Calista Catherine and Cassandra Claire Brady: The Bradys Visit

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!)

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Bradys Visit

Eloise and Mike came to visit the weekend of December 5. It was Grandpa Mike's first time

meeting Cassandra, and he was a champ and gave her her first bottle! On Friday we went to dinner at Cha Cha Cha and Scott taught them how to play Wii tennis. (A wine glass might have gotten broke in the process with some eager swings - it's a dangerous sport!)

On Saturday, we took the girls to meet Santa Clause at the Westfield Mall (our tradition which we have done for the past three years) and then to Union Square to see the big Christmas tree. Calista was a very brave girl. Later she told me, "I sat on Santa's lap!" She asked him for a "crying doll and a happy doll" which fortunately Santa said his elves could help make. Phew! Such a relief to know they have those in the North Poll. Calista got really into playing Memory with Eloise. I am so happy she likes playing games.

On Sunday, we tooled around the house before their flight and tried to get a photo of the family - not an easy task with a very busy 2 1/2 year-old. Cassandra is much more manageable - I forgot how fabulous it is to have a little baby who sleeps, stays put and just needs a nurse to feel better. With just 10 days left until Christmas, we'll be seeing Grandma Weezie and Grandpa Mike soon! I am really looking forward to Christmas this year, especially since Calista is starting to understand it more now and I think will have lots of fun Christmas morning seeing what Santa brought.