Our Sweet Amelia

It has been brought to my attention that, unbelievably, there are no pictures of Violet and Stella's cousin Amelia on the blog. None! And I really have no explanation for this besides to say it never occurred to me that such a huge oversight was even possible. My sister, Karen, and I go to great lengths to make sure the girls see each other at every opportunity. They live about 11 hours away by car, so this is no small feat, but it is well worth the effort. The girls will see each other again this Christmas, and I will be sure to post new pictures afterwords. But for now, to those who don't know her, I introduce the adorable, impish, ineffable...Amelia.

Amelia was two months old when Karen was chosen to be her mother. After months of waiting she got a call on a Thursday afternoon telling her to come pick up her new daughter. The. Next. Day. My mom, Violet and I made the trip to Maryland in record time to meet her. She was an adorable little hurling bundle of joy, right from the start. (Seriously. That girl could Vomit.) She still sucks those two fingers when she sleeps, too.


Easter at my Mom's house. It is so funny to look back at the kids. Violet in a dress? With barrettes?? And Amelia still looking like a baby. She was about 9 months old.

Stella was not quite three months old, but already almost as big as Amelia.

Here is one of my all time favorite pictures. Amelia is such a hoot. Her Mama is a hoot, too. So I guess even if the apple falls far from the tree, it will roll over to where it belongs.


The wee apple and her tree. (insert heart emote here)


Amelia LOVES her cousins. Yum!

One day while Amelia was visiting and napping on the bed upstairs (which she surely wouldn't do now!) Violet disappeared with a bowl of yogurt. We found her up on the bed, spoon feeding Amelia, both of them happy as clams.


Christmas 2007 at my sister's house. More cousin love. Stella was really not at all happy about being in that dress. But that's a mother's prerogative, isn't it?


Amelia was so much more about the Sesame Street wrapping paper than she was about presents, I think.


We spent an entire week with Amelia over April vacation. As you can see, while still cute, she has turned slightly more impish as well. She is just shy of 2 years old.

All three girls smiling. You have to be quick with the camera for that sort of thing.


One of the things I love is watching Karen do Amelia's hair. It is entirely fascinating. Even more fascinating is that she can sometimes do it while Amelia is asleep. Karen put these (twists?) in just for me by special request. Lovely.


Amelia was born on Independence Day. On her birthday last year we all went to the parade in Washington DC. While it was fun, I can't say I recommend it in 90 degree weather with 5 kids in tow. But didn't they look just smashing, though? The extra kids there are Kate and Emily who love down the road. Amelia LOVES Kate and Emily, as does Violet.






Now these pictures aren't mine, so please don't rat me out. But lookee here. Three adorable cousins, all smiling. I will have you know Karen and I worked our HEINYs off to get this picture. While the photographer stood there exercising his index finger.


Most of what we got looked like this. Which is cute in its own way.
Now, if anyone has not had her fill of Amelia pictures (and let's face it - who would really admit that she had?) you will need to wait a week or so for the next installment. We are impatiently awaiting the arrival of Amelia on Sunday night.

Ah, but lest I forget this gem. Karen brought Amelia to see Santa this week. Amelia was less than enthusiastic, but Santa - the Santa of all Santas - got on the Floor to Play with her. How cute is this. Amelia is just about two and a half.