tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91932260491099090522024-03-14T04:54:34.807-04:00Count your blessings instead of sheep...."Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me."
Henri Mancini, Johnny Mercer - Moon RiverCayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-37474242953987680772013-07-10T13:20:00.001-04:002013-07-10T14:43:59.649-04:00This is why we can't have nice things....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">"Good morning, Mom!"</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Meet my stealthy-Ninja climber, 3 year-old Lily. Sadly, this isn't the first time she has scaled her changing table. However this is the last time. After I maneuvered the table to where she couldn't access the shelving on the side to use as a ladder and then locked the wheels in place (all without Lily's knowledge) she still managed to move it to where she could climb it yet again. See how proud she is? She should be very proud. She managed to do this without my knowledge. Despite still using a baby monitor in her room I had no idea she was awake until I heard the tell-tale crinkling sound of her getting into the wipes. Note the massive mess on the floor. Ya know, I might not really be *that* concerned about the mountain climbing if she could figure out a way to get down. This girl can climb UP with the best of them, but getting DOWN is the problem. I've tried everything from helping her get down, having another kid show her how to get down, and finally just tough love: if I ignore her surely she'll figure it out. No dice. One day she'll figure it out, right? The diaper changing table stopped being the diaper spot long ago A. because she
out-grew it about a year ago and B. we only do diapers at night and nap
time. However it has a ton of storage space, and the table was a safe place for her humidifier, wipes, and baby monitor. So after 3.3 faithful years of use the diaper changing table must be removed from her room. One problem: I'm cheap and don't want to buy a new set of dresser drawers to replace the drawers from the table, and what extra furniture we have available is mismatched and less than pretty. What am I to do with the loss of all that storage space? PAINT ALL THE THINGS!<br />
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Meet subject #1:<br />
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This lovely guy has been hidden away in closets for years. Perfectly adequate in providing a space for sweaters, PT gear, and the like. But not something one wants to look at for extended periods of time. Ugly handles, chips and gouges, and a loverly faux oak stain. I'm sure it came from Goodwill at some point, but he's been with us through each PCS so I truly have no recollection of how he was acquired. His main upside: It's real wood and has mega potential.<br />
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Meet subject #2<br />
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Now this secretary isn't that bad looking, and has actually been in Lily's room here in Portsmouth from day one. It's white and matched her white crib. I put a pretty drawer pull on her and called it a day 3ish years ago. This is another piece of furniture I've had for-ever. I'm pretty sure I had it in my first apartment in Stillwater.... um.... *doing the math* 12 years ago. The inside is full of cubby holes and the door is still sturdy enough to use as a desk, if needed. I've basically just changed the pull to match whatever room she was living in. She's had a black pull, red pull, green pull, and now this pretty purple bloom pull. <br />
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Once it was decided I'd paint everything we headed to Lowe's. The only design requirement I had was that they had to match Lily's super <a href="http://www.teammautino.blogspot.com/2011/02/buyers-remorse.html" target="_blank">PINK</a> room. I was overwhelmed by the bajillion paint choices. Thankfully Cayce saved the day and picked up two purple cards and said how about we go two-tone? Done. We settled on Byzantine Purple (dark) and Grape Arbor (light) in Satin. We gathered up the rest of our tools and a new set of knobs for the dresser then headed home. <br />
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This is why I have no free-time. I was so excited for school to be over in June. I was thinking to myself "think of all the time you'll have to do whatever you want!" Right. What that translates into is free-time to do all the things I've been neglecting for 3 months. And THEN only have 3ish months to do it all before I go back into school-hibernation mode. So instead of just making due with what we have I chose to spend my entire 4 day July 4th weekend working on these lovelies. In the end I'm in love with them, but it was a chore for sure. Anywho. Here's the final results.<br />
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Subject #1 redux: <br />
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Subject #2 redux: I swear they are the same colors. I just suck at taking pictures.<br />
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Note: The Grape Arbor color (light purple) is what I originally wanted as Lily's wall colors before I went insane and had an attack of extreme PINK. </div>
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And because I was truly in the "PAINT ALL THE THINGS!" mode I also painted the footstool she uses in the bathroom:</div>
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Oh. What did I do with the changing table? </div>
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This: </div>
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I spray painted the purple knobs with some green I had left over from another project and then moved it into the dining room to use as a pseudo-buffet. I couldn't get rid of it. Even though I have finally started letting go of a lot of Lily's baby stuff (mainly going through the totes and totes of her clothes and the cheaper items) I'm still holding onto her crib in the hopes there will be a baby #2 in the future. But that's not a reality until we get settled in Colorado next year. So until then I re-purpose! </div>
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Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-3944333707338786192013-03-07T17:25:00.001-05:002013-03-07T17:25:13.033-05:00Two Week Wait, MaybekindasortaYeah, I dunno.<br />
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So today was my cycle day 12 check-up. <br />
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Now let me recap the previous cycles.<br />
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Each cycle has been the same. I go in on CD12 get my lovely ultrasound, and the RE looks around, goes, oh there's a couple follicles (follicles become eggs). Not quite big enough yet, but growing nicely. Come back in a couple days and we'll check it again. I go back in on CD14 for another ultrasound, and oh, look, perfect sized follicles ready to go. Then I get a shot of HCG ("trigger") and ovulation follows within a couple days. <br />
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So when looking at the calendar for this cycle Cayce and I were kind of fretting because (historically) CD15ish has been go day. Well, this month CD15 fell on a duty day. Duty meaning Cayce is unable to leave the ship for an entire 24 hours. Well that's inconvenient when one is trying to get pregnant. Cayce thought there was a 37% chance he could do a duty swap or maybe a 12% chance he could actually take leave for the day. He's one of only a handful of people in his duty section with a specific qualification, and there is little wiggle room when time off is needed. Oh and guess when that little qualification snafu will get fixed, um never, thanks to Sequestration (drink!). So the past several days have been kind of worrisome. I've been praying for an earlier timing schedule. Maybe today I'll go in, the follicles will be ready to go, and we won't even have to worry about duty. Sometimes you get what you ask for. <br />
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Cue today: I went to the appointment alone. Which has only happened once before, but there was no getting out of work early this afternoon. No biggie. Lily will go to daycare, and it's just the CD12 scan so nothing too important will happen. We start the ultrasound. The right ovary has its normal gathering of baby follicles. Perfectly routine. Then things start looking wonky. Hmmmm what is all that excess fluid? Oh look at the stripe there. Hmmmmm.... shift over to the left ovary.... click, click - measure a follicle... just over 18mm, but shaped funny (not spherical). Do some more looking, pushing, moving around. And we're over. So the RE says here's what I think has happened. I think you've already ovulated. Like just ovulated. Since we didn't do a base line scan this month (like we have previously) I can't be certain. The biggest indicator is the excess fluid, but then we see this stripe (points to fuzzy black and white picture) and that's a sign of progesterone in your system. Then we see the big follicle that looks to be collapsing (what happens after ovulation). She says she has to go by what my uterus is showing her, and my uterus is saying I've ovulated. <br />
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Well boo. What the crap ovaries, you couldn't wait two freaking days? Usually you go late in the month, and now you're just so ready to get on with it you release that egg early? Geez. She says we could bring me back in a few days, but most likely the scan would still look similar. So we're not going to do an IUI this month. Thanks to some fortuitous timing this cycle isn't a complete waste, but it's definitely not looking so hot. I was a bit sad at first. Well, really sad. I was that crazy lady in the parking garage crying silently in my car. BUT after a while I focused my thoughts and I found a silver lining!! Yay for silver linings!<br />
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As I said in a previous post this would be the last month because the timing of the cycle next month and our vacation. Well if I did indeed ovulate early that means my cycle will now start earlier next month, leaving us plenty of time to continue monitoring. We may even be able to have an IUI. At the very least we could get the follicles to the right size, and then the RE could send us to Walt Disney World with the trigger shot leaving us to take full advantage of our vacation. ;) We could even be 2 for 2 of bringing a baby back from a trip to WDW. :D See, silver linings. Actually lots of silver linings. Now we don't have to worry about figuring out duty. I don't have to spend two weeks this month with false pregnancy symptoms (from the HCG shot). I won't have to decide whether or not to take a pregnancy test daily. These little things make me happy. It's easy to say I give up, but to actually do it, well not so much. This cycle and the sequestration combine to give me some hope that we're not yet giving up on our dream of another baby. Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-83591017599681135192013-03-03T19:58:00.000-05:002013-03-03T19:58:52.553-05:00Confession TimeOver the course of my adult life I would categorize myself as a below average housekeeper. I just suck at it. I'm unorganized. I get overwhelmed. I get tired of doing the same things over and over again and over and over again and repeat. Pre-Lily this really wasn't such a problem. I was working. Cayce was working. So generally speaking we were able to keep the house at a non-emergent level of clean. I think my main problem is that we have too much crap. Just too much. Good grief. I don't understand where it all comes from. I assume at night while we're sleeping tiny trolls are scavenging dumpsters and thrift store drop-offs and then quietly and delicately placing the new items in a casual "bomb explosion-fragment" display. That's the only logical explanation for the amount of stuff we have and its constant state of disorganization. Now, don't get me wrong, we're not destined for an episode of Hoarders, we do keep things somewhat "clean." There's just a bunch of piles, stacks, and cleverly hidden stashes. Ugh. It's overwhelming. You would think since I'm now at home full time with Lily I would have this under control. You would be wrong. Before Lily when I was gone at work there was no one in the home each day for about 9 hours. Now there's someone at home all. the. time. And that someone is a crafty 3ish year-old who can make a monumental mess in about as long as it takes me to pour a cup of milk. So basically I've just played catch-up for 3 years. There hasn't been time for deep cleaning, de-cluttering, or organizing. Ew. Then factor in my return to grad school last year, and wow, yah housework is like #762 on my list of priorities, right behind end world hunger. I know millions (probably billions, I don't know, I'm not a statistician) of other moms have the innate ability to hold it all together and Pinterest their way to fabulousity. I however, came into this mothering thing with a major handicap, my strong aversion to cleaning. So I suck at cleaning. I know it, and I ignore it.<br />
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This lengthy airing of my dirty laundry - ha, pun intended - and my major SAHM suckiness is build-up to today's big project. My resolution for 2013 is to de-clutter and organize our home. Part of this may or may not have to do with the fact that in less than a year strangers will come into my house and tenderly (not) pack all our belongings and crate them to a yet to be determined destination. Last PCS, 2 years ago, we had less crap. Lily was only 9 months old and had significantly less junk. I don't know how she keeps getting stuff. She must have a job that I'm unaware of and routinely shops 'til she drops. So now we have all this stuff. Oh and did I forget to mention that while the Navy will kindly (not) move us free of charge, they will however weigh our junk and if we're over our weight allowance we then get to pay Uncle Sam for all our extra lbs? That's definitely some motivation to get rid of stuff. I have actually been doing a pretty good job since January routinely going through totes, boxes, and piles donating and trashing things. Lily's closet became a nightmare over the past month because someone (I dare you to guess who) discovered what a fun place a closet can be and slowly, daily, destroyed the organization I DID have in there. I really did have it organized. I promise. So this week I went to Kmart (yah, Kmart) and bought a shelving unit, put it together during naptime, and then re-ogranized the closet. Then to top it all off. I put a hook-and-eye latch on the door so someone (did you figure it out who yet?) can no longer pilfer when she's supposed to be napping. I wish I had taken a before picture because it literally looked like a 38inch tornado had landed squarely in its midst. But now it's bea-u-ti-ful. So today I tackled our closet.<br />
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The master bedroom of our house is the converted attic. It's spacious, but has some awkward angles. One end of the attic is the bathroom and the other end is our closet. It's nice sized. It does triple duty as closet, reading nook, and sewing room. Without further ado - my biggest secret.<br />
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For the closet I needed an actual workspace for my sewing and crafts as well as a spot for our shoes. Our lab enjoys carrying shoes around the house. She doesn't chew on them, just transports them from one place to another. Since there isn't a door on the closet we can't shut up the shoes to keep her away from them. Today at Bed Bath and Beyond I found a large shoe rack. At Lowe's we purchased a solid piece of 2ft X 4ft birch for a table top, and found a couple cheap steralite drawers at Walmart.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3q9bkhnMyyddbgv9zqZzukpFrdfd9toHn2NBlDkA8yIcjl389TfxQ-9apPb8-ZSJjmEgTCQisI6pq20P9Z8hRgSx4lwDiBY2mw5aO4dme2TqhAXgxc8QqjakgfyMVLhXenUQEBMqG2fq/s1600/photo(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3q9bkhnMyyddbgv9zqZzukpFrdfd9toHn2NBlDkA8yIcjl389TfxQ-9apPb8-ZSJjmEgTCQisI6pq20P9Z8hRgSx4lwDiBY2mw5aO4dme2TqhAXgxc8QqjakgfyMVLhXenUQEBMqG2fq/s400/photo(7).JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">$16.00</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzkmQUVhMNx_SzsGV1WgZVXTAEMLWOZ6B0rjqcq413lEONVn7-3DypIAQ1xA3UGAPu432zcPsS6Ged2rHDhFraXFvExVs8StoJZRXM2rjgD3RLSQU4WTUhteG8VHvAt2XmFDbezaS6TJ5/s1600/photo(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzkmQUVhMNx_SzsGV1WgZVXTAEMLWOZ6B0rjqcq413lEONVn7-3DypIAQ1xA3UGAPu432zcPsS6Ged2rHDhFraXFvExVs8StoJZRXM2rjgD3RLSQU4WTUhteG8VHvAt2XmFDbezaS6TJ5/s400/photo(6).JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Free Fabric</b></span></td></tr>
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I had 2 yards of fabric left over from a craft project gone wrong. I simply stapled the fabric to the wood to create a splinter free work surface.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDk0qTuHGp-iuUuOyM0-lfkAkBNVdwu9GN_c2L0NYqqZXVpfLSkLmCpQ9AJZiEep1Qeg389F1K9lsm7KGRDbsI7Q8YjV5qfBZxg_Le5ijmDZKRlDaFnMsBTluu1T4H0H5hwsRccgrhl1P3/s1600/photo(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDk0qTuHGp-iuUuOyM0-lfkAkBNVdwu9GN_c2L0NYqqZXVpfLSkLmCpQ9AJZiEep1Qeg389F1K9lsm7KGRDbsI7Q8YjV5qfBZxg_Le5ijmDZKRlDaFnMsBTluu1T4H0H5hwsRccgrhl1P3/s640/photo(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">$24.00 total for the drawers.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPCXP4xpOWA-rpEfK56wXsCjb7lPLy-xiHXM76ere7LYqvt3nPk9M5wNv8VQE2ZUF1Z8yW4kAdO6QQR0qqzwALXLUgekGrpqDX37qH3e516Ge2LW8Ds-zcliGSMGInnO1Gac4rlPB8bDq/s1600/photo(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPCXP4xpOWA-rpEfK56wXsCjb7lPLy-xiHXM76ere7LYqvt3nPk9M5wNv8VQE2ZUF1Z8yW4kAdO6QQR0qqzwALXLUgekGrpqDX37qH3e516Ge2LW8Ds-zcliGSMGInnO1Gac4rlPB8bDq/s400/photo(4).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">$35.00 (holds 30 pairs of my shoes)</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWjOhLDPuz0aT1sWaBXetWQptUTKErvnXfexVzYIdgKt3InUQyY6_olKZ08nFy49wY6qclPK3GCith0ygZYq38tamfTpzZRGlzvXjnDcqAlHsnIJgxuRCTqHnxgICJxjSVnWaTqRnfAru/s1600/photo(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWjOhLDPuz0aT1sWaBXetWQptUTKErvnXfexVzYIdgKt3InUQyY6_olKZ08nFy49wY6qclPK3GCith0ygZYq38tamfTpzZRGlzvXjnDcqAlHsnIJgxuRCTqHnxgICJxjSVnWaTqRnfAru/s400/photo(3).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">$35.00 (holds 30 pairs of Cayce's shoes)</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
The shoe racks are actually one tall shoe rack that I kept separated. This way Cayce and I would each have our own rack and I could place them to take up the least amount of room. Plus, if I had actually put it together I would have had to put the shoes in the bathroom because there wouldn't have been enough room height-wise to keep it in the closet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpKsu072YqrC6AX3_ln7FhRyQ3lB5GZKcS2E_-WWPFo9l_rPM_iVV9MxglnmuIGAeRrHKCq2H4fRW6l4hY1_DqbSwWpSLNChO4nofsVxBXaPHg57lRGn7NkFfRwsRe2mPc5Ehs4VFl3Bl/s1600/photo(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpKsu072YqrC6AX3_ln7FhRyQ3lB5GZKcS2E_-WWPFo9l_rPM_iVV9MxglnmuIGAeRrHKCq2H4fRW6l4hY1_DqbSwWpSLNChO4nofsVxBXaPHg57lRGn7NkFfRwsRe2mPc5Ehs4VFl3Bl/s640/photo(5).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">$110.00 grand total plus a few hours of work for some much needed organization.</span></b></td></tr>
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I know what you're asking yourself. How in the world did she live like that? I didn't. I ignored it. I haven't spent more than 2 minutes in that closet since December when I was finishing up my Christmas crafts. The sight of it made me anxious, and I knew it had to be tackled. But it was going to be such a time and energy consuming task that it really became a mind over matter kind of thing. It's soooooo much better in there. We still need to go through in weed out some more clothes, and yes the sweater stack is still there. I can live with that. I still have my sweatshop footstool seat, and at some point I'll bring up a folding chair. It's not a deal breaker though. I'm kind of used to the ease of my little swivel stool. :)<br />
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So one massive undertaking complete. My next chore is the office. What? I have an office, yet I'm using my closet as a craft room? Yeah. That's a whole 'nother story. <br />
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<br />Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-66622111183573864132013-03-01T10:11:00.000-05:002013-03-01T10:11:55.860-05:00Third time's a charm.Right?<br />
<br />
So obviously last cycle was a bust. I'm currently taking my Femara, 7.5 mg daily, getting my ovaries to start growing some follicles. This doesn't seem to be the issue. The other two cycles everything developed how it needed to we just didn't get pregnant. So, yah, that's where we are. I have a couple more days of Femara and then we wait for about a week and then go have an ultrasound to see if anything developed. From there more decisions are made about how to move the cycle along. So right now I'm just taking pills and not really thinking about much. <br />
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The one thing I do know is that this will be our last monitored cycle for the foreseeable future. Next month we (finally) take our trip to Disney World and won't be here for monitoring, and then (sequestration [Drink!] pending) the ship schedule picks up dramatically and the other party needed to achieve pregnancy won't be here. ;) I'm not sure how I feel about this being the last go. On one hand it sucks to know this is it. Our last real go at adding to our family. But on the other hand infertility treatment is exhausting, both physically and emotionally. After the first 12 days of each cycle I'm in the doctor's office about every couple days to check things. Then we get the IUI and then I just drift aimlessly over analyzing every little twinge, ache, and cramp. So I essentially spend half of each month in this weird disconnected fog. Not a productive way to live. I feel bad for Cayce and Lily. I'm sure there are those out there who sail through IF treatments without batting an eye. I'm just not that person. I think maybe IF treatments should come with therapy. Ha! When that negative pregnancy test comes up then all your fears are realized. I feel like a failure. I feel like I'm letting everyone down. I have family who want another baby (and talk about it like it's as easy as picking up a gallon of milk at the store). I have friends who are lovingly taking this trip with me. I have Lily who would make a wonderful big sister. I have Cayce who wants to give his heart to just one more little one. And I have my own heart that knows there is just *something* missing. So once I know I failed...again... I just feel the failure that much more strongly. *sigh*<br />
<br />
So to protect my heart I start trying to make myself believe one-and-done is good enough for us. Lily is amazingly wonderful. I just, I can't describe it, it's just perfect this love I have for her. We had a smooth pregnancy and delivery, a relatively smooth infancy, and toddler-hood has been (shhhh don't tell anyone. I'm not supposed to admit it.) kinda easy. Now we're getting to the point where Lily's becoming increasingly independent. She just started part-time day care, and *gasp* I have freedom again to shop on my own, lunch with friends in peace, and take my time browsing stores. Of course that all sounds really frivolous, but the real reason she's entered care is because I start school next month. BUT you better believe I've been taking advantage of my free time THIS month. Ha! We've started throwing around the ideas of Lily free vacations... a notion 6 months ago that wasn't even an option in my over-protective mind. So if life has become so easy do we really want to start over? Especially considering everyone and their mother has told us that since Lily was such an easy baby the next will be exponentially more needy and cranky. Ugh. Yes, yes I do want to start over. As a wise friend (Nikki) once said, they are only babies for a short amount of time compared to a lifetime of joy. Yup. Sounds about right to me. <br />
