On our way to the most magical place on earth!

There are some days.....

....when we all wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Miah Jane included. Not only did she wake up on the wrong side of the bed for the last four days, she had a snotty nose and restless nights of sleep to compound the daily Mama challenge to keep it together. It's only fitting to kick myself when I'm down and miss my husband terribly as my daughter tugs at me to be held while I try to quickly go to the bathroom. With Miah Jane's one year birthday upon me I can't help fight the twinge of sadness that has become a part of my being. I've actually had day dreams of our first child's birthday and it wasn't supposed to be anything like this. Not even Rage Against the Machine at some ungodly decibel can keep the tears away on days like these. Just when I think it might be time for David Lawrence Center to send a paddy wagon with four of their strongest men dressed in white scrubs, with a straight jacket........my lovely neighbors come to my rescue. Auntie Tanya and Uncle Jordie are with out a doubt the most generous loving people Miah Jane and I will ever come to know and be blessed to have in our lives. If I need a minute or two or sixty they are there. Whether it be Uncle Jordie making his whoops and doops while swinging my girl around or Auntie Tanya schooling her with her many MAC eye shadows, they are always there when I need to cry or just take a freaking shower for every one's sake! Thank you, Thank you, a thousand times thank you neighbors. I love you.

In between her sniffles and whines MJ let a little cuteness peak out to help me keep my head above water. In addition to those moments each project in preparation for her birthday kept me busy and in turn built up excitement and happiness for the day my little bandaid turns one. It's here. One day at a time....I made it......and I'm gonna celebrate it!!

Yeah so I wear a bath robe, what of it?

Just brushing my teeth Mama, not a big deal.

Really? Are you done?


Watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while lounging on her new personalized bean bag!
Courtesy of her lovely Gma! (Another one of Mama's beloved saviors)





Yeah Minnie, I'm calling to let you know I'm coming to your house Thursday.

It's my birthday, so you better be ready to party!! Tell Mickey and the gang for me all right? Thanks Doll Face.

I gotta run.

My Who from Whoville

I swear to you all that I did not stage this hairdo by any one strand! This is how Miah Jane woke up one morning over the Labor Day weekend. She has had some hairdo masterpieces in the past, but this one is absolutely an award winner by far.......this is my Who from Whoville.

Why do you have the camera out Mama?

Aw, come on!!

Profile shot so you can see the true volume.

Nothing like chomping on Daddy's favorite Beatles cd.

Can't say she'd be allowed to do this if he were around.
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah Daddy!

We've made it to September! Miah Jane's 1st birthday is next week! Cliche, but can you believe it? Almost makes me not want to have fun, so the time won't fly!! NOT!! I have so much fun to share as soon as I find the time......Naples Beach Club jamm'in, Kindermusik class at the Philharmonic, Swimming lessons at Sun-n-Fun, and the best part........Disney next weekend for her birthday!! To all you September babies out there Happy Birthday!! This is a rock'in month!

Ray

Almost every time I sit down to formulate words to best describe what I want to share with all of you it's a struggle. I want so much to be able to articulate every moment so you can feel it as if you were there. I apologize. I don't always do literal justice to the many beautiful moments with Miah Jane and I can tell you right now I'm not going to do justice to this one.......thank God for cameras!!

This is the short story of Ray.

First of all turtles have always been my favorite animal. They signify longevity, protection, and strength. My love began for them long ago when my Dad used to take my brother and I for walks in Eggers Woods (southeast Chicago). It was our escape to nature in our windy city. It really was the first exposure I can remember to a part of this earth I would always need and my first real live experiences with turtles. Thanks Dad!!

Jeremiah bought me two red earred sliders for our first Valentine's Day. Peeka and Boo. Peeka I still have in a pond that Jeremiah built for them with a fountain. That's the white wood box MJ tries to climb into on our back porch that is often seen in pictures. When I lost Jeremiah I began to lose my faith in the protection I thought turtles would bring me. Someone or something doesn't want me to lose my faith......

Friday, after a long day at the office I picked up MJ from Gma's. Down the driveway and out the gate, down their asphalt road to home sweet, end of the week, home. As I slowly drove down my parent's street in Golden Gate Estates, I saw something in the road low to the ground and moving awfully slow. I thought the worst at first and was saying to myself, "please don't be a hit dog, please don't be a hit dog". As we got closer, um yeah it was not a dog. IT WAS A FREAKING GINORMOUS TURTLE!! I somehow got my wits about me, grabbed my camera phone and snapped a shot of it out my car window.

I got out of the car to check him out and he came right up to me! No fear. Peered up at me like "what's up mama". I immediately called my Dad. He came flying down the street in his truck and could not believe his eyes just like me. We loaded him up and took him back to the house. What we're going to do from here we don't know yet, but I can tell you MJ is in love. You'll see for yourself........I'm still in such shock and awe of this I don't know what else to think or say. So I'll shut up now.

