Being a cool dog in the hot dog days of summer

Our pool...

no fancy fountains or shimmering nighttime lights,

just some water heating up in the sun,

an occasional butterfly flittering by,

and Lia clapping in excitement.

The Brimfield Antique Show

Nothing like looking at other people's  "stuff", I mean treasures.

We did find the Terracotta Warriors at Brimfield!!!!

(BTW;You must google this if you have no idea what I'm talking about).

...And we also found a very cute giraffe pull toy for Lia.

It became a joke since we had big plans of what we would find,

 but ended up buying Lia  the little giraffe from a seller who was very anxious to haggle. (I love to haggle, but it was too cheap of a price to even start to negotiate and too hot!!!).

Hard to believe, but this is the first time Lia is in a pool.
Last summer we were way too busy in China, and then way too busy adjusting when we came back last August.

Happy First Father's Day Keith!

"Being your little princess is a sweet and special thing,

'cause when it comes to hugs and fun,

Daddy you're the king!"

Keith got a Shutterfly book for Father's Day.  
It was loaded with a years worth of photos of Lia and Daddy.  
Honestly, I don't know how I kept it a secret; 
I was so excited about giving it to him!

Check out Lia's shirt!   Why put strawberries in a bucket???

Daddy's girl

My Sweet Pea in the Strawberry Patch

We went to strawberry picking today with Janet.  I've known her since 1st grade!!!!  Lia and Janet met for the first time today, and they hit it off well.  She's visiting for a few days and we're having a lot of fun!

Happy (Belated) Mother's Day

A friend sent me this poem since it's my first Mother's Day. I just had to share this with you.  Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!!!! Hope it was wonderful.
Enjoy...

Our First Mother's Day

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys

or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not

my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, 
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried myself with love for a child.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
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 my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child,
because there's nothing like it.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom, 
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. or lay awake listening for that breathing
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of Life.

Things I'm Learning as a New Mom

A border in a garden, a little shoe box, a shelf or a window ledge are all classified as a little chair.

It doesn't matter that I'm not a plant, this space is meant for me!
Move over plants!

While celebrating mom and dad's anniversary at the
 Italian Restaurant at the C.I.A.,
I discovered another little chair just for me.

Exploratory play includes ice cream.  It is to be explored first, and then maybe eaten.

Mommy "had to" eat the ice cream, and she enjoyed every second of it.

Helping means being in the center of it all.

I want to play here while I help...

...And nothing will happen to the washing machine or the dryer if a rock is in it.  Sorry, no photo.  (Little girls like to collect rocks with daddy, and put them in their pockets.)

Happy Spring everyone!

Christmas 2010

Keith here...

What a blessing to celebrate this past Christmas and New Years with our little Lia!  The impact she has made and how she has changed both our lives is wonderful.  We also acknowledge and celebrate the impact Jesus Christ made at His birth many years ago.  We are thankful He made an impact on our lives and the entire world.

Amy and I are loving Lia so much as we watch her grow and change.  She is now walking all over the place and is loving exploring her surroundings.  I get tired just watching her walk and walk and walk and walk.  She also loves music, so she is dancing and shaking her little bottom when she hears a good tune.  She takes after Amy and is a much better dancer then her daddy!

We had a nice Christmas at home here.  My nephew Christian and his girlfriend Maggie were with us as well on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  It was fun having them here.

Here are some pictures taken during December.....

 Two Santa hats and only one head = ????  

A horse cart ride at a local Christmas Fair. 

Lia loved watching the horses.  

Lia with a Christmas Elf. 

Lia with Frosty.

Lia's first visit with Santa Claus.  She took it well but was very cautious.

Christmas 2010... as a family!

Breakfast on Christmas Day with Lia, Amy, Christian and Maggie. 

Opening gifts. 

A cold walk on the walkway bridge over the Hudson River on Christmas Day.

Lia and cousin Maddie.  Two cuties in pink!  

Lia and Mommy in the snow after the blizzard.

Lia's first sledding adventure.  She loved it! 

Over the river and through the wood...

...to Grandmother's house we go.

Well, not really.  More like,  "Up at 5, and down 84, to JetBlue terminal we go".  We went down to Florida to visit Keith's mom, sister, brother in law, niece and nephew the weekend before Thanksgiving.  Everyone loved meeting Lia!!!!

Hey Keith, couldn't we just all wear pajamas at this time of the night?

Pick me up!

"I love you Grandma".

Keith's niece, sister and nephew 

Lia's first time at a beach...

"OPA!!!!"  Tarpon Springs for lunch!!!!  

After a quick "jet-setter" weekend, everyone deserves a nap.Check out Lia's arm up in the air.

We got home safe and sound, and spent Thanksgiving with our good friends.  

BTW, Lia's been walking for a few weeks now, and discovered that she can run.  She especially loves doing laps through the kitchen and living room; of course I get a big smile and a hug each time she passes by me.

What a fun time we're having!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Now we're off to a Christmas party!!!!