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But right now all that doesn't matter. I'm doing the best I can. I've got plenty to distract me from what's going on in the baby-making-hood. Tonight is the Gator Ball (YAY!). Lily's birthday is coming up, our 9th wedding anniversary is nearing (holy crap how did that happen?!), we get to enjoy our long awaited WDW vacation (and Cayce's 30th b-day), we pick orders in April, and I get back into my slammed routine of school. It's gonna be busy around here for a while and I need it. Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-7704190879372137872013-02-17T19:37:00.000-05:002013-02-17T19:37:07.132-05:00Two Week Wait = Eleventy Billion Year WaitWe are officially half-way through with our two week wait following our <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/intrauterine-insemination/MY00104" target="_blank">IUI</a>, Saturday the 9th. The procedure itself was simple, quick, and painless. Lily and Cayce were in the doctor's office with me, so if we conceive we have the distinct pleasure of saying our child was there for the conception of her sibling without fear of a referral to child welfare ;-). Since it was a Saturday we were seen at Labor and Delivery, rather than having my regular awesome-sauce RE do the procedure. Of course even if she did work weekends she probably wouldn't have been able to be there because she was literally about to pop and her NLT date was that Sunday. God bless the woman for continuing to take care of her patients at almost 42 weeks pregnant. :D When she told me I would have to go to L&D for the IUI she apologized to me. I told her it was no biggie, and she said she just didn't like having to send her non-pregnant clients there in case it was sad for them to see the new babies and mothers and fathers. I totally didn't even think about that aspect at all. Eh. Whatevs. But I appreciated her concern for my emotional well-being. Man I'm going to miss her while she's gone!<br />
<br />
Anywho, I had some 23 year-old (maybe, I dunno, probably closer to 27) do the procedure. I liked her. She complimented me on my shoes. One can never go wrong praising footwear. We were in and out in less than an hour. We then enjoyed a nice lunch at a local restaurant that I am now forever in love with, <a href="http://www.nofrillgrill.com/" target="_blank">No Frill Bar and Grill</a>. The service was excellent, Lily was well behaved, and the Salmon club was To.Die.For. Some night when Cayce and I have a sitter we will need to return and enjoy it on an adult level. After lunch we went home. Lily went down for her nap and I continued my quest for a ball gown.<br />
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Thankfully, I have had the never-ending shopping extravaganza for the Gator Ball to keep me busy. On March 1 we are attending the Gator Ball here in Portsmouth. It is for all the Khaki sailors (E7 and above and Officers) of<a href="http://www.esg2.navy.mil/" target="_blank"> Expeditionary Strike Group 2.</a> If you look at that list, that is a WHOLE lot of ships and sailors. This is a formal event, and I'm a wee bit excited. Cayce's dress uniform includes a bow tie! That's a wee bit hilarious to me. I get to wear a gown. The last time I wore a formal gown was for my Senior Prom. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg2Cqr2wc9sNg3rwSKp9Fqw0urlo_F0EiqVJJTLdxueFvLj0wSKQgd5jCx4ASoXFsIqrdilL_lzoLXnWaJTVOM0gUbAXOuCdpZeswNbscUxKE5H6QFlth5z7Ydyysj4w66Oq9LLkiP5HH/s1600/25404_737872256092_4647858_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg2Cqr2wc9sNg3rwSKp9Fqw0urlo_F0EiqVJJTLdxueFvLj0wSKQgd5jCx4ASoXFsIqrdilL_lzoLXnWaJTVOM0gUbAXOuCdpZeswNbscUxKE5H6QFlth5z7Ydyysj4w66Oq9LLkiP5HH/s640/25404_737872256092_4647858_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>That's me, dead center in pink, next to Holly in the saturated blue and Val in the lighter blue.</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Cayce and I eloped, so no fancy gown then, and we have yet to attend a Navy Ball. So the Gator Ball is my chance to get gorgeous and feel like a million $$. And you know what, after being a stay-at-home mom for nearly 3 years I think I totally need a night to play princess dress-up. I spent two afternoons searching for my gown. I finally found it at David's Bridal, of all places. <a href="http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Strapless-Glitter-Mesh-Print-Ball-Gown-55149D_Prom-Shop-By-Color-Whites-Neutrals" target="_blank">Here</a> it is. Ooooooh I love it. I spent three days searching for matching shoes. I looked at 23 different stores and ended up back at David's Bridal. <a href="http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Swirl-Rhinestone-Sandal-with-Quarter-Strap-NEVE_Accessories-Shoes-Occasion-Shoes" target="_blank">Here</a> they are, in the champagne. I'm mostly finished with the shopping. I have a couple "unmentionables" I need to purchase... note to world, an ivory mesh and tulle gown WILL show the world the color of your undies(they were red by the way), but otherwise I'm ready. I can't wait!<br />
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I'm just glad I've had this project to keep me busy. Last cycle I was a nervous wreck. This cycle, I can't lie and say I haven't been thinking about it, but at least I'm not insane about it. I have been taking pregnancy tests daily, but that is to test out the HCG trigger shot I received to ovulate. I *think* it's finally out. This cycle and last cycle both marked the HCG out of my system 8 days after the shot. Hopefully that doesn't foreshadow the end results of this cycle. Blah. Like I said I am thinking about it a lot. I had a friend direct me to an online support group for women with <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/DS00423" target="_blank">Polycystic Ovary Syndrome</a> called SoulCysters. They have a subsection all about infertility and trying to conceive... I'm on there daily lurking, looking for advice, trying to see myself in their results, and in general educating myself. But on the shallow side I've thought about a due date (Nov 2), names (Rocco, Luca, or Daisy), how to tell Cayce if I finally get a "pregnant" pregnancy test (That's a surprise), where the baby would sleep for the first few months of his/her life (in our room, obvi, but WHERE in our room), etc. So yeah, here I am again letting myself run away with the excitement of what could be. Clearly I did not learn my lesson last cycle. The day of the trigger I let my imagination run wild. I explained to Cayce, at that moment I was not NOT pregnant so it was safe to dream and fantasize about this magic little being who could soon be a part of our wonderful family. *sigh* Anywho, we're on the back end of this cycle, and soon I can stop fretting one way or another. Hopefully I'll soon have good news to report! Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-87391488745435684532013-02-06T12:52:00.001-05:002013-02-06T12:52:03.932-05:00AbridgedThere's nothing more loathsome to me than an abridged audiobook. Just because I'm lazy enough to listen to a book rather than *read* the book doesn't mean I'm so lazy I also want random chunks missing from the novel as well.<br />
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Well today I give you an abridged version of the previous 6ish (may be 7 I haven't quantified my procrastination) months of the Mautino home.<br />
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July -<br />
4th of July:<br />
Cayce spent the 4th in Boston with his ship. Lily and I celebrated at a friend's house. They live on the Bay, and it was great time. Fun fact: Lily has made the decision ocean water is not for her. So I had no reservations about watching the fireworks on the beach. Funny thing about Bay water, it's warm and calm. I could not get Lily out of the water. Neither one of us were dressed to be in the water, and it was after dark so it was kind of nerve wracking, but hey at least we found a natural body of water that she does enjoy. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqujF5hvIKOAzQ6TtNlupeAnqFU6VhtTbRqdbsX7NdRL70-jtzbAXbt-6ToMzqqIBlpPuwvDWLfyALKL_fCQ3Aw4Lr6VDIwQvIFMNh1cK1-Dy7iWMxD8tGqEEh6E5VVMFG98lJZz-_GMeX/s1600/409656_10100211045664842_1167633172_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqujF5hvIKOAzQ6TtNlupeAnqFU6VhtTbRqdbsX7NdRL70-jtzbAXbt-6ToMzqqIBlpPuwvDWLfyALKL_fCQ3Aw4Lr6VDIwQvIFMNh1cK1-Dy7iWMxD8tGqEEh6E5VVMFG98lJZz-_GMeX/s320/409656_10100211045664842_1167633172_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mom also visited in July, and then she made the long trek to OK with Lily and me. Fun fact: Lily will not sleep in the same room as anyone else. So the one night stay in the hotel was pure misery, and a complete waste of time and money.<br />
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In July, while mom was here we learned Cayce had been selected for Chief. :-) That was exciting. Mom, Lily, and I were in the NEX wasting time when I got the call from Cayce. He whispers... "I made it." What? Are you serious? This better not be a joke! "No, I just got a call from _______ and she said she saw my name on the list. They haven't released the official names yet, but she's positive I'm on there." *cue blubbering fool in the middle of the NEX* That night started a very long 6 weeks for Cayce. Very little sleep, long hours on the ship, long hours in "training" (aka initiation), and very little food. He lost a lot of weight, not that he has a lot to lose to begin with, but he did. Lily and I headed to OK so he could enjoy the *fun* of Chief's induction without the added stress of family responsibilities.<br />
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August -<br />
Lily and I spent about 3 weeks in OK. It was glorious. The god's of Oklahoma weather shined upon us and we actually enjoyed pleasant (for August) temps. Lily spent every waking moment in the back yard, alternating between chasing chickens and harassing goats. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsTUmQsWu0LLmWXm1TBhays0qVqXzsHHyoPhwznAN5K1jtMVjP22TT6fmzSR30smA4D3zuEU2tufTv-gKk0iVQmwqniXTS6WhaEpyRrxJLOmepxDxXFO50SJNHKI9sE_2vhjVWicFBUo1/s1600/600061_10100235059256412_1911854849_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsTUmQsWu0LLmWXm1TBhays0qVqXzsHHyoPhwznAN5K1jtMVjP22TT6fmzSR30smA4D3zuEU2tufTv-gKk0iVQmwqniXTS6WhaEpyRrxJLOmepxDxXFO50SJNHKI9sE_2vhjVWicFBUo1/s400/600061_10100235059256412_1911854849_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Helping Grumpy feed the goats.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnl2xjwAzlV_X9saWo2nEX44Lr_6ZJB1SvD2gtrr4uHlXXyD1eWtihZAvfrz_gvuqVmd4YQanMRKQNrrDN2iwmqqi-cEtU7kkkmvNwqMncRV7w_MAAIUmyqgUVk8WpVmrbGS_e9uhhAWqN/s1600/581090_10100242934469422_1541726802_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnl2xjwAzlV_X9saWo2nEX44Lr_6ZJB1SvD2gtrr4uHlXXyD1eWtihZAvfrz_gvuqVmd4YQanMRKQNrrDN2iwmqqi-cEtU7kkkmvNwqMncRV7w_MAAIUmyqgUVk8WpVmrbGS_e9uhhAWqN/s640/581090_10100242934469422_1541726802_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Helping Grumpy feed the goats... even when he's not there....</span></b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mEfgiInGDeZ3YSsHYYua-4W3_nFfKHz890emkM7_NEHfmiuzyzmuYiEBHZf4RiYa401gzdQLVLUu6td2u7gQPGGDvFuRKaVrL6Ap1vMySjw2gSpLPo2DfgBCdwdL7Kp6AAXjQCkYn1lj/s1600/432020_10100235653011522_446960730_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mEfgiInGDeZ3YSsHYYua-4W3_nFfKHz890emkM7_NEHfmiuzyzmuYiEBHZf4RiYa401gzdQLVLUu6td2u7gQPGGDvFuRKaVrL6Ap1vMySjw2gSpLPo2DfgBCdwdL7Kp6AAXjQCkYn1lj/s400/432020_10100235653011522_446960730_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Oklahoma air conditioning</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The big first for Lily and me was her over night stay at Cayce's mom's house. It was the first time ever that Lily stayed a night away from me. She stayed two nights. We both survived. <br />
<br />
September -<br />
Chief's Pinning:<br />
A magical moment where I barely stopped crying. I was (am) so incredibly proud of Cayce. Of course we *hoped* he would make Chief, but never in a million years did we think it was an actual possibility. I mean he'd been in the Navy for only 10 years, it was only his second look for E7, and quite frankly it just seemed like a pipe dream this early in his career. But here were are. :) Several of Cayce's family members made the trek. His uncle, a Vietnam era vet, and Lily and I were the ones to pin him. I cried from the moment we crossed the quarterdeck until I crashed in my bed for a much needed nap. Cayce's sponsor asked who the family members were who were with me, and I barely squeaked out that it was his grandmother and father. Oh stupid waterworks (in my defense I was running on about 4 hours of sleep). The most fun part of the event came in the surprise attendance of Cayce's "everyday friend," Joe. Of course I had asked Joe if he wanted to come to Cayce's pinning. Joe and Cayce worked at Parris Island together and became great friends. Their friendship carried over after we moved to VA and Joe got out of the Navy and moved with his family to NC. Of everyone who could have been in attendance there was no one else who could quite understand the significance and just plain insanity of Cayce's advancement. When I asked Joe if he would like to come he kind of never really answered me, so I gave no more thought to it. Cue roughly 15 hours prior to the pinning and I get a text from Joe telling me the Ditzel clan would be making the 3 hour trek up for the pinning and oh BTW what's for dinner? :) Lasagna was for dinner, and I stayed up waaaay too late chatting with Joe and Amanda. Thank God for Amanda. She saved my butt. I was exhausted and stressed from my 5:15 wake up call and getting ready in the morning was just not going as smoothly as planned. She asked if I wanted help getting Lily ready for the day, and man did she ever. I practically did nothing, and it 100% soothed my nerves. Back to the surprise. So Cayce had NO IDEA Joe was going to be at the pinning. Part of induction involves a "last night" thing so even if I had had the desire to tell him Joe would be attending, I couldn't because I couldn't actually contact him. Amanda was also kind enough to bring her camera (<a href="http://www.mandasphotos.com/" target="_blank">she's a professional photographer</a>) and in hindsight, I have no idea how I thought I would take ANY pictures. I was too busy trying not cry all over everyone and then of course since I was IN the ceremony I don't know how I thought I would get a picture of that. ;-). So Amanda took some ah-mazing pictures.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vjSNJ2YQDr6rLwfLcnNgZqfOR9f3ThjAuJquaI55qt4_B_R0h-xPrd8F1bOHWxqDdbZRth7mlg6K-aM6VA3uYR9vDWLEIJM_uz8TZiXe3uhR62KRl0z7DMJov0u6lqfQMLvCpJHx4hRJ/s1600/Chief+Pin-63+BW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vjSNJ2YQDr6rLwfLcnNgZqfOR9f3ThjAuJquaI55qt4_B_R0h-xPrd8F1bOHWxqDdbZRth7mlg6K-aM6VA3uYR9vDWLEIJM_uz8TZiXe3uhR62KRl0z7DMJov0u6lqfQMLvCpJHx4hRJ/s640/Chief+Pin-63+BW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">"Brothers gotta hug!" - Joe, Cayce, and Joe's son Michael.</span></b></td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcd6hlMEMPB9CVKv6itG5MVTzHfdc33G_8Qj5OjfwioTtqKf_0t295ZCARBGwEj8FHKmPCcERcBK8zYM_YLN6cVUnF01mvOloO_zN6rPJaSJJ0qkvE0ZEKBOpJ9NGrospH7NioWCpjiLhE/s1600/Chief+Pin-45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcd6hlMEMPB9CVKv6itG5MVTzHfdc33G_8Qj5OjfwioTtqKf_0t295ZCARBGwEj8FHKmPCcERcBK8zYM_YLN6cVUnF01mvOloO_zN6rPJaSJJ0qkvE0ZEKBOpJ9NGrospH7NioWCpjiLhE/s400/Chief+Pin-45.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>"Outta the way, Daddy deprived baby coming through!"</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f_Ce8PrTdxw_BfKjJt6i5dLYMxks4D_SFKf99Zh41VLpmArPsHJz-yej_KjVpoeQtJyftRm3KPU59kurxUFe8o6-DJ-Qz4X8N-qMmwP7h9jeA3VQ1ioDHcX8lcjpD_HJU_4a5YDL_pSU/s1600/Chief+Pin-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f_Ce8PrTdxw_BfKjJt6i5dLYMxks4D_SFKf99Zh41VLpmArPsHJz-yej_KjVpoeQtJyftRm3KPU59kurxUFe8o6-DJ-Qz4X8N-qMmwP7h9jeA3VQ1ioDHcX8lcjpD_HJU_4a5YDL_pSU/s400/Chief+Pin-3.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Because I haven't cried enough</b><b>.</b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7niBhcvRSnCCCHexxPV36hgGiPSYw1oZ8PyZkFCo7aN9xvKS6vmNJm7bpXrRMBXbP_cG6ELHt110-oKMuz8cIfHj2RIFlUxXVi-lqebKlJFcdviollpFP5emnjQkv6pP3e_8SQUrAUVMe/s1600/Chief+Pin-81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7niBhcvRSnCCCHexxPV36hgGiPSYw1oZ8PyZkFCo7aN9xvKS6vmNJm7bpXrRMBXbP_cG6ELHt110-oKMuz8cIfHj2RIFlUxXVi-lqebKlJFcdviollpFP5emnjQkv6pP3e_8SQUrAUVMe/s400/Chief+Pin-81.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>So proud... and the ship left for another underway an hour later, returning over a week later.</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Andalso... I started my second semester at Drexel.<br />
<br />
October -<br />
So Cayce said if he ever made Chief he wanted to take us on a family vacation to Walt Disney World to celebrate. I agreed, of course, not expecting him to make it any time in the near future. So when he did actually make Chief, he was still gung-ho about this plan. So in August I planned our trip to WDW. Cayce got his leave chit approved and all was good. Then the ship schedule changed, and they were supposed to be gone during our vacation. If there is anything to learn about the Navy it's that they don't like sailors missing ship movement. Luckily Cayce has the right people in his corner and the XO approved for Cayce to miss ship movement and take an extra few days so he could take this vacation. Woo hoo! Great! Oh wait, even better news, the schedule has changed... again. If there is anything to learn about the Navy it's that ship schedules ALWAYS change. Now they will be in port during our vacation time, and there's no need for extra leave or anything. Oh goody. So towards the end of October the ship left for about 5 days underway. Cayce would get home on Friday, and we'd fly to Orlando on Saturday to spend a lovely week in la la land. Does anyone remember what happened at the end of October? Anyone? Anyone? Yah, Sandy. So the ship went to NY, and our trip was cancelled. We were given the okay to re-schedule the trip for two weeks later. Surely the ship would be back by then. No. Trip cancelled for good. They finally came home after 3 weeks in NY. Doing nothing.<br />
<br />
November -<br />
Mom visited for Thanksgiving. Cayce was on duty for Thanksgiving.<br />
<br />
December -<br />
Finished up my semester. <br />
Finally made it to Raleigh to take family photo's with Amanda. That was part of the Sandy debacle. We had a wonderful overnight with the Ditzels, and then Amanda took more ah-mazing photos of us. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyPPu-f_PNhCMRVv0w7oL1WyhycN2evk8o45G584X6fTvRW1r6gGVtMXS2eY4S_b5JVPViZhm7oIjW4ertB1Ya9p9v6JXr1voXys8J7q7wvuzgTl6LnVFTf2Z-mnuJJQ949ZRk3N1SUI-/s1600/CD+Mautino-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyPPu-f_PNhCMRVv0w7oL1WyhycN2evk8o45G584X6fTvRW1r6gGVtMXS2eY4S_b5JVPViZhm7oIjW4ertB1Ya9p9v6JXr1voXys8J7q7wvuzgTl6LnVFTf2Z-mnuJJQ949ZRk3N1SUI-/s400/CD+Mautino-17.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Fun with leaves.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3AUVHCniLO_0Y04pq1VkNKPXl689fR9fIzo-vRMPcy2l9KLP8uQ6ZWjY5FIe_Pv3ZYxikQy7btyUdCtaFwRRXI_LV-op7fP6HBv-MWQsL6o6OJfjyWpTDuWoNpJVPYYDnSazypbgbQ_K/s1600/CD+Mautino-23+BW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3AUVHCniLO_0Y04pq1VkNKPXl689fR9fIzo-vRMPcy2l9KLP8uQ6ZWjY5FIe_Pv3ZYxikQy7btyUdCtaFwRRXI_LV-op7fP6HBv-MWQsL6o6OJfjyWpTDuWoNpJVPYYDnSazypbgbQ_K/s640/CD+Mautino-23+BW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Fish face!</b></span></td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPP9Rk3r7EGsncdWfOUgzT79dgY9nV0rTNKKwp-rHnjq1JaKVhHHpGdj5G2vUEG7gdtobVouJVnGOj04GBnqU7LtWmkZMSxReq1gzRtd6ZaLqT-Xwr_TGJjmSaZeZBHxuEOeEQEiDcXqW/s1600/CD+Mautino-5+BW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPP9Rk3r7EGsncdWfOUgzT79dgY9nV0rTNKKwp-rHnjq1JaKVhHHpGdj5G2vUEG7gdtobVouJVnGOj04GBnqU7LtWmkZMSxReq1gzRtd6ZaLqT-Xwr_TGJjmSaZeZBHxuEOeEQEiDcXqW/s400/CD+Mautino-5+BW.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>God, I love her.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In September we started the long process of getting treatment for infertility. That involves lots of tests, for everyone, and lots of facetime with the RE. I ended up with a diagnosis of Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Tell me something I don't already know. I was also given a nice prescription of 1500 Mg/daily of Metformin. Finally in December we reached a point where actual work to get pregnant could begin. I was given a 100mg dose of Clomid for 4 days. When we got pregnant with Lily I took 50mg of Clomid, and we got pregnant the first time out. Lily was conceived at Disney World. :-) So, I wasn't necessarily expecting this go around to be a walk in the park, but I certainly didn't expect it to be as difficult as it has been. Everything about trying for baby #2 is much more stressful and exhausting. I spent the majority of December greatly uncomfortable, in retrospect it was probably OHSS (<span class="st">Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome). But everything was working like it was supposed to so I didn't mind the 24/7 pain and discomfort, I mean, we were going to have a baby who cares about a little pain! A few days before Christmas I found a bit of blood. I first panicked, but then realized, oh this is PERFECT timing for implantation bleeding. So I kinda allowed myself (and Cayce) to get excited. We spent a wonderful Christmas morning with Lily, allowing ourselves to think this may be the last singleton Christmas for us! As the day progressed my cramps started getting stronger. The spotting was still slight, but the cramps were worsening. I still *fingers crossed* thought it could be from implantation. We had plans to spend Christmas evening with friends, the same friends from the 4th of July. We made our way over to Virginia Beach, and still my cramps were strong, but nothing to write home about. Then a couple hours into the festivities the cramps became unbearable. I was shaking from the pain, could barely stand, let alone walk, and I wanted to vomit. We had to excuse ourselves early, me apologizing profusely. By the time we got home I could do little more than huddle under my blankets in fetal position alternating between cold sweats and chills. That night AF started. Immediately all pain and nausea disappeared. I was up doing chores that I had neglected because of my constant state of sickness from the fertility treatments. Despite keeping myself busy I was beyond upset, and beyond denial. I still kept taking home pregnancy tests, maybe just maybe that was just some serious implanting of the embryo, maybe it's twins, maybe that's why it was so bad? But of course that was all lies I was telling myself. There was no baby to celebrate. Ugh so crushing. I had already designed the cute way we would tell everyone. I had already named the baby. I had already picked out a Halloween costume. So yeah. I'm a moron. I definitely got ahead of myself. Part of my depression was my fault for letting my heart run ahead of my body. But then also came the reality. This will not be so easy as last time. If we couldn't get pregnant with everything looking *perfect* how do we expect to make this work if things aren't perfect? Blah. So yeah. Cycle 1, complete failure. Then we had to pack and to go home and face people when all I wanted to do was hide under the covers and wallow for a bit.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">January -</span><br />
<span class="st"> Spent 5 days in OK enjoying family, reconnecting with distanced relatives, and generally healing. </span><br />
<span class="st"> Spent 4 days in MO... Thank you to Kay. Thank you, Kay.</span><br />
<span class="st"> Came home with a cold Lily (who is NEVER sick) brought back with her. It was pretty gross here for a while, and then we met back with the RE. She made me feel wonderful and hopeful. Changed up the course of treatment. All we needed was for AF to show up. And she did towards the end of the month. </span><span class="st">After a bunch of confusion with the clinic and one
awesome warrior in the form of Cayce we got in to see the RE for an
ultrasound to make sure the cyst I had developed was gone. All was
good, and I started my Femara. I had very few side-effects. I had
headaches, but that could have been the virus I was sacked with. I had
night sweats, but that could have been the virus I was sacked with.
