Father's Day

Jim awoke to a full, manly breakfast this special day...we wanted photo evidence that the man was treated well...
He was given cards and gifts. The gifts were a fan for his car and a football to play at the beach with. We tried it out today and it does indeed work well. Another football to add to the vast collection.
Marie playing in her water table. She loves it so much. This is before her last hair cut. Now it is short short and we refer to her as the "shorn sheep." But she isn't sweating as much as she used to...it can grow long in the winter.
post haircut...After a long, hard day, you just got to watch a little Baby Einstein and relax in your chair...

daddy

Oh daddy...I do love him. He takes me to the park, pushes me on the swing and takes me to the beach. We go swimming together and he doesn't mind if I splash him. I barely recall the days when I wouldn't let him hold me...what was I thinking??
Plus...look closely at my little finger....see how I have him wrapped around it?

Bathing Beaut

Every night Marie has the same routine...bath, bottle, books, prayers, song, bed. We usually start at 7ish and lights out within a half hour. Last night we went for a walk around the sub at 6. Jim and I were having a heated discussion about what to do if she should wake up in the middle of the night. Being a strict type-A person, I had to really chew on this and "make a plan." (I know I won't keep the plan...I realize this. I will go in and get involved when I hear her screech and second guess him...he knows it too but theoretically, we have a plan). Anwyays, as we wrapped it up, Jim notices that Marie has fallen asleep, sitting up, holding her sippy cup, while we were planning. We wake her when we get back home and then begin "the routine." Her she is enjoying her bath.

Oranges are Awesome!

This is a little out of order but still pretty cute! This is Marie enjoying an orange on the weekend of Mother's Day. (You can hear my mom in the background). Our weekend was very nice. We were going to take advantage of the free babysitting but Jim had stained the deck all day and was a little tired. We watched a Globetrekker video of China so Mom could see what the different parts of the country were like. For about one minute, they showed a statue that we saw in Nanchang, it was commenmorating the beginning of the People's Liberation Army. Did we tour it? Take photos by it? Noooo...we drove by it on our way to Wal-Mart...it was just down the block! Anyways, on Sunday we went over to my cousin Becky's house and had a great dinner. Always awesome to have a cook-out with the family.
So there are 4 days left of school...then 2 days where I work for the intermediate school district. Add in one week at a workshop and that is my work schedule this summer! Can't wait to be home with Marie!

For John...

Little Miss Yogurt Head

Beach Babe

These are from Memorial Day weekend. We had wonderful company with our friends Jacqui (my friend from wayyyy back) and her John. We spent morning at our house, drinking coffee and watching Marie. Ventured out for afternoons. We hit the beach one day, went for a hike another and Jacqui and John babysat Marie one day so Jim and I could go to the symphony. It was pretty awesome to sit and do nothing but listen to music for an hour or so. Thank you, you two!!!
Anyways, we did make it to the beach. I work very hard to go in the water when I am convinced it is just too cold; I usually end up having so much fun - after the body is numb. This weekend, though, nah-uh. It was cold...really cold. North Atlantic cold. So Daddy took her in and played with her along the shore. She has a blast with her shovel, pail and watering can. Jim and I became adults again when we had to make her come sit down and warm up...remember when your parents did that to you? (You were having a great time in the water and they, for no good reason, make you come in and sit down out of the water.) I had a hat on her, suntan lotion and made her sit under the umbrella; then I realized it was 4pm and she was likely fine. But its good to start thinking about those things!
We also had dinner at a friend's house. Marie swung in the hammock with her buddy Hannah. Hannah was very sweet, taking her hand and swinging with her. We look forward to babysitting her this summer for a few days!!

Brighton Visit

Marie has discovered the joy of desserts! Her first true dessert love was a malt that she shared with Jim. Then she moved on to popsicles. This one, while its technically fruit, was a joy for her! She shared it with her daddy on her Uncle Rob and Aunt Sandra's porch when we went downstate for Jim's Uncle Nino's funeral. She takes such small, ladylike bites, doesn't she? On that same porch is Marie with her cousins Jake and Jimmy. Marie was fascinated with 10 year old Jimmy. She wanted to hold his hand and sit in his lap. He was not so fond of these overtures from her.
Last, I just had to post a picture of this belly. She is truly a thin child, we really struggle to get calories into her but this picture just is spectacular.