Your Great Nonna

She hasn't had it easy that past few years, but I'm pretty sure that you are now the brightest star in her sky. She loves you more than you will ever know, and lives for the days that she gets to spend with you. You are the first thing she asks about whenever I call, followed by "I love that baby so much!" She loves to kiss you until your cheeks turn red, and you just sit there and let her. She always is moving her fingers in a circle subconsciously, without thinking, and you do the same exact thing! I don't think she ever thought she would meet her first great-grand child, and we are so blessed to have her here to see you grow.

Swimming

Summertime is just around the corner and this past week it has been HOT here. Mimi bought you and Maya a kiddie pool last week, and I couldn't wait to get you both in there. Before I even put you in, I took you out and showed you and you were so excited. It was as if you knew that was a pool, and remembered how much fun it was. This is before you even got in the pool!
I put you in first and you were splashing away, you loved it instantly. Maya screamed at the top of her lungs the second her feet touched the water. She had a great time playing outside the pool and dipping her hands in over the side. I put you on your belly and you were kicking your little legs. I even reached over to give Maya a toy and you tumbled over face first under the water, I quick grabbed you, and pulled you up, and you looked at me with this stunned face and then gave me a huge smile! I am so happy you love the water and aren't afraid. Your great grandpop has a pool and so does Bulya, so we will be spending many of our summer days swimming. I can't wait to get you in the big pool and in the ocean later this summer.

Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma

I first heard you say it about 2 weeks ago, then I heard it here and there the last week, but now its all the time! Music to my ears that your first word is Ma-Ma. I have to say, I don't think that you associate the word with me, in fact you only say it when you are angry and about to cry, but I don't care at all. Now everyone is trying to get you to say Da-Da or Mi-Mi, or Poppy...but you just stare back at them and go "Ma-mom-Ma-Ma", and my heart just melts.

These Are The Days

"These are the days you'll remember.
Never before and never since,
I promise,
will the whole world be warm as this.
And as you feel it, you'll know it's true
that you are blessed and lucky.
It's true that you are touched by something
that will grow and bloom in you.
These are the days you'll remember.
When May is rushing over you
with desire to be part of the miracles
you see in every hour.
You'll know it's true
that you are blessed and lucky.
It's true that you are touched by something
that will grow and bloom in you.
These are days.
These are the days you might
fill with laughter until you break.
These days you might
feel a shaft of light make its way
across your face.
And when you do
you'll know how it was meant to be.
See the signs and know their meaning.
It's true, you'll know how it was meant to be.
Hear the signs and know
they're speaking to you."

~10,000 Maniacs~

Thank You

Thank you for being the best daughter anyone could ever ask for. Thank you for making everyday so wonderful. Thank you for blessing me everyday with this sweet little face. I love you more than you could ever know.

Favorite Toy

We own every toy known to man, to say you are spoiled is an understatement. You are 7and half months old now, and you never want to be held anymore. You want to be on the floor rolling around, you are on the verge of crawling, and you are into everything. I was trying to put your clothes away the other day and you kept rolling towards the door, trying to escape from your room. I was about to put you in your crib which I knew would make you mad, but out of the corner of my eye I saw the empty pampers box. Kept you entertained for almost an hour. I only wished that I thought of it sooner. I beleive there is a picture of me about your age in a diaper box too, I'll have to see if Mimi can find it somewhere.

Out to Dinner

Last week we went out for Mimi's Birthday and your Great-Grandmom's 80th birthday. You have only been out to a restaurant a handful of times, but we were a little anxious because now you are into everything. You don't want to be held or strapped in your car seat, you want to be at the table, touching everything, or rolling around on the floor! So Daddy went out and bought you this little booster seat, with some toys on it and we were hoping it would keep you occupied for at least a little bit. YOU LOVED YOUR NEW SEAT! You sat in it the entire 2 hour dinner, never fussed, never cried, never wanted to be picked up. You sat at the head of the table and just smiled and played the entire time. I hope the novelty of this new seat doesn't where off too soon, cause Daddy and I plan to take you to many more dinner dates!

Mommy's Bed

You are so much like me sometimes, that it is scary. You love our bed. Every morning when you get up, I bring you in bed with Daddy and I. We play for a little bit, read books, drink your bottle, and watch sesame street. Then we head downstairs so we can both eat breakfast, by the time 9:30 rolls around you can barely keep your eyes open. I know I should put you down in your own crib for a nap, but some days (okay most days) I just can't help but want to snuggle up with you in my bed. And I just know you love it just as much as me. You love to be surrounded by pillows, and we pull the down comforter up around us, and even though it is just you and I in the queen size bed, you always find a way to cuddle right up next to me. It's just about as close to heaven on earth that I have found.

New Friend

You were only about 4 months old in this picture. You have been given a lot of stuffed animals in your short little life, and oddly enough you have gotten quite a few giraffes. And you really seem to like them! May be they will end up being your favorite animal.

Twins

Mimi bought you this little organic baby doll for Christmas this past year. You love this little doll almost as much as your blankies. Mimi named her Ivy, but Daddy calls her Seedy (your Eastern European friend). Daddy thinks he is so funny. I went to take you for a walk this weekend, strapped you in, and started laughing when I noticed you dressed just like Ivy. You both even have a side bang going on!

Target

We go to Target at least once a week, sometimes twice. I always just lug you in with your car seat and you stay in there while we shop. The car seat weighs a ton with you in it, and you get annoyed with having to stay in the whole time we shop. So this past Saturday Daddy and I put you in the front of the cart. You were so hysterical, it was like a whole new world for you. You didn't know which way to look first. Daddy then pushed the cart foward, let go, and yelled "WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE", just when I was about to yell at him for letting go of the cart, I heard your giggle. Needless to say we spent 10 minutes, pushing and letting the cart go up and down the aisles just so we could hear that sweet little laugh of yours.