Other than that, no side-effects. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="st"> February - </span><br />
<span class="st"> So here we are, on Cycle Day 12. We have an appointment today to see what's going on in the Ovary-hood. On one hand one of the reasons REs like Femara is its lack of side-effects, but on the other hand I feel like *nothing* is happening. Without the side-effects - dull ovary pain, bloating, cramping etc I don't know that my ovaries *are* working. I'm afraid we'll get in there today and there won't be a follicle as far as the eye can see. I'm also afraid that since I've been sick with this virus that morphed into a nice sinus infection it will have messed with what is supposed to be happening in my uterus. Blah. I pray if Lily decides to be a mother she does not have these struggles. I pray she's a happy fertile Myrtle and pops out the babies to her heart's content. I pray we get good news today. </span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-91426742901196167852012-09-22T17:58:00.001-04:002012-09-22T17:58:21.707-04:00Stationery Card<div class="sflyProductPreviewWidget" style="width:425px; height:494px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetTop" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/top.gif);"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetCenter" style="height:482px; padding: 0 6px 0 6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bg.gif); background-repeat:repeat-y;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewLogo" style="width: 105px; height: 34px; padding: 14px 0 0 14px;"><img src="http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/logo.gif" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewContainer" style="height:350px; text-align:center; padding: 0;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AYsXLduzZs2bnQ&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET&eid=115"><img src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/prs/v1/0AYsXLduzZs2fA/0AYsXLduzZs2fOaA/p/67b0de21b3127d902548/JPEG/1348351022000/0/" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;"></a></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewMessageContainer" style="height:55px; background-color:#f4f4e9; text-align:center; padding: 15px 0 15px 0; line-height: 19px;"><div class="sflyProductPreviewTitle" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 15px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold;"><span>Front And Center Thank You Card</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewSEOText" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>Say "<a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/thank-you-cards" style="color: #6666cc;">Thank You</a>," with Shutterfly's personalized photo cards.</span></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewViewCollection" style="font-family: arial, sans-seris; font-size: 13px; color: #333333;"><span>View the entire <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery" style="color: #6666cc;">collection</a> of cards.</span></div><img width="1" height="1" border="0" style="padding: 0; background: #ffffff; border: none; box-shadow: none;" src="https://os.shutterfly.com/b/ss/sflyshareprod/1/H.15/111?pageName=sharekey&c1=msc&c2=blogger" /></div></div><div class="sflyProductPreviewWidgetBottom" style="height:6px; background-image:url(http://cdn.staticsfly.com/img_/share/preview/msc/widget/bottom.gif);"></div></div>Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-65454071124964838212012-06-14T17:03:00.001-04:002012-06-14T17:18:02.595-04:0030 and CountingSunday was my 30th Birthday. I don't even know what that means. I'll not spend a whole blog reflecting on the previous 30 years and what has gone right, what has gone wrong, what I wish I could do again, and what I just wish hasn't happened. I will, however, share the story of how I spent the evening of my birthday.<br />
<br />
I've never had big fancy birthday to-dos. It kind of goes in hand with having a birthday in June. Growing up most people were on family vacations, and as I got older in college once my birthday rolled around everyone had scattered to the wind returning to their homeland for the summer hiatus. Since I've been married I'm pretty sure Cayce's missed several of them, been deployed or been on duty. This year however Cayce was home, and I was determined to DO something for my birthday. I'm not a big drinker, even less so since Lily, and I knew I just didn't want dinner and a movie. I wanted it to be an experience. I *think* 30 is supposed to be a big deal?<br />
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So here we are, once again, living in a coastal region surrounded by water. Which thinking of that, I'm sure it's odd that even though I have lived literally blocks away from the beach (in FL) I still prefer the lakes of Oklahoma to the beach and ocean. But anywho, I digress, I love the water in whatever form. I wanted to do something on the water. So I got the brilliant (so I thought) idea to go kayaking for my birthday. I asked some local friends for suggestions, and we ended up booking a sunset trip on the Chesapeake Bay with Chesapean Outdoors. I was psyched. Overall I think the trip was awesome, but my view of what is awesome may differ significantly from a balanced human being. Because, honestly, it was a disaster. But I had fun!<br />
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Disclaimer: Kayaking is a wet activity (even more so in our case) and cameras, phones, valuables, etc. are not recommended. So we bought a cheap water proof disposable camera before our trip. It came in handy. It has been well over 8 years since I've used a traditional camera without a preview screen. I know I used regular cameras relying solely on the viewfinder for 21 years, but man, going old school was a chore. It was fun dropping off the film to be developed anticipating the pictures we'd receive, but I don't want to do it again. So I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures.<br />
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The trip started out normal enough. Cayce and I were in a tandem kayak.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much to my chagrin, one does NOT wear makeup when kayaking.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's our guide. He was a beach bum all of maybe 20. Sweetest kid, from Pittsburg, new to the area, completely unaware of military rules and regulations (this comes into play later). Here is a "native fishing" net with some brown seagulls and a blue heron.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the whole reason I wanted to go on the trip, the dolphins! They came MUCH closer, but I couldn't get a picture of them. Speedy buggers. :-( (In the background is Ft. Story Army post - remember that).</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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So we cruised along at a pretty good clip out to Cape Henry looking for more dolphins. We finally headed back after we got a good glimpse of the lighthouses. I don't have a picture. Unfortunately it didn't turn out. Now, while the trip there was pretty easy the trip back, was, ugh. No bueno. Muy mal. The trip is scheduled for 2 hours, so we were half way through with our trip when we turned back. We were fighting the current. All we did was zig zag back and forth. I laughingly told Cayce I'd like to see an aerial view of our path b/c I know we weren't making any progress. On the way out we passed Ft. Story, and kept going for about 500 yards. On the way back I kept my eye on the equipment on the beach to judge the distance traveled. A depressing and daunting method. We just weren't making progress. Finally Cayce realized there was a lot of water in his section of the kayak. The guide and I both told him it was okay. Just natural accumulation. Boy were we wrong. The water was pretty busy that evening, and we kept getting bobbled in the wake. Finally we hit a wave too hard and the inevitable happened, we flipped over. Now here's where a normal person may get mad, but I was thrilled! I was so worn out from fighting the current, and my hips were sore b/c I couldn't stretch my legs out all they way in the kayak so dumping into the ocean actually felt great to me. I floated around stretching out while the guys righted the kayak. It took two tries for me to climb back in, but I eventually did. We got settled and continued on our journey. But not 2 minutes later, back over we went. This time I was a little exasperated. Only because I started thinking we were never going to make it home. So once again I watch the guys maneuver the kayak. However, this time they realize, oh crap, there's a leak in the hull. She's full of water. So, me still happily floating around, watched and took pictures of their "plan" to empty the water out of the hull. Not just water in the seating area of the kayak, but INSIDE, the actual shell. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAY6ik7Ca9JQeILi3paWdPE-MJNocsl3Fguu9cVwwxMeDGlB5vAgQ7MMSWX1s9qLGK4kGjL0xEKDpJI7ACu5ZmMiELg5h6QQulNrV9-hM9RY5_ABRqU264EmjelXCaFUvbOBWOIG-faD7/s1600/R1-02991-014A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAY6ik7Ca9JQeILi3paWdPE-MJNocsl3Fguu9cVwwxMeDGlB5vAgQ7MMSWX1s9qLGK4kGjL0xEKDpJI7ACu5ZmMiELg5h6QQulNrV9-hM9RY5_ABRqU264EmjelXCaFUvbOBWOIG-faD7/s400/R1-02991-014A.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our kayak resting on top of the guide's kayak in an attempt to empty it. </td></tr>
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This plan wasn't working. So at this point our guide decides we should head for shore and empty it there and start over. Yah, that shore over there is Ft. Story. We weren't stepping one foot on land before some uniforms were out there aggressively asking questions. Unfortunately we didn't have our IDs with us either, so saying Cayce was Navy wasn't going to help. So while they keep up this emptying tactic, along comes a savior. A man in a shiny white boat motors over and asks if we would like assistance. We sure would. So the three of them decide to put the kayak up on his swim deck and empty it there. While this is happening Cayce explains it's my 30th birthday. Jokester then hollers to me happy birthday and suggests next year I try something more laid back like jumping out of an airplane. I liked this guy. He then throws out the suggestion that the kayak is probably shot, and we should ride with him back to the park and call it a day. Inside I was screaming YES YES YES! but outside I was cool as a cucumber. Whatever the guys thought was best. Thankfully they opted for the cruise.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1YOpJELieem_O2Kq4Dz3uoll9RwAM0Pe0mBK7Ha9XcxDTGzfe-_D6fVavqUpunhyzIsyQG8pc-ePzIo5XYiHC_3uxRTd4dwL7nYdPhW7KLaOOSpVKTQIbPtSFlrkqISW5G-z81ALqVv8/s1600/R1-02991-004A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1YOpJELieem_O2Kq4Dz3uoll9RwAM0Pe0mBK7Ha9XcxDTGzfe-_D6fVavqUpunhyzIsyQG8pc-ePzIo5XYiHC_3uxRTd4dwL7nYdPhW7KLaOOSpVKTQIbPtSFlrkqISW5G-z81ALqVv8/s400/R1-02991-004A.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rescued by For Play</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One kayak on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4r2t4MINM1a59G63hOOcicyyxz5uUnBE7ZxqryixylrBqkXj4WrJh3fg2ytSlzC7piI3H-lVnDY0vAKmXS1qWvRAf6eiMXX9D0bqTJlnCvvjgvX2y4VI0E7oPAKY9xkKnVHt2jCqlknO/s1600/R1-02991-012A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4r2t4MINM1a59G63hOOcicyyxz5uUnBE7ZxqryixylrBqkXj4WrJh3fg2ytSlzC7piI3H-lVnDY0vAKmXS1qWvRAf6eiMXX9D0bqTJlnCvvjgvX2y4VI0E7oPAKY9xkKnVHt2jCqlknO/s400/R1-02991-012A.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two kayaks on.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrq9n9jjs3sbb_u0uOJIO9grqc7tZ_8oCOkUuAidmGMII1p6HDyEAhVjZcBISJG_eME3GJX5bPffUvzsTngQpsoCQI_rGByAzo_LiSVU-LTkOrJuecp8q0HE_4_fPQmAczDQrCsULRBpM/s1600/R1-02991-009A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrq9n9jjs3sbb_u0uOJIO9grqc7tZ_8oCOkUuAidmGMII1p6HDyEAhVjZcBISJG_eME3GJX5bPffUvzsTngQpsoCQI_rGByAzo_LiSVU-LTkOrJuecp8q0HE_4_fPQmAczDQrCsULRBpM/s640/R1-02991-009A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The greatest guy ever. He actually was fantastic. He totally reminded me of someone you would meet out at the lake in OK. Just really chill, up for anything, and willing to help. He was also kind enough to give us quite the detailed tour of the landmarks we were passing. So really, it was a nice cruise back. Did I mention his boat was GORGEOUS? It was so nice that once I finally embarked and he moved all the gear so I could sit on one of the supple white leather seats I hesitated to walk on the spotless cream carpet. He saw me hesitate, and said to me, "it's okay, it's a boat, they get wet." :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC-8_lS3f8iZ6Un3wpFn26JOW8bFIiVebJbp_4H-5vYppuk-4EGOR5atm3OV0KZBLAi2C5Y9S9GOWICvxIZo8q4KKuPPOy-9HbLrOSKeCdSvS1JI963Zwg2Wo6nxJ23GgZzjhyphenhyphen42gemu7/s1600/R1-02991-010A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDC-8_lS3f8iZ6Un3wpFn26JOW8bFIiVebJbp_4H-5vYppuk-4EGOR5atm3OV0KZBLAi2C5Y9S9GOWICvxIZo8q4KKuPPOy-9HbLrOSKeCdSvS1JI963Zwg2Wo6nxJ23GgZzjhyphenhyphen42gemu7/s400/R1-02991-010A.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As for our poor guide. He felt terrible. Absolutely terrible. Cayce and I kept reassuring him that we were having a great time, and this is story to remember. You can see by my smile I was a happy girl. I really couldn't have asked for anything better.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxOxGrk_Ri2ziY7UGI737HWcCcKY844viziV_k6Ss0zfDCq0VaD3H_VBMjov6kgEVc-MIU8g5NdL3oh2E1QeVIiI7ayX_7RsRLwyvr80qm4UfHbF3bwv4rEJsg2NF19Z7_kD9yU5_zt0x/s1600/R1-02991-007A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxOxGrk_Ri2ziY7UGI737HWcCcKY844viziV_k6Ss0zfDCq0VaD3H_VBMjov6kgEVc-MIU8g5NdL3oh2E1QeVIiI7ayX_7RsRLwyvr80qm4UfHbF3bwv4rEJsg2NF19Z7_kD9yU5_zt0x/s400/R1-02991-007A.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cayce's view home. It took the entire trip back for the kayak to finally empty. We weren't making it home in it. Thank goodness for a kind stranger. I should add there were actually several other boats out, all within viewing distance of the swamping fiasco. No one else offered assistance. He's a good guy. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DCiDpuUZ2fW8rpayBe8QO9NV9JN_LatxAMqtFnZlp8w8KLoBPAxMOVkIRsIADgeomO0QDx1D7PnOHWFryCGaDd1kAN-Hc033FZbUHwKb0aY6P6EdzKbmwn51N77kpq4rMejJoDN9HYkp/s1600/R1-02991-001A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DCiDpuUZ2fW8rpayBe8QO9NV9JN_LatxAMqtFnZlp8w8KLoBPAxMOVkIRsIADgeomO0QDx1D7PnOHWFryCGaDd1kAN-Hc033FZbUHwKb0aY6P6EdzKbmwn51N77kpq4rMejJoDN9HYkp/s400/R1-02991-001A.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We returned to the kayaks in about 3.5 feet of water, and made a quick paddle to shore. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBhk3-bb00RlGDFkoEd2CdBmpB_sSYDbaxCWDgdElS3gfX3rvB6gKdJrxP8s9g6Y1VnGW14lquwWFFM0dXlOaRwcK8sIfFATo41X021RjNYnUqSjj87VfoP8y8qQmBSG_OEicMNk1xjXE/s1600/R1-02991-000A_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBhk3-bb00RlGDFkoEd2CdBmpB_sSYDbaxCWDgdElS3gfX3rvB6gKdJrxP8s9g6Y1VnGW14lquwWFFM0dXlOaRwcK8sIfFATo41X021RjNYnUqSjj87VfoP8y8qQmBSG_OEicMNk1xjXE/s640/R1-02991-000A_0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two soggy happy customers.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I know we had a good time and wouldn't change a thing, but I think the next kayak trip will probably have to be in one of the rivers around here. I'm certainly not put off by the experience, I just don't think we're cut out for a hellish ocean current. I'll take my kayaking like a canoe trip down the Illinois next time, please. :-)<br />
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<br />Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-30010018494231456382012-06-02T19:46:00.002-04:002012-06-04T10:45:40.386-04:00In SummationHey there. I've been MIA for a while huh? Well I won't bore you with a long story of why I've been absent from Bloglandia. I'll just be honest and say I was lazy.<br />
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So let's see. It's been since the beginning of March since I've posted. A lot has happened. Cayce had surgery on his shoulder, Lily turned two, I finished my first semester of grad school, we celebrated Easter, Cayce was given 8 weeks of TAD orders to finish healing from his surgery, we've had a TON of quality family time, Cayce finished his associate's degree, I've gotten a lot of "me" time, we've traipsed all over the Mid-Atlantic, we've been to the zoo more times than I have fingers and toes, and now I'm just days away from the big 3-0. :-D<br />
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At Lily's 2 year check up she weighed in at 27lbs and 33 inches. Just slightly below average for both marks. I'm not too surprised though. She's not a meat eater really, and the only meat she does like is fish, go figure, and she pretty much survives off of fruit, cheese, beans, and milk. Her pediatrician pretty much said her lack of meat isn't a big deal, and if she didn't ever start to eat it she would probably be healthier. Love hearing that non-traditional line of thinking from a Navy doctor. So I'm not pushing meat. She either eats it or she doesn't. It makes it onto her plate, but rarely makes it into her mouth. <br />
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She talks a mile a minute. If she's awake, she's talking. I can't even tell you how many words she knows or what words she knows because every day she comes up with a new word. When we tried counting before her second birthday we were up to 200. I'm sure that number is much larger 3 months later. The big thing we've been working with is her colors. She knows all the words, but correctly identifying the colors is hit or miss. She has her shapes down, the basic ones at least. Circle, square, heart, star, triangle.<br />
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As for her favorite activities she loves dancing, singing, and anything physical. Her Pamaw gave her a trampoline for her birthday. She spends a long time in there, and she is amazing at it now. It has a safety net that she used to bounce against to stay in control. Now she doesn't use it (it's still on there of course), but rather practices jumping and tucking her feet, and bouncing from her feet to her bottom and back again. We have the same little swimming pool from last year, and every day she asks to swim. As long as it's warm and dry, out we go each afternoon. Her latest craze is walking after dinner. She goes to the door and asks "go walk?" We usually oblige. She gets very upset when it's raining and we can't go out. The only big problem is that she's afraid of cars, and we don't have sidewalks in our neighborhood so anytime a car approaches she get's scared and starts asking to be picked up because her of her "tummy." Which I've decided is her identifying being nervous. You know how as an adult your stomach will get filled with butterflies when you're anxious, I think that is what is happening with Lily when she's scared and says "tummy." She's still a tough independent girl, but she's become more interested in being near us. I don't mind b/c I love the cuddles and kisses. Lily was never the cuddly baby, so even as a 2 year old it's nice to have that cuddle time.<br />
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She's still at home every day with me. I'm giving serious though to putting her in part time daycare in September. I start school again then, and the past semester was very tough without any dedicated "me" time to do my work. Lily was going through a phase of hit or missing her nap so even that time wasn't guaranteed. She's back to napping for a couple hours each day, but Cayce's schedule is about to pick up on the ship and I don't want to worry about trying to fit in homework while trying to care for Lily all day every day. Our church has a day school that accepts 30 month olds, and I think it would be perfect to send her a few times a week for 4 hours. I would get protected school work time, and Lily will get some true interaction with other children.<br />
