Your First Vacation

Your Poppy spent his summers on Long Beach Island. Your Great Nonna would take him there with all his sisters and cousins. And when he became a Dad, he started taking Aunt Mitzi and I there as well. The same house in Ship Bottom on 7th street. That was the vacation we took every year, and I looked foward to it as much as I did Christmas. I loved listening to Poppy's stories about his days spent down there as a kid. It was always so exciting pulling up to that house and running in, checking every room out again, and having all the memories of the year before come flooding back in your mind. Aunt Mitzi and I shared a room growing up, and it was always exciting to come down the shore and FINALLY get to have our own rooms (even though on many occasions we ended up back in a room together!) It's just a simple house, nothing fancy, but filled with so many amazing memories for everyone in our family. When I was pregnant with you, I would day dream about all the things that I couldn't wait to do with you...and at the top of the list was take you down to LBI. And finally that dream came true.
First Vacation LBI June 19th-26th 2010

Father's Day

We spent your Dad's first Father's Day down the shore in LBI. It was also your first vacation and first time at the beach. We cooked Daddy and big breakfast and then headed to the beach with Maya, Aunt Jen and Uncle Matt. I think Daddy had a great day and it was nice that we were all together and on vacation. I've known your Dad for a very long time. I've seen him grow up from a kid, to a man, to a husband, and now a father. I always knew he would make a wonderful father someday to someone, even though he doubted himself many times. I can't believe how lucky I am to have him as my husband and now your Daddy. I've never seen him happier in all my life as he is when he is with you. He loves you more than words can say, and I'm excited to spend many more Father's Days all together.

Sister-Friends

Summer is here, and Aunt Jen is officially done school, which means no more Maya! You have spent practically everyday together since you were born, and I can't believe that when Mimi started watching her, I was still pregnant with you! Rest assure, we will be spending plenty of days all together, but it is definitely going to be a little sad waking up every morning and not having her here. You two have gotten extra close these last few weeks, and I really think that you are going to miss having her around. You are always trying to keep up with her, army crawling as fast as you can, as she walks away. You want to eat what she eats, and are always straining to see what she has on her plate. You try so hard to repeat whatever she says, and when you do, she is quick to say "good girl". She is the closest person to a big sister that you are ever going to have, and I hope you two always remain close friends.

Blueberries

At 8 1/2 months old you suddenly have no interest in baby food anymore. Probably because you watch Maya eat food all day long. You literally ripped an entire hot dog out of my hand the other day and shoved it in your mouth. It's a little overwhelming, the whole new level of responsibility that I feel in making you love healthy food and eat right. I am a horrible eater and so is your Dad, so hopefully we will all start eating better now that you are eating as well. Mimi has blueberries bushes in the backyard, and it was one of the first fruits that I ever gave you. You weren't sure at first...but clearly you got into it and loved them! Now when we sit down to feed you, we have to give you food on your tray or you start to cry! You love broccoli, watermelon, raspberries, bananas, and pasta. You love to feed yourself and get angry when we try to put something in your mouth! You are getting so big and everyday I can't believe how time is flying!

Little Dog!

I guess you are hanging out with the dogs too much, because this is your new favorite way to carry all your toys! You make me laugh every single day, and I just love you to pieces!

8 months old!

At 8 months old...you are crawling everywhere! You rarely get up on your hands and knees, you prefer to army crawl using your right arm and left leg to propel yourself so fast across the ground! Your little personality is in full bloom, although you are pleasant and smiling almost all the time, you certainly are starting to push the boundaries at times and let us know who is boss! You definitely know what you want and are beginning to have little tantrums to let us all know as well. You have started to eat puffs and small pieces of fruit, and you LOVE it! You watch us eat everything else and you want to try everything! We are still waiting on you to get some teeth though! You aren't a big snuggler like you were when you were a baby, but I can still get you to cuddle up with me first thing in the morning and right before you go down to bed. You have been saying "ma-ma" for about 2 weeks, but you just recently started saying "da-da" for the first time. You even said it to your Daddy the first time you said it, and I've never seen him so excited. You are working on using a sippy cup, and I saw you trying to pull yourself up in your crib the other morning! You still prefer to be at home, getting shy and slightly overwhelmed in crowds and big groups of people. These past 8 months have come and gone like a flash of lightening. I look back at your baby pictures and I'm already having trouble remembering you that small. Although I get teary eyed at the thought of how fast you are growing up, I'm excited for all the big changes coming up. You are getting to be so fun and I've never been so excited for summer, like I am for this one. I love you more with each passing moment, I whole heartedly know that these are the best days of my life, and I am savoring every sweet second.

Girl Party!

I still look at all you girls in disbelief, we all got pregnant under different circumstances, all within one year, and all with baby girls. Looking back at the four of us growing up, never in my wildest dreams did I think we would all be at the same point in our lives with these baby girls. Maya Grace is certainly the leader of the pack and I don't think it has anything to do with her being the oldest. Reese is definitely a close second when it comes to running the show, I think her and Maya will butt heads, just like their mommies! You, Michaela by far are going to be the tiniest of the bunch, but you don't let that fool anyone, cause you let everyone know what you like and don't like. And Mariam is definitely the relaxed "go with the flow" kind of girl. We are packing you 4 all up in about a week and taking you to the beach. That is where the 4 of us spent all our summer weekends and looking back it was probably some of the best times of our lives. Although this beach trip will probably be more time preparing to go to the beach, then actual time spent on the beach...we don't care, and are just all thrilled to pieces to let your little toes all touch sand for the first time. We have spent the majority of our lives leaning on each other and going to one another for advice, a laugh, a hug, or just good conversation. This next phase in life, raising our little girls to be strong women, I know we are going to need each other now more than ever. And it gives me great peace to know that not only will I never be alone in that monumentous journey, but that I will doing it side by side with Aunt Jen, Aunt Jeanette, and Aunt Samantha.

Crawling

At 7 1/2 months old you are starting to crawl! You have no interest in being held anymore, and only want to be on the floor. You can get up on your hands and knees and take about 2 steps forward, before falling on your belly and army crawling using your hands and dragging your feet behind! It is so funny to watch especially because you are so fast! I'm guessing that within the next 2 weeks or so you will have this crawling thing down! We are in so much trouble now!

A Little Help From a Friend

"Best friends are the siblings that God forgot to give us."

Blessed

You are almost 8 months old, and I can't even believe how time is flying. Everyone loves you so much and can't imagine life now without you here. You make everyone so happy with that smile that is always plastered across your little face! I think back to last June when I was 6 months pregnant with you, and I remember that was the month we found out that you were a girl. And now one year later you have made all my dreams come true. To go from being told that I would never have a baby, to having the most perfect baby on the planet...to say I'm blessed is an understatement. I love you baby girl!

Plum

I gave you a plum to play with the other day at Aunt Jen's to keep you busy. You rolled it back and forth on the table for awhile. You dug your little thumb into it and made a hole. We were about to throw it away, when Aunt Jen peeled it for you. I have only ever given you a bananna to chew on, and I thought for sure there was no way you would want the plum. Clearly I was wrong, it was the perfect size for your little hands, and you actually loved it on your little baby gums! I guess it's time to start giving you table food...when did you get so big?