Like Mother Like Daughter

While unpacking I found a dress that once belonged to me. I wore this dress when I was Alia's age. Mom says the day wasn't so picture perfect because I wouldn't cooperate for the cameraman. Everyone tried and tried to get me to smile. I finally did after I threw up all over myself. The stain is still on the dress and visible in my baby picture. Now fast forward to this week. I was excited when I found the dress and decided to try it on Alia. I tried in vain to get her to smile and had similar results. Alia also threw up on the dress, adding to my stain. I hope she will get to pass the tradition down to her daughter someday....

Happy Father's Day!

We enjoyed a great weekend exploring more of our new city. Friday and Saturday were spent cruising around in a golf-cart we rented. The trails are wooded and beautiful and Avery really enjoyed riding in the cart. Since the paths are wooded and there are no signs anywhere, we got lost quite a bit. I wish I had a picture of us on our cart, but we forgot to take one. We also enjoyed a picnic and finally used the awesome basket we were given for our wedding. (Thanks Kelly!) On Sunday we went to the local lake and played in the water. I would say it was refreshing, but I think the water was at least 80 degrees, nothing like the 40 degree Lake Superior waters!

Bodily Functions and other gross stories

Twice now Alia has tried to embarrass me with her bodily functions. The first time happened in my home town, at my church. Church was about to begin and I noticed Alia needed a diaper change. I left Scott and Avery in the sanctuary, grabbed a diaper and wipes out of the diaper bag and headed for the bathroom. When I was changing her, she began to pee. I tried to catch the pee with her new diaper only to realize that the new diaper was upside down and inside out. Realizing this, I pulled it out from under her while she continued to empty her bladder. Now what to do? There I stood, with no new diaper and a little girl with pee-soaked clothes. I had to strip her down to nothing and walk back to the sanctuary to retrieve another diaper and new clothes. Too bad we were seated half way to the altar and I had to pass by several curious onlookers with a naked baby in tow.

The second time she tried was today. She definitely wasn't making it easy to make some new friends. It was a hot day, like every day has been so far in June. I decided to walk to the park with Avery and Alia to meet some moms from the neighborhood because they meet weekly at the park. I put Alia on the front pack and Avery wanted to "ride" his bike so I gave in and let him. I say ride in quotes because he refused to pedal and instead pushed with his feet. The park is a few blocks away so it took 15 minutes to get there. Once there, I was really sweating from carrying Alia and dragging Avery and his bike. I tried to look somewhat presentable even though I was sweating from every pore in my body. I walked up, took Alia out of the carrier and sat down on the bench. She was standing on my lap for about five minutes while I talked to the other mom's and while Avery played in the sand. I glanced down at one point to see how wet my shirt had become from all of the sweat only to discover that the whole front of my shirt is covered in poop! I look at Alia and notice that she is also covered in poop. Great, now what. Did the other mothers notice? I decide to nonchalantly stand up and pretend to get something out of my bag which was on another bench. I look for a diaper and wipes which I always carry only to realize that they were in another bag and not in the bag I had at the park. Fun times! I then quickly decide to put Alia back in the front carrier so no one could see the poop on the front of my shirt or all over her. Then I try to explain to Avery as quietly as I can that we need to leave the park and head back home. Of course, he wasn't pleased because we had just gotten there. The worst part of leaving was realizing that I was now covered in poop, as was Alia and we had to walk back the several blocks in the sweaty heat, dragging Avery on his bike. I wonder what those mom's thought of us on our first meeting, what a great first impression!

Growing up...

I've been working with Avery trying to teach him the ins and outs of dressing oneself. Here is our progress thus far. He managed this all by himself!


Playing in the bouncy house


This deserves some explanation. When we were unpacking our home, Venus noticed that there was a bed that wasn't currently being used. She begged and pleaded with us until we finally gave in. Look how happy she looks!

It seems that in the move we acquired one hampster and lost the boy

Alia and Banana 4 months

Alia


Avery

Sweet Surprises....

It's official, I can call this place home and feel good about it because.....


"Hey Mom, what is that coming down the road?"


THERE ARE ICE CREAM TRUCKS!!!!


We had just gotten back from a very sweaty walk and we heard music down the street. I jokingly told Avery it was an ice cream truck because that's what you see in the movies. I was really surprised and quite happy when it actually was an ice cream truck. How cool is that? Oh, and the neighbors just dropped off homemade cookies : ).