The Boy and his Fruit, Part 2

The sequel. The Demise of the Banana.
With the munched apple still in hand, Peter was busted swiping a banana carelessly left within the 5-inch counter top danger zone.

When I didn't intervene, he sheepishly (if insincerely) offered it to me, and then sat down to do his thing. 

I did peel it for him after he'd mostly chewed it open. 

Then commenced his scarfing routine (see birthday cake video) and he paced in and out of the kitchen, sitting down, standing up, all without taking the banana from his chomping, slurping jaws. 

The Boy and his Fruit, Part 1

Apple Portraits

Peter, Peter, Pumpkin [Lover]

Peter loves his pumpkin. 

These were was taken just after we'd brought it home from the store and I carried it toward the house in one arm and he in the other while he began to pet it and exclaim, "YESSSSS!" When I set it on the stoop and we continued inside, he wept bitterly, so much so that I set him down on the stoop and he ran over to the pumpkin and flung his arms around it, and tried desperately to pick it up to carry it inside. 

So we've compromised and it resides in the foyer where Peter visits it every morning when we see Daddy off. 

Family Photos!

Pictures of all 3 of us. Together. Thanks to our friend and portrait photographer extraordinaire Rachael Boer. She let us be her models for a sample shoot for a photographer she's mentoring (read: free family portraits; what a blessing), and Rachael snapped some great ones as well during the shoot. Per usual, it took Peter a little while to warm up, but he had fun in the end. Here are some favorites:

Siena's Picture; Peter's Response

Siena's Birth Day

My birthday was marked by excitement and joyful anticipation. So I went to bed early. About 9:15. 

I set my alarm for 1am, but doubted I'd need it. In fact, I slept barely 2 hours, lay in bed wide awake and praying for my little niece inside a contracting womb, and her valiant parents on the outside. A little past midnight, I got up and got ready for the "day," packed some snacks, and hit the road for Arlington.

Then I camped out.         Not sure my extra body heat did much for mom in the arctic waiting room.

 Dad and Samantha arrived, excited to meet their granddaughter despite very busy days ahead at home. But they made good use of the waiting. 

Posing in the early morning;                                                     Around 7am. 

We were joined a bit later by Scott's parents. 

And finally, one of the sweetest texts of my life:

And a bit later: a sight for sore eyes:

At long last!

Meeting her family:

Beautiful girl, like her mama!

A bit later, after a little break and room switch for the Trabandt family, and lunch in the cafeteria for others of us, Tom and Peter arrived to meet Siena. 

Cousins!

The beautiful Trabandt Family:

 

"For you formed my inward parts; 

you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works...

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them, 

the days that were formed for me, 

when as yet there was none of them."

Psalm 139:13-16

Siena Brigantine Trabandt

Our beautiful little niece was born at 7:59am on Tuesday, October 8.

I love her so much. 

Both of them. 

(More pictures to come. Slow to post, but haven't been slow to take them.)

Final Catch-up: Peter Snapshots

I've been trying to pack in a few "catch-up" posts that have been in the hopper before the big Event of the month happens...my new niece! Lord willing, she will arrive very soon so I'm finishing up with this last little photo collection, and looking forward to having some sweet little baby girl pics to post in the days to come. But in the mean time, heeeeeeere's another Peter post:

--------

This boy.                               He can reach some stuff. 

He's a lover [of the vacuum]              and a fighter [at least he looks it]

But he has a sensitive, artistic side--discovering the visual poetry of one's fingers 

in a stream of afternoon sunlight. 

And sometimes he just runs around playing with his arms.