It’s a Bean family tradition to stop for a seafood dinner after we spend a summer day at the beach. Past years have found me here in this very spot, nursing sandy, cranky babies. But this year, THIS was my baby. And he just enjoyed the fish. And then his dinner.

That makes me both happy and sad at the same time. In a way, I suppose, that only a mother could understand.

Look what I got to do!

I’m pretty sure either one of these cuties would have fit in my suitcase. Maybe even both of them. Not that I considered doing that or anything.

I’m just pointing out that they probably would have fit.

If I were the adorable-baby-stealing kind.

Which I’m totally not.

Really.

I hardly even thought about it.

What with all the cabin fever going around here, I’ve begun instituting “Enforced Outdoors” time every day.

So here’s one more look at my Daniel in his manly magenta snow pants. He lasted about 5 minutes outside today before he burst into tears and returned inside.

Fresh snow or no fresh snow, it was only about 20 degrees with a fierce wind blowing.

Oh well. At least getting him dressed and then dealing with warming him up and hanging his stuff to dry afterwards gave us something to do for part of the afternoon.

We tried. And tomorrow, we shall try again.

Do your best, February. We shall try again.

Go see Daniel’s sweetie.

He’s here! Come meet Arwen’s sweet little darling!

I am an auntie again.

And he is beautiful.

Some of the younger kids are playing an imaginary “Baby” game this afternoon. They are taking turns pretending to be babies, crying and calling for their mothers.

It is making me insane.

We got some good news yesterday.

The past few days, I have been obsessively following Jen’s labor updates (on Twitter, in her sidebar).

Welcome Brigid Maureen Callihan! Congratulations to the whole family!