And yet another milestone...

WOW...I can't believe it. My baby started Kindergarten today. She was SO excited to be going to the "big" school. Leila often talks about wanting to be bigger, and be an adult...she so quickly wants to wish her childhood away...if only she knew, how much she should cherish this time in her life...so I do my best, to make these memories, as special for her as possible...so when her young life is over, and her adult life begins...she will have these special times to look back on. Don't grow up so fast baby...this innocent time of your life is the best!!!

Another Milestone

Sorry...we've been soooooooooo busy

Enjoy this video...a day in the life of our insane, but fun house. She keeps me laughing all the time!!! I love her so much!

Vacation Time

Well, after over 2 years home...Leila and I finally took a vacation. Since it was our first vacation together...I wasn't sure what to expect, but let me say that it was probably one of the best vacations I ever took, and Leila had a fabulous time too.

We left COLD Virginia, and headed down to WARM and Sunny Florida to stay with our friends, who live in Orlando. We went to Disney World, Epcot, and then spent the rest of the week at the Beach. What was great about it, is we got all the walking and exhausting stuff done first, then spent the rest of the week relaxing at the beach. It really was the perfect vacation.

My friends in Orlando have 2 kids, 11 and 13, and they were wonderful with Leila, and took her on all the dizzy round and round rides, that I would NEVER get on!!! I was totally prepared for Leila to wimp out on going on any rides...but she was amazing and is a Disney Ride Diva!!! Because we stayed at a Disney Resort, we got to stay 3 hours longer at the park, which meant, rides until 2am. My girlfriend asked if Leila would make it that long...and I didn't have a clue...so we rented a stroller, and just played it by ear. At 1am, when my girlfriends kids' had had enough...my little trouper was saying "more rides, more rides". Leila never used the stroller!

We hit Epcot the next day...but we were all still exhausted from the Magic Kingdom the night before...so we kinda dragged through it all...and Leila wasn't overly excited about the rides there...guess she's more of a thrill seeker...and prefers those crazy teacups and the speedway at the Magic Kingdom!!!

Next, we headed to Daytona Beach, and Leila's first sight of the ocean. She was enthralled with it all, and luckily, my girlfriends kids and their friends took Leila off into the water, and let her help them build sandcastles. While I reclined on a beach chair and read a book...perfection!!!

Anyhow...I would say our first vacation together was a huge success...and if I have anything to say about it...we'll be doing it again soon. There's nothing better than having a friend who lives in Orlando, and has a beach house...and 2 built in babysitters!!! HAHAAHAHAHA

And Nicki and Noah...if you read this...you two are the BEST...and did a great job taking care of Leila and entertaining her. You were so very kind, and gentle with her...although Noah is still the "monster"...but she loves you both so very much.

Debbie and Mike...THANK YOU for the hospitality and opening your home to us...we had a great time! Madeline...thanks for the YUMMY dinner on our final night there...Your, from scratch, Caesar salad is TO DIE FOR, and lived up to my memories...thanks for making it for me, upon request!

Now...here are some pictures of our adventures:

Leila's favorite guy!!! She wouldn't pose with Minnie...because she had a dress on, and she was wearing diapers (she was wearing bloomers...but you couldn't tell Leila that)!!!

Her next favorite guy, Goofy.

Pluto...another favorite of Leila's!

Leila and I at Epcot

Leila and Nicki...Nicki is sharing her frozen banana...it looks like Leila didn't like, but she did and ate it all...poor Nicki...Nicki...I owe you one frozen banana!

Leila in China (Epcot)!

My little surfer!

The BEST babysitters!!!

Beach shots of Leila and I together. Thanks to my friend Leiha for taking these pictures. I'm often the picture taker, so there usually aren't too many shots of Leila and I together.

Beautiful Child

First let me say my apologies for being so lax in my blogging. My little petri dish has been sharing her germs with me, and I've had 4 colds/flus/virus' in a row, since Christmas. I think I definitely need to start eating better. I did start taking vitamins, so this last bout wasn't as bad as the first three.

Anyhow...this post isn't about that...it's about what a beautiful child I have. I honestly wonder, everyday, how I was so blessed to be given this child. She has such a beautiful soul, such a beautiful sense of humor, and such a beautiful love that she shares with me. Everyday I get at least 10 I love you Mommy's from her, and hugs and kisses galore. So the other day, I worried that maybe there was some inner reason she was saying this so much. Maybe she was needing some kind of reassures from me. So I asked her "why do you love me?", and all she could say was "because". So I said to her, well, let me tell you why I love you...you make me smile every day...your sensitivity for me and others, makes me love you...you listen to me when I ask you do to something...you help me so much around the house...and because you are beautiful inside and out. So she says to me, "well, I love you because you take good care of me, you tuck me into bed, and you play with me when I take a bath...you make me laugh, and you are silly...and I love you because you are beautiful inside and out."

She amazes me daily, this joy of my life.