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Now that the business end is over, here are some pictures to capture the last few months.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepyXz66ttbYaTmQUkc6k1O5DaOgkzMemL-P29ungB64y1ZO5AONfeZJxUPdMtzBBcJIPSGgBrloFMp8yKIQdd9L12vq-iuL8PWRoUZzghBGc8O6UJoOQKmErYQ0csHEPUxRHXVKASnPgi/s1600/IMG_1105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepyXz66ttbYaTmQUkc6k1O5DaOgkzMemL-P29ungB64y1ZO5AONfeZJxUPdMtzBBcJIPSGgBrloFMp8yKIQdd9L12vq-iuL8PWRoUZzghBGc8O6UJoOQKmErYQ0csHEPUxRHXVKASnPgi/s400/IMG_1105.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Melanie. She is from the same small town in Oklahoma as I. We were bosom buddies for summers and spring breaks during our mid-teens. She moved away, then joined the Marines, and I went to college and married my Sailor. Nearly 10 years later after leaving the Marines, graduating from college, and all in the Lejuene area of NC Melanie's Marine husband decided to go Officer and join the Navy. Now here they are stationed in the same town, 1300 miles from our home. It is a small, small, world. She gets to do fun things like take cake designing classes. She offered to make Lily's Birthday cake. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ1b6HUexTonP4JJu7VMtp807mllzBo9mIcuWSNMhHNztJfjlTG_2y6LL03xAP04YLZhJJJPJmOqYlZ5Mx0BWmw0wsdnU9LzoUER2vtdReyXBV4wiOmPIZ1CZndulPm3gqwrUD_rkDyNr/s1600/IMG_1107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ1b6HUexTonP4JJu7VMtp807mllzBo9mIcuWSNMhHNztJfjlTG_2y6LL03xAP04YLZhJJJPJmOqYlZ5Mx0BWmw0wsdnU9LzoUER2vtdReyXBV4wiOmPIZ1CZndulPm3gqwrUD_rkDyNr/s320/IMG_1107.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I "helped."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta da! Melanie kept the cake at her house, and when we picked it up on B-day Melanie was chagrined to find one of her cats had tasted the frosting. It was still pretty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga94gf34C6-mvOVtoERLnDqjoj8qrfVMC7ELSMRs8a7nkZ-GDg6D_HZCbtpxoRq0jl6e9wfXF01d2AO7VB11gEVJc4NFNYNUniUZG0sswOcyDHIWrR5OEnvSQsG_RTwf4i58Q6cMB5WAi/s1600/IMG_1113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga94gf34C6-mvOVtoERLnDqjoj8qrfVMC7ELSMRs8a7nkZ-GDg6D_HZCbtpxoRq0jl6e9wfXF01d2AO7VB11gEVJc4NFNYNUniUZG0sswOcyDHIWrR5OEnvSQsG_RTwf4i58Q6cMB5WAi/s400/IMG_1113.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I wanted to do something special for Lily's birthday. First I thought to take her to Sesame Street at Busch Gardens, but it was closed that day. Then I had the genius idea to take Lily to the Children's Museum here in town (it's supposed to be fantastic). On B-day I woke up and checked the hours only to find....they are NOT open on Mondays! So scratch that. So instead we had a simple day at the park. It was a beautiful day. Gorgeous. We hiked up this hill and played with bubbles (Lily's fav!).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikekCOYSw0bjELLB2y1AsJTs-adBpu-8t7ToG9y_joCMOqsoD36lVsVvfETFG19yreABXNPeSgWPxgmhQFR3GGGDkOHwTeMEkMhqxmcVJsB-ciNuezgqzBcQPp5j-GSB7JCm-bKdNpPevT/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikekCOYSw0bjELLB2y1AsJTs-adBpu-8t7ToG9y_joCMOqsoD36lVsVvfETFG19yreABXNPeSgWPxgmhQFR3GGGDkOHwTeMEkMhqxmcVJsB-ciNuezgqzBcQPp5j-GSB7JCm-bKdNpPevT/s640/IMG_1127.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And flew a kite!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM149hBkEQUZZ4p300of42UEg1VZVfkI5SSMAqGGk4QGigdFdx3avRoCdMViweP01Bo3phgu1D48OanMg5BzCA4UvMuaX3jN3K4AfRKlOdcVQ0EhT-Tcq8DQISf4l6xj637OnxdiLqfNcI/s1600/IMG_1137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM149hBkEQUZZ4p300of42UEg1VZVfkI5SSMAqGGk4QGigdFdx3avRoCdMViweP01Bo3phgu1D48OanMg5BzCA4UvMuaX3jN3K4AfRKlOdcVQ0EhT-Tcq8DQISf4l6xj637OnxdiLqfNcI/s640/IMG_1137.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But running down the hill is what Lily wanted to do the most. So she did, over and over and over.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWeE1f_1BGIq6IBw9XO3-U2a_8vGz4nqmzhIXeJ-wDXo_jnMOzchYCZUxt0A5jz0mDyzQt-QeScnZ0kQ3D82lhycZAw974W8Oxgr_4v9UdNho_BI5iXkBTb0Uzp3UrG17NZgUHFgrNkya/s1600/457006_2554255113948_2092228197_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWeE1f_1BGIq6IBw9XO3-U2a_8vGz4nqmzhIXeJ-wDXo_jnMOzchYCZUxt0A5jz0mDyzQt-QeScnZ0kQ3D82lhycZAw974W8Oxgr_4v9UdNho_BI5iXkBTb0Uzp3UrG17NZgUHFgrNkya/s320/457006_2554255113948_2092228197_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then came Easter. Lily was VERY excited to help dye the eggs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WkgCcPhNaRhXLzAPbW2AM15FWonaUZkGZ1TltkYi2ok4_H98djeR13Tpg62BV-_fkC8PVroGjmkKODnWEa2_opSvHur5FtoRmrKsr9JvXupHnDffWQ1IIGNePMD4N4DSlIUlCWXupSKv/s1600/457383_2554258034021_2025901127_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WkgCcPhNaRhXLzAPbW2AM15FWonaUZkGZ1TltkYi2ok4_H98djeR13Tpg62BV-_fkC8PVroGjmkKODnWEa2_opSvHur5FtoRmrKsr9JvXupHnDffWQ1IIGNePMD4N4DSlIUlCWXupSKv/s400/457383_2554258034021_2025901127_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying solo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgvF95g__oIw_zeDUUm_7D4oaPNNPS6x8v9HSdKlDEuhsrdy245S23QRQRZYnDRUirqtGD02qGZsqJipmBAxvBlbw7Wb246TyHVl8ErHUUc7lWI68rKM30nmldcM8CgdIsAWKB7fLofqb/s1600/460122_2554264154174_1781042669_1517628_1097031165_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgvF95g__oIw_zeDUUm_7D4oaPNNPS6x8v9HSdKlDEuhsrdy245S23QRQRZYnDRUirqtGD02qGZsqJipmBAxvBlbw7Wb246TyHVl8ErHUUc7lWI68rKM30nmldcM8CgdIsAWKB7fLofqb/s400/460122_2554264154174_1781042669_1517628_1097031165_o.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Here, let mama help."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W2xTT0v2ZUAZLaUi5YAhxMBaEQXmLBH7L7ox4LygR_n8xKZeFUqlyluR8fedjn8f8EahqJenfVR9ynfDQnnb4fychQlk0jixl2RbXI2t58OJn4bCkWq2fq0TI_2eDooUJ4E2HZdTYosY/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W2xTT0v2ZUAZLaUi5YAhxMBaEQXmLBH7L7ox4LygR_n8xKZeFUqlyluR8fedjn8f8EahqJenfVR9ynfDQnnb4fychQlk0jixl2RbXI2t58OJn4bCkWq2fq0TI_2eDooUJ4E2HZdTYosY/s640/IMG_1155.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting the Easter Bunny at our church annual pancake breakfast and Easter Egg hunt. This year went much better than last year. She didn't just want to look at him from the distance, she actually wanted to touch him this year. Success.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbSP3AdS824H_tI2Gab58kwYjJM2M5FJQ50-B_EA28eiOx_OrYhvs-3fkq9wiOm6f2jrKYE6AR2z6pfL4bzTSd2DYvCJCuDh48h0xFKSRBLX_-FfU47TAbtWJVQ_qaQTfybTGkS4oU-yg/s1600/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbSP3AdS824H_tI2Gab58kwYjJM2M5FJQ50-B_EA28eiOx_OrYhvs-3fkq9wiOm6f2jrKYE6AR2z6pfL4bzTSd2DYvCJCuDh48h0xFKSRBLX_-FfU47TAbtWJVQ_qaQTfybTGkS4oU-yg/s640/photo+%25286%2529.JPG" width="618" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beautiful girl in her Easter dress.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Mik5wDt55treN9pYUzPt69HyZhVhwYLcjGBdKq2fjmpdbPFfNkQ-a5qXEWhJEObhvj_Cb1OGoDOqoVmlRCFmUnIA3ZqDp5rbu30FMl6QBN-VefuVqaWeiOA5sUe3Pm89BNO9UbP2e2DC/s1600/306063_10100107707180992_1366284637_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Mik5wDt55treN9pYUzPt69HyZhVhwYLcjGBdKq2fjmpdbPFfNkQ-a5qXEWhJEObhvj_Cb1OGoDOqoVmlRCFmUnIA3ZqDp5rbu30FMl6QBN-VefuVqaWeiOA5sUe3Pm89BNO9UbP2e2DC/s400/306063_10100107707180992_1366284637_n.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I read like my life depends on it. It probably does. The degree I am working on is Library and Information Science. I chose this degree so when I finally go back into the workforce I can do that knowing I'm leaving my child to go spend my day surrounded by something else I love, books and information. One of my absolute favorite authors traveled to the Charlottesville area to do a lecture and book signing. Melanie also loves Lauren Willig. We made the 4 hour round trip, and had a fantastic time. Lauren was super entertaining and very kind.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uj7OhGLPEXQTJGSGYsyyekaWuHkFQugYmdzMwXTqZFC2dUE1u0oYBwA2LdW8K0ZjLRby-jaZtt5y_62kfiWZRMvSDYVY1wnT-DvYEYnb7gbI3BvJUT9wuxIWeoa9zkouGskuveppPpxv/s1600/photo+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uj7OhGLPEXQTJGSGYsyyekaWuHkFQugYmdzMwXTqZFC2dUE1u0oYBwA2LdW8K0ZjLRby-jaZtt5y_62kfiWZRMvSDYVY1wnT-DvYEYnb7gbI3BvJUT9wuxIWeoa9zkouGskuveppPpxv/s400/photo+%25287%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are with the authoress herself. She personalized our books, and happily took a picture with us.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9jrZoVF9DTuulmeWl7GPKk72hLFHQbSk1W-a-s0vYURt2OMGdvFPZi0-pKHGagTwh5s45y9-ZOy6t27GmydeMr1gEqq5WEwzjceg6DrKRNjcGddDna42cklnlrY1Zvie6_ePnpS-FaF3/s1600/photo.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9jrZoVF9DTuulmeWl7GPKk72hLFHQbSk1W-a-s0vYURt2OMGdvFPZi0-pKHGagTwh5s45y9-ZOy6t27GmydeMr1gEqq5WEwzjceg6DrKRNjcGddDna42cklnlrY1Zvie6_ePnpS-FaF3/s640/photo.PNG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And in case you were wondering just how big of a nerd I am, here's a means to quantify my geek quotient. After the lecture while Melanie and I were cruising around Charlottesville finding a place to stuff our faces I came across this status update by Lauren. You can see the exchange between the two of us in the screen shot above, and I'm pretty sure the level of fan-girl squeeing emitted by Melanie and me was only a few decibels short of glass shattering. Melanie and I thought it was the coolest thing ever that Lauren remembered us, BY NAME, and put it out there for the whole Facebook world to see. Our day was awesome. Awesome.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ax5zbZCL6rprt_49cyu4LyROOSqhv-ZfqeBaSfIQsz8skQ08I4qrc8bK-FjER-eCqLszd9_7f3sXVNnO1ZYR8KBwwJmeuv-dUezgTHopgeFYYq1SCBZ6XfTavA3HlF48gZqKIq097vyX/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ax5zbZCL6rprt_49cyu4LyROOSqhv-ZfqeBaSfIQsz8skQ08I4qrc8bK-FjER-eCqLszd9_7f3sXVNnO1ZYR8KBwwJmeuv-dUezgTHopgeFYYq1SCBZ6XfTavA3HlF48gZqKIq097vyX/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So we finally did make it to Busch Gardens. Lily was awesome. She had so much fun riding the rides. She soaked in all the surroundings, and was quite the trooper for a long day at an amusement park. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqwb1s2sLyKay_QEnd0WkrZAulGO2mwL8teUNCNaqUzzmQe75G3RydPlFqaXYlhIu19AeTlu7wwkfxG7c2q8el2Vdq2TWRAVReeiB_HOtbjueIQDPmvNCOkJCkETouDHTyHkK3D0D_v_0/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqwb1s2sLyKay_QEnd0WkrZAulGO2mwL8teUNCNaqUzzmQe75G3RydPlFqaXYlhIu19AeTlu7wwkfxG7c2q8el2Vdq2TWRAVReeiB_HOtbjueIQDPmvNCOkJCkETouDHTyHkK3D0D_v_0/s400/photo-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here she is riding her first solo ride. I'm pretty sure I didn't breath the whole time she was on it, but she thought it was fun. I couldn't get her to look at me to get a picture close up. As a matter of fact, that's one thing about Lily. I promise she is a happy child, bubbly, and full of laughs and smiles, but if one were to judge her demeanor by photo you would assume she's always grumpy and never in the mood for anything fun. She is just the most difficult child to photograph smiling. I dunno what it is, but hopefully that changes soon. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqBa8xqvGqPYxf7r7DQWAPempRYQhqFEVQOXpZH8qNaxcv7eEiS_rmcdJrYGtOCwcecDvL1JMqOnOURihO6awEXPX9amFzpJsC9dKVOkjFYhHzp89pvfUW58pC8SjdXfX6CE0B3KUoHM5/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqBa8xqvGqPYxf7r7DQWAPempRYQhqFEVQOXpZH8qNaxcv7eEiS_rmcdJrYGtOCwcecDvL1JMqOnOURihO6awEXPX9amFzpJsC9dKVOkjFYhHzp89pvfUW58pC8SjdXfX6CE0B3KUoHM5/s400/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the little marching band show we watched during lunch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QMbhxOF-v_YA0KB4NXRYkNkFHgIzahMrPVIyJfHdo9dY8P4zSYU8LSzydS1EIEN-0KFYARTA6AFljszNTT44_B2KZfyS7Df2oOa7hq-Yj0WwkBilIp0liwpkAc3yFCULhvP12R5_Mzqu/s1600/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QMbhxOF-v_YA0KB4NXRYkNkFHgIzahMrPVIyJfHdo9dY8P4zSYU8LSzydS1EIEN-0KFYARTA6AFljszNTT44_B2KZfyS7Df2oOa7hq-Yj0WwkBilIp0liwpkAc3yFCULhvP12R5_Mzqu/s640/photo+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This marching band geek was very excited her baby couldn't tear her eyes away from the performance.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikb9aXbC48cfkHdMTEUE_8LShKr_Z8j-doulMFbZe_qYUd6H2LDQlQKZe5MWmRV5Gegfsh72o-R1z3VBQbCNYMqyyzpHit3oEgctRZ3bWq2OfPLxM3r3cQ5Lf3gzx2U_ayfhF8mHkXcXhB/s1600/IMG_0282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikb9aXbC48cfkHdMTEUE_8LShKr_Z8j-doulMFbZe_qYUd6H2LDQlQKZe5MWmRV5Gegfsh72o-R1z3VBQbCNYMqyyzpHit3oEgctRZ3bWq2OfPLxM3r3cQ5Lf3gzx2U_ayfhF8mHkXcXhB/s400/IMG_0282.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stumbled on the free petting zoo park in Hampton call Blue Bird Gap Farm. It was full of animals that could be petted and fed. Lily of course loved it. I loved it. This sweet deer pretty much tried to eat my hand, but in a loving way. :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL35wj56eQCwHLivQHrSWQIAgJKVNcCzhpQM1qR0J4slIYAaapUx_RiWJEwN_3YcXImxKVtkWCJJa3hE4diwvKqYg945dborg0lEM6waDR48NS076x7Xi6U2CaV5FewHKpAkxgSCMPnxu/s1600/IMG_0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL35wj56eQCwHLivQHrSWQIAgJKVNcCzhpQM1qR0J4slIYAaapUx_RiWJEwN_3YcXImxKVtkWCJJa3hE4diwvKqYg945dborg0lEM6waDR48NS076x7Xi6U2CaV5FewHKpAkxgSCMPnxu/s640/IMG_0288.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lily with the sweetie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMx1euKN5pPgU7PnKCe4GxoUMfHJJlzMzWYWXIhaTujPNfA7vtLwDX6qvaMFjowCiFymoi9mDL07pmHc2UTGbxK_FoNp_RK7SosH-492XBBEtH7LApPVU296UV_kkjcsg46YfkPB4YWfOk/s1600/IMG_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMx1euKN5pPgU7PnKCe4GxoUMfHJJlzMzWYWXIhaTujPNfA7vtLwDX6qvaMFjowCiFymoi9mDL07pmHc2UTGbxK_FoNp_RK7SosH-492XBBEtH7LApPVU296UV_kkjcsg46YfkPB4YWfOk/s640/IMG_0322.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Cayce's shipmates and friends was awarded the 2011 Sailor of the Year, Fleet Forces. We drove up to Washington, D.C. to support her during her Chief pinning ceremony at the National Navy Memorial. One of the perks of being awarded Sailor of the Year for the Navy as a 1st class is that you are automatically awarded the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Cayce is up for Chief for the second year, but making it is very difficult and it takes some sailors many many years to put on Chief, if at all. I found this picture in the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy's (MCPON) photo album of the event. The credit is to an MC2. This picture was taken during the Advancing of the Colors. I pretty much always choke up during all that pageantry, the flag, the band, the singers. It's always beautiful, and makes me proud.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrgcM1rlxWoQbEIkjuIU-Yel3hgTwjuAEE2TZWs2t6CQ4VK7HBiba2ST_FDxT_l8IdxcjPdgvBmQjisjYVqLNG7UdEDPv7I90UUNBMCxjnW5x8AIWjarzh0rl1Bl00Uebh8dlpdLgDER4/s1600/IMG_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrgcM1rlxWoQbEIkjuIU-Yel3hgTwjuAEE2TZWs2t6CQ4VK7HBiba2ST_FDxT_l8IdxcjPdgvBmQjisjYVqLNG7UdEDPv7I90UUNBMCxjnW5x8AIWjarzh0rl1Bl00Uebh8dlpdLgDER4/s400/IMG_0315.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are eating lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe after the ceremony. Can you tell I'm tired? I was tired. Lily refuses to sleep in hotel rooms. Refuses. While she sleeps like a champ at home, and even in other people's homes, when it comes to a hotel room where she is required to share a room or bed with other people, game's over. She will stay up all night. All. Night. And so will you.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpn-JPbtV1_0XfXFDGMdmW_HT2Txqiy0G225gcQ__UO0NoQ3BkDamwowd-EbTIb3bDv2Bp8_thsLSZUILEMMTjTynVUSZxBTlDb2UIysg0gGpaV_n4Bqlnz_HAhMrOEPvD6_SU7rYLMEjv/s1600/IMG_0343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpn-JPbtV1_0XfXFDGMdmW_HT2Txqiy0G225gcQ__UO0NoQ3BkDamwowd-EbTIb3bDv2Bp8_thsLSZUILEMMTjTynVUSZxBTlDb2UIysg0gGpaV_n4Bqlnz_HAhMrOEPvD6_SU7rYLMEjv/s640/IMG_0343.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went to the beach over Memorial Day weekend. Lily's not crazy about the ocean water. It's still pretty chilly, and the day we were there the waves were big due to a tropical storm brewing just south of us. So we dug a hole and let mother nature do the rest. Lily loved playing in this water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51YeNt-jKbAeHN72Z46Vx2z-HEPQW7uW6i7k5Wmcdh-5Awh4PV9CPeRWrBOZOhl-5jrBxLcMyliF_1EHP8ivqsAECkVUimPsIg7aUa_eTyvV5bTlz0jFw1mzh11nEuEcHIV4b3jnxQ-d0/s1600/IMG_0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51YeNt-jKbAeHN72Z46Vx2z-HEPQW7uW6i7k5Wmcdh-5Awh4PV9CPeRWrBOZOhl-5jrBxLcMyliF_1EHP8ivqsAECkVUimPsIg7aUa_eTyvV5bTlz0jFw1mzh11nEuEcHIV4b3jnxQ-d0/s640/IMG_0348.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At home she plays in her little pool. She decided to taste hose water. Apparently she liked it b/c she probably had a gallon of it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi765yU5nnRlqsGlqp5BXl4OlI0aVO1pLOcqv4PrBZhPkcvbbnLnpIafdsZGYzUsnfDhMt3J3bCzLXyyV6MZnErGNDAMB-FQBt4O1tWX9l5FbFhTeIKK-UutsMtTI1g0bEQoDnTba4dMCSQ/s1600/IMG_0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi765yU5nnRlqsGlqp5BXl4OlI0aVO1pLOcqv4PrBZhPkcvbbnLnpIafdsZGYzUsnfDhMt3J3bCzLXyyV6MZnErGNDAMB-FQBt4O1tWX9l5FbFhTeIKK-UutsMtTI1g0bEQoDnTba4dMCSQ/s640/IMG_0325.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We spend a lot of our time outside. Here we are working on some coloring. As you can tell art is serious business to Lily.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOlmzOXU-8YBf8aPvpJl02nJEyCzj8K0ivrD7-E8UEheB3IhCD-6V3lPwo7X5vwAoRSmfVmBS4xIs0D-AMKm-66OT0FEmsMvy7yITByQCR4d0DdhHJqcvtPHJonhSRXlbw9vwRM-lpLs_/s1600/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOlmzOXU-8YBf8aPvpJl02nJEyCzj8K0ivrD7-E8UEheB3IhCD-6V3lPwo7X5vwAoRSmfVmBS4xIs0D-AMKm-66OT0FEmsMvy7yITByQCR4d0DdhHJqcvtPHJonhSRXlbw9vwRM-lpLs_/s640/photo+%25285%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a garden in the backyard. We have Strawberries, blueberries, onions, yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers, cantaloupes, pumpkins, and of course tomatoes. Lily kept asking for the "apples" which were actually tomatoes. I kept telling her that, and finally gave her one. She excitedly took one bite, and promptly spit it back out. Not a fan of tomatoes, yet.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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Well summer has just started, and Cayce heads back to the ship next week. He's going to be pretty busy over the next several months so our quality family time will lessen. It sounds like he's heading to Boston in July. I'm trying to figure out if Lily and I will be able to go spend a weekend up there. We will see. Remember she doesn't sleep in hotel rooms. Once again, though, Cayce gets to go somewhere I would love to visit while I, instead, stay at home. Sometimes I think the wrong person joined the Navy. While I would love to travel the world like he has done Cayce would happily spend his life in the same 50 mile radius. Oh well. He'll make the best of it, and we'll make the best of it. Chief results will be out sometime in late summer, and whether or not he makes it will have an effect on our future. As it always is in the Navy nothing is settled, and there's always something on the horizon that can have a huge impact on our future. You'd think after 8 years I'd have this down and be comfortable with it. ;-)<br />
<br />Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-52601725554644315752012-03-03T21:58:00.000-05:002012-03-03T21:58:56.371-05:00Not even a yearWe went to the zoo this week. The weather was gorgeous on Thursday, and we just had to be out in it. The zoo was fantastic. We definitely had our best zoo trip ever, no fussing, no falls, no drama, just fun. I was flipping through the pictures, and I had to go back and find the matching picture of Lily from last year. We took the pictures in the same spot. The first was taken in June of 2011, and the second March 2012. We no longer have a baby. We have a big girl. :-)<br />
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I'll post about the trip sometime later. It was full of discoveries, and really fabulous pictures. But I thought it would be fun to show her change in appearance. Sweet baby.Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-52730361214144701832012-03-01T18:02:00.000-05:002012-03-01T18:02:25.206-05:00Belated Valentine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As always...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cayce's ship has been in a busy pattern recently. Here for a week, gone for a week, here for a week, gone for two weeks, etc. Between his sailings and my return to grad school this house has been chaotic. Cayce's currently on a 30 day convalescent leave following shoulder surgery...again....and I'm winding down on my final few weeks of classes so we're taking time to enjoy family life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cayce's ship was gone for a couple weeks around Valentine's Day. As a fun little thing to do Lily and I made sugar cookies for Cayce to take with him on the ship. I for one am not a fan of sugar cookies...they're just sugar? However, Cayce loves them and it was something fun for Lily and I to do together for Cayce. Cayce photographed the event for posterity. :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First of all. Lily and I are in complementary Mary Englebreit aprons. She had a lot of fun and exercised her mischievousness. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stirring.....</b></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking adoringly at her mother... she always does this.... I promise. ;-)</b></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Eeeeeggg"</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ycj9aad-qoOIcibSwrTF8IV-7g2lmuX2xUH85cHBSym2ABViIt-LwCVdA0hy36uJnIjzyduLEbuAWDk5ivBdrJnOmxebeCauNbdHuPfKUAtVYBVJSjRmgB0DFIYXtCj_pYJEwdUmI4d4/s1600/IMG_0959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ycj9aad-qoOIcibSwrTF8IV-7g2lmuX2xUH85cHBSym2ABViIt-LwCVdA0hy36uJnIjzyduLEbuAWDk5ivBdrJnOmxebeCauNbdHuPfKUAtVYBVJSjRmgB0DFIYXtCj_pYJEwdUmI4d4/s640/IMG_0959.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">This was hilarious. I turned around to wash my hands following the egg cracking and Lily, as any child should, immediately grabbed for the spoon. Of course she had been trying the entire time, but Mommy kept saying "no." Smarty knew with my back turned that spoon was hers for the taking... and may I point out Cayce was standing right there, but was she afraid of Mr. Softy's response? No</b>.<b style="color: red;"> Choco's also very jealous Lily's getting some of that and not her.</b> </td></tr>
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Must....have....cookie....</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOTEswwQAdFaz9ciEjgRa2pCv6mbFhvuaOvl7bgfyO-uhKB05lU5KQHRxZvZlYMUdw6xeLxf0DcRQGLOEsA7NkLhd4c8orJj_4_HqqMQqJahf4b4inGqHxCgaQUHyKspMNS3IU-tPcyXs/s1600/IMG_0964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOTEswwQAdFaz9ciEjgRa2pCv6mbFhvuaOvl7bgfyO-uhKB05lU5KQHRxZvZlYMUdw6xeLxf0DcRQGLOEsA7NkLhd4c8orJj_4_HqqMQqJahf4b4inGqHxCgaQUHyKspMNS3IU-tPcyXs/s400/IMG_0964.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Playing with the flour was the best part for her.... other than eating raw cookie dough.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbMibLMNhOlX0KdpJX0fSV80FBF8jdsGhxVparejJFiTfk6iKo6mFJ9a4leuJm63LGHS-dXV3Mc3sliarsUQEwbaqGDqqCI3uSXejwl34l2qryl98yVinDuKBteP6wsbPiejce3vmE2G2/s1600/IMG_0969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbMibLMNhOlX0KdpJX0fSV80FBF8jdsGhxVparejJFiTfk6iKo6mFJ9a4leuJm63LGHS-dXV3Mc3sliarsUQEwbaqGDqqCI3uSXejwl34l2qryl98yVinDuKBteP6wsbPiejce3vmE2G2/s640/IMG_0969.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Ooooooh. Yummy cookies. :-)</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHteoffTzr4bmnuDnaze4KA1GM5vDnOfHNCqSSso0CQQEmfpcgahxETsIcwMPkl7nYY-gtYsTtPaJFV2Uhuab4HTiYpaa4BK9EjtdSuuvhP1siVYt9w17DscrkSRigBoWHpADpupDCd2EH/s1600/IMG_0973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHteoffTzr4bmnuDnaze4KA1GM5vDnOfHNCqSSso0CQQEmfpcgahxETsIcwMPkl7nYY-gtYsTtPaJFV2Uhuab4HTiYpaa4BK9EjtdSuuvhP1siVYt9w17DscrkSRigBoWHpADpupDCd2EH/s400/IMG_0973.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Cayce wanted to make a special cookie for me. ;-)</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgMFpxen7A9f7jkpxjufyCZSRSKO5Cg1E7Iz1UehPav4p0nG-SMiiK1NuweUh7GbPnRwrxx1GpZoPi6lnb02z-SosWZhDLUwdBQBoKqEDLiMQu7gV0Qi9bJLvZD2qKafWtoCXfEp48UYM/s1600/IMG_0976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgMFpxen7A9f7jkpxjufyCZSRSKO5Cg1E7Iz1UehPav4p0nG-SMiiK1NuweUh7GbPnRwrxx1GpZoPi6lnb02z-SosWZhDLUwdBQBoKqEDLiMQu7gV0Qi9bJLvZD2qKafWtoCXfEp48UYM/s400/IMG_0976.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Finished product. Not beautiful, but something to remember. Yes, I used a package mix. Yes, I put in actual red dye. Sue me. I </span><i style="color: red;">was</i><span style="color: red;"> making </span><i style="color: red;">cookies</i><span style="color: red;">. :-)</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Cayce took a little video. The quality is not the greatest, but it's something. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxI-iB3R80QNA2FFif32oHD_uFMKZxfFi2C7aXz-wpTokO7nPhGzlKxV3uVn5uAUOLsk34-14maBRc3e5MlZA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-84780865087447452702011-12-26T19:53:00.000-05:002011-12-26T19:53:34.229-05:00Only 364 Days Until Christmas!<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Warning: If you have dial-up or a slow internet connection I suggest you take a break, go make yourself a cup of coffee, or build a birdhouse while you wait for this blog to load. It is FULL of pictures. Enjoy.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let's take a pictorial trip through the end of November and the month December shall we.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">In an effort to keep a tree decorated for the duration of the Christmas season I put up the (fake) tree mid November. No ornaments, just the lights. I thought perhaps if it stood in the corner long enough unadorned by the time the actual "decorating" of the tree took place Lily would have lost interest and left the ornaments and lights alone. Yah, no, didn't work. Well, ya know, "best laid plans" and all that.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7NKvU-Of-NI/Tvj_iayW5MI/AAAAAAAAAxY/Vavym6N7io8/s1600/393737_879309419962_25110796_39827997_518043830_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7NKvU-Of-NI/Tvj_iayW5MI/AAAAAAAAAxY/Vavym6N7io8/s400/393737_879309419962_25110796_39827997_518043830_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">We went to <a href="http://www.portraitinnovations.com/" target="_blank">Picture Innovations in Virginia Beach</a> for our family Christmas photos. It was a terrible experience. I don't know about other franchise locations, but I suggest families steer clear of this establishment. They ran sooooooo late, and the photographer was soooooooo impatient. There wasn't a single smiling picture of Lily in our entire shoot b/c the guy clearly had A. never worked with children and B. had never encountered a tired toddler. When I made the appointment I scheduled it so that it was smack dab in between nap time and dinner time. However, we had to wait over an hour for our session, and the place was so crazy overbooked that rescheduling was not an option. So. Here's what we got. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AokUcBNPlrE/Tvj9UXuh9uI/AAAAAAAAAug/T0S2B1vcn30/s1600/340338_882514392172_25110796_39840255_443229521_o+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AokUcBNPlrE/Tvj9UXuh9uI/AAAAAAAAAug/T0S2B1vcn30/s400/340338_882514392172_25110796_39840255_443229521_o+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Not bad, but who doesn't want a happy baby Christmas photo?</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">We tried our darndest to get her chipper for the photos, but this is what we were dealing with.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Fv3KCc6hcQ/Tvj_1NKimQI/AAAAAAAAAxk/SVGjQy77OBk/s1600/308425_1955518065896_1781042669_1276438_638813090_n+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Fv3KCc6hcQ/Tvj_1NKimQI/AAAAAAAAAxk/SVGjQy77OBk/s320/308425_1955518065896_1781042669_1276438_638813090_n+-+Copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">One tired baby.</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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We tried again at a different store. The experience was much better. We got some fabulous pictures. Even some smiling ones. I couldn't have been happier. I guess you truly do get what you pay for. Here's a happy Christmas baby.<br />
