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.