Lucky Finley

I sometimes look back at old pictures of the Walters kids growing up and wonder if my parents worried whether we knew just how lucky we were, hiking all the gorgeous trails that make buzzfeed lists these days and ogling European castles.

Then I remember that we were old enough to understand the phrase, "listen up, ingrates. Not every kid gets crepes for lunch and Alpine vistas for scenery."

Finley, on the other hand, will probably never get how cool it is that she learned to walk at the Smithsonian on chilly DC weekends. Turns out that they're perfect indoor playgrounds when it's not quite nice enough out for extended trips to the park.

Our new year's resolution to enjoy DC with Finley in tow continues to yield photo ops like these (loving the air & space museum), make us appreciate our proximity to the city that we spend most of our weekdays stuck in traffic and hating,

and keep us all from going stir crazy. Not that the littlest Nieman seems to mind the late season winter weather, since she finally talked us into putting away the Christmas tree and turning the whole area into a playroom. (Our oddly shaped living room turns out to be perfect for this purpose, since the sectional hides the mess and eliminates the compulsion to constantly tidy.) We're thinking it'll come in handy when there are two!

Otherwise, it was a pretty quiet week. We stayed home for the super bowl, and- in Seth Nieman tradition- vats of venison chili were made, consumed, and splashed all over the kitchen. I made my favorite pumpkin bread recipe and worked on a paper. Seth finally got his FATS system working in the lab at school and started collecting lab data. We both got stuck in traffic regularly.

We took the little beast on a bowling date Friday night, and she trounced us both (although she did have a little help) (and we are not letting her wear half shirts-- this was just a wardrobe malfunction in a daycare backup outfit, we promise).

I think her highlights (and some of my favorite photos) were of bathtime (always a hit)

and taking possession of my hand-me-down Uggs.

Seth also sent me this one, on the way to daycare in her new super classy hat and big girl car seat, and it might be one of my favorite pictures of her ever.

We finally heard from Mom & Dad, who are alive and well and temporarily in Arkansas, and it sounds like the house may actually be done one of these days soon. We're hoping to get them to come out for a visit in the meantime, so I should probably stop telling Mom about the broken heater at the Belvoir pool. (It's fixed! I swear!)

Anddddd a big happy birthday to Sara, who is celebrating with a camping/ hot springs adventure to Santa Teresa. We can't help but be a little jealous, and can't wait to see pictures (and hear all about Lehua's first real camping trip.)