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Now that we have Miss Lily one of my joys is dressing her up for the holiday. Until she complains, *fingers crossed* it's not until she's 30, I'll continue to dress her up in gingerbread men and candy canes. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0cG0K_Vg6lA/TvkBywWBFnI/AAAAAAAAAyI/lOZ7-uk7ZJs/s1600/413345_910243318182_25110796_39965830_146221023_o+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0cG0K_Vg6lA/TvkBywWBFnI/AAAAAAAAAyI/lOZ7-uk7ZJs/s400/413345_910243318182_25110796_39965830_146221023_o+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Playing before church.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The joy of Sunday mornings is having Cayce around to corral Lily and take care of her so I can spend quality time actually primping. Of course if she happens to make her way upstairs to our bathroom then all bets are off and it then becomes quality mother/daughter dress up time. She loves helping mommy get dressed for church.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txFPtuQRWzo/TvkDu4QOoFI/AAAAAAAAAyU/BBM4K-vdhCg/s1600/379769_1955516385854_1781042669_1276436_1969804780_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-txFPtuQRWzo/TvkDu4QOoFI/AAAAAAAAAyU/BBM4K-vdhCg/s320/379769_1955516385854_1781042669_1276436_1969804780_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">She has a skill with those Velcro rollers.</span></b></td></tr>
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Cayce was very busy with Navy stuff this month. He was gone for about 3 weeks. While he was gone my mom came to visit. Here's Lily on our way to pick her up from the airport.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tgdtxAf6iA/TvkBUo5A2pI/AAAAAAAAAx8/oYs0sgO0u3M/s1600/391222_1955513505782_1781042669_1276431_905807295_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tgdtxAf6iA/TvkBUo5A2pI/AAAAAAAAAx8/oYs0sgO0u3M/s320/391222_1955513505782_1781042669_1276431_905807295_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">I look so cool.....</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>One of the pluses to having Oma (mom) visit is free babysitting! Cayce's ship had a Christmas party. The event went until 11:00 PM, and while they had free childcare for the party the thought of making Lily stay up that late with complete strangers was not appealing. So mom gladly watched Lily, and we enjoyed a carefree evening.<br />
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After the party weekend Cayce's ship headed back out, and Lily, mom, and I headed to OK for a couple weeks. Lily spent the frigid days running out the doggie door to commune with her goat friends. I wished I had gotten a picture of this, but alas I was too busy chasing after her with her shoes, coat, hat, and gloves so she could be dressed appropriately to chat with her goat friends. Directly behind the house Al has made a small manger pen for two pregnant goats. I'm pretty sure Lily and the mamas spent their afternoons conspiring on how to get Lily through the fence and cuddled up with them in the hay. Anytime they saw Lily heading for the fence they met her and just "talked." Girl loves goats. <br />
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After our time in OK we headed up I-35 to Kansas and spent some time with Marty, Don, and Randy. There Lily got to enjoy her first 4 wheeler ride.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">She insisted on steering.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>After opening gifts, one awesome kiddie janitor cart and a singing broom (Catch a theme? Lily likes to clean) we continued up I-35 and finally got to be back with Cayce. His ship was in port, and he took his Christmas leave. He flew in from Norfolk to Kansas City. There we spent a few days with family. We enjoyed Christmas at Aunt Kay's home. Lily was showered with a ridiculous amount of gifts. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Df3pTch7ZSw/TvkFWUtBjfI/AAAAAAAAAzk/_RnThZhwKbI/s1600/336546_910245693422_25110796_39965845_1391196954_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Df3pTch7ZSw/TvkFWUtBjfI/AAAAAAAAAzk/_RnThZhwKbI/s320/336546_910245693422_25110796_39965845_1391196954_o.jpg" width="240" /></a><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S1Og2ZhLy-Q/TvkFS8v4tyI/AAAAAAAAAy0/imyoxxciLps/s320/322601_910246766272_25110796_39965851_835551918_o+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Df3pTch7ZSw/TvkFWUtBjfI/AAAAAAAAAzk/_RnThZhwKbI/s1600/336546_910245693422_25110796_39965845_1391196954_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S1Og2ZhLy-Q/TvkFS8v4tyI/AAAAAAAAAy0/imyoxxciLps/s1600/322601_910246766272_25110796_39965851_835551918_o+-+Copy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S1Og2ZhLy-Q/TvkFS8v4tyI/AAAAAAAAAy0/imyoxxciLps/s1600/322601_910246766272_25110796_39965851_835551918_o+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div> Lily's favorite gift: a package of big girl underwear. I kid you not. She opened them and would not let them go. Pretty sure she would have slept with the package if we had let her.<br />
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Snuggly....</b></td></tr>
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Here she is feeding her baby doll. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Clearly she's ready to be a big sister.</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Cayce's Grandma Mautino came to the Eads' family Christmas. She brought dolls a plenty for Lily. Including Lily's Holiday Barbie, which is perfect, b/c I guess as an *almost* 30 y/o I'm too old to be getting the Holiday Barbie for Christmas anymore. :-P But that's okay I have every one from the mid 90's up until 2009. Lily's Great-grandma gave her the 2010 last year and also this year's. So as long as Lily gets them each year it's *like* I'm getting them right? She was also given Belle, the Disney Barbie (which much to my chagrin she was allowed to take out of the package and play with), and 5 or 6 Hallmark Barbie ornaments. Can I tell you how excited I am about these?? So excited that I went out and bought the small purple Christmas tree at Walmart so starting next year Lily can have her own Barbie Christmas tree. Squeeeee! So excited! This is why little girls are fun...just when people tell you you're too old for girlhood joys you have someone to keep those traditions going! (No, I will not be putting her in pageants and living vicariously through her...just so you don't have to worry about seeing me on TLC one day.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Great-grandma Carolyn, Cayce, an Elf, and me.</b></td></tr>
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Back at Pamaw's (Cayce's mom) Lily enjoyed the Lily's sized recliner she received for Christmas. She also got this kickass Princess castle tent. I have a feeling it will be her hiding place of choice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Just chilling with a peanut butter sandwich.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Hugs from Pamaw.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Pamaw, Princess, and Grampa Dave.</span></b></td></tr>
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</a></div> After enjoying our time in KC we had to head back south to pick up the dogs from mom's and head out for VA. During our short stay we stopped at the park in Cleveland, Billy Vessel's. Lily had a blasty-blast!<br />
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Whoa!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">So much more fun with Daddy!</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">"Agh la la agh agh agh la la!"</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R4r-EgC1h0Q/TvkFt9ZrrJI/AAAAAAAAA0U/7T1myhODurE/s1600/IMG_0899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R4r-EgC1h0Q/TvkFt9ZrrJI/AAAAAAAAA0U/7T1myhODurE/s400/IMG_0899.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">We seeeee you, Daddy.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>They should charge admission for that thing! It's one serious slide! Clearly.</b></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Weeeeeeeeeee!</b></td></tr>
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We made the 23 hour drive from OK to VA in 2 days. It was uneventful and loooooooooooong. You have never met three people and two dogs more happy to be home. We were able to enjoy Christmas in our home together. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riY-5w9VX7M/TvkF5rhXZpI/AAAAAAAAA00/VjGptTPqGxA/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riY-5w9VX7M/TvkF5rhXZpI/AAAAAAAAA00/VjGptTPqGxA/s400/IMG_0919.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">The tree has so far survived the Lily's sized terrorist, but the ornaments have all migrated north out of her reach.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYlTgER66uM/TvkF28OCTkI/AAAAAAAAA0s/e0CxbyHTHao/s1600/IMG_0916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYlTgER66uM/TvkF28OCTkI/AAAAAAAAA0s/e0CxbyHTHao/s640/IMG_0916.JPG" width="480" /></a></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rockin' the Dora nightgown ready to tear into some gifts.</b></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-riY-5w9VX7M/TvkF5rhXZpI/AAAAAAAAA00/VjGptTPqGxA/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div> Lily received her first Cabbage Patch Doll and a Barbie car from Cayce and me. She also got some sweet "light-up" Sketcher tennis shoes. There is no walking softly in this house anymore. She must stomp to ensure the shoes light with each step. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-60yymTb0nqE/TvkF8DU3CgI/AAAAAAAAA08/t-2ZrwtKOhs/s1600/IMG_0923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-60yymTb0nqE/TvkF8DU3CgI/AAAAAAAAA08/t-2ZrwtKOhs/s400/IMG_0923.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Paying with Belle in her convertible, complete with "vroom vroom" sounds.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zRGhcGe292Q/TvkF-9GqkxI/AAAAAAAAA1E/gdjmxqsEdCY/s1600/IMG_0925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zRGhcGe292Q/TvkF-9GqkxI/AAAAAAAAA1E/gdjmxqsEdCY/s400/IMG_0925.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Meet Apple. (that's her name)</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--LjrylLMw5k/TvkGFIm63mI/AAAAAAAAA1U/d7YFkyPnUtk/s1600/IMG_0930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--LjrylLMw5k/TvkGFIm63mI/AAAAAAAAA1U/d7YFkyPnUtk/s640/IMG_0930.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Kisses for Apple. I can feel the anxiety in my stomach just looking at that mess.</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Lily's big gift this year was a collaboration gift from Cayce's dad, my mom, and us. We made the jump to a big girl bed. A super, princess sized, big girl bed. Lily LOVES it. We actually found it accidentally because we were at the furniture store looking for a new couch and just so happened to venture into the bed section. Lily bee-lined it for this beauty. She climbed in and laid right down. We felt if she was that attracted to the bed perhaps making the switch would be easier. The switch has been phenomenally awesome. *knocks on wood* Nap time is even going smoothly. The only thing we are holding off on are the bedrails to raise it up off the floor. We'll let her get a little bigger and then lift it up, but right now it's easy for her to get in and out. The rails for the "carriage top" act as a crib like feature so they keep her protected from falling. The bed will grow with her. Once she inevitably, sad face, thinks she's too cool for Cinderella's carriage bed the top can come off and it will just be bottom scrolls. We had to rearrange her room and do some redecorating to accommodate the behemoth (changes not in the photo), but the room actually looks better now, and the shocking pink color isn't so "shocking" anymore. It's as if the room was made for it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnCaqXiFRNI/TvkGHgOqUVI/AAAAAAAAA1c/cW4saK2vV2A/s1600/IMG_0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mnCaqXiFRNI/TvkGHgOqUVI/AAAAAAAAA1c/cW4saK2vV2A/s640/IMG_0937.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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Cayce and I also had a good Christmas. The best thing was my Nook. I finally caved and asked for an e-reader. After being a traditional book hold-out I made the choice to get one. The big deciding factor for me stemmed from my experience nursing Lily. I was never ever able to read while nursing. I could hold a book, but the second I turned the page, oh no, that was it, fuss-central. I'm a HUGE reader. I absolutely love to read, and not being able to read while sitting peacefully really sucked. It was with that in mind that made me decide to get my well researched Nook. So, in other words, I've gotten over my fear of having another baby, and we are officially working on baby #2. So, once the next blessing comes along I am well prepared for nursing sessions with my Nook. :-)Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-53285479288799601542011-11-12T17:30:00.000-05:002011-11-12T17:30:09.029-05:00Halloween 2011 (about a month later :-) )<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOurLahpy4_ft3g4pqcjU6x0Pq31PIiC0ZwXKmUfckbtBEl7JPsznDzKlopgy28_j7hUhAv3fdAWs2U4ylvfEUFuzxHG3b2cqE5G4syrosT_pCODWv-6TyIhSgUjg6breeBOwhX6eb-fx3/s640/302425_860858760232_25110796_39708487_599364002_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Baby Elephant</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
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As you can see Lily was a super cute elephant for Halloween. Totally appropriate for our planned Halloween outing. We enjoyed Norfolk's Zoo Boo for our Halloween celebration. Zoo Boo was held the Sunday before Halloween. It was packed with all kinds of super cute kids dressed for the occasion, and the zoo also had different activities for the children and visitors. The most notable change for the holiday was the pumpkin eating. Many of the animals were given pumpkins to play with and eat. We took our time, and meandered. Overall it was an enjoyable afternoon. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt03f2xaw7BMKmVetIUbD944kKSgtRGuOvw_8NWbpDqppXVsC6ud5CjqSrRdvnu7rw7UIh4d-0P3hLtnG3gsw7A7f7rxlGyti7PmqP8ADwBZSl3ORTCCxEpqomodZf-I3dxS0R8jXbtte/s1600/329677_860850975832_25110796_39708397_407982125_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEt03f2xaw7BMKmVetIUbD944kKSgtRGuOvw_8NWbpDqppXVsC6ud5CjqSrRdvnu7rw7UIh4d-0P3hLtnG3gsw7A7f7rxlGyti7PmqP8ADwBZSl3ORTCCxEpqomodZf-I3dxS0R8jXbtte/s400/329677_860850975832_25110796_39708397_407982125_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lily's new best friend the orangutan. </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuI9STsejgMl8LJzZ3cao6gaNYH3JxcNaoSNfwQC_szRRWOAedBrRBsU17Wq7D5gw7Thx7LoioevFfi1qz_6hfW-C46r2SR3iS8Kym1nfCgtCq1Z4PsuTgVoUxWltNW_9g2VaDeqAC-B-v/s1600/321794_860848585622_25110796_39708354_521882642_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuI9STsejgMl8LJzZ3cao6gaNYH3JxcNaoSNfwQC_szRRWOAedBrRBsU17Wq7D5gw7Thx7LoioevFfi1qz_6hfW-C46r2SR3iS8Kym1nfCgtCq1Z4PsuTgVoUxWltNW_9g2VaDeqAC-B-v/s400/321794_860848585622_25110796_39708354_521882642_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Riding along in the wagon given to her by her aunts, Marty and Randy (she LOVES this thing).</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRIaN63NTXdvT2LDmcXJKYpQkV4xxdIw9faLQZFgn3OfLXvO9dOk7CjdgIYu04LjKGZZwWL3LbThoHU6PRXRdh3UlCIONjXD9nKj1kv0e6cbiEsCbMi8gvsnCS1Pnb9O2DGCuoEQ1QiyN/s1600/330214_860852293192_25110796_39708424_733761946_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRIaN63NTXdvT2LDmcXJKYpQkV4xxdIw9faLQZFgn3OfLXvO9dOk7CjdgIYu04LjKGZZwWL3LbThoHU6PRXRdh3UlCIONjXD9nKj1kv0e6cbiEsCbMi8gvsnCS1Pnb9O2DGCuoEQ1QiyN/s400/330214_860852293192_25110796_39708424_733761946_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">with mommy</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs869x-FtCgwcdMkydhDu0xtN1ZRqsJMGYuHk5hN9M4mHB_MLFBQm77CP3zmnLOCh7C9e-yz1YpjYssD2cfPRnnZtCVRP43boom1ZesN2Zx5nf5wGdRS0Czq8bj7e2ISxnA04WCCS0r6C0/s1600/331860_860849723342_25110796_39708379_1408582581_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs869x-FtCgwcdMkydhDu0xtN1ZRqsJMGYuHk5hN9M4mHB_MLFBQm77CP3zmnLOCh7C9e-yz1YpjYssD2cfPRnnZtCVRP43boom1ZesN2Zx5nf5wGdRS0Czq8bj7e2ISxnA04WCCS0r6C0/s640/331860_860849723342_25110796_39708379_1408582581_o.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Lily, Daddy, and a rhino. </span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table> Halloween day Cayce and Lily continued their <a href="http://teammautino.blogspot.com/2010/11/holiday-rush.html">tradition</a> of pumpkin carving Halloween night. This time instead of taking it to the back porch this task was completed in the comforts of the living room. :-/<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkoRWDAfaykh0f8XzMfYNNnOHe7LHkW3yPTuxdEwb1wem2D89mMcujiwtwDlkzcmTYIX53E3oISinT3VYhMTwLc4rXirG2fmcoxB8iDlpdtbhr35XLajGzcezYK01C2NglpG-C-f0f7Dd/s1600/fall+2011+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkoRWDAfaykh0f8XzMfYNNnOHe7LHkW3yPTuxdEwb1wem2D89mMcujiwtwDlkzcmTYIX53E3oISinT3VYhMTwLc4rXirG2fmcoxB8iDlpdtbhr35XLajGzcezYK01C2NglpG-C-f0f7Dd/s400/fall+2011+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Everyone including the dogs was there to help Cayce.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiyUnIvRDi4hyevfHPhBu1civahAJuz5cAVQSEpFZkItf7QgwyfSHjVNe0ANsw6PXgY7GeZl6ik1oKzxn31wsnqBuDh9lbva-dSdZRUNuk94G0_-lO_CKPxz0gVce2LTp469xYhvovaxR/s1600/fall+2011+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiyUnIvRDi4hyevfHPhBu1civahAJuz5cAVQSEpFZkItf7QgwyfSHjVNe0ANsw6PXgY7GeZl6ik1oKzxn31wsnqBuDh9lbva-dSdZRUNuk94G0_-lO_CKPxz0gVce2LTp469xYhvovaxR/s320/fall+2011+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Festive decor</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8wgjF3hLuwzmwaZDhnC9zBJyajfkoiQLUb3XXy5luIPs-h4kQHA0Ms_pYy5NojDyC0oXcDJ0sU5kp0iR9HavlK49yhmDw4tlVjIXJDP1o75O94uUTGuQG1I5LJe4jrW__uN5X5tm-_SW/s1600/fall+2011+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8wgjF3hLuwzmwaZDhnC9zBJyajfkoiQLUb3XXy5luIPs-h4kQHA0Ms_pYy5NojDyC0oXcDJ0sU5kp0iR9HavlK49yhmDw4tlVjIXJDP1o75O94uUTGuQG1I5LJe4jrW__uN5X5tm-_SW/s400/fall+2011+014.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Finished product</b></td></tr>
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We stayed in this year, and had a grand ol' time handing out candy to the children. This place was BUSY! I bought 3 bags of candy, and had to run to the drugstore and grab one more b/c the kids were still coming and we were down to 4 pieces. There was a Chiefs game on so in lieu of dressing up in her elephant costume Lily wore a Chiefs wind suit and fire hat and was the "Chiefs' Fireman" (as opposed to the Jets' fireman). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQ-SEb-lVRzAZ8GyAhSS5GFCtHwOjeJNhZXTA_CQSGzCY7BJlwYH27VPO2UZNOjpkltuIMUIKs-oqHhkbelDMRPQxjQfNn0i_wBZTRQhStS9WoTdDTDekiXhDvbhEFhZL9IblqfdGkfjR/s1600/fall+2011+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQ-SEb-lVRzAZ8GyAhSS5GFCtHwOjeJNhZXTA_CQSGzCY7BJlwYH27VPO2UZNOjpkltuIMUIKs-oqHhkbelDMRPQxjQfNn0i_wBZTRQhStS9WoTdDTDekiXhDvbhEFhZL9IblqfdGkfjR/s400/fall+2011+007.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">With daddy</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT_ywXNRPnNnnJ7I3OJYwGRc-fW6Pq90SHj6vdU2WfeLOVBtRi9g6cla-oxRDRYbjNJ3d3UnIoWWKNGnBg-ip1WQ3ki5W4ruwkxCRLk8nrlbuCODnHRn-sX2oqNoU7e-vYp9lMQyW4X50/s1600/fall+2011+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT_ywXNRPnNnnJ7I3OJYwGRc-fW6Pq90SHj6vdU2WfeLOVBtRi9g6cla-oxRDRYbjNJ3d3UnIoWWKNGnBg-ip1WQ3ki5W4ruwkxCRLk8nrlbuCODnHRn-sX2oqNoU7e-vYp9lMQyW4X50/s640/fall+2011+009.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lily with her Lily-sized pumpkins, and her Minnie Mouse slippers.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-26272687676452244402011-10-30T17:28:00.001-04:002011-10-30T20:03:38.080-04:00Patches? We don't need no stinkin' patches!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghu15Q23FAtm03H03Xt4xQQS7wRLZUOIEvaJPxpT_xcDApc0CBLv9FiMql68lb1aXIOK-AmLH1Ndce_hEs61p35z8jDdLaXukqPzPM37eUMOFLFhbJNCRoGbHLJWyxSsNuiP4Tt4zkFH7U/s1600/IMG_0783.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
Name that movie......<br />
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<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098519/">Troop Beverly Hills</a>!!<br />
