sLOVEnka: Hello, friends

Since it's March, I can now share with you these Valentine's Day pictures, since that seems to be about the timeline I tend to follow and who am I to change a horse midstream? I know that's not the expression I am searching for because I am still able to discern that much. What I am unable to discern, however, is the proper expression I am looking for because apparently that is one of the first things to go when you're away from your own language. No matter. My living room smelt of freesia and my cupboard smelt of chocolate, but the sweetest part to me was that Tomáš took pictures, proud of his gift. What a sweetie.

This picture is misleading because of its placement. That is not nut and nougat cream pralines on her lips, but hot cocoa made from dark chocolate cocoa powder, breast milk and a tiny bit of sugar. Apologies to my younger brother, whose ''ewwwww'' will be audible all the way from Montana, but you can't argue with the health benefits of two of the three ingredients. Trust me, I argue with the health benefits of the third daily.

The best is when her mustache comes out looking like Salvador Dalí

Now, let's be honest. I really did set out to try and make some cute decorations. But when you use nothing but pink, two shades of pink curling ribbon are involved and you make a Y out of a martini glass with a heart-shaped cherry, it's going to look like something you purchased at Party Universe. It just is.

The vast majority of our girls' clothes are hand-me-downs...hand-them-downs?...hand-them-overs? Anyhoo, right now it seems like all of Rosy's clothes are boys clothes and I'm a little touchy about this subject since a lot of people thought Lily was a boy given that she didn't have her ears pierced and rode in a ''blue'' (turquoise) stroller. But then I take one look at this one and make my peace with it.

The last of the heartsy references

The other day Lily was sitting at the kitchen table and I noticed she looked like she had a little touch of the elephantiasis...Then I realized her diaper had just fallen off and slid down into her pant leg. Yeah, you know.

Her personality is developing so much and every single day she does something that makes me laugh or at least smile from ear to ear. Here was a conversation we had this morning,

''Where's mama's earring?''

''Mama's not wearing any earrings.''

''Where's Rosy's earring?''

(chuckle) ''Rosy doesn't have earrings.'''

''Where's Dada's earring?''

(Big chuckle) ''Daddy DEFINITELY doesn't have an earring.''

Here she took a look at the woman working out on the balance board thingy or whatever it is and she ran and got a teddy bear and tried it herself.

Here's a rare glimpse of the (gasp!) outside. We haven't gotten out together a whole heck of a lot. Our outdoor excursions are usually broken up, dependent upon who is home when and who's been fed. Quick jaunts to the grocery store get counted as walks. I mean, we do walk there, but this was a nice, long, (as Tomáš would say) full-fat walk walk. Sunny and beautiful. That white is a snow-covered field where crops are grown and it was stunning. Flat, white and vast.