Dude Looks Like a Baby

Every morning, the Bambina helps Daddy get ready for work.  They make coffee with breakfast and play:

and she helps him pick out his tie:

That was last Wednesday, and we all know what Wednesday means.  "It's a Gymboree day!"  Last week, Aunt Anne got to accompany us to our class and she captured a few photos:

As always, the Bambina couldn't make it home without passing out in the car.  We tried to keep her awake so she could nap at home (she usually won't fall back to sleep if she naps in the car), but to no avail.  We sang songs, brought toys to life, and said her name a hundred different ways.  But in the words of Aunt Anne, it was like she needed toothpicks to keep her eyes open like Bugs Bunny in a cartoon :-)  

That's our Girlie-- living it up!

Junebug

As the summer gets longer, so is the Girlie.  She looks different every time I look at her!  Her muscles are getting stronger and she's building up that vocabulary.  We've gone from mamamama and bababa, to dadadada (her current favorite) and nanana.  Compared to last month at this time-- look at all that hair!

And she absolutely loves to blow air through her lips to make a noise like a balloon letting out air.  Not sure if she got that one from Aaron or myself, but we'll chalk it up to Daddy.

Speaking of Daddy, he has been entertaining us not just with silly noises but with hilarious songs as well.  He's been composing these fabulous pieces since her birth, but they just keep getting better.  It's amazing what one can do when you have words like diapee and wipee along with poopee and dupee with which to work.

His repertoire has featured songs such as:

~"Highway to the Diapee Zone" set to the tune of "Highway to the Danger Zone" of course

~"You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Poopee" ("You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party" by the Beastie Boys)

~"We Like to Potty" ("We Like to Party")

I'm thinking record deal.
That Daddy...

An eternal jokester, he always says that when the Girlie gets food around her mouth while eating she reminds him of Captain Morgan-- that's right, the one and only goateed spokesperson for a rum with the same name.  Because of this, he sometimes talks in a pirate voice while feeding her.  Comical.

In honor of Father's Day, let's have a toast to the pirate in all of us!  Here's to all the captains in our lives!!

Ay, ay, matey!
Prunes definitely do the trick...

Happy [early] Father's Day!!

Wintergreen, VA

We took our 1st vacation together as a family last weekend over Memorial Day.  Fantastico!  Our trip to Wintergreen, VA involved beautiful weather, great food with amazing views, and some well-deserved relaxation.  The Bambina is really good at relaxation, so she showed us how to maximize it.

Step #1:  Do some leisurely activities that are enjoyable, yet tiring.

Step #2:  Get a lot of fresh air.

Step #3:  Eat some good food.  

Step #4:  Take a nap or two.  Or three.

The Girlie may not have memories of our first family vacation when she's older, but we have plenty of pictures to help preserve these souvenirs in our minds.  Who knows where our travels will take us-- such endless possibilities...

My heart is warm with friends I make,

And better friends I'll not be knowing;

Yet there isn't a train I'd rather take,

No matter where it's going.

~from "Travel" by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Goldfish

We had swim class today!  The bambina is like a fish, but much cuter.

Exhibit 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9hFbi1RX80

She just couldn't get enough swimming today-- we even went to the pool in our building this afternoon to cool off.  Nothing like practicing our back float while taking in views of the monuments.  Next time we'll have to whip up some smoothies just so we can put umbrellas in them and complete the picture.  Think chocolate pairs well with mango??