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It's been a busy few months here. Lots of traveling for everyone. Cayce's been going in and out with his ship, family trips around the region, and finally one loooooong trip home for Lily and me. Now we're all home, and going to live a slowed down life for a while... as slow as the holiday season allows that is. <br />
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One of the things we've done recently is make a trip to DC to visit friends and meet their super cute new baby, Kyrie. On the way home from said visit we made a family stop back at the Queen Anne Farm in Mitchellville, MD. Last year we made this very same trip, and loved the <a href="http://teammautino.blogspot.com/2010/10/sheep-and-pumpkins.html">pumpkin patch.</a> So while we were in the area we thought we would try to capture some of that joy again. <br />
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It was a whole lot different this year. The torrential rains the east cost experienced this summer drastically cut down on their crop. They raised their per lb price to help make up for the loss, from .49 cents to .59 cents a lb. A totally justifiable price hike. The staff at the farm were just as pleasant and friendly. The only big complaint was that we apparently showed up a week early because they didn't have their sheep there or the pumpkin houses set up, yet. :-( It was still fun, and Lily loved running through the knee high (on her) grass. Smiling, posed pictures are so hard to get of Lily, as friend also mentioned in her <a href="http://thelifeofchelle.blogspot.com/2011/10/pumpkin-patch-fun.html">blog</a>. At this age (17 mos at the time) stopping and standing (anywhere) is just not an option. Lily being a late bloomer to the walking world apparently has created an intense drive to run and explore everything. In other words: enjoy the action pictures. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">We stayed at the same hotel on Andrews Air Force base.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Pumpkins!</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Chicken!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">"Lily, don't you want to pose with a sunflower like you did last year?"</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Nooo."</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Look, standing still, smiling, and with mommy! BONUS!</b></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Alright, enough of this I'm out of here!"</b></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>"Is she still following me??"</b></td></tr>
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<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>'Freedom!"</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">"Can I sit on this one?'</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">"No!" Did I mention she's not a fan of hand holding?</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Off again!</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Captured!</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">"How can I get all these home?"</b></td></tr>
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While Lily and I made our trip home we went with the family to another pumpkin patch. Growing up we always went to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carmichaels-Pumpkin-Patch/142842227641">Carmichael's</a> patch in Bixby, OK. I can still see myself climbing all over the piles of pumpkins hunting for that perfect gourd. I wanted to take Lily to play and share that tradition with her. The operation has grown a bit since my childhood. What was simply a roadside stand with mountains of pumpkins and a few petting zoo animals is now something closely resembling a county fair. While pumpkins were to be had we focused on the animals! Lily is the biggest animal lover. She has no fear of them, and must love and cuddle them all. We have to be very watchful of her with strange animals, but the joy she gets from interacting with the animals is worth any anxiety on my part.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Llama-Red-Pajama-Anna-Dewdney/dp/0670059838" style="color: red;">Llama Llama Red Pajama</a><span style="color: red;"> with her cousin Benny. (my goal is to convince Al to add a llama to the barnyard at home)</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CzA5chvxbt17h-hf5_81jBe4_1pGLS3K9zNWrmT134mPGp02GOmohA4lTU2VZx6gEgKe0GzvsPJYzEQd7mQKo1ez-BQ3sHW-jyDuJndTp9t-EmULY18voFWpNkKB8KlHHDbQK_XlNAy0/s1600/IMG_0804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CzA5chvxbt17h-hf5_81jBe4_1pGLS3K9zNWrmT134mPGp02GOmohA4lTU2VZx6gEgKe0GzvsPJYzEQd7mQKo1ez-BQ3sHW-jyDuJndTp9t-EmULY18voFWpNkKB8KlHHDbQK_XlNAy0/s400/IMG_0804.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">"Hey sheep, how can I get in there with you?"</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPDtrCyjGLPgoU5F0VIfhYsSlT55FDq8LTH4uOg7fILfKIa5kNM0or2TEHPGgMLiahPr4BGTEp0oHHk3LpLoQp-eLGDa9Qim_I7rlg720jhEHc8ygL2IPM2vPG-8mwhXY0laYVzQUVKAp/s1600/IMG_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPDtrCyjGLPgoU5F0VIfhYsSlT55FDq8LTH4uOg7fILfKIa5kNM0or2TEHPGgMLiahPr4BGTEp0oHHk3LpLoQp-eLGDa9Qim_I7rlg720jhEHc8ygL2IPM2vPG-8mwhXY0laYVzQUVKAp/s400/IMG_0806.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">"Ooooh goats. You're friendlier than the one's at Oma's and Grampa's house."</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWBdYuQhyphenhyphen4sEtxC4sWpIxyd4ZvBA1YC8WUzCnBc0cjgX6PrKVza9US6kj5zxejyHTYWBjZEJzqi9nPW5InZ2RGThyphenhyphenYT55YGC0MAPFrwj_lTAYeVlMrlGUsRO0YgKlNmsI5sU4uZ8Biv6g/s1600/IMG_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWBdYuQhyphenhyphen4sEtxC4sWpIxyd4ZvBA1YC8WUzCnBc0cjgX6PrKVza9US6kj5zxejyHTYWBjZEJzqi9nPW5InZ2RGThyphenhyphenYT55YGC0MAPFrwj_lTAYeVlMrlGUsRO0YgKlNmsI5sU4uZ8Biv6g/s400/IMG_0808.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Hungry. With Great-Aunt Randy taking a picture from the other view.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOg1A355WZglSJH7IUg3iMKAuBPIDSymtcOKiHHR2VtXtPYL0NwMFbW91n6dB38sKITBllerQZOWHXzq2Xon08U03_NgYp9D-Jj_AZleMKyCBoM8HUj02-BkJDrErQ1sIcXeFdpsiU6iYS/s1600/IMG_0809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOg1A355WZglSJH7IUg3iMKAuBPIDSymtcOKiHHR2VtXtPYL0NwMFbW91n6dB38sKITBllerQZOWHXzq2Xon08U03_NgYp9D-Jj_AZleMKyCBoM8HUj02-BkJDrErQ1sIcXeFdpsiU6iYS/s400/IMG_0809.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Benny'll help ya.</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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The trip to Carmichael's had a dramatic beginning. We stopped at the original road side store first, and crossing the parking lot Lily fell and skinned her face. It was pretty bad. She actually got over it quickly, but mommy didn't. Once it all got settled and got to the right place it was fun, and Lily loved the animals. Lily and Benny got pumpkins and, this little experience was great for me to share with Lily.Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-22674850083737925582011-08-07T20:55:00.000-04:002011-08-07T20:55:38.280-04:00Banana Fanna Fo Filly, Lily!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99KTCVoDh7zSMvU3RpxooOTmS9QtX5QHeXqoLdcGnXRnUpZK8luHlCn9rB5eObOF162fCEhBhSkh46QBtgww3Jgi6iFYW9YS_PMBk9dzxL9uq1HPyxwJTgX3ZPXfAR-ayhCEKReGIqGnr/s1600/IMG_0651copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>We've had a busy month! My mom visited for a couple weeks (yay!), we cleaned out our garage (yay!), Cayce finished a great school for civilian life (yay!), I was accepted into a grad program at Drexel Univeristy (yay!), and Cayce didn't make chief (boooo). <br />
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In the middle of all these things our home life has gotten crazy busy. Since Lily learned to walk she has not stopped. At all. Right now she's doing her nightly laps while eating a banana. That's what we call fast food. She's working on learning to run. Yay! That'll be super fun! Actually it will. We like to play tag.<br />
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Lily's the proud new owner of three new teeth. One canine and two premolars. They were all so kind as to come in at the same time... yaaaaah pleasant for everyone. I am excited for these premolars though. We can work on more big girl food. Right now the only whole foods she'll eat willingly are fruits. She's real charming about taking food like chicken or beef in her mouth chewing on it for a bit, and then thbbbbt spitting it out. Perhaps I should take on this technique to further my weight loss?<br />
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We had our first real date with a non-family baby sitter. It went swimmingly. The babysitter is this great girl who works in the child watch provided while you exercise at the Y. Lily's in there about 5 hours a week so she has had a lot of exposure to the girls. I was trying to decide if I wanted to ask one of the girls if they would be able to baby sit for us occasionally, and about a week after Lily started walking my mind was made up for me. Dropping Lily off one afternoon the girl who is usually really excited to see Lily was there, and as soon as I sat her on the ground Lily bee-lined it straight for her. That was the first time Lily had walked to anyone. I figured if she's comfortable enough to leave my arms and head straight for Bre than we can give this a try. It went great, and my hope now is to do this at least once a month. <br />
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While mom was here we joined the church we have been attending regularly, and Lily was baptized. It was beautiful. I was bawling (granted I really tried not to), but when I saw the pastor's wife in the front row crying (she absolutely adores Lily), my composure was lost. We belong to such a wonderful church, and never since my years at the Cleveland Nazarene church have I felt so welcomed. I'm even counting the great time I had with the BCM at NSU. Once all their programs start back up for the fall I'm really hoping to get involved. I'm really looking forward to getting out into the community again. The baptism was a simple affair, and I didn't feel the need dominate the scene with a camera so we took a few before and after photos with Cayce's iPod and let that be. The church made a wonderful baptism book for Lily, and once we add our pictures it will be a very special book for all of us. Here are the few pictures we have. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja07KXeO-HtGT9oKm5w-jxIk65Gov9b46KHv4se3aTrs23OAVPKBqyckA6danSolsE_NJQ0vO70UyGCno-WMXdDarfUgy5o2dKloHLYYRQ8awLJ3mak-X3raBF2jeftvT3edudrfhvXJet/s1600/Baptism+Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja07KXeO-HtGT9oKm5w-jxIk65Gov9b46KHv4se3aTrs23OAVPKBqyckA6danSolsE_NJQ0vO70UyGCno-WMXdDarfUgy5o2dKloHLYYRQ8awLJ3mak-X3raBF2jeftvT3edudrfhvXJet/s400/Baptism+Family.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Cayce's not crazy about this picture. He says he looks like he doesn't want to be there. Beggars can't be choosers. Mom was taking the pictures... with a regular camera that is a challenge.... on and iPod...ehhhh :-D </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUU1GmXJbYZLWNBdszGmIQ-cvIAji2u-6kCQJeGBNcDZy0Qu3nuZTsnxQrdAHxTMiPJl4-0AgeKRnHrxQ1ERub5IDTGoJzJ_Q7Xw0yVUq9eVFDuNZAVCkNAupNp8adxFvmtSRAKd8LLq1/s1600/Baptism+Mom+Lily+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUU1GmXJbYZLWNBdszGmIQ-cvIAji2u-6kCQJeGBNcDZy0Qu3nuZTsnxQrdAHxTMiPJl4-0AgeKRnHrxQ1ERub5IDTGoJzJ_Q7Xw0yVUq9eVFDuNZAVCkNAupNp8adxFvmtSRAKd8LLq1/s400/Baptism+Mom+Lily+Me.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Not that Cayce's camera skills were any better.... I actually love this picture b/c it sums up my mom and me. Can't keep our mouths shut. Lily's happy as can be though. </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1d4Mhx9b6GxJTBzwqb_RiLu9_dUBkUBvcd7MNu0-Pgx3goojD42a5E9f702OOANgFxhgNwgbuaqM7OIuUrTLYav3BU_jZ8VQHR5kARTeds7GlJHshCDbstK78aavKiMszlMSckYq2-x43/s1600/Baptism+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1d4Mhx9b6GxJTBzwqb_RiLu9_dUBkUBvcd7MNu0-Pgx3goojD42a5E9f702OOANgFxhgNwgbuaqM7OIuUrTLYav3BU_jZ8VQHR5kARTeds7GlJHshCDbstK78aavKiMszlMSckYq2-x43/s400/Baptism+church.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Another Cindy Howard special.... That's George our lead pastor. Lily was a well behaved baby, and even managed to not take off his mic piece. Even though she was eying it like a favorite new toy.</span></b> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmFZVARaYZYTqbB_i0X832DQXBPg38UIP4VEK8TQDvsJeQcZrSg1Yd4LD1GSyz0jkWnYYSZXURbi3x_WStOjM-BeJHwGq7f7lfR0Tb7OYCqotAuegaYWUc9NyjSZJf2GOI2mMUsmRN86F/s1600/Baptism+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmFZVARaYZYTqbB_i0X832DQXBPg38UIP4VEK8TQDvsJeQcZrSg1Yd4LD1GSyz0jkWnYYSZXURbi3x_WStOjM-BeJHwGq7f7lfR0Tb7OYCqotAuegaYWUc9NyjSZJf2GOI2mMUsmRN86F/s400/Baptism+dress.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lily's dress was given to her by her great-grandma Carolyn Bain. <span class="fbPhotoCaptionText"> She gave Lily this dress when she was only a few months old. Clearly we were meant to find this church in Portsmouth, and grow to love and be loved in the congregation because at 16 months old the dress fit absolutely perfectly.</span></b></td></tr>
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Now for a little personal pat on the back. I've been working very hard on losing weight. I want to get healthy before we have another baby... and I want to look nice at the Navy Ball in October. Cayce owes me a do-over from my senior prom, but that's another story. So anywho. I've been diligently going to the gym 5 days a week (with the exception of the time my mother was here) taking spin classes, step classes, and a weight resistance class. I just also started a weight training program, and I'm looking forward to seeing even more results. I'm not doing so well on the diet end. I have improved my eating, but I know it needs to get cleaner. I have an appointment with the nutrition clinic at the naval hospital this week so I'm really hoping to jump start a better diet with professional help. Anywho so I've lost almost 20 lbs and 11.5 inches total since I started this journey. I have a sort of before and after thing to show. The dress I wore for Lily's baptism I also wore for Easter. There's a bit of a difference in the way it fits now. I actually didn't realize how baggy it was on me until I was posting these pictures. Anywho, so I kinda feel good about it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99KTCVoDh7zSMvU3RpxooOTmS9QtX5QHeXqoLdcGnXRnUpZK8luHlCn9rB5eObOF162fCEhBhSkh46QBtgww3Jgi6iFYW9YS_PMBk9dzxL9uq1HPyxwJTgX3ZPXfAR-ayhCEKReGIqGnr/s1600/IMG_0651copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99KTCVoDh7zSMvU3RpxooOTmS9QtX5QHeXqoLdcGnXRnUpZK8luHlCn9rB5eObOF162fCEhBhSkh46QBtgww3Jgi6iFYW9YS_PMBk9dzxL9uq1HPyxwJTgX3ZPXfAR-ayhCEKReGIqGnr/s400/IMG_0651copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>That's it for now. Cayce's giving me a dirty look b/c he wants to watch Big Brother, and I'm holding up the show.... Expect the unexpected!Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-19627858003186425372011-06-24T20:14:00.000-04:002011-06-24T20:14:48.573-04:00Too excited!!!!!There are no words!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zl1F1OX_XZY/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zl1F1OX_XZY?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zl1F1OX_XZY?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-85131962341041662722011-06-18T20:41:00.000-04:002011-06-18T20:41:35.625-04:00Cayce's DayDue to the Navy and their knack for ruining Hallmark holidays Cayce won't be able to celebrate Father's Day with us tomorrow. So in order to enjoy the special day we spent the day devoted to Cayce.... with a little bit o' Lily spoiling thrown in (of course). <br />
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Cayce had to work this morning. A baptism was held in the ship's chapel. Lily and I went with Cayce. I've never been on the Wasp. When Cayce was on the Gettysburg in FL I spent lots of time on the ship. Just about every duty day (once a week) I made my way to the ship, and we usually ate dinner together on board. For those not in the know "duty" means 24 hours of fun spent on the ship. No lunch off the boat, no bath time with Lily, no sleeping in a comfy bed, no privacy, and no peace and quiet. 24 hours of "work." Cayce does this every week. Anyseaduty. Since this time around it's not just me I have to worry about going on a big ol' ship, and a baby takes a lot more effort and planning we haven't made it on. Today was the day. On we went. It was awesome. I took as many pictures as I could OPSEC (operational security) permitting. Fun thing about that. I didn't lug my camera on board. Instead I used my iPod. The pictures are grainy, but they get the point across. To see them just follow this link! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.771342815902.2275980.25110796&l=60bf1eb6d8">facebook album</a><br />
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On the ship Lily gave Cayce his gift from her: a gift certificate for a car detailing. Once we finished with our tour we headed to Cayce's gift from me. He didn't know where we were going or what we were doing. Fun fact: Cayce's severely directionally challenged and couldn't find his way out of a paper bag. I could have been taking the back roads home and he would have been clueless. Anymapquest. We drove to Town Center to Dick's Sporting Good's where Cayce picked out a pair of white sneakers. His old one's looked more the shade of oatmeal (with some blue paint thrown in). He was happy. He'd been dropping pretty big hints. I picked 'em up with a dump truck. His other gifts were a fresh supply of all his necessary under garments. All and all we had a great day. Lily took a late nap and is still up. She's WIRED! Anyspeed. Off to play with her!Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-49800416292372832382011-06-10T14:39:00.001-04:002011-06-10T19:45:36.074-04:00Monticello: The House Jefferson built....and built againA few weeks ago we traveled to Charlottesville, VA for the day. Our destination was <a href="http://www.monticello.org/">Monticello</a>. I had been once before with my dad and family, loved it, but Cayce had never visited the area. It was a gorgeous drive, and the weather was great. Lily napped for most of the drive. Oh, let me go back.<br />
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We had to make one stop on our way out of town. There's a great kids consignment shop in Newport News I had shopped. While there I noticed signs advertising a Memorial Day weekend sale. Military could get 20% off of everything. I was in desperate need of a big comfy stroller for Lily. We've mostly been making do with a light weight stroller and an umbrella stroller. Lily's not the best stroller rider, at all. That's been fine while Cayce's here because one of us can take her out and carry her once she starts getting fussy, but once Cayce leaves that's not going to be an option when I'm out shopping alone. The store had several strollers including some name brand Peg Peregos, while marked down significantly, I wasn't needing anything fancy. I was needing something big and comfortable. After all was said and done we walked out with a great Graco for less than $30. Lily loves it! She kicks back, puts her feet up on the tray, and just chills. A total 180 from previous stroller trips! *peace* So back to the story at hand.<br />
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We arrived in Charlottesville around lunch time, stopped at <a href="http://www.michietavern.com/">Michie Tavern</a> and enjoyed a yummy lunch. Cayce had the BBQ, which tasted so good, and I had the fried chicken. I can't remember the last time I had fried chicken, but, omg, it was so good! Lily enjoyed green beans, beats, and all the rolls her tummy could fit. After a fun lunch we moseyed on up the hill to Monticello. When we set out for the day I had planned on us spending between $30 and $40 for our tickets. I knew they had a military discount, but I couldn't remember what it was. Tickets run $22 each. When we were getting our tickets Cayce asked if they had a military discount. Low and behold they did. A big one. FREE. They had started THAT DAY participating in the <a href="http://www.nea.gov/national/bluestarmuseums/faq.html">Blue Star Museums program</a> which allows free entrance to various museums for military and immediate family. What a great surprise! Who doesn't love saving $44?? :-)<br />
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We rode the bus up to the house, and embarked on our tour. Lily put on quite the show. I felt terrible. She did not stop talking through out the entire tour despite repeated shushes by mommy and daddy. Cayce started to head out back with her, but one of the other couples told him she wasn't bothering anybody. She kept up the running commentary, and thankfully most everyone in our group made comments about how cute she was instead of how annoying she is. She's my baby so I love to hear her talk, but I certainly don't expect others to feel the same way. Once the tour was over we spent some time on the lawn playing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>What better place to learn to walk than at the home of one of America's greatest contributors to education?</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg-FBWzCXz1ULLAlXfhftV_4g7UuYSgIztLnjoPI9bYI61fyNaPEG4qqccPiFdsm2PBuDUR5GxIoPr6wvbse2c7NtZO6Kgvq7GBCmr5eTwi5srRsS3FLOAWnYaBmumQl7jqBVyOQ8tjaf/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg-FBWzCXz1ULLAlXfhftV_4g7UuYSgIztLnjoPI9bYI61fyNaPEG4qqccPiFdsm2PBuDUR5GxIoPr6wvbse2c7NtZO6Kgvq7GBCmr5eTwi5srRsS3FLOAWnYaBmumQl7jqBVyOQ8tjaf/s400/IMG_0722.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Mommy and Me</span></b></td></tr>
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We hit the gift shop on our way out. They've built up the area since the last time I was there, and their education area and gift shop were phenomenal. Super conducive to spending money. :-) I ended up buying some soap and strawberry butter. Cayce bought some private label Monticello beer. We ran into some of the fellow tour people, and they again said what a sweetheart she was. At this point Lily was getting restless, and ready to hit the road. Rain starting falling just before we left, and a sleepy worn out baby slept most of the way home. It was a great day, and great to get out of town for a while. <br />
