Everyone, this is Rowan. Rowan, everyone.

At 1:53 pm on Monday, Dec. 22, amidst a streak of snowstorms and sub-zero-temperature days, my little sister, Rowan Harper, made the commute into the world. (Which, at that time, was certainly easier than making the commute into downtown via the Kennedy.) She was 20 inches and weighed in at 7 lbs., 14 oz.

We met for the first time later that night, where I informed everyone (at least 15 times in two minutes) that there was a baby in our presence. Luckily for Rowan, she looks strikingly like I did when I was born...right down to the full head of dark hair, already styled in a striking pixie do. I also pointed out for the crowd of grandparents that we both have eyes, noses and toes. We're practically twins separated at birth (and by 23 months).

Rowan

Me

Since she's moved into our house, Rowan and I have been getting along swimmingly. I like to look at her in her swing and give her lots of hugs (done so by declaring "hugs!" and leaning in her general direction). I can already tell we're going to be good friends because she shows absolutely no interest in my toys.

Here are some pictures from the last few days.

My mom, 9 mos. and super happy to be heading to the hospital.

Dad looking collected in the admissions waiting room.

Rowan and Dad hanging out in the delivery room.

Rowan doing what she does best.

"The meeting"

No caption required, I think.

Rowan in her first non-hospital-issued outfit.

And some photos of Rowan hanging out at home...

Think pink

In the 1989 hit movie Steel Magnolias, Julia Roberts said, "Pink is my signature color." It's mine, too!

While I dabble in some blues and greens here and there, for the most part my loyalties lie with pink. So much so that every time Miss Bonnie puts out the maracas in gymnastics, I quickly find myself a matching pink pair.

This morning, I found myself wandering the house in my Pinkalicious pajamas and my pink sunglasses (which I have been OBSESSED with since I found them under the seat of the car yesterday) and my two babies -- Pretty Baby and Madame Baby -- who clearly both share my taste in fashion. With the pink concentration levels way above normal, mom decided a picture was in order. And when she kneeled down, I not only mugged for the camera, but even threw in an unsolicited "cheeeeese" or two.

Sometimes I ask myself, can you ever have too much of a good thing? Decidely not. And so I put on my pink hooded tunic, pink boots, pink hair ties and pink coat and went to school.

The one-baby theatrical production of "Ice Cream Sandwich"

More drama in the consumption of one ice cream sandwich than in an entire season of The Hills.

Just cuz

This Thanksgiving, I have decided that I am grateful for my cousins, Hayden and Morgan. They came to visit over the holiday and we had much fun cooking in my kitchen, sharing in bouts of hysterical laughter in my playhouse, engaging in hugfests and especially playing Ring Around the Rosie. What I lack in the falling-down department I certainly make up for in enthusiasm.

Hope your Thanksgiving was as happy as mine!

Stepping it up

Since I began my Montessori career a couple of months ago, I've grown rather obsessed with handwashing. (It's apparently one of the pillars of the whole philosophy.) After giving Xana cookies (which usually involves some amout of dog slobber), I like to stand in front of the kitchen sink and yell "haaaaaaaazzz" and wait for someone to come pick me up and lean me over the sink so I can rub and smack my hands together in a way that cleans not only my hands, but the walls and floor, as well.

So you can imagine my delight (and mild irritation) when I discovered that Mom and Dad have been holding out on one of the gifts I received at birth...my very own personalized step stool. A device that empowers me to reach the sink by myself...or at least almost reach the sink. Until I grow a few more inches, it at least enables me to rinse off toothbrushes by myself. And so at least twice a day I run into my bathroom, get up on the stool and say "peeeeeeeeese" until Mom or Dad comes and turns on the water for me. Then I take turn rinsing off both toothbrushes in my collection until the adult in question mutters something about the environment and turns off the water.

Behold the photographic documentation.

Open seating

Today I hosted five of my besties (best friends, for those of you not steeped in cool kid lingo) for monthly playgroup. We caught up over Little People and Legos and snacked on popular toddler fare. And while I was extremely gracious in sharing my toys, I had to draw the line at my Elmo chair, which I use as both an upright chair and a lounger. Never one to accept defeat, my friend Jack decided to make his own...

Gotta give it up to the kid for being resourceful. All the moms were amused. My life-size Elmo doll, less so.

Domestic Bliss

All the assistance I provided to mom and dad earlier this year finding a new home got me thinking that maybe I'm ready for a place of my own. To avoid the hassles of broker fees and mortgage lenders, I decided to keep it simple and buy my first home online. Because it had everything I was looking for (a skylight, a working doorbell and a phone) except for a kitchen, I ordered that separately.

Yesterday, the big truck pulled outside my house and delivered my new things. Although daddy had to spend a couple hours putting them together, he did an excellent job and thus I didn't even need to be bothered with a punch list!

Now that I have moved in all of my things, I pass the time opening and closing the front door of my house, yelling "boo!" I also greatly enjoy taking the burner off the stove and cooking it in the microwave. With such a smooth transition, I anticipate being able to entertain by this weekend. Want to swing by??

Here I am providing daddy with the type of service and hospitality he's come to expect from a lady approaching two.

peeeez and daaaaaaanks

After much practice this week saying "Boo!" (which sounds more like "bow" but has enough enthusiasm behind it to make up for my lack of annunciation), Halloween finally arrived! I met my friends from the neighborhood outside and went trick-or-treating for the first time, where I learned to say please (peeeeeeez) and thanks (daaaaanks). While Daddy insisted that I mind my manners by taking just one piece of candy at each house, I did attempt to butter up as many people as I could by saying "bye bye" in my cutest voice and blowing kisses in the hopes they would insist I take another piece. I think I was close a couple times, but the need to keep up with the pack of kids (all of whom walk much faster than I do!) prevented me from closing the deal. I still came home with an impressive Elmo bucket full of candy.

Happy Halloween!!

Perhaps the reason I've been invited to so few parties in my life...

This weekend I went to a Halloween party hosted by my new school. Despite a plethora of games, snacks and interesting attire, I discovered that an Oreo and a balloon were all I needed to be entertained. Additionally, I discovered that repeatedly walking off with the only basketball for the hoop-shooting game does not amuse anyone but myself.

Dragon queen

With the changing leaves and chilly weather I knew that we couldn't be far from that special time of year when mom dresses me up in a silly uniform and parades me around like a circus chimp. And so it was that today was the second annual playgroup Halloween party. Good to know other moms share questionable and not altogether unscary judgment when it comes to toddler apparel. Seriously, is my stylist out of town this week?? My outfit totally made me look like I've been putting back too many ho-ho's.

At any rate, I thought it was a special time to reflect back on how much we've all changed in the last year...and of course just to check and see if anyone's mom made them recycle their costume from last year. (How embarrassing, right? Luckily for my friends, no repeat performances in this group.)

Me 2007: Baby bumble bee

Me 2008: Preparing for my big entrance (cue the band!)

Zach 2007: Mr. Monkey

Zach 2008: Dinomighty!

Jack 2007: MVB

Jack 2008: Sweep the leg!

Jordie 2007: Able to extinguish fires with his eyes

Jordie 2008: Bummed to be downgraded to using a hose

***

And some newer members of the posse:

Gabe 2008: Wondering where his security is

Mia 2008: Hardly living up to her costume (clearly she was not aware that the alternate snack option was cookie with frosting)

Kool and the Gang 2008 (Umm, I get to be Kool, right?)

The "good kids" (i.e., the ones who posed for the group shot for longer than 5 seconds)

Did you hear the one about the dragon and the pig?

We've been friends for practically our entire lives, which allows me to do this without consequence