Yay!

I have been home for 3 months! Yippie!

Luciana continues to be such a content baby. She is (obviously!) growing like crazy, into everything, and keeping us laughing and running! She pulls up on absolutely everything... I see rock climbing in her future. She is standing independently, but hasn't attempted any steps. That is really fine by us! Ha! She still only says "Dada" clearly, but she has created a sound for "Mama" that sounds like "ahh-ahh" in her little sing-songy voice. It is too cute. She definitely has a voice which can be very loud if she wants it to...usually in the car! Most of the time, she is just smiling, clapping, laughing her tiny little laugh, and waving to all her fans! I can't believe we are planning her first birthday. Between that and Sam finishing Kindergarten, I should be in a puddle of tears some day soon.

Much love.

Beach Day

We had the greatest family day today. We had a much needed sunny and warm day, so we packed up the wagon and headed for the beach. Living in Maine means we have access to a lot of beautiful beaches... some less than 20 minutes away. But, today we decided to take a road trip. We headed to Popham Beach which is just a bit over an hour away. When we got there, it was warm and foggy and made for a truly beautiful setting. Both kids had a blast all day long. It was a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful time spent together.

In these pics, check out Sam's adorable fisherman's hat from Miss Sue! How cute is he?!!?! And both kids enjoyed the perfectly timed beach toys they just got yesterday from Mike, Terri and Lexus! Sam was all into castle building, seashell collecting, and "surfing". In these pics, he was waiting for the perfect wave to move him on his board. When it did, it took him by surprise! Later, when my camera battery was acting up, he and Keith had a blast body surfing with the waves. I don't know how they did it because the water was NOT warm! They also attempted to walk out to the big rocks at low tide. They made it more than halfway before it was just too deep. Maybe next time. Lucy was all about the sand! She loved it. Yes, she took that first taste, but that was all it took to realize sand is more fun to play with than eat. She spent a very long time with a piece of seaweed, and had the time of her life splashing in one of the pools left by low tide. That was also when the battery was threatening to quit, but she was hysterical splashing and covered herself with a layer of sand that may take days to wash away!

As expected, Lucy crashed before we even got out of the parking lot. Sam tried, but he was just too tired to fall asleep... anyone relate?! I just love days like this with my whole little family... they have been a long time coming and we are truly appreciating them. Today was just a dream come true. Enjoy the pics.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

PS- We are meeting new friends tomorrow! I hope to have some pics to share. I am really looking forward to it.

Happy Girl

Snapshots From April and May

Luciana at the Children's Museum.

Sam rock climbing at the museum.

Just hamming it up with those eyes!

Ready for anything! (Where's his glove?!?)

Bad Blogger?!?!

I have recently been told that I am officially a "bad blogger" by a good friend who is rightfully craving a Lucy update! I know! It's true. I am at the point where there is so much I am behind on that I don't know where to begin. We have been CRAZY busy, and I am so beat by the end of the day that the thought of uploading pics to blogger is just too much for this wiped out Mama!

I have a very few minutes this morning before running off to church, so I am going to have to use the old bullet method to catch you up. I will make every effort to update some pics next week. Here goes:

* Luciana is crawling everywhere with speed and determination... tongue still leading the way!
* She pulls up on EVERYTHING, including the backs of my legs.
* She stands for several seconds at a time and loves to walk around holding fingers.
* I have resumed my weekly visits to the chiropractor. ;-)
* Lucy says "Dada". He LOVES that... it is so sweet.
* She is babbling a lot.
* Lucy is so generous with her smiles and leaves a wake of cooing adults whenever we enter or leave a room. It's so fun!
* She has slept through the night for the last 6 nights in a row... knock wood! Good girl!
* We take long walks and Luciana is so content and looks at everything.
* Luciana's all time favorite toy is... Sam. Priceless. She also likes toys she can bang and dolls.
* Luciana cracks up at sneezes... especially her own!
* She has an almost silent laugh... her laugh is all in her huge smile and gorgeous eyes!
* Sam is playing T-ball and loving it. I have a great video to share of his first hit!
* He got to spend the day at my school last week b/c he will be going there for 1st grade next year! It was field day and he had a blast.
* Sammy has a new fort in the back yard that "he built" with his Papa. Thank you, Papa!
* Sam will have his first school musical next week. I can't wait.
* Sam's favorite toy... Lucy. Seriously. He also loves action heroes and Hot Wheels.
* Sam's favorite past time... making Lucy laugh. He can do it like no one else.
* Keith started a new job and we are very grateful and excited about that.
* Keith also graduated from grad school with his MBA. We are so proud of him!
* I have started a class, myself. Why? Why would I do that?!
* To my BLOG friends... I make sure to read your blogs and keep up with your wonderful families most nights... I am still loving up your sweet families!
* Lucy turned 11 months old last week and we are moving way too quickly to that 1st birthday.
* In June, Keith and I will celebrate our 8th anniversary, Lucy will turn 1, and Sam will complete his first year of school... all in one week. Phew!

I know you really come here for the pics. I will get there. In the meantime, I am madly in love with my busy, crazy, packed full of stinkin' cuteness life. We are doing great! Exhausted and truly happy.

Much love.

Has It Really Been...

Only 2 months since we have been home? I feel like we have been home so much longer. Life is just up and running... and so are we!

Every now and then I look back on what I wrote at "this time last year". I only wrote one post in May last year and it was all about paperwork! That, too, feels like a lifetime ago! I did crack myself right up reading my rantings about paperwork... what a bizarre time that was in our world. It is so good for me to take those moments to sit with those old feelings of longing... but, they are so gone now. We are so complete and loving it all.

Life is good.

First Teeth... Look Closely

What? Oh. You want me to show the people my new teethies?

Ok... look closely. I worked REALLY hard for these!

See? (A little blurry as my girl loves to bounce in her crazy bouncer from her gal pal, Bea!)

Those itty bitty teeth are hard to capture on camera! There were many runny, runny noses and a few sleepless nights while these first two made their way into the world. These "firsts" are so fun to celebrate... we are constantly reminded how lucky we are to have our sweet girl home to be the a part of even the smallest of milestones. We are so blessed.

FFF

Luciana and I were sitting in the front yard a few weeks ago while Sam was playing on the swingset. I was trying to take a few pics of her, but she was drooling like crazy, so I was about to give up. All of a sudden he came up behind her and gave her a huge hug and she just lit up! Suddenly I didn't even see the drooling... just these smiling faces!

A Special Visit...aka. Barb, You've Been Blogged!

Since we have been home, we have had many very special visits. For the most part, I have been terrible about taking pictures... I think I overdid it in Guatemala! But, I was sure not to miss these Kodak moments... well, I was gently reminded often to get the camera out! hee hee

Here are some moments from our day with Luciana's Godparents, their children, and the Party of Five crew! (Auntie Barbara, Uncle Chris, James, Nathan, Bobbi, Joe, Cassie, Krista, and Reese!) It was a very special day... and if I say more than that, I run the risk of going to one of "Beth's emotional places". Still, I often think what a small world it is and am so grateful that Barbara thought to introduce me to her good friend and college roommate, Bobbi, way back in the beginning of our process... just look at us all now!