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Sometime we've got to get to Williamsburg. I also want to go to Mt. Vernon, and we have friends who live in Annapolis. I can't wait to visit them there. Have I mentioned how much I love living in this area?? It's totally supportive of my nerdy tourist habit.Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-4129063818144847082011-06-08T12:13:00.000-04:002011-06-08T12:13:49.630-04:00Prepare Your Heartto withstand this uber amount of cuteness. Only those with stone cold souls will not appreciate this adorable shot of Lily at the zoo this weekend. Enjoy!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbiYbMBrVuKnPdHjKXKnr88g-via_PAy3B1C7Ow-ft6E_xvVCnTfOgHCMaXdpyC2Y4DaC9go0CPZrK9w6iy81vXepcT9HAsffrjtnviqfnbaa5vHDuG9lEWJBoHVQSAE3CXz0OYzPSTzA/s1600/IMG_0744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbiYbMBrVuKnPdHjKXKnr88g-via_PAy3B1C7Ow-ft6E_xvVCnTfOgHCMaXdpyC2Y4DaC9go0CPZrK9w6iy81vXepcT9HAsffrjtnviqfnbaa5vHDuG9lEWJBoHVQSAE3CXz0OYzPSTzA/s640/IMG_0744.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Who's more curious?</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-64913138666331717422011-06-05T21:31:00.000-04:002011-06-05T21:31:02.937-04:00Hurry Up and Wait, Please The past several weeks have been full of ups and downs. Cayce's ship left the dry dock area, and is *supposedly* ready to go operational. Well the reputation the Wasp has had since it's christening, WASP - Welded Along Side the Pier, continues to ring true. His ship has had several planned trips, and then cancellations. Including a cancellation last week given the night before a planned departure. Anywho, yah, hurry up and wait. Because of of these trips Cayce was supposed to be going on (some for more than a week at a time) each weekend has been spent like it would be the last family fun time for a while. Now we're guaranteed some down time for a couple of months, and we can get back into a normal routine. However, I have some trips to share over the next few blogs. This first one is from our trip to the aquarium. It was surprisingly good, and we had a great time! Lily's reached an age where she's become quite interactive with the things around her. Please do enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwdmWXfi2nPigV5IpKjgfy-lf3wpIeuZlPKNNPWZo_DrdSvbBixqsS8STfx8aVUF55YXJXlQQvGhRsBYX5zVG8fC36m42CPnZCG9JVjFXMBzlkMotkv53OG-dM8FVcniXMQuKVY1_zN5I/s1600/IMG_0685.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwdmWXfi2nPigV5IpKjgfy-lf3wpIeuZlPKNNPWZo_DrdSvbBixqsS8STfx8aVUF55YXJXlQQvGhRsBYX5zVG8fC36m42CPnZCG9JVjFXMBzlkMotkv53OG-dM8FVcniXMQuKVY1_zN5I/s320/IMG_0685.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">First we enjoyed lunch at the beach. Lily enjoyed sitting in a booster for the first time rather than a high chair.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXBM_AOiVMyLHVeqHzkxSFRO3QlL7VvLdtq0X1JQdxXiLWXoTE1kFkAsMDQxhbnARMSGQV0p2QXSQsBGEGJiPo3I9EscTm0xUf14VAZCIpvCj6Cnv0Amcl_RADVcQWunv3Y53gsOoLnsW/s1600/IMG_0686.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXBM_AOiVMyLHVeqHzkxSFRO3QlL7VvLdtq0X1JQdxXiLWXoTE1kFkAsMDQxhbnARMSGQV0p2QXSQsBGEGJiPo3I9EscTm0xUf14VAZCIpvCj6Cnv0Amcl_RADVcQWunv3Y53gsOoLnsW/s400/IMG_0686.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Lily's favorite new trick: feeding others. Such a sharer. </span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">On to the aquarium!</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FFPKR6LYbQnEkpfZthF_BeWCkTwTzz-zK0L3dAz9Hq4fP5LZIm1abIvkIQpPSQpepsYjwgn8_YgyzN2ZOhNGRzW_LzEn9PrOhv8nWK6S5hG_TN4VA_LUsgH34cs4_ZL0T5Jea3WSka21/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FFPKR6LYbQnEkpfZthF_BeWCkTwTzz-zK0L3dAz9Hq4fP5LZIm1abIvkIQpPSQpepsYjwgn8_YgyzN2ZOhNGRzW_LzEn9PrOhv8nWK6S5hG_TN4VA_LUsgH34cs4_ZL0T5Jea3WSka21/s400/IMG_0697.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Nice turtle.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAxhRUeuJ57CXAq7hTuFiiDvxKYtl_8xwwbKrv0u7TiAehw68ca40L1L6b8lNwyAnXa3LfOHpjiUN1sqAaCKNzW7ALpY5Vkiutw8wpUwebUNvmcwoqw5aKsUx-agHK_Sf3WUdCqpQvG9G/s1600/IMG_0700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAxhRUeuJ57CXAq7hTuFiiDvxKYtl_8xwwbKrv0u7TiAehw68ca40L1L6b8lNwyAnXa3LfOHpjiUN1sqAaCKNzW7ALpY5Vkiutw8wpUwebUNvmcwoqw5aKsUx-agHK_Sf3WUdCqpQvG9G/s400/IMG_0700.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Friendly shark.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRA-0PSmqZctmpEKVGDNfVtVOaw6Qc47g7vtqivbL8DARgTSXy3qJxnB6us3MkOI8oEEi-6qwWQmwhyKiHqgH-R4lFDtszKhUxnBbO0nUnqfIddRM1v-Imtf7tof-xM-7xZQkzTRhNjQGI/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRA-0PSmqZctmpEKVGDNfVtVOaw6Qc47g7vtqivbL8DARgTSXy3qJxnB6us3MkOI8oEEi-6qwWQmwhyKiHqgH-R4lFDtszKhUxnBbO0nUnqfIddRM1v-Imtf7tof-xM-7xZQkzTRhNjQGI/s400/IMG_0701.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>She obviously is unaware of the danger Daddy is keeping from her.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL_rV5r_GzHQBMoXMNaDJotDdwVdLNsZKg7uc6JWbacumQ6e9RR0xKejHXcZteoSxy7wZTIsUMbfzBfghgcTDdmAuNhLH3domcSNFl0PqAT2jK4TgDRyeKfLCP4a_CPpydE9QQNNrDNKx/s1600/IMG_0702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkL_rV5r_GzHQBMoXMNaDJotDdwVdLNsZKg7uc6JWbacumQ6e9RR0xKejHXcZteoSxy7wZTIsUMbfzBfghgcTDdmAuNhLH3domcSNFl0PqAT2jK4TgDRyeKfLCP4a_CPpydE9QQNNrDNKx/s400/IMG_0702.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">This was the coolest part of the aquarium. Lily loved being eye to eye with the aquatic life.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjT6Lb0_W29135wlrZBjnzdfueMp8bGlOyxA1ZWirG185OCn3SKfA1wKtfF_ITfpggGi7Ev24wsIQiK2AXCTQqm_kucFnXjFCyFk_nPB3hboaPnHhzQk74WE4WDdH2TeVejsuLZfpvjP0/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjT6Lb0_W29135wlrZBjnzdfueMp8bGlOyxA1ZWirG185OCn3SKfA1wKtfF_ITfpggGi7Ev24wsIQiK2AXCTQqm_kucFnXjFCyFk_nPB3hboaPnHhzQk74WE4WDdH2TeVejsuLZfpvjP0/s400/IMG_0708.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Lily sized porthole.</span></b> <b><span style="color: red;"> From this view we watched a shark eat a poor unsuspecting fish. *too real for me*</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table> Tune in again this week, and I'll post about our trips to Monticello and the Zoo. Lily's still not walking. :-)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwdmWXfi2nPigV5IpKjgfy-lf3wpIeuZlPKNNPWZo_DrdSvbBixqsS8STfx8aVUF55YXJXlQQvGhRsBYX5zVG8fC36m42CPnZCG9JVjFXMBzlkMotkv53OG-dM8FVcniXMQuKVY1_zN5I/s1600/IMG_0685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-20890986466837889022011-04-25T13:39:00.000-04:002011-04-25T13:39:33.189-04:00Easter Eggstravaganza<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This weekend was full of Easter activities! We started the weekend with a Pancake/Easter Bunny/Egg Hunt at church. When the Easter Bunny walked into the social hall at church Lily thought her wildest dreams had come true! She was laughing and clapping and squirming to get out of the high chair. We were so excited for her excitement. We just knew these were going to be awesome pictures of Lily and the Easter Bunny. Wrong-O! While she totally thought he was super fun to look at actually touching him was too much! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzC8DQWRmGoBaU4TZmve_TvBHvSIhj2k4yThnzzHXvL1vKBTd8Errd9OMPQhsXZvtC8keAiF5FWM5h0ZWFyaudGZohhuj4rKsz-lU1Nz3PJjlTcLajrOmXI-oh3-2sCltEt8WM9IBL7xOH/s1600/IMG_0613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzC8DQWRmGoBaU4TZmve_TvBHvSIhj2k4yThnzzHXvL1vKBTd8Errd9OMPQhsXZvtC8keAiF5FWM5h0ZWFyaudGZohhuj4rKsz-lU1Nz3PJjlTcLajrOmXI-oh3-2sCltEt8WM9IBL7xOH/s400/IMG_0613.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">NO! Get me outta here</span></b></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As soon as she was out of his arms and into Daddy's arms everything was a-okay. After our run in with the big scary bunny it was time for the Easter Egg hunt. Thankfully they had two hunts, one for big kids, and one for toddlers. Lily's hunt went just as expected.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">I'm just gonna sit here. Don't mind me.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">In my mouth. That's where the eggs go, of course.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Inspecting my haul.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Yay! I won first prize!</span></b> <b><span style="color: red;">(but we gave the 1st prize to one of the bigger kids, and took a little stuffed bunny instead)</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy7Y_C0ZJo9-4W59UTSKxdM0hn9-S_bYn_vKyUX6GRzW0RO0-YE2B0tdMuydeajOxD6wkbD112biKaloluD0ZBnojFrx7iAX1whQMj0HVkVnwiE5kGjJEdI7SKW6drvBUzpj5gIJSIJrN/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy7Y_C0ZJo9-4W59UTSKxdM0hn9-S_bYn_vKyUX6GRzW0RO0-YE2B0tdMuydeajOxD6wkbD112biKaloluD0ZBnojFrx7iAX1whQMj0HVkVnwiE5kGjJEdI7SKW6drvBUzpj5gIJSIJrN/s400/IMG_0631.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Mixing the dye.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>After the activities at church it was time for us to prepare for our own little hunt at home. Cayce and I dyed Lily's eggs. I probably haven't dyed eggs in 15 years. Without thinking we were using Grandma's bowls, and it was a nice once I thought about it because it was with Grandma I dyed all my Easter Eggs.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzTKZz7fo2INMiuiN6q7oDZ7ZQZLk2qPasEBCR9OcOvugckI2LQNArWaDO4MbYaEHetOFZ5CMULbV0SoFaVkllDSBlM5N7mBNNG6FEL4uhMs6pZXLIdNpnraopfgP6VRAn5BOy6VMYVx3/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzTKZz7fo2INMiuiN6q7oDZ7ZQZLk2qPasEBCR9OcOvugckI2LQNArWaDO4MbYaEHetOFZ5CMULbV0SoFaVkllDSBlM5N7mBNNG6FEL4uhMs6pZXLIdNpnraopfgP6VRAn5BOy6VMYVx3/s320/IMG_0635.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Patiently waiting for the eggs to dye.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjL8Ht_o_sgtycowNotTEHUEJi1Q9md2D38qZ4R06EN-siWqQR9m6WOCbz0smXnoqc-KELw6WYuevQqdhgP6Rm-dJHIcOT8rm-ZsXSnquDzEeWyOyqK7YCkFi_vKBFr5h_qe0IvkzAMAL/s1600/IMG_0638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjL8Ht_o_sgtycowNotTEHUEJi1Q9md2D38qZ4R06EN-siWqQR9m6WOCbz0smXnoqc-KELw6WYuevQqdhgP6Rm-dJHIcOT8rm-ZsXSnquDzEeWyOyqK7YCkFi_vKBFr5h_qe0IvkzAMAL/s400/IMG_0638.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Mmm. Vinegar.</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Once Lily woke up from her nap she gave her seal of approval. One egg in the mouth means one happy customer. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Easter Sunday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZCy58G5lp093rKtzg02VmL8zNyQJ9Niehm5aR6ayqiz9Ae-oPlwj5Bt8KfXcjEmNh_1F5CAK2jn_LC_W0ZS5zX603ObvE0oXFjD_Ous_1Ex8iqD9bGj98K2nnoYjOE3jp_eomWxFRI65/s1600/IMG_0641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZCy58G5lp093rKtzg02VmL8zNyQJ9Niehm5aR6ayqiz9Ae-oPlwj5Bt8KfXcjEmNh_1F5CAK2jn_LC_W0ZS5zX603ObvE0oXFjD_Ous_1Ex8iqD9bGj98K2nnoYjOE3jp_eomWxFRI65/s400/IMG_0641.JPG" width="300" /><u> </u></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7D8wcJFaYyUkiK89rJOmfvA520us_RA9qHSG951wFaMWLwA4tzka2fDLibPs7CoYsckL1-fh8Xg9jLrF4r9st3Z2CyoiCQJ6UUwRVQTt2VHd_J2RCMUpd1AJr4XnDhIW8p-4v4DAPokTa/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7D8wcJFaYyUkiK89rJOmfvA520us_RA9qHSG951wFaMWLwA4tzka2fDLibPs7CoYsckL1-fh8Xg9jLrF4r9st3Z2CyoiCQJ6UUwRVQTt2VHd_J2RCMUpd1AJr4XnDhIW8p-4v4DAPokTa/s400/IMG_0642.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Hello pretty flower.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>We spent the morning at church, and afterward took some pictures outside behind in the gardens. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJBZZRfkjFqdDcsnXN7cr3CcjdoWvk7yFvdcCX1P9ADaVVv0vdi2y-mjrVcFAmGX9GGYZYSL9qeKIl78Hkq7HSkM2FAiukfvsjB1Z2VNS69F0UB8Bw2NVGrqsr21mxuGdhkJo-4lUhgZT/s1600/IMG_0643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJBZZRfkjFqdDcsnXN7cr3CcjdoWvk7yFvdcCX1P9ADaVVv0vdi2y-mjrVcFAmGX9GGYZYSL9qeKIl78Hkq7HSkM2FAiukfvsjB1Z2VNS69F0UB8Bw2NVGrqsr21mxuGdhkJo-4lUhgZT/s400/IMG_0643.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hee-ey!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUxZF5ekdm7s2iP06uCvAAbJViNT8d0xofZGJ23JPam0J4XsZoH6dt5EgqrnFjioGD9XI8Q138d-xfSbzaOVtS9B4-Bsz_7orC3J09cyAB0J4AOy1JTZvcRZ84n4B5YNCGXC2VLAblZql/s1600/IMG_0647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUxZF5ekdm7s2iP06uCvAAbJViNT8d0xofZGJ23JPam0J4XsZoH6dt5EgqrnFjioGD9XI8Q138d-xfSbzaOVtS9B4-Bsz_7orC3J09cyAB0J4AOy1JTZvcRZ84n4B5YNCGXC2VLAblZql/s400/IMG_0647.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Deep thoughts with Jack Handy.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPje7JJuxc6Ufv4ioGcu8DbTdi165X1cpeRMdJ33OhLh28U_pfPd_-52fNBlpK_JKm9hfxBfxG5uGVHMdiYSt50JjIECWfEr6LyYiNNJBdfy9uH2JocrEVuVyqYjQWcw7DMbVWwBxfS-go/s1600/IMG_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPje7JJuxc6Ufv4ioGcu8DbTdi165X1cpeRMdJ33OhLh28U_pfPd_-52fNBlpK_JKm9hfxBfxG5uGVHMdiYSt50JjIECWfEr6LyYiNNJBdfy9uH2JocrEVuVyqYjQWcw7DMbVWwBxfS-go/s400/IMG_0648.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Cute kids who wanted to say "hi" to Lily. </span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99KTCVoDh7zSMvU3RpxooOTmS9QtX5QHeXqoLdcGnXRnUpZK8luHlCn9rB5eObOF162fCEhBhSkh46QBtgww3Jgi6iFYW9YS_PMBk9dzxL9uq1HPyxwJTgX3ZPXfAR-ayhCEKReGIqGnr/s1600/IMG_0651copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99KTCVoDh7zSMvU3RpxooOTmS9QtX5QHeXqoLdcGnXRnUpZK8luHlCn9rB5eObOF162fCEhBhSkh46QBtgww3Jgi6iFYW9YS_PMBk9dzxL9uq1HPyxwJTgX3ZPXfAR-ayhCEKReGIqGnr/s400/IMG_0651copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Family picture time!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>After nap time it was time for Lily to "hunt" for her eggs. We staged the action in the front yard so Lily wouldn't have to battle the dogs for her goodies.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05Z90Q95a7MuSV9i_qU3llAPUoeR0gIMzBTtHPVDw25CJ3i_rM9761P4LQwmKzqwpl6y_ccbKkWpynZH7XpCFX27-HbVUFTe0K7JNpGkodHSxSpfSrqBsJZAjtxhFTk3K5xQebQXF-bJK/s1600/IMG_0655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05Z90Q95a7MuSV9i_qU3llAPUoeR0gIMzBTtHPVDw25CJ3i_rM9761P4LQwmKzqwpl6y_ccbKkWpynZH7XpCFX27-HbVUFTe0K7JNpGkodHSxSpfSrqBsJZAjtxhFTk3K5xQebQXF-bJK/s400/IMG_0655.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">She really understood the concept of putting her eggs in the basket.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwotDLvM_z7m3ClPJBfAS1JpUai-IKrX4CcBU95yA4K-ZRxiV0kw5Kx0whQvDI4vyqvHYeSV_zl5XQudSgr3ZNTgLPQ31Aws6jwPxe_gaV7lWm_DvGQEk5hJxW0lp6lJ6_KrsH9BQa6pJx/s1600/IMG_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwotDLvM_z7m3ClPJBfAS1JpUai-IKrX4CcBU95yA4K-ZRxiV0kw5Kx0whQvDI4vyqvHYeSV_zl5XQudSgr3ZNTgLPQ31Aws6jwPxe_gaV7lWm_DvGQEk5hJxW0lp6lJ6_KrsH9BQa6pJx/s400/IMG_0657.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Obligatory shot of Daddy filming Lily hunting.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqA9kOq4lDjX0fvp1F8CUyh6sLkzuhEw3_2k647TC_ivBqCI8XQyz2CjmHI0FT_flTg4JjcSj4ycG6JTcLvB2yQWX0YhYk6cSS1RaOPh3FUl1R54CzPrc_6c_tCrSrJig8bZ1LyZCGdUz2/s1600/IMG_0658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqA9kOq4lDjX0fvp1F8CUyh6sLkzuhEw3_2k647TC_ivBqCI8XQyz2CjmHI0FT_flTg4JjcSj4ycG6JTcLvB2yQWX0YhYk6cSS1RaOPh3FUl1R54CzPrc_6c_tCrSrJig8bZ1LyZCGdUz2/s400/IMG_0658.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lily laughing at the dogs because they are stuck in the house while she gets to play.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdiDPYf63m3pNLlaK_kHwRHM6eaYQI6Qrb8cNobp98vCKDCgaI83jJU2KOXMu-t94kFjLchV_AM-ChKRklBM6aGfBnr6OQQ3Vd5wMNZnAHKpgedvX2ppzwypEqF1b3gIdjSexNzM-cGGq/s1600/IMG_0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdiDPYf63m3pNLlaK_kHwRHM6eaYQI6Qrb8cNobp98vCKDCgaI83jJU2KOXMu-t94kFjLchV_AM-ChKRklBM6aGfBnr6OQQ3Vd5wMNZnAHKpgedvX2ppzwypEqF1b3gIdjSexNzM-cGGq/s400/IMG_0661.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Green one in.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ktp1DinAgE_z0MjYrXwBRFMo_x14QgmZZGOCW8UnEs7IFkLapzLaCDyb-cu1-nkwFOH40WD6la-DTSwljbAWRLNRY1C2WZwzbj7mwQ0Cc82cHI-C_0Wxm2TTExkcJ4ZCU25ayhC33hq8/s1600/IMG_0663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Ktp1DinAgE_z0MjYrXwBRFMo_x14QgmZZGOCW8UnEs7IFkLapzLaCDyb-cu1-nkwFOH40WD6la-DTSwljbAWRLNRY1C2WZwzbj7mwQ0Cc82cHI-C_0Wxm2TTExkcJ4ZCU25ayhC33hq8/s320/IMG_0663.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Orange one in.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4su5YTBmCKhbuvtzrficz4fhyu_EZIw6RlvNHsuNL4x68jhBllw4lrLUnO6YRTCQquvyeUIgwSfc2myuMs9CB_lM2Bb-8LGWAG9llNDoGNwheTnlqSjNQge2xGrR0k8Ajm8HIi84Pe1EO/s400/IMG_0667.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Yay! All In!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUctROXnSC_nhB0RDpbVEPQ9OvsRQW_cVI3jMVRO1Ef1Z0oVOtMr1jZ6xDnGAx5am4n_q6tHFskaJbIwn1sfW9W4hnvI2DO4ZgPsFVHBOKk3lO1F-O2HsZjiPeS9HLh1UDRIXpj2r3CgKR/s1600/IMG_0668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUctROXnSC_nhB0RDpbVEPQ9OvsRQW_cVI3jMVRO1Ef1Z0oVOtMr1jZ6xDnGAx5am4n_q6tHFskaJbIwn1sfW9W4hnvI2DO4ZgPsFVHBOKk3lO1F-O2HsZjiPeS9HLh1UDRIXpj2r3CgKR/s400/IMG_0668.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Now time to throw them all out!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyqYCiQlRfRNOhz2mLPRYyJ1dymc7DJOFe8hc830KEgMwEeWjZYTGtF-pcAtEvFtCjAKJFRlStmABL4nrUn3vSeVAFXW0aAw6GgfF0Kutic3cYSn7wcFxUTRACn14amu7oTgqNvc3bUp8/s1600/IMG_0670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyqYCiQlRfRNOhz2mLPRYyJ1dymc7DJOFe8hc830KEgMwEeWjZYTGtF-pcAtEvFtCjAKJFRlStmABL4nrUn3vSeVAFXW0aAw6GgfF0Kutic3cYSn7wcFxUTRACn14amu7oTgqNvc3bUp8/s400/IMG_0670.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Much Better!</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Lily's collection.</b></td></tr>
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</a></div>Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-2266770707613360342011-04-19T22:58:00.001-04:002011-04-19T23:34:26.889-04:00Traveling ShoresThis is National Park Week. While relaxing and enjoying *sleeping in* on Sunday morning, first time in a while, I was checking Twitter updates, and I came across a story from our local paper. A park on the Delmarva Peninsula on the Eastern Shore of Virginia was observing NPW by allowing free admission. Besides generally enjoying what national and state parks have to offer, this particular park, <a href="http://www.nps.gov/asis/index.htm">Assateague Island</a>, has the <a href="http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/chincoteague/">Chincoteague wild ponies</a> (How fun is that?? The most *official* site I could find for the horses is a blurb from the animal science program at Oklahoma State!). Anyhorses, so I made the executive decision that what this family needed was a day out of town, and a day spent with nature. Cayce agreed, and after church we began our journey up the shore. <br />
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While the trip itself was supposed to only take 2 hours to drive, we managed to drag it out to about 3.5 hours. First Cayce needed to get his hair cut (darn military rules and regulations.) Luckily I was able to check him in online at the Great Clips, and he only waited a minute or two before being seated. Then he wanted to stop at the comic book shop to see if the newest edition of Generation Hope was in, no it wasn't. THEN, when he realized we were taking the <a href="http://www.cbbt.com/">Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel</a> (a 23 mile stretch of tunnels and bridges crossing the Chesapeake Bay) at the last minute we had to circle around and stop so my Diet Pepsi-aholic husband could get a bottle to carry him through the trek. Meanwhile, Miss Lily was supposed to nap for the entire two hour trip, but at this final stop had woken up and was ready to play. We still had roughly 100 miles left of the journey.<br />
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Finally on the way, we drove through some beautiful and wonderful areas. The region is still relatively quiet and isolated. The locals tend to poo poo on the CBBT and the *foreigners* it has brought. Once we turned off the main highway we passed the <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/home/index.html">NASA Wallops Flight Facility</a>. It was fascinating. You drive along side the huge scary looking satellites. There's a large visitors' center as well. I would like to make a trip back just to go to Wallops Island. *shoves glasses further up bridge of nose like the nerd she is* AnyTang, needless the say the drive up to the park was super eventful and educational.<br />
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We FINALLY make it to the entrance gate of the park. We pull up, the man at the booth asks what he can do for us, and Cayce and I just look at one another puzzled. I say. "We're here!" Uh, what was I supposed to say? "Do you happen to have a copy of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094012/">Spaceballs</a> on VHS?" The friendly man finally tells us entrance to the park is $8 per person. I then say, pointing frantically at my Blackberry (Twitter feed inside), "What about the article in the paper about free entrance??" He proceeds to explain that was a misprint (I disagree b/c it was also on their website. I had to find directions somehow.), that they are actually a "Fish and Wildlife Refuge" and not a National Park. However, since we mentioned the article we could go in for free. We thanked him profusely, and Cayce told him we had driven 2 hours just for this (3.5 really, but who's counting). He was very nice and told us to have a good time. I *know* it was only $16 we're talking about here, but let's all remember my last post. Let's all acknowledge that if the paper (and website) hadn't said there would be free admission we would not have made the trip and used the gas (b/c gas is cheap ya know) to make this trip. I was just a bit neurotic at that point. *teeny bit* We were taking this trip to find some joy, not cause more stress. Although I did feel really guilty afterward. Really guilty. I still kind of do. If Cayce and I ever get back into good financial standing we'll make another trip, and we'll pay our fee and donate extra. The place is wonderful, and most definitely worth $16 and half a tank of gas. <br />
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One of the goals of our trip was to take Lily to the beach. She hasn't been since she was an itty bitty this last summer. That was a blah event, but I mean really what does one expect from a 5 month old at the beach? We parked the truck and changed out of church clothes into hiking appropriate attire. It was a roughly 3 mile round trip through the wilds and my skirt and heels weren't up to the task. Cayce's boots, however, did make the journey. I would love to tell you Lily absolutely loved the sand, waves, and water, but that would be a big huge lie. I truly think pictures are the best way to tell this tale.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGkPkx_nzmt4-eq0maabRt42ljY-txTCoyEBM3Zzxn9QabrRVAOaltOSdW5lIO62Bhuw-s3C2-2avpxvLCFZdSLhCJ0OyE7Xdeb6ywubvdTdzj4wCi0q36WzQjVTbaISGjXyAo7x0OFtO/s1600/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGkPkx_nzmt4-eq0maabRt42ljY-txTCoyEBM3Zzxn9QabrRVAOaltOSdW5lIO62Bhuw-s3C2-2avpxvLCFZdSLhCJ0OyE7Xdeb6ywubvdTdzj4wCi0q36WzQjVTbaISGjXyAo7x0OFtO/s640/IMG_0579.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> This is the ONLY picture of Lily smiling. It was taken shortly after reaching the beach, and Lily hadn't figured out what was going on. Unfortunately there was a big smudge on my lens (we'll say it's remnants of meringue) so it's not even usable. :-( <br />
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Here she is exploring in the sand and finding many many many seashells. This beach was covered in seashells. The park asks that you restrain yourself when collecting, and only take home a gallon of them at a time. o.O <br />
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She's still doing well at this point. Not really digging the fierce wind. It was a fairly warm day, but the breeze was chilly.<br />
