Christmas in Columbia

We went to Texas for Christmas this year, but before we left we celebrated in Columbia. Evangeline's school participated in Living Windows in downtown Columbia, and St. Nicholas visited her school. 

 Her Christmas has been full of Christmas crafts and carols with friends at school, church and around town. I even made it to two Christmas celebrations, which just so happened to be held on the same night. Reminded me of the multiparty days of Washington, DC.

Cookies with Mom at Panera Bread.

Miss Margery in her bear suit.

Sweet girl.

 We loved dressing our baby girl up for Christmas as a reindeer and in "My First Christmas" garb.

Our little Reindeer.

Dancing.

Margery seemed to like St. Nicholas better than Evangeline did. Margery is enamored with the Christmas Tree and finds whatever time she can to hang out under it.
We made Christmas cookies to give away to teachers and Yoga teachers (as well as snack on).

Baking cookies.

My little baker.

Trip to Kansas City with Aunt Edge.

We had a little time to celebrate with Edge before leaving for Texas and took a trip to Kansas City. Edge treated us to dinner and cheesecake.

Hanging with Aunt Edge.

Lunch with Friends at Cafe Berlin.

Margery loves to put her feet together.

Our gift from Evangeline that she made in school.

Margery watching the Christmas Tree.

Evangeline Turns 3 (part 1): St. Louis, the Zoo and Mizzou Homecoming

Last week we celebrated our first little girl's third birthday. Evangeline is growing so tall she is 31.5 lbs and 36 inches tall. She wears size 8 shoes and 3T clothes. She doesn't eat a lot of diverse foods but she gradually is adding food. She can write her own name and knows all her colors. She also knows about 30 words in French. She loves people, and is very helpful. She loves dinosaurs, princesses and super heroes. But most of all she loves her little sister.

At Chesterfield Central Park with James.

Roger and Margery.

Hide and seek in the sculptures.

Her birthday began with a celebration with our friends the McCommis Family who live in St. Louis. We miss them here in Columbia, but try to see them every other month when we head to St. Louis. First we went to a park in Chesterfield, MO for a play date, and then headed back to the McCommis' house. Evangeline and James blew out candles together.

Brenda and I met in our birth class and James and Evangeline are three days apart in age. We also introduced Margery to James's little brother Roger. Roger was born in February he's 8 months old but was early so he am Margery are pretty close in size. Roger loved this. We had a delicious dinner and cupcakes that Kyle, James's daddy made.

All the kiddos rolling on the ground.

The 3-year-olds and their cupcakes.

Playing with James.

Instant Friends.

The Perreault girls and the McCommis boys.

We picked my parents up at the St. Louis Airport and headed to a Starbucks for a little snack before heading to the St. Louis Zoo. Brenda, James and Roger met us for part of our time there. It was Margery's first zoo trip.

St. Louis Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa Wiggins.

Over the bridge, walking to the zoo.

Trying to look for ducks.

Margery and Grandpa.

Margery and Mama.                                                    Our little River Otter.

 Friday Evangeline had cupcakes at school for her birthday. She insisted on wearing her cupcake dress. Grandma and Grandpa took her to ride the carousel at the mall.

Saturday we got up early and all went the University of Missouri Homecoming Parade. Evangeline hung out with her friends Siri and Eliot. We were also joined by some of her friends from La Petite Ecole. The kids loved the parade, as well as the candy, beads and footballs they collected from the people in the parade.

Waiting for the parade.

Margery's first Parade with her daddy. She thought the drums were a little too loud.

Collecting candy in Elsa bags.

Margery Frances Perreault

Daddy and his little girl.

Daddy reading to Margery.

She's here!! We are so glad to share the arrival of our second daughter, Margery Frances. She was born at 8:11 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2014. She weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.

Mommy and Margery 

Sweet sleeping baby.

Greg and I chose the name Margery almost 10 years ago when we were first thinking about names that sounded good with our last name. Margery (is a form of Margaret) means Pearl, and Frances is Mimi's middle name and the name of her maternal grandmother's oldest sister and maternal great grandmother.

Leaving the hospital and heading home. Token TJ the Tiger Photo.

Margery does not have a nick name as of yet, but we like "M" for now. Neat fact: She shares a birthday with author J.K. Rowling and Rowling's token character, Harry Potter. Here are some photos from our first week with Margery.  She also shares a birth month with her Grandmother Carri.

Evangeline meets her little sister for the first time.

Evangeline and Margery love to match.

Big sister and her little sister.

Evangeline is adjusting to sisterhood. Although she does not understand why Margery will not talk to her and sleeps so much.  Evangeline loves to gives her kisses and hold her.

Sweet baby feet.

We are so thankful to Grandpa Will and Grandma Carri for coming to help us right after Margery was born. They spent many hours keeping Evangeline busy and taking turns baby holding, as well as cleaned the house and cooked for us. We are still reaping the benefits of their visit.

Grandpa Will and Grandma Carri with their new granddaughter. 

Grandpa Will and Margery.

In addition, Aunt Edge recently moved to Columbia and has been an great help. She is also great at holding the baby and has spend a lot of time with Evangeline while Greg and I deal with sleep deprivation.

Aunt Edge and Margery.

Sleeping baby girl.

Margery loves to sleep, in fact Greg and I have to wake her up every 3 hours to get her to eat. She's also a big smiler in her sleep, and makes the cutest baby sounds.

Margery sleep smiling.

Sleeping on mommy's lap. 

Sleeping swaddled in the Moses basket.

We've already introduced her to singing and dancing, as well as breakfast. Three Perreault family staples.  More to come as she continues to grow and develop!

Daddy singing and dancing with Margery.