This is Ray.













Later Dudes!!

(Don't worry someone is always close by incase Ray gets testy, but I'm telling you he's unbelievably cool, calm, and just freaking awesome.)

The Magical World of SHOES!!

The time has come to introduce my little girl to the magical world of shoes! Shoes made for real walking! Shoes with treads that she'll wear down to nothing as she walks forward into a new chapter of her life. They'll take her places she's never been and I'll be happily wearing down my treads right beside her.

Buy one get the second pair half off Mama!

Hm, very nice support.

How do they look?

But Mama don't forget I like these. Please!

Four pairs of shoes and a few O's later.

Mission Accomplished.

Dirt Lover

We have had a very rainy week, which means we really had to get creative with activities indoors. However, there were moments when the rain let up, we could sneak out, and find something to get into. During this particular break between showers we went on a rescue mission of sorts. We have a turtle. His name is Peeka. We had another turtle. His name was Boo. Notice the past tense. Boo is no longer with us. We don't like to talk about it. Anyway, Peeka's pond was getting filled with too much water from all the rain, so we needed to pail some out. That was the initial objective, but Miah Jane rather leave that to Mama and play in the dirt. Normally I don't like to let her do this, because she just constantly tries to eat it, but we'd been cooped up in the house so long that in my stir crazy weakness I caved. I don't use any chemicals on my plants, so I let her have at it.........a little dirt never hurt anybody right?

Feels yummy.

I need another fist full to be sure.


I'm pretty sure Mama doesn't let me put this in my mouth.

She's trying really hard to show me how delicious this looks.

Ah, geez.

Evidence all over her face.

Try and be firm with that face staring back at you!

I'm doomed.

Moving on.

There's my smiling girl!

OK, let's take care of the turtle pond.

I'm here to help you Peeka!

Hello Jane Miah.

This looks a lot better than the last time I saw it.

Moo-ah!

Dirt sure looks good on ya kid!

Busy Beavers!

August has been a very busy month!! Gma and Gpa were out of town for two and a half weeks, so that means Mama was out a babysitter!! Let the fun begin! As I have mentioned before the benefits of working for the family business is absolutely insurmountable, especially in times like these. Mama loaded up toys, dvds, and pack n play with MJ in tow and headed to work. We set up camp in Gpa's unused office where MJ whooped it up for two and half weeks while Mama worked. Luckily Uncle Jordie, Auntie Tanya, and Auntie Kara all work with Mama too, so there were plenty of helping hands. We had so much fun that we almost didn't want Gma and Gpa's vacation to end!! Well, almost. We missed George and Sue pretty bad. It was a real juggling act, but as I said everyone was happy to do their part to help take care of my little girl. It's always so heart warming to watch. So many people love her so much.

LL came in a couple days of the week to make sure MJ had the right setup.

HA HA Gpa George your office is MINE!

I know this is just the beginning of many plots for these two.



She was a fly girl on this particular day.

Eagerly waiting for Uncle Georgie to come visit her at the office.

He's coming! He's coming!

My handsome and hilarious brother aka Uncle Georgie.

YAY!

Let me show you my latest moves.

Bye, Bye Uncle Georgie. Thanks for brightening my day!

Mama and I love you.

Once the work is done we know how to play and who to play with!! The Schaps Gang!! One of our many visits to Sun-n-Fun. We beached it with the Schaps Gang quite a bit this summer too. Pictures to be posted eventually....

Cheese!

Lexi really knows how to put the "eese" in cheese!

Mama's Boo was thirsty.....it was a hot one as usual!

We had birthday parties, dinners parties, shopping, and visiting every moment outside of work this month. It's just impossible for me to keep track of it all with a camera let alone the sunglasses I'm searching frantically for on top of my head!

To offset some of my shopping addiction a couple years ago I worked at Anthropologie in Waterside. Honestly, working there didn't help offset anything. Eeesh. Jeremiah wanted to kill me. Anyway the two best benefits of working there are my lovely friends, Michelle Tricca, of whom you all met via her photography, and Carla Stumpo aka C-Stump, Starla, or Tiny Dancer. Carla lives on the beautiful Fort Myers beach where she invited us up for a picnic. What a splendid picnic it was......

Yummy in my tummy!

Sea salt on the the seashore.

MJ has a bit of an obsession with water bottles.

and flowers....loves to pick flowers.

Oh and try to eat them of course.

Hm....which one looks the tastiest?

Mmmmm this bumble gum pink one!

Thank you so much Carla.

Stay gifted.

One evening after our many pot of gold days this month we came home to this........

icing on the cake!