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Here she is asking if we're done yet. She's cold, the sun's bright, and the sand really does NOT feel good between the toes.<br />
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Here's Lily and Daddy. Poor thing doesn't know what Daddy's thinking about doing at this point. He watched Mommy get trounced by a wave when her back was turned. He laughed. Mommy was cold, but she did laugh at her stupidity. <br />
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THIS. This is milliseconds before Daddy ruined Lily's day. See that sweet little wave of water? Daddy does not pick up Lily and give her a bird's eye view, no. He leaves her standing IN the wave. The cold, cold wave. Lily immediately started crying. Cayce did feel terrible, but the damage was done. We had one wet sad baby.<br />
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On the walk back. Mommy carried Lily most of the way. Whenever Daddy would try to carry her she'd start this pathetic little whine. It was like she was saying "It's all your fault." So I carried her, and she refused to smile. Her best buddy broke her little heart. For solace she clutched onto the seashell she picked up off the beach. She refused to give it up. Even when given a 'nilla wafer, she kept seashell in one hand and wafer in other. <br />
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Once back at the truck Lily was changed into the extra set of clothes I had packed. I packed them thinking about all the fun she'd have in the sand, and it would be best to have a non-sandy outfit to ride home. I didn't expect to pack for dry warm clothes, but once changed she got into the seat, took her goldfish, and continued to pout.<br />
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We continued our journey through the park. We saw lots of wildlife, but no horses. :-( My broken toe had reached its limit of sand walking, and we mostly drove around. On our final pass through heading for the gate I made Cayce stop. There they were, playing and grazing next to a creek. The Chincoteague ponies were out from the wooded areas and playing for all the see!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZQfiYo0tpwKMcsswQLuVvAjy5NtNpS1UV_Jf8LsAJbKs-sfRI2x2ogQo1gK04eV8fUd6GXQK9FDAfVvPHNkhyphenhyphenlmRZX4Fuco6F-TFkW1msHIx4YpPZopGWZMhCZAGOr6KCWllMCPj3Ayd/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZQfiYo0tpwKMcsswQLuVvAjy5NtNpS1UV_Jf8LsAJbKs-sfRI2x2ogQo1gK04eV8fUd6GXQK9FDAfVvPHNkhyphenhyphenlmRZX4Fuco6F-TFkW1msHIx4YpPZopGWZMhCZAGOr6KCWllMCPj3Ayd/s400/IMG_0611.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I apologize the pictures aren't better. I was facing west to capture them, and the sun was in a bad position. I was so excited to see them. My day was made!<br />
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The park also has a working lighthouse you can visit, but after our trek through the sand my toe was not up to another long walk. It looked beautiful, and I love love love lighthouses so I was kinda bummed about missing it. I don't believe I've ever turned down visiting an actual lighthouse. :-( Further down the beach is an old Coast Guard lighthouse and the ruins of an old fish factory. Both of which I'm very interested in seeing. We really are going to have to make another trip up there.<br />
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One of the big highlights of the day came while standing outside a porto-potty. I have this crazy anxiety about porto-potties. I would MUCH rather squat behind a tree than use a porto-potty. I am not a germ phob AT ALL. I believe germs are somewhat vital to healthy living. I don't believe in slathering myself or my child in hand sanitizer, and my child has put things in her mouth I'm sure were rife with germs. Of course I do practice an appropriate level of cleanliness, but when it comes to porto-potties I literally have to talk myself into entering one. Since our journey took longer than expected we arrived just minutes after the nice clean indoor public restrooms closed. We followed directions to the outhouses for relief. I was standing there outside slowing my heart rate, telling myself to just hold my breath, when Lily stood for the first time all by herself. It was only for a few seconds, but she sure did it. One second she was hanging on to Cayce's hands, and the next her hands were gone and she was balancing. She gracefully collapsed and we squealed and clapped in excitement for our big girl. We've been working with her constantly. Developmentally she has until 18 months before we really need to worry about her walking, but personally we're tired of the comments about her lack of walking by the peanut gallery. She'll walk when she'll walk. She was a late crawler, and it took longer for her to move from army crawl to crawling with her belly off the ground. So she'll also be a late walker. We love her no matter what, and the girl gets around like a rocket as it is. She's lightening fast up the stairs (much to my chagrin), and she *runs* anytime she hears the kitchen cabinets open b/c it's time to play, or when the front or back door opens b/c it's either time to go outside or Daddy's home. Lily has her own way of doing things, and we think that way is perfect for her. <br />
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After our long exciting trip to the park we enjoyed a nice ride home. Lily was worn out, and slept most of the way. Cayce and I enjoyed conversing about things other than Lily, and joking about the many weird and odd things roadside on the Eastern Shore, and there are many. The day did exactly what it was supposed to. It took us out of the stress of the every day, and gave us some time to just enjoy being together. Cayce's ship is getting ready to leave the yards, and that time every Navy wife dreads is quickly approaching. Work-ups are starting, and the stretches between Cayce home and Cayce gone will become shorter. Our family needs as much quality time as we can get. We need as many positive memories as we can make because it's getting ready to become a sad little house. I'll miss Cayce for sure, but Lily, Lily is head over heels crazy about Cayce. She will miss him 'til her little heart breaks, and I will miss seeing my two favorite people love each other silly.Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-51665761172775077162011-04-16T13:37:00.002-04:002011-04-19T23:42:20.522-04:00Karma SucksKarma from an unidentifiable source sucks worse.<br />
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I seem to have put something grotesque out into the universe. What it is/was I cannot tell you since I'm clueless about what I've done, but what I can tell you is that the hits keep on coming. I think *whew* overcame that speed bump, and *wham* I find myself headlong into a cement wall. I won't get into the nitty gritty (some have had the <strike>fortune</strike> of hearing a full recounting of my woes), but I will emphatically state the quality of life in the Mautino household is in the red. Big time.<br />
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We can't catch a break here. I'm getting desperate and depressed just acknowledging all that has come our way. We're hemorrhaging money. I just want a break. I just want one thing to go well. I wanted to take my car (that I hate) into the shop today and only spend $109 to fix the brakes, not be given a bill of $363. Too much to ask, right?<br />
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We have our health, we have our baby, a roof over our heads, and food on the table. That's all we need, right? Blah.Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-62686567197524940522011-03-26T16:37:00.000-04:002011-03-26T16:37:02.245-04:00Picture time! Again.We had pictures taken to celebrate our big girl. Lily did great! She was ready for her close up!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTUBPVH-wzu6m7IoedzwX4YGM0ep-4MbX4GUyHey9d_ewTewxzmNo-Mj8WaS9RnUxq9kZM89GA6KWEOeNxhSwZNq3nYrlIUDp1Mge6OmAKpW2hSWUQLWZStc2fu4jHckdrWPRs5UjICZ5/s1600/s42454ca116633_2_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTUBPVH-wzu6m7IoedzwX4YGM0ep-4MbX4GUyHey9d_ewTewxzmNo-Mj8WaS9RnUxq9kZM89GA6KWEOeNxhSwZNq3nYrlIUDp1Mge6OmAKpW2hSWUQLWZStc2fu4jHckdrWPRs5UjICZ5/s640/s42454ca116633_2_0.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Family</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiJj9Y3R9qaQcegPD8i65sr3qNHjKtOTmua2tfOjP_nNfAWc4sg_7DtPUc4ILRfj9UTdhB82mliJj62e7T5CU5VDVPQs35jwye4hWrtRaCG8HneiYfTHfgMFfhXTGJ0dOozkpDXN94S-1/s1600/s42454ca116633_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiJj9Y3R9qaQcegPD8i65sr3qNHjKtOTmua2tfOjP_nNfAWc4sg_7DtPUc4ILRfj9UTdhB82mliJj62e7T5CU5VDVPQs35jwye4hWrtRaCG8HneiYfTHfgMFfhXTGJ0dOozkpDXN94S-1/s640/s42454ca116633_5.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Family 2</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGh8LA45eAzGUoN5nNO92bvc8wkEqF2KbqKhfhWFp-AS0aPEJ6Lmc-ORRz5SW6KWfv2vqVSH6tnea6aAOOQFwul2gE2cfjQL7rN_3S_AtXUoH00VOJJNFhxOCjH5T_Kow3PyUJ9Pp5Fvy/s1600/s42454ca116633_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGh8LA45eAzGUoN5nNO92bvc8wkEqF2KbqKhfhWFp-AS0aPEJ6Lmc-ORRz5SW6KWfv2vqVSH6tnea6aAOOQFwul2gE2cfjQL7rN_3S_AtXUoH00VOJJNFhxOCjH5T_Kow3PyUJ9Pp5Fvy/s640/s42454ca116633_8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Family 3 - wish my hair wasn't wonky here</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69-CdJOhkS375YuRBAQOh88POYl2aX9pD1qrJfAdimQE4iiwpjkG3VpPKCFZW7whO_7JnYd35-X9cvUaV2QsFbklbECmFrZ7UDWfWEfW1RUTlvvRJ6DjcTs-p99AC-VsNYTP2MecJsPWz/s1600/s42454ca116633_10_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69-CdJOhkS375YuRBAQOh88POYl2aX9pD1qrJfAdimQE4iiwpjkG3VpPKCFZW7whO_7JnYd35-X9cvUaV2QsFbklbECmFrZ7UDWfWEfW1RUTlvvRJ6DjcTs-p99AC-VsNYTP2MecJsPWz/s640/s42454ca116633_10_0.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Lily checking out herself on the big computer screen.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EFC4Yk52Exd7uDgaDRjehrBEyL4YklWI0j0fX-dZmOE4bKz9JjEWUOPhfr2R8eh7TX2ksECEPQJ-xGu1qRWj9MXk3IgcjCB5En2SriHrRD2nwfXYZFF1cADjbQk6lD8FG2mMk13RHIhg/s1600/s42454ca116633_16_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EFC4Yk52Exd7uDgaDRjehrBEyL4YklWI0j0fX-dZmOE4bKz9JjEWUOPhfr2R8eh7TX2ksECEPQJ-xGu1qRWj9MXk3IgcjCB5En2SriHrRD2nwfXYZFF1cADjbQk6lD8FG2mMk13RHIhg/s640/s42454ca116633_16_0.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Toe Point!</span></b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAS58QqSFa5ihnui6m3O_YO29QNj201aeXj75q9ZbXv8PjJqyaePCC2LBA7l69GD4q3gq0ES-7g-Jz5edmAu7MZ_iLlwULWasUsb4paUwi04flMlx6aScv0t0vK-SonLeZfGi1s2U-qex/s1600/s42454ca116633_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAS58QqSFa5ihnui6m3O_YO29QNj201aeXj75q9ZbXv8PjJqyaePCC2LBA7l69GD4q3gq0ES-7g-Jz5edmAu7MZ_iLlwULWasUsb4paUwi04flMlx6aScv0t0vK-SonLeZfGi1s2U-qex/s640/s42454ca116633_18.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Just chil-laxin'</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAVCdlNLJJxjhEGZ4M7_-zntKrJiZGokLPMhSQLHxrIdi8GeOdJJGJJoTT_ZSZME4mua5Cq4HFQ2xE5T77KwVh53VqsONjSJn83hkXFlFQe6jXJLk6jr-vcNvrLZk5tIcktB9LYBAQU5b/s1600/s42454ca116633_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIAVCdlNLJJxjhEGZ4M7_-zntKrJiZGokLPMhSQLHxrIdi8GeOdJJGJJoTT_ZSZME4mua5Cq4HFQ2xE5T77KwVh53VqsONjSJn83hkXFlFQe6jXJLk6jr-vcNvrLZk5tIcktB9LYBAQU5b/s640/s42454ca116633_20.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The face that will get her whatever she wants.</b></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFHA13TLiOXDln8bh51PVXiYKdTG_mnfXA1n0JBYk0d-4YXXw6WQSLPLDZ8SSW61jvoff3Tpf7XmUDBTn5-8YVsnhKLp8aOhTv1kFloN7NCRcqkwKidVjUQWbPK4MN8-H3cS-JKC7FGyS/s1600/s42454ca116633_20_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFHA13TLiOXDln8bh51PVXiYKdTG_mnfXA1n0JBYk0d-4YXXw6WQSLPLDZ8SSW61jvoff3Tpf7XmUDBTn5-8YVsnhKLp8aOhTv1kFloN7NCRcqkwKidVjUQWbPK4MN8-H3cS-JKC7FGyS/s640/s42454ca116633_20_0.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnvueXaJogNuOLXqKDwUa7-JrfFpGJbBpe6CYqbuPeF03Hg9wRDGGvKvExyHMg0gcYyCaOPAWeIdhkIfbEln-Dc-52cBLQvgryBt3Ezamlud_lbaYkJXJBk_2c3zH3Z_diolXZ-d_7jAR/s1600/s42454ca116633_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnvueXaJogNuOLXqKDwUa7-JrfFpGJbBpe6CYqbuPeF03Hg9wRDGGvKvExyHMg0gcYyCaOPAWeIdhkIfbEln-Dc-52cBLQvgryBt3Ezamlud_lbaYkJXJBk_2c3zH3Z_diolXZ-d_7jAR/s640/s42454ca116633_25.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">There's a super cute blue teddy bear up there! </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYorclgPhKeTK1CDyEKH8U_838V5vzbI9leQBOJk8HtOFdN0L41ozcj0kGnUUTduXRh1DrL9tXpBalCmp5pezY33nsFffSGqlJ1IMPl03wGTnSrgoYM_136NAjLFhKoX2mDzWyH-abznWN/s1600/s42454ca116633_28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYorclgPhKeTK1CDyEKH8U_838V5vzbI9leQBOJk8HtOFdN0L41ozcj0kGnUUTduXRh1DrL9tXpBalCmp5pezY33nsFffSGqlJ1IMPl03wGTnSrgoYM_136NAjLFhKoX2mDzWyH-abznWN/s640/s42454ca116633_28.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">And now it's mine!</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGddo8WxEbfmG3EfgqFup-WJ0NHhX1LOssXbyYWRdJLSq_FZPQKmFKIW5SBB8MPa9b3UkHUTKhCHMu07kNvieYI2hifLUWwTZW-9BDf7wllwu-QbFczItpSj1HD8gWq92OuD9qTYsMnw8/s1600/s42454ca116633_29_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGddo8WxEbfmG3EfgqFup-WJ0NHhX1LOssXbyYWRdJLSq_FZPQKmFKIW5SBB8MPa9b3UkHUTKhCHMu07kNvieYI2hifLUWwTZW-9BDf7wllwu-QbFczItpSj1HD8gWq92OuD9qTYsMnw8/s640/s42454ca116633_29_0.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">Hey! Look at these daisies. I was almost named Daisy.</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3w7JbgbZm7YA2sbZGmeywUQzhDljvz8ZDlZQjh-Z8cfX3zhDlo1bXgNuEjEoH1RKQIh8sXjeF_RCb_W4EuuutoRvQguC1s_yLqmrEoNNig7hksNp4VGvwZYIxz79ZkxZfj8rcphWnes2/s1600/s42454ca116633_30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3w7JbgbZm7YA2sbZGmeywUQzhDljvz8ZDlZQjh-Z8cfX3zhDlo1bXgNuEjEoH1RKQIh8sXjeF_RCb_W4EuuutoRvQguC1s_yLqmrEoNNig7hksNp4VGvwZYIxz79ZkxZfj8rcphWnes2/s640/s42454ca116633_30.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: red;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Wonder if I can fit these all in my mouth?</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXdBvpdPQEo2QiOwNnCe_4WL0q0O-HhaGB7pZA55xu6rQ0LpaeVDeYAPxC94ekwhCkUv5FnvtduqfJH7iWssZSpnv4jNRLgseoBQA61O1-COgY-yD10yffbvUgF0OTs6nWS79MeJcFhet/s1600/s42454ca116633_33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXdBvpdPQEo2QiOwNnCe_4WL0q0O-HhaGB7pZA55xu6rQ0LpaeVDeYAPxC94ekwhCkUv5FnvtduqfJH7iWssZSpnv4jNRLgseoBQA61O1-COgY-yD10yffbvUgF0OTs6nWS79MeJcFhet/s640/s42454ca116633_33.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: red;">Bubbly toes.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9193226049109909052.post-35054267642605527712011-03-25T11:49:00.001-04:002011-03-26T16:22:05.826-04:00One This has been a busy month full of company. My family left yesterday, and as we speak there are no plans for company on the schedule for anytime in the future. We now get to get back to our schedule. *whew* break time.<br />
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Lily's 1st birthday was this past weekend. We had a full house for the event, and we enjoyed celebrating the day Lily joined the world. Lily spent most of the day with Cayce while I ran around like a mad woman getting the last minute things done. Cayce and she put together Lily's biggest birthday gift. Her swing set.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyD9VcEpQ2en-A1DJK_StjJ0cpx5LFPBibthZ4M7lcExxczj9UVc9cnluqC-9xY0F_vgeTZV3zeDxAEP1GSAkEer9QnPn0njs_xn3vsR6MQQqrwSueqrrTY-30nMOt9zg88Os5C1FHn_O/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyD9VcEpQ2en-A1DJK_StjJ0cpx5LFPBibthZ4M7lcExxczj9UVc9cnluqC-9xY0F_vgeTZV3zeDxAEP1GSAkEer9QnPn0njs_xn3vsR6MQQqrwSueqrrTY-30nMOt9zg88Os5C1FHn_O/s400/IMG_0514.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsA-gUuz8J_Gd0TWrRZd94RMyneV0NVylhqD_p4qtDxroRrYsbx6Pu6ggVfGBi4PJrtOV2QRh94kOV8Uovvx8KbKUTPEsx3SE1jN0AzqTNiPVvdpYnuQvFIFG77X_GLKSG5vh4IuzlU92W/s1600/IMG_0516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsA-gUuz8J_Gd0TWrRZd94RMyneV0NVylhqD_p4qtDxroRrYsbx6Pu6ggVfGBi4PJrtOV2QRh94kOV8Uovvx8KbKUTPEsx3SE1jN0AzqTNiPVvdpYnuQvFIFG77X_GLKSG5vh4IuzlU92W/s400/IMG_0516.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKTIebPGdPbQX5c8raIe8p10uP-ZI62_0xyuAb8-3pZoBCWJYdlnuN0OkACQZYRLm7vjI_q3QxrIG5TQeALZplXOsIuDVucnilKf9kIwpBscmNuZybft7AGcmXnLrhkXOS1NnJknLvjTe/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKTIebPGdPbQX5c8raIe8p10uP-ZI62_0xyuAb8-3pZoBCWJYdlnuN0OkACQZYRLm7vjI_q3QxrIG5TQeALZplXOsIuDVucnilKf9kIwpBscmNuZybft7AGcmXnLrhkXOS1NnJknLvjTe/s400/IMG_0520.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Her Grandpa Mautino sent this great gift. She LOOOOOVES swinging. She just laughs, giggles, and squeals with each swing. In her opinion the higher the better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lily was also given a <a href="http://www.step2.com/product.cfm?product_id=1149">wagon</a> for her birthday from her Oma, Great-Aunt Randy, and Cousin Marty. I don't have any pictures of her in that yet, b/c I was too busy running all over the yard pulling her and enjoying her squeals to stop and take pictures. Lily and I go for walks around the neighborhood, but she only gives me 30 minutes and she starts squirming wanting out of the stroller. My hope is to throw a few toys in the wagon with her and she'll be a bit more tolerant. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cayce and I gave Lily an aquarium. She has three different kinds of goldfish. Their names are Virginia, Disney, and Mitchell. All names with significant meaning. We also have two snails to help keep the aquarium clean. Thing 1 and Thing 2. Lily likes to watch them swim and eat. She traces on the glass their movements. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lily was given many many noisy toys. Toys of all shapes and sizes that play music. Lily loves music. She's become quite the dancer. Whenever there's a beat Lily starts shaking her little bottom, throwing out her arms, and she has some mean jazz hands. I totally plan for her to follow in my footsteps and start dance when she turns 3. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've realized since her birthday is in spring. Each birthday will probably be filled with toys of an outdoor nature. Anything to get out and enjoy the warming weather. Of course no one look at today's weather. You'd think it was November. I'll say this just once, and never again. I miss South Carolina. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lily had a lemon meringue pie instead of cake for her birthday. She loves lemons so I made the decision to go against tradition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhyphenhyphenUETknjlBJLmNgiujuxMgzIXfgoN6AwUhXbs159yZeyVSS4GQm-phhV8KQ3PYojtZX9BV5o6z6Wjyuo4rYE6hrNmKU77OVWALUutdJc1P5DHKWUjMYaFfhHJYnTevq_KUxVCO2T6nI5/s1600/IMG_0569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhyphenhyphenUETknjlBJLmNgiujuxMgzIXfgoN6AwUhXbs159yZeyVSS4GQm-phhV8KQ3PYojtZX9BV5o6z6Wjyuo4rYE6hrNmKU77OVWALUutdJc1P5DHKWUjMYaFfhHJYnTevq_KUxVCO2T6nI5/s320/IMG_0569.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcN1KbH-uNcok9Or1HU6VJC_QozCox-uUcn_aqASWME0Zt9VCLn6q6tVbr-jspNXHIeKrxXP_vam3De1dO83czw1NCGWD7LH9JO7zNT3VwIdwxoOVWbU7Q_omaqQu9P4W5LrItLynpvwG/s1600/IMG_0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcN1KbH-uNcok9Or1HU6VJC_QozCox-uUcn_aqASWME0Zt9VCLn6q6tVbr-jspNXHIeKrxXP_vam3De1dO83czw1NCGWD7LH9JO7zNT3VwIdwxoOVWbU7Q_omaqQu9P4W5LrItLynpvwG/s320/IMG_0538.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I made Lily her own little tart so she could dig in.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxdWKz7jfFybrh5o3COEDDWi8iWxTqXYUPKpYn6FOXv2jhNOLUT-0htXDjLSgBv2200hJaBRWbs5znYA0_pvpazEhQ7okSczJUa1VzFaFR4RpUWYHJFkbRppglloh5aFDzSFQ7vjirBxl/s1600/IMG_0540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxdWKz7jfFybrh5o3COEDDWi8iWxTqXYUPKpYn6FOXv2jhNOLUT-0htXDjLSgBv2200hJaBRWbs5znYA0_pvpazEhQ7okSczJUa1VzFaFR4RpUWYHJFkbRppglloh5aFDzSFQ7vjirBxl/s320/IMG_0540.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>She was uber polite, and didn't make any mess.<br />
Maybe I should have given her practice of<br />
what to do when someone puts a sugary<br />
delight in front of you. Devour without caution. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lily enjoyed her birthday. We enjoyed celebrating the day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqBQXpoEmWu-VKzDS_CIk4luplfZgvNs13QtMdmo-GfzhP_dij9tNV4HQ8WrRFl3sMUeJqmKmCVSLckczqpX1MskBQiVg0BD3GeUJABenA_FLQHzjnZydSUVhDhI7yFgSXQHn2CZehY47/s1600/IMG_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqBQXpoEmWu-VKzDS_CIk4luplfZgvNs13QtMdmo-GfzhP_dij9tNV4HQ8WrRFl3sMUeJqmKmCVSLckczqpX1MskBQiVg0BD3GeUJABenA_FLQHzjnZydSUVhDhI7yFgSXQHn2CZehY47/s320/IMG_0559.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Silly Oma, that's MY crown!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxuK-s955oTrZBxWnBMMelcxSxmmUUC3i71fOw0SNPin8nGH7BzoXfAzRBp3_talAQa32PJ9ZrTzZL4rvvG3awCt2DZg4drY4NLJmwTtvumJ25ko9lWoFxfBBnGtcDcVV-ol1x3aaAM7F/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxuK-s955oTrZBxWnBMMelcxSxmmUUC3i71fOw0SNPin8nGH7BzoXfAzRBp3_talAQa32PJ9ZrTzZL4rvvG3awCt2DZg4drY4NLJmwTtvumJ25ko9lWoFxfBBnGtcDcVV-ol1x3aaAM7F/s320/IMG_0561.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">MY crown!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I totally expected Lily to sleep poorly that night because of all the excitement and sugar, but she slept through the night without making a peep. Good thing, mommy was worn out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for Lily's day to day she's still not walking, but she's cruising with the best of 'em. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha85tmC80ytMM7lhGT_2hw63VrWjtA8zcv0ESrLh5PhCn_cnImFnB-gW9z6wTNa1NG1wmWNSoHKA7icOENxR_uGfwjFYlgU8Cq4cSdEjFj2Xtcis8CJ5q6lTVR96BU7RfuT6yIHS6edYqS/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha85tmC80ytMM7lhGT_2hw63VrWjtA8zcv0ESrLh5PhCn_cnImFnB-gW9z6wTNa1NG1wmWNSoHKA7icOENxR_uGfwjFYlgU8Cq4cSdEjFj2Xtcis8CJ5q6lTVR96BU7RfuT6yIHS6edYqS/s320/IMG_0511.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Door Greeter</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha85tmC80ytMM7lhGT_2hw63VrWjtA8zcv0ESrLh5PhCn_cnImFnB-gW9z6wTNa1NG1wmWNSoHKA7icOENxR_uGfwjFYlgU8Cq4cSdEjFj2Xtcis8CJ5q6lTVR96BU7RfuT6yIHS6edYqS/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not sure how much she weighs or her height. We haven't had her 12 month check-up. Lily's wearing size 4 Pamper Cruisers Dry Max diapers, between size two and three shoes, and size 18 mo pants, but 12 mo tops. Baby got back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We're making the transition from formula to whole milk. For the next couple of days we'll continue a half and half mixture, and then we'll bump it to more milk than formula. Once we get completely rid of the formula my plan is to transition completely from her bottles. Right now she's using cups and bottles. One night a couple weeks ago while Cayce was on duty Lily finally figured out the right way to use a straw. It's been smooth sailing since. Her favorite foods are blueberries, cherries, lemons, (including Simply Lemonade), and she could eat bowls