13 Years

Today at 12:30 pm was officially our 13th wedding anniversary.  Even though we've had our ups and downs, the one thing that has always sustained my relationship with my husband is that underneath it all, we love each other very much.  Sometimes it's so easy to pack it in and say I give up, but if you do the best you can to work through your problems and issues, most of the time, you will come out on the good side still together.  Too many people give up too easily.

So today I raise a glass to my husband and I.  We have a beautiful home, we work hard, we have two beautiful kids and at the end of the day we go to bed together (sometimes earlier than he claims he wants to go in lol) and we wake up together to face another day.

I love you honey, thank you for being my husband, lover, partner, best friend, biggest supporter, wonderful father and hardest working man I know. I don't know what I would do without you in my life.  I'm very proud to share my life with you.

August 8, 1998

6 Months

Dear Mikaela,

You are 6 months and one week now ... I can hardly believe it!  You're growing so fast and have a tooth finally popping out of your little gums.  So far teething is going alright, no fever, no real stuffiness or crankiness to speak of (thank goodnss!).

This weekend is your last weekend sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's room, you're moving on up to your bedroom tomorrow night.  I got clean sheets on your crib and went through your dresser (AGAIN!) to clean out the clothes that don't fit you anymore (growing like a weed!) so I know what I'm going to need to get you in the fall.

You are going to crawl any day now.  You push up to your hands and knees, rock a bit then fall forward (haha) so we haven't quite mastered how to move your legs and hands to move forward.  The first few times you did this you thought it was hysterical and just laughed and laughed.

You talk and sing all the time, of course none of it makes sense, but we have some great conversations with you. :)

A few weeks ago you started going to a new babysitter and Daddy and I are very happy with it.  She's got a few kids and the house is always in motion, so of course napping doesn't happen as much as it used to in the morning, but that's alright because you take a nice one when we get home and still go to bed around 8 or 8:30.  You seem to love Carolyn and the kids entertain you, that much is for sure!

You are still such a good baby, I can't believe the luck we have with both our kids, Aislynn was such a good baby and so are you!

Speaking of Aislynn, Daddy and I were looking at some of her baby pictures the other day and we are just amazed at the resemblance you have to her.  It's like you are the same baby.  Although your hair is a little darker than Aislynns, otherwise it's just uncanny.

This is Aislynn at around 10 months ... 

Mikaela at 5 1/2 months ... 

It's amazing to us how much you look alike!

One of the things that we remark on and many others is how your hands and feet are constantly in motion.  When you really start moving there will be no stopping you!  

We love you so much and are enjoying every second of you! 

xoxoxoxox

Mommy and Daddy 

The high chair and first feedings that aren't a bottle!

We still have Aislynn's old high chair in the basement so I didn't ask for one for Mikaela.  I realized over the last few weeks that Mikaela, while she isn't quite able to sit up by herself, she likes to be a part of what's going on, especially at dinner time.  So, today I drug the high chair up from the basement and cleaned it all up and plopped her into it.  She's still a little short and needs some extra padding on the sides, but she sits up there pretty well.  This is gonna come in handy because she's starting to have at least one meal a day of cereal and fruit of some kind from a spoon.  She's growing so fast!

hmmm cereal and peaches ... I just don't know

Ok no so bad!

Fun Family times in OC, NJ

Bob's brother, Eric, his wife Kathy and their three cute kids (Sarah, Evan and Emily) came to visit New Jersey this past week.  They spent the week in Ocean City, and we were lucky enough to get down to visit with them and spend some time both on Sunday and then again on Thursday night for a few hours.  It's always so good to see family, especially when they live states away and you don't get to see them often.  The kids are growing so fast, both ours and theirs.  Can't wait to see them again, we're hoping to be able to visit Virginia soon.

Mikaela trying to grab Sarah's face

Ahhh finally got ya!

Emily, she's such a cutie, she was born in early September of 2010.

Birthday boy and cutie patootie, Evan.

Watching babies get so excited to see other babies is so cute!

I'm not sure but I think Emily is trying to stay away from Mikaela's grabby hands! LOL

8th Grade Graduation

On June 13th, Aislynn graduated from 8th grade.

Ok now that I've caught my breath again, yes 8th grade.  This means (GASP!) we are the parents of a high school age kid.  Now I've worked with high school kids for about 8 years now, and I am so proud to say my kid is NOTHING like the kids I've worked with.  Aislynn is such a good kid.  She's a homebody, her friends love to come over and she is well liked at school.

Yes, I'm sure she's Bob and I's daughter.

Anyway,  she decided to dye her hair recently.  Red.  Fire engine red.

Pink streak in the front and some orange high lights through it.  It's freakin awesome!  She looks so grown up.  *sniffle* Such a beautiful girl. 

A few parents said to me "OMG did you know she was doing that?!" I said "I made the appointment!"

Take it from me, if this is the worst thing this kid does, or get a tattoo (which I'll take her when she's 18) I'll consider myself very lucky.  

So proud of you, Aislynn!