Backyard Pool Time

It has been a little too hot most days to use Mia's pool at our house (or we've headed over to the big pool that Mom and Dad can use). Today was a perfect day for Mia to have some fun in her pool. Her favorite thing seems to be getting in and out instead of just playing in the pool.

A trip to the zoo

Since Mom and Dad took Friday off to make Labor Day weekend, a very long weekend and dad wanted to do some house projects that weren't great for having Mia at home, Mia and Mom went to the zoo. The problem was that the rain that was supposed to pass by lunch time, hung out right on top of us until we were leaving. Thankfully, our friends Pam and Genevieve were as crazy as we were and kept us company in the downpours.

Mia has a great time and wasn't phased by the rain at all. It did limit the picture taking so we only have this one from inside Amazonia. Mia loved that there were no cages or walls. You just walked through the jungle surrounded by the animals.

Welcome Kiera Elizabeth

We want to welcome Kiera Elizabeth into the world and congratulate our friends Christine and Alex. All are doing well and we can't wait to meet Keira.

Impromptu Playdate

Our neighbor Abby stopped by for a little play date this evening. Abby is 13 mo older than Mia, but they still have a great time hanging out.

Birthday Fun

We celebrated Mom's 30th birthday with a "hike" around Teddy Roosevelt Island. If you're not familiar, it is a little island in the Potomac River between Roslyn and Georgetown. We had a great time and even walked into Georgetown after for a milkshake.

Pittsburgh

We spent this weekend in Pittsburgh for the wedding of Rob's old roommate Matt Maserati. Since the wedding wasn't until 6pm, we were able to spend the day with our friends Tom and Cara. Tom took us on a wonderful walking tour of Pittsburgh from their lovely home (in which they were kind enough to put us up in for the weekend) over to Pitt and Carnegie Melon's campuses. Mia even got a tour of Pitt's Cathedral of Learning and enjoyed seeing the wonderful views.



A big thanks to Tom and Cara for, in addition to being wonderful hosts, also being our babysitters for the night. Mia was able to go to bed at a reasonable hour while we attending a wonderful wedding at Heinz Chapel and reception at the Soldier's and Sailor's Memorial.

How to Scar Your Child For Life

I'm an avid reader of The Poop, the San Francisco Chronicle's baby blog. The blogs are hysterical and they do some crazy contests. (Mia made the Halloween costume blog.)

This recent posting about "My Little Fashion Twin" is one of the best. Growing up, my sister and I had a few occasions of matching outfits, but my parents were pretty decent to us. Rob was enough younger than his siblings to have been spared the matching outfits in the pictures I have seen. I just hope as a parent, I don't cave to the matching outfits. I guess a white shirt and khaki bottoms for a picture are OK, but you have to see the gingham Laura Ingalls sisters.

Hope you enjoy...

the milk memos

A few weeks ago, a friend told me about this book, "the milk memos, how real moms learned to mix business with babies - and how you can, too". (Thanks, Kathy!) I finally checked on Amazon and found it is currently at the bargain price of $4.99.

I've had many conversations with my working mom friends and I've been lucky enough to have friends in all types of situations (part-time, full-time, went to work after baby and then left, started working after 6-9 mo at home, started working after 12 wks like me, even working with baby at home). The stories that these women tell are priceless as I don't know how I would have survived so long without them. (I mean who else can make you feel better by telling the story of how they pumped in a court house room storage closet with their feet holding the door shut because it didn't have a lock. That's serious dedication.)

Back to the book...
I picked up the book and in just flipping through it, started laughing out loud. It really hit home for me. I know I've had the advantage of pumping in my own house most of my pumping career, but I've also pumped in airplane bathrooms, taken refrigerated breast milk through Heathrow customs, and had to explain a breast pump to airport security numerous times. I highly recommend it for any mom that's working outside the home or contemplating it. Considering the great price, I think I might be adding it to a few baby shower baskets.

Out for a Walk

Mia had a great time hanging out outside today. These pictures show how much of a toddler she really is now.

Dance Party

We often have dance parties, especially while dinner is being made. Here's Mia getting her groove on to Vaco. The spinning is a recent addition to Mia's repertoire and she's been known to walk backwards, too. Moonwalk next, anyone?

Sorry the background music isn't that loud and the videography isn't that great. This is from our regular camera, not our video camera.

A Quick Visit with Grandpa

Mia got a special treat when we went out to the Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport to see Grandpa during his layover. As some of you may know, Grandpa has been working in Scotland for the past 8 months and this is the first time since Christmas he has been able to spend time with Mia. Mia had a wonderful time looking at all the planes and seemed to like the space shuttle engine the best.

Our New Favorite Food Accessory

The Snack Trap has finally made it into our home. This may be one of our favorite inventions as it actually keeps the food inside the cup so Mia only takes out a few Cheerios or puffs at a time. Mia thinks it is great since it is easier to take snacks in the stroller or carry them around the kitchen. Mom and Dad also get to avoid stepping on the Cheerios and creating a nice powder ground into the floor. I think we're all in love.

Water Baby

Mia had her first dip in the Atlantic Ocean this weekend. She adored it. She thought the waves were so much fun and had no problem with the cold ocean water.


Playing on the beach was just OK. Your Cheerios get full of sand and it was definitely hot.

Mom also makes me wear this big hat all the time, which can make it difficult to find your way around if it falls in your face.
All in all, a wonderful time and Mia can't wait to go back.

Spanish Class

Mia has been having a great time getting to spend her weekends and some evenings with Uncle Allan and Tia Raquel.
Raquel has been wonderful about speaking to Mia mostly in Spanish (unless Mom needs to follow along) and Mia is looking forward to making it to Spain, maybe this fall, to see where her new cousin will live. She's got to look out for Baby W G and test drive the nursery before he arrives this winter.

Dad, there are baseball teams besides the Orioles?

Yes, it is true. Mia has been allowed to have baseball paraphernalia from a team other than the Orioles. This A's cap (originally a chili bowl) is courtesy of Alex and Erin.

Hats

Mia has a very love/hate relationship with hats. Here are some cute pictures from the other day.

Then we were done wearing the hat and wanted to share with Dad.

Books

Mia loves to be read books, but she also loves to "read" them herself. She'll carry her books around from room to room, plop down on the floor in the middle of the kitchen when we're making dinner, and start talking and turning pages.

Daddy's also happy that this interest applies to baseball game programs, too.

Fun in the Sun

This weekend was filled with family and parties as we celebrated the upcoming births of Baby W B (child of cousins Elizabeth and Christian) and Baby W G (child of Uncle Allan and Tia Raquel).

Mia particularly enjoyed pool time!

She just can't wait to be big enough to be thrown into the pool by Uncle Allan just like her big cousins.


(Pictures courtesy of Uncle Charlie!)

Yogurt

Mia's currently learning how to use a spoon to feed herself.

She's getting pretty good at it.

Until she decides that she's too hungry and her hand is much faster.

Btw, the Bumpkin toddler bibs are great. Once Mia's hands and face were wiped up, you had no idea she's just been covered in yogurt.

Blocks

Mia received a set of blocks for her birthday. She took to them faster than we had expected and enjoys using the both for stacking and as musical instruments.


She particularly had a great time destroying Daddy's sculpture.