Christmas girls

As expected, we enjoyed some serious cuteness on the premises 'round Christmastime. Here's the proof!

No, that's not how we spell it, but that's all Grandma Williams could fit on the stocking! (we decided collectively that 'Mad' on one side and 'Die' on the other would be in poor taste.)

new year

That title should lead to some sort of introspective, at least passably interesting post, but I'm sorry to disappoint. I'm more just checking in.
It's not like I've been busy, just without any spare time -- at work or home. Last week, I was home from Tuesday afternoon through Friday with a sick Maddie. That didn't help. So I had to return to work Monday and try to get a week's worth of stuff done in two days. I made a couple of mistakes -- who's surprised? But the edition appears to be getting out today, so that's what counts.
Since Maddie's been better, she's continued the extreme neediness that marked her days of sickness. (she had a not-so-high fever, and was generally not herself. Nothing extreme, though.) Over the weekend, she woke every HOUR to feed and/or be settled back to sleep. I joke not. The past two nights, it's been "only" every two hours, and I can really feel the difference. I'm functional again. Crazy that waking every two hours would seem like relief.
I've decided that her mania is because she needs solid foods. She's having to resort to desperate measures to "feed the chubs," as I say. My, this child is a solid little chunk! I look around at 7-month-olds I know, and they look small and scrawny by comparison.
I'm eager, yet a little afraid, to embark upon solid foods because last time it seemed like Lizzy's day care really led the charge. This time, the day care Maddie's at seems to be hanging back, waiting for me to take the lead. (Go figure, as I AM the parent ...) But again, life feels a little too crazy to be trying ANYTHING new. Yet try we must, this weekend ... a kid who won't take formula has got to be nourished somehow. And the exclusive Mommy days are severely numbered, for the good of all.
I hope to post a few Christmas photos here soon. As soon as I get a moment to myself at home ... Maddie won't even go to sleep by herself these days. She seems to have a deadly accurate sense of whether someone is right there beside her or not, even in her sleep. Can you say spoiled ...