Shae has an announcement to make...

She has transitioned to a (semi)Big Girl Bed!

[insert applause here]

Given that it's a new year, and given that our girl is a whopping two-and-one-quarter years old, and given that she's taken to putting her foot up on the front rail of her crib because she is (and I quote) "a ballerina cheerleader," we decided it's time to recognize what a big girl she is and convert her crib to a toddler bed. Eventually this will then segue into a real, true Big Girl Bed but in the short term this will suffice.
She was tickled pink to discover that she can now climb into and out of her bed by herself! The trick now will be to convince her that such actions are not cool during the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Proud as a peacock.

Checking out how completely different and foreign it feels to lay down to sleep in her new Big Girl Bed. (Please note: it is entirely the same bed she's been sleeping in for the past 27 months.)

Moving on...

Mom wears a hat? Shae wears a hat!

Mom and Shae wear hats together!

I'm not a food blogger. And I know this because if I were, these photos certainly would not be up to snuff. But don't you sometimes make something that looks so pretty you just want to capture it on film so that you can remember it for all time?

Oh, well I do.

So this is the pretty chicken pot pie I made on Sunday. I think it's lovely.

And it was insanely tasty, too!

Sorry it's on its side -- I took this little video clip on my camera and made the mistake of holding it up the long way. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to swivel it 90 degrees to make it easer to watch. So as it is, please crank your neck to the left and enjoy. (I've got a referral to a great chiropractor if you need it afterwards! Ha.)