Where we've been

We spent a very pleasant holiday season in Florida. It was full of delicious food, sunshine and quality time with family.

Cute pics at the park and with the G-parents

The Sola Show

Here are some of Sola's best tricks...

Friends!

Here's Quinn and Sola getting clean and loving! Both good things.

A Treat

Here are some shots from Sola's first real Halloween. Sola has been kind of sick and performing her own version of the exorcist, but we managed to make it out to trick or treat to a few houses on the block. She wasn't sure what to make of the whole ordeal and kept looking perpexledly between her costume, the bowl of candy and her parents. The best part of it all is that she is now playing with her candy and has no idea that it is edible. Oh, how I love the innocence!

Back in the Blogosphere

To all of Sola's adoring fans,
I owe you an apology. I have been a horrible cyber-recorder of her life, but it is not for the lack of interesting things to report. Quite the opposite, really. She is changing so quickly that I tend to balk at the task of trying to convey it here in images and words especially when there has been such a long lapse in posting. I will try to get back on track as it is really not fair for me to keep such a marvel to myself.
Thank you for your continued love and support.

Flying and Swimming

We've been making many a trip to the pool this summer and Sola is taking to the water like she has gills though in this case she thinks she has wings as well.

Celebrate Life

It was a hot day at the park for Sola's first birthday, but we managed to stay cool with dips in the lake. She loved all of the commotion and attention. At the end of the day just laid right down and took a nap on the blanket in the shade as the party continued on around her. Thank you everyone for coming to celebrate with us and for being such an important part of our first year as a family of 3.

365 days of Being

Sola made her first orbit around the sun!
She has been the light of our lives for a whole year now. While I can remember the times before she was with us in great detail, it is impossible to remember what life really felt like without her big bright spirit.

I have to admit that it took a little longer than I would have expected for any child of ours to warm up to the idea of chocolate. I had visions of a full face plant and her begging for more. This was not the case, but she did warm up to after a while.

Our little sprout is growing Up

She plays with a baby of her own.

She is learning to walk.

She is just so stinkin' cute!

Freedom

Some snapshots of our 4th of July weekend- a camping trip to Granite Falls, a taste of Americana at the Bothell parade and a splash in the pool to cool off.

Changes

This is how Sola and I get to school. She seems to like it most days and it's a good workout for Mama. Sola is in childcare (I am calling it baby college) and is adjusting well. She sheds alot of tears when I leave, but the teachers say that within a few minutes she is happy as a clam. I think she cries just to make me feel special.

The bride and groom encircled by all the wedding attendants and a blanket made from all the people from Myra's hometown that couldn't be at the wedding. After this circle broke out there was delicious food and awesome Brazilian musica.

Isn't this the most beautiful "bridal march" you've ever seen? The picture does not do it justice.

The trip to Canada was a whirlwind, but it was great to meet Marcelo and his family and get to spend sometime with Ryan's extended family.

When we were in Florida we had some photos taken with my friend Christina and her two little beauties Nya and Iylah

Uncle Al

The Nona

3 men and a baby

Sola and the Grand-duda

Sorry we've been away from bloggerville for so long, June was a busy month. We took a quick trip to Florida, went to a wedding in the 1,000 Islands and Sola and Julia started school. Here are some photos to document the events and some other gratuitous shots of the cutie.

Don't Blink

I cannot believe that the first year of our daughters life has almost passed. 11 months is soon approaching and she seems less a baby everyday. She is working on her balance and I know that she is going to walk before I am ready. Word-like sounds tumble out of her mouth all day. Her favorite sound of the moment is "woah" and she creates this sound by making a perfect "O" shape with her sweet little lips. I think the whole world is pretty amazing through her eyes and I have to admit that I encourage the "woah"s because I love hearing them. Sola is pointing at everything and using it to communicate, but as her grandma noted, I think she is also saying "look at me" even when she is pointing at something else.

Goodies

Birdie

I think Sola has a special reverence for these creatures. I believe that "bird" is one of her first words and she almost always says it in a hushed voice. This is remarkable because there is not much quiet about this spirited child. Here she goes chasing the crows in the park.

Like Glue

This is a Mom's eye view of Solène. She crawls up my leg and would climb it like a tree to get in to my arms if she could. Now I understand where the term "underfoot"comes from.

Living the Dream

Solène and her buddy Quin made their first trip to the Gorge. They let their parents come along for the ride. A lovely day was had by all, lounging in the sun and listening to the sounds of
The Dead.