Tough Day

This was taken a month or so ago, and I so love this picture. You just started sitting up, and I had left you on the couch to go grab my drink, and when I came back I found you like this. You never cried, or even let out a peep. You are such a trooper, and now that you are rolling all over the place, I cringe every time I see you about to bump your head, but you never cry, you just keep on going. I love your laid back, go with the flow attitude, I hope you stay like that. You may look just like your Dad, but your personality is 100% just like Mommy.

Hair!

When you were born you had all this thick black hair. I was so excited and I couldn't wait to put you in headbands and bows. Then it all fell out. You were kind of at a stand still for a few months, and it didn't seem like any hair would ever grow, but in the past few weeks it has been growing like crazy. It's like someone sprinkled "miracle gro" on top of your head. I ran right out and bought you little tiny hair rubber bands, and now you will be rocking the ponytail all summer long! You look so adorable, I can't even stand it!

7 months old

I can hardly believe it...how did this happen? At seven months old you are rolling around everywhere. You always want to be held facing out, and squirm your way around if someone tries to face you towards them. You can turn yourself all the way around on your belly, it is so funny to watch. You want to be on the floor all the time now. You love to watch Sesame Street in the morning, and you think Elmo is hysterical. You can sit up pretty independently, but sometimes still tumble over. You are starting to put your arms up in the air to be picked up. You are starting to get a little temper when you don't get your way, especially when we take something away from you that you want. You still love to cuddle, especially when you are sleepy. You love to reach and grab for everything, mostly my necklace! You are still the happiest baby I have ever met, and although I am so sad that you are growing so fast, I am so excited to see you doing all these new things. I love you so much and you will always be my baby girl.

Laundry Time

No matter how many loads of laundry I do a day, there is ALWAYS a full dirty load waiting for me. I just can never seem to get ahead and I have to do at least one load everyday to keep on top of it. Folding the laundry used to be my most dreaded chore, until it recently became your favorite. You LOVE to sit in the laundry baskets. You watch me as I take each and every piece of clothing out to fold. You giggle everytime you spot the basket on the floor. I'm hoping this is the beginning of your love for folding laundry, because I think you are never too young to help out your mom!

Your Little Feet

You recently discovered your feet and they are now your favorite toy. You love to put your little toes right in your mouth, and as soon as I lay you down you pull off your socks to get at your feet. Everyday you are growing, doing something different, and turning into such an adorable little girl. You always have that beautiful smile plastered across your face, and it makes me think I must be doing right to be blessed with such a pleasant baby.

Your Blankies

You have about 4 of these blankies. You are almost 7 months old and need one of them when you start to fall asleep. If I lay you down without one, you automatically outstretch your arms in your sleep and start grabbing for it. You like to have it up againest your face, and you settle down completely when it is in your arms. I don't think you have a "favorite" one yet, but I am partial to the pink girafee.

Cuteness Overload

Sometimes there are just no words to describe just how adorable you are. You are so happy all the time, and this picture is just too much.

Mother's Day

I am beyond blessed to be celebrating Mother's Day for the first time. You are such an amazing little soul and have made me the happiest mother on this planet. I spent the day thinking about how many special women have touched my life, and have been showing me all along the way what it is to be a mother. I hope that I can take a little bit from everyone of them and show you what it means to be a "good" mom. I've been thinking about Mimi the most, and how lucky we both are to be able to share everyday with her. She helps me more than anyone, and you love her so much. You get the biggest smile on your face every morning when she comes in to see you. You just started reaching out for her when we walk past her and you are in my arms. You only do it for me and her, no one else for right now, and we are savoring every embrace. Everything I do well for you, it's because Mimi did it for me. She has showed and taught me so much over the years, and I hope we can both do the same for you. I look at your Mimi in a whole new way now that I am a mom, and one day I hope when you are a mom that you will understand. We love you very much and are so happy to be spending mother's day all together.

"Before i was a mom... I never learned the words to a lullaby. I never thought about immunizations, i have never been puked on, pooped on, drooled on, chewed on, or peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple little grin. I never sat up for hours watching a baby sleep. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when i couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that i could love someone so much. I never knew i would love being a mom. Before i was a mom... I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside of my body."

Hammock

Mimi and Poppy put this hammock up in the backyard every year. It is all the way in the back of the 2 acres, and when we go for our walks we always stop and take a swing. You love it, and get so excited when we get near it. I could spend hours out there, it is so relaxing and quiet, I'm glad you enjoy it as much as I do, because we will be spending many summer days just this way.

Caterpillar

I wonder what you even thought this little caterpillar was? I picked it up and almost threw it in the bushes, but I turned around and showed you first. You were totally checking it out for about 5 minutes, watching it creep up and down my arm. Once you were done inspecting it, I'm sure you wanted to eat it. I just love the look of intensity on your face in this picture. I can already tell that I think you are going to be a little tomboy. You love being outside, exploring the world around you, and getting into everything. We are in trouble when you start to walk!

Reaching New Heights

I can vividly remember riding on your Poppy's shoulders as a child. I would get so excited when he would place me up there, I felt so big and tall. You got pretty happy when I put you on mine, it's definitely one of your new favorite things! And even though you drooled in my hair, I don't mind, as long as you are happy.

My Angel

"I've got an angel
She doesn't wear any wings
She wears a heart that can melt my own
She wears a smile that can make me wanna sing
She gives me presents
With her presence alone
She gives me everything I could wish for
She gives me kisses on the lips just for coming home

She could make angels
I've seen it with my own eyes
You gotta be careful when you've got good love
Cause the angels will just keep on multiplying

But you're so busy changing the world
Just one smile can change all of mine
We share the same soul."

~Jack Johnson~