Summer of Seuss at Naples Zoo!

Naples Zoo kicked off "Summer with Seuss" this Memorial Day weekend, so Gma and Mama took MJ to meet her buddy Cat in the Hat!! It was so hot! Poor Cat in the Hat I don't know how he made it through the day. Possibly the big smile he got from Miah Jane! She loved him! You just never know how these big costume characters are going to be received. This will be Miah's first experience with one up close, and I have to say it went very well. No fear. I don't know if that is good or bad just yet, but so far it's been good. I would really, really like to continue to be able to say that. I hope MJ takes after her Daddy with quite a few things, but the "no fear" gene I could do with out. Let's hope she got Mama's "cautious" gene.

Her miniature version in tow.
Mama lets go already.
I really hope there was some sort of cooling device in there for this poor soul.
Aisle of palms.
Reminders of the paradise we live in.
Eons ago when Mama went here as a little girl this Toucan was a famous Naples landmark. Really cool they preserved it.
Bronze statues of Dr. Seuss characters can be found throughout the park. Green, Eggs & Ham anyone?
This is lame Mama. Next!

Bye bye Sam I Am.

Hello zebra! Now this is cool!

Okay Gma give me a good hoist.

You're not helping me Gma!

Wait! I want to make friends with the zebra!

Oh forget the zebra! Look at the kitty!!

Here kitty kitty!

I had very mixed feelings about this as a mother.
Cool? or Super Scary?

She was mesmerized.

Thank you to Stella's Grandma for our free membership! We'll be back to enjoy more of the Summer with Seuss!

Three Years Ago

Three years ago I lived a fairytale..........

I try hard not to digress too far from Miah Jane on this blog, BUT the moment Jeremiah and I turned around and walked down that aisle hand in hand as Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Beckman we were taking steps towards her.......

Confess, your kiss still knocks me off my legs. The first time I saw you was like a punch right through my chest and I will forever, ‘cause you’ll forever be my one true broken heart, pieces inside of me; and you’ll forever, my baby be............
Baby Blue by Dave Matthews Band

My dearest Miah Jane.....thank you for being the beautiful, living, breathing proof of the love your Daddy and I shared. The proof that makes me continue to look forward to waking up each morning to the smiles you have in store for me that day. As the rings you often clutch so tightly once did, you now act as the link that will forever bond your Daddy and I. My love is eternal for him and now you too. Move over Daddy!! There's a new Miah in town!!

An Afternoon in the Park

My wonderfully talented friend Michelle Tricca made a short video of MJ while we visited at the park one afternoon. We ate homemade cookies while catching up and watching Miah Jane swing. Please visit Michelle's website to see more of her fabulous work!! Love you Meeshell my Bell!!
(don't forget to pause music at bottom of blog to hear video!)

Miah Jane from Michelle Tricca Photography on Vimeo.

We Got Our Ears Pierced Today!

Well, I didn't think Miah Jane could possibly get cuter. WRONG!! She is now sporting 14 karat gold cz's in her ears like nobody's business! Seriously, it's like she came out of my womb with them in. My lovely friend Kara made an appointment at Merle Norman for our two precious divas to get their ears pierced this morning at 10:30. I was a bit nervous with all the poking and prodding MJ went through last month when she was sick, but she took it like a champ once again. We had a few tears after each pop, but Mama had a bottle ready for her when she was done (my secret weapon, shhhh). She was golden after that. Literally! Her BFF Lexi has a few months on her, so when it was her turn there was a little bit more crying and WWF wrestling with her Mama, Kara. Despite the pain, the experience was well worth it. These starter earrings have to stay in for eight weeks. After the eight weeks we will change the cubic zirconia out to the real deal! MJ already has diamonds awaiting her in her jewelry box from her Daddy.

One of the first Christmases Jeremiah and I spent together he gave me a tiny pair of diamond stud earrings. I think my other present that year was a fishing pole. Good recovery Sweetie with the diamonds. Anyway, once I opened them he says, "Do you know how expensive diamonds are Babe?!". Me: "Ah yeah, I take it you didn't? So your saying it's gonna be a while until I get one for my finger?" FIVE years later was the answer to that question. Ok, sorry I really digressed...... needless to say despite Daddy's absence he has still managed to give his little girl one of the many presents he's left behind.

Of course we have to capture all of this on camera.

Operation "Forget About the Pain" in effect.

Watching Lexi's torture.


What's all the fuss about my friend? It's over!

An ice cream shop strategically nextdoor to Merle Norman!

Ice cream makes everything better!!


We tried to take a picture of the besties together with their matching ears.
As you can see that didn't work out so good.

Very nice Lexi Lynn. Way to hang in there!

Yay! No more people mistaking you for a boy when you wear blue!

Girls don't only have to wear pink people!

THE END.

Bath Time

Every night around 7:00pm we like to hang out in the bathtub. Well, maybe not every night and maybe not quite at 7:00pm. This is what we shoot for more or less. Since Miah has started to crawl she has graduated from her little whale tub to the vast abyss of the "big girl" bathtub. She wasn't so sure of it in the beginning. Mama had to get in with her a couple times, but those few nights ended pretty quick. I think she realized the incredible amount of space she had to play in without Mama's big 'ole legs in there with her! If we are lucky, some nights Auntie Tanya and Uncle Jordie come join the fun, and help splash and squirt water all over the bathroom with us. Eventually, we do have to get to our objective of this 7:00pm ritual and scrub something. Particularly, the naked baby trying to dodge the wash cloth every which way she can. I mean who wants to be clean right? Mama, I want to save the crusty butternut squash in my hair for later! The fun we have in the tub is now my new favorite way to wind down the evening. Better than any glass of wine I can think of. Well, ok maybe I got carried away there, but you know what I mean.

She got those little pointy elf ears from her Daddy.

The defined muscles too.

I mean what eight month old do you know has visible deltoids?

Hold on tight Auntie Tanya! I'm a slippery one!

You don't see very many pictures of Uncle Jordie, because he is always the one behind the camera making her smile the biggest smile. He probably wouldn't want a picture taken of the shenanigans he performs to work out these smiles anyway. I have to admit though, he doesn't have to work all that hard. It's pretty magical.

Kills me every time she does this sweet "look up" face.

A monkey for my monkey!


Summer is quickly approaching, so sadly little footsie pj's are on a bit of a hiatus. I may crank the a/c a night or two just to pull those back out. However, this little boxer brief number is not a bad substitute of cuteness!

Mama, I am watching Mickey please DO NOT interrupt me.

Seriously! Sheesh!

I may be "pint size", but I pack a lot of punch!
You wanna a piece of me?!