Calista Catherine and Cassandra Claire Brady: Happy Halloween!

About Calista and Cassandra

Calista Catherine was born at 5:32 am on February 15, 2007. She weighed 8 lb 1 oz and was 21" long. She was born with a "true" knot in her umbilical cord, which is rare (it only happens in 1 out of ~8,000 births) and is supposedly both auspicious and a sign that she will be wise. She was excited to show up for the birthday of her grandmother Eloise, so they now have that in common along with a middle name.

Cassandra Claire was born at 5:37 am on October 17, 2009. She weighed 8 lb 4 oz and was 20.5" long. She is a quintuple Libra - her sun, moon, rising, Mercury and Venus are all in Libra - so we think she will be very fair, balanced and aesthetic. Her middle name is Brisen's paternal grandmother's middle name (Evelyne Claire Vannice).

Both girls were born at the wonderful CPMC in San Francisco, in Laurel Village, in the exact same delivery room (one of only two big rooms!) which their mom thinks is a very special thing.

Calista and Cassandra both derive from Greek mythology. Calista means "most beautiful," and is part of a myth involving Zeus, Hera and the Ursa Major constellation. Cassandra was the daughter of Hecuba and Priam, the king of Troy, and endowed with the gift of prophecy but fated by Apollo never to be believed. (We've promised our Cassandra to take her predicitions seriously!)

Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween!

Calista had a very busy Halloween. She went with Daiane (her Friday babysitter) to the Eureka Vally Rec Center in the morning. Thanks to Daiane for Calista's darling hair-do, and getting her all dolled up in the cute dress (from Nonnie - also thanks for the pumpkin rubberbands) she is wearing indoors. Calista looks so happy because she is pretending to tickle herself, by the way. I came home early so the two of us could meet up with Eden, Stephanie and Matt for a little Noe Valley trick or treating and pizza dinner. (Full disclosure - we did not let Calista eat any candy. She'll get plenty of chocolate when she's older!) Claire stopped by for a moment too with bubbles. Calista was a ballerina/fairy princess this year, inspired by the beautiful skirt from Eloise and Mike. Although I don't think Calista truly understood the concept of Halloween, she did really well (a little rambunctious at dinner but that's nothing new -- but hey -- she's getting to be an expert drinking from straws now!) and actually fell alseep in the stroller on the way home. Poor thing got tuckered out. She's actually sleeping right now in her tights and leotard. And she even slept through a spontaneous dance party in the park across the street from our house! Go San Francisco.