Splish Splash in the backyard

Madeline and I have found all sorts of creative ways to pass the time.
And, while none of them hold a candle to the fun we had back home with all
of our friends, playgroups, little hands, classes and neighbors, here is a glimpse
of her enjoying the yard here: (sorry if the lack of swimsuit offends)





And here she is practicing to be Grandma Maury at her new easel. Thanks to some new art supplies from aunt margaret and a cool aprin a-la pearl paint!



and finally... playing rock and roll stars with daddy

vids from the aquarium

Playing with dad in the bubble lobby



grooving at the dolphin show

National Aquarium

http://www.aqua.org/

We had the best family day on Saturday!
Its funny, because this is really the hardest time in our family's short history- what with the virtual homelessness, totally displaced feeling and lack of a plan-
but we managed to also have the best family fun day yet!

We went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore and spent the whole day there (10-7) incuding a paddle boat ride, a trip to Ellicott City and a walking tour of every centimeter of the aquarium.

Highlights for Madeline were the Dolphin show. At which she could not keep still, dancing and clapping, the bubble machines in the lobby of the aquarium, and playing bumper boats in the Dragon ship we were paddling.

Here are some pics of the day and I will also get some videos up soon.


"tickle tickle" she kept saying as she tried to touch the fish's bellie's!




front row of the dolphin show- in the Splash Zone!


"no photos please paparazzi mommy"

xoxo

madeline's new career

thanks dad
xoxo

helping with breakfast

Madeline had a great time helping me make homemade biscuits the other day.
Don was horrified by the giant mess i let her make. She sat up at the counter with a big bowl, flour sifter and a measuring cup of water- paste!!
tasting it was by far the best part. I think the novelty is that it is essentially the same playdough i make for her but i let her eat it
read: "look at me mom- im eating this stuff and you arent stopping me!"


anyway. it was everywhere and i was able to bake without a toddler near the hot oven. miracle!

Then she spent more time with Grandma Rose "ma rose". They went on bike rides and carousel rides galore. I could not get a good one of the speedy carousel but you can get the drift ...


and here she is being a big girl with her new helmet (since all of our other stuff is still in storage).


In other news, we are close to choosing a midwife. But we wont have any official confirmation for another month or more. we really dont need to hear the professionals word on this- we think of ourselves as the experts on our pregnancy, but nevertheless, inquiring minds want to know.
We were targeting a 2 1/2 year age gap for our kids so this month was a great time to try. And, it seems we need only try once! (much to don's dismay ;)
Anyway, thats more than enough info for most of you.

more to come.
xoxo

July Update!

Need we say more?

Happy Fourth of July!

Here are a few pics from the first week of July!

Happy 4th with Grandma and daddy walking back from Italian red white and blue Gelati
in Rockville, Md near our (hopefully) new neighborhood.


Here is my Godson, Benjamin! His mommy sent us some great pics of him and his beautiful sister, eliana and I'm bootlegging it here too!

Here is Madeline and her cousin, Dimitri snuggling up and faking her smile




and here is Madeline and grandma rose!

what a great time they have had together this week!
and what a relief we have had to lean on grandma