Snips and Snails.... and Princesses

I absolutely love it that my little girl is neither stuck in the hyper-feminine stereotype nor wholly devoted the tomboy role. She's active and athletic -- and loves to dress up like a princess. (She put this ensemble together on her own, combining her Halloween dress with a great skirt and hat from Auntie B and family.)

They say little boys are made of snips and snails.... but both my son and my daughter think snails are super cool. (Both of them are full of sugar and spice, for that matter.) BJ has loved playing with worms and snails for quite some time; BB recently discovered them. In fact, the move to the new place with its plethora of the cute little mollusks seems to have prompted her interest. One of her very favorite things to do is go on a "snail walk" to collect them. We bring them back to our patio and have great fun watching them. BB has gotten very good at being gentle with the little creatures and waiting patiently for them to come out of their shells.

I have to say, we get some interesting looks as we head back to the apartment -- her chubby little fists full of shells, her voice excited as she declares, "Look, Mommy! One of them is squeeeeezing out at me!" That's what she's telling me in this picture: