to put away the heavy backpack and are looking forward to more hikes.

Tilda is full of baby acne...hence, not many pictures coming out of the camera factory. She is finally enjoying tummy time...yay, our legs are tired from bouncing or walking back and forth across the apartment. [e]


"cmon mommy, I heard some animals up ahead"


oh yeah, she loves the rocks


happily earning some calories (her first cheeseburger)


el dorque


learning her letters x 2

Oct 30 Wanted to drop a line to our family- we are all safe and sound after the 5.6 tremblor in San Jose. Daddy was in the living room, picked up Tilda and ran over to the doorway for safety- the big deck window made some noise and initially thought the upstairs neighbor was jumping up and down during the ten seconds. Mommy kept working on her computer doing freelance...(after all she was born in SF...maybe Tilda will inherit the good nerves)


thanks for the new outfit


happy halloween


baking a homemade pumpkin pie with mommy


after waking from a nap, we set up a present in the other room (this enables us a few precious minutes of working time) [see: book trap]


trap #2

trap #3

Oct 28 Tilda is smiling! Well, little tiny smirks (and not the gaseuosly induced ones that accompany a newborn). She is also focusing on faces. Constant vigilance is required since it has now sunk in that we aren't sending this little creature back, much to Ursula's consternation, and that the answer to "all done with Tilda?" is usually no.

ready for a morning hop around the block with momma

Ursa induces a smile from Tilda!

Tilda sleeping peacefully with her big sister

parsing those lips...you know what comes next...


quite the warrior's grip!

Oct 19 Tilda is good. She's falling into a routine- and her witching hour is about 6-7 at night...the time when her big sister needs a lot of attention. Well, they said two kids was 10 times harder...maybe.
No photos this week, sorry- she has some baby acne something wicked. (partially kidding, photos coming soon). [e]


good morning mommy!

Oct 11 The stump is gone (umbelical)! And mom isn't getting much sleep. Tilda likes her 2 hour feeding schedule right now...must be a growth spurt. She loves all the new clothes that she has received from family. One of these days we'll get her out of the (two) onesies that she is always wearing- and dress her up.

Yesterday, she began the cooing noises that accompany a hunger satisfaction. We forgot how cute it is. [e]



Oct 25 Ursa had her first successful bm in the potty. It was an exciting moment and she did a little giggle dance, flushing the toilet with it's personal treasures.


Uncle Bob and Aunt Nancy take part in the biggest litle tea party on Twin Peaks ever.


Uncle Bob, Aunt Nancy, Ursa, Matilda, daddy and Aunt Martha enthralled watching a family video compiled from footage taken in 1973. (tears were shed, laughter happened)


Ursa learns to downward dog...her attention span for yoga is remarkable




After a long day of crime fighting, the dynamic duo take a breather


"I'll take these two pumpkins, sir"


Ursa upset about her parents stopping her momentarily from running back and forth.




ready to go into the pumpkin patch


ooh, this is fun

Oct 11 Ursula first words to her baby sister were "Eyes, eyes (giggle, giggle)". Yep, she remains fascinated with Tilda's strange evolving eyes. We are so happy to report that Ursa is not experiencing all those jealous older sibling problems. There is an occasional set-back with waking up once every night...and the occasional "mine" comment about an object, but more or less we are all getting along.

Ursa had quite the Sunday at Crissy Field and the beach getting to watch the Air Show. We had to sit in the car during one loud gray jet (can't recall the type) as he consistently set off the parking lots car alarms. (you'd think a bunch of city folk going to an Air Show would turn off their alarm sensititivity...but common sense is...). [e]


"baby sister in the bouncer...soo cute"


hmmm... biscuits...


The Blue Angels streaked through the city for four straight days...pretty fun to have jets fly over the house and punch it. (multiple car alarms would go off)


A favorite place: Ocean Beach. Here is the best spot to find "sond doars, cwabs and boids!"


She steals the crown from her newly made sweet potato head doll (the set-up is meant for a pumpkin...)

In another homemade hat! Sleeping contently in the bouncer.

When a baseball player has an routine flyball, it's sometimes called a can of corn*

*-{ahem, we were corrected by a diehard Yankees fan- our dear friend says that the expression comes from a Chicago broadcaster, saying an easy flyball is like catching a can of corn off the top shelf of a grocery store...and not a can of beans...our photo and the old caption makes no sense, kinda like the Yankees pitching staff;)} **Red Sox to win WS in 6 over the Cubs**


Off to school with her gorilla and baby!

Sept 30 And Ursula gets a third birthday party! She is truly getting used to having a crowd sing the song and give her gifts! No cupcakes, but she had her first exciting dinner of Dim Sum with Aunt Erin and Nani!

There was a flash of jealousy when daddy was holding Tilda this afternoon. Ursa tipped over her toys, pushed the playmobil farm off it's foundation and overturned the grass field (blanket) that we were playing on. [e]


Getting a cool birthday raincoat from Nani and Grampa (we think this will match an umbrella ;)


heck yah, matching boots to boot

Aunt Erin getting used to the newborn hold (don't worry, the baby she is crushing behind her back isn't ours)


Grampa and Nani Wolsborn getting a chance to meet Tilda



She pooped a heart-shaped stain on the changing pad :)


Ursula calls this bird a 'blue chicken' (this jay likes to dislodge our plants with a secret peanut digging trick)


Getting serious about the afternoon tea party (again, thanks Gramma K!)


Helping out with the new baby at home, we put Ursa to work slaving in the kitchen


cleaning off the potatoes

About to leave the hospital.

September 28 We're home! Mom and 'Tilda arrived back safe and sound today. We had a little fright with blood sugar levels, nothing alarming that a little extra feeding couldn't cure. We are thankful that 'Tilda is safe and secure, eating, sleeping and pooping a meconium storm. Ursula went to bed singing Waltzing Matilda.

So, we decided to drop the 'Ruby' out of her middle name...maybe it was too much, maybe daddy is expecting a third little girl sometime in a few years when he convince mommy to have more kids...just half joking...for those curious, Matilda is from Grandmother Julia (her middle name). And we love 'Tilda not only as a nick-name. [e]


day 3 (doesn't she look a lot like Ursula?)


Tilda scheming a plan to get Ursula's toys

September 26 Happy Birthday Matilda! (birth story and more pictures to come shortly)


Welcome to the world


with Daddy


with Gramma K

Pain- relief left:sitting on the balance ball, focusing on a small rubber rabbit, and visualizing donuts. Pain-relief right: after finally giving in to the epidural.

September 26 "Woohoo, my little sister Matilda was born this evening!!"

September 25 Happy Birthday Ursula! We can't believe you're 2 years old. Time flies...just wish your little sister would like to join us...the little bugger doesn't want to be born...we are scheduled for our 4th induction date (our other attempts have been thwarted by normal births)...all these Christmas post-coitals coming back to jam up the delivery rooms!


You just can't make these faces up...she looks like she has had sugar before...


Celebrating on the 25th., the previous B-day party was a few days earlier in case mom went into labor...


"Gramma, the whole point is to use this outdoors..."


"thanks for the awesome playmobil set!"


nice stash


"Mimi, thanks for the wonderful box of presents, and tell the Hickmans I said thanks too! How's Papa doing? I got a new shirt today...it's pretty cool"


dorky dad trying on the new baby's handmade sweater...


"Cmon out and play baby sister"


Enjoying an Azteca burrito in a nice setting


Having a blast painting in a Dexter like moment...if you can, rent it, it is way cool for a serial killer tv show...


Did you miss the last couple weeks of pictures?