weekend

"I love cats because I love my home and little by little they become its visible soul." --Jean Cocteau

The pleasures of home. Having a place that is peaceful and safe. It's made up of all my favorite things. And everyone just chills when they're in our home. Even the cats are at ease...with a 10  month old scooting around at record speed. (who by the way, is about to get her little self in standing position. She is so eager and ready. Just needs that extra lift from knees to feet. It's awesome to watch her go.)

It was family day on Sunday and the three of us were together all day. It was fantastic. We spent alot of the day doing stuff around the house - I made big batches of baby food - carrots, broccoli, pears and apples - while Mark mowed the lawn and put up a baby gate on the top of the stairs for our really fast scooter. Phew! And the day didn't go by without a little fun.

Anna loved being on Daddy's shoulder's for the first time! Oh and did I mention she started saying "mama?" And a lot. I am in heaven!

Girls' Night

Saturday was my first night out with the girls..sans baby. I met the Amandas in Boston for a yummy dinner at the Navy Yard Bistro.

Sunset in Charlestown 

Pool time

It's official, we've become those people. The new parents who set up a kiddie pool, drag out the beach towels and toys, and plop down a couple of lawn chairs right smack on their front lawn. Fill the pool with water from the hose, let it sit for an hour in the hot sun, and Voila! Instant baby fun. And she loves it. Splashing and kicking and having a ball with all her little pool toys. And Friday night, friends joined us for the frontyard fun. It was just so adorable watching Anna play with her fellow baby friends. And we parents seated ourselves around the littles and watched.

And chatted...about babies, parenthood, and the loves and challenges of life.

Pool time ran into dinner time for the littles...then bedtime as they got into their pjs and we tucked them in for the night. The parents returned with monitors and by 8pm or so, it was time for adult fun.

We caught up with new friends and had real adult talk. We sipped drinks and enjoyed a simple and yummy dinner of Mark's hamburgers stuffed with gorgonzola cheese, salads and chips. We laughed, we sang and ended the night with strawberry shortcake courtesy of Tarah. We've become those people. And I wouldn't change it for the world.

Anna with "Elly" her newly adopted Pygmy elephant Aunt Mandy gave to her. If you'd like to give a gift to help endangered animals visit www.worldwildlife.org.

10 months

Where has the time gone? Only 2 more months until the big day. Wait. I can't think about that...not yet. 10 months has flown, and she is growing like a bean. Our little Anna Banana bean.

She's babbling now. Words are flying out of her mouth. "Da-da" this, and "ba-ba-ba" that...she claps, points and waves. She is obsessed with waving to people. And inanimate objects.

And don't get me started on her giggles. Her daddy can really get her going too. He laughs, she laughs. And loud, contagious laughs. So much so that our cheeks start hurting from laughing so much.

Girl loves the outdoors. And she can move. She scoots all over the place and at record speed. Mark saw her stand up on her own this weekend. She loves the water, loves to splash, whether it's in her nightly bath, a pool or sticking five fingers in her sippy cup or the cats' water bowls. Sigh. She loves her yellow chicken, and riding in her jeep. Which she has totally mastered walking in. "Look out kitties, here comes trouble!"

And books are one of her favorites. She loves her Karen Katz flappy books. And my old pop-up book, Thumbelina. And I love you Little one. The list goes on. Of course, my two favorites continue to be On the Day You Were Born and Love you Forever. I still cry every time I read them to her. She loves people and animals. Her family, her friends, strangers in the grocery store. Simon, a friendly springer spaniel came up to her at the park last week and gave her a big wet one right across the face. Girl didn't blink. Being raised with seven cats, she's gotten pretty used to furry creatures. And she loves them. She tries her best to scoot up to them and give them pats (we are learning the word "gentle.")

Today I'm celebrating you, Anna, and how blessed we are that you came into our lives. And all the love you have brought us. A day doesn't go by that I don't thank my lucky stars for the little family we have become. Happy 10 month Birthday little one...you are the apple of my eye.

And I just love this picture of Rusty. Lounging in a sun spot. I think he and Anna are going to be buddies.

summer solstice

Anna welcomed the first day of her very first summer at the park.

And it was a perfect day for it.

check out those curls.

And what a fun surprise to see our hydrangeas in bloom.

Happy First Summer little one...

father's day

Mark's first Father's Day. We celebrated our little family and spent the weekend poolside at Aunt Cathy and Uncle Jim's.

Anna loved splashing around in the pool Uncle Jim got for her. (really cool canopy not shown)

And floating in the boat in the big pool.

with cousin Jennifer.

and Aunt Cathy.

and playing in her pjs.

She's blessed with a family who loves her...and a "Da-da" who is crazy about her. Thank you, Mark, for being the wonderful man that you are.

Here's to all you great fathers and grandfathers!

a celebration

Welcome little one...the world's been waiting for you.

We celebrated Anna's Baptism at Second Congregational Church last Sunday.

Which just happened to be the day of children's service. Wow...pretty appropriate. 

 

And it was magic.

Mark and I knew it would be a special day, but we had no idea it would be this amazing. She was like a little angel.

And everyone welcomed our new bundle - our precious little gift.

And she took it all in - soaking in the love and support of her family and friends.

Thank you, Aunt Mandy for being her Godmother, and Denny, for being her Godfather. It means so much to us. 

  

Family came from near and far to witness Anna's special day. It melted our hearts and we can't thank you enough for sharing it with us.

 

Looking out onto the pews, I had to remind myself to breathe. Our little girl surrounded by family and friends --- so much love was in that church that day. I swear I felt angels watching from above.

Her name was embroidered onto a little heart and hung on a special quilt the ladies made for each child's baptism.

We all gathered for a brunch afterwards. 

 

With Anna's big family circle.

 

 

And cousins loving on her.

And she loving them right back.

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"May angels guide your tiny feet and bring you smiles to wear,

and may our Heavenly Father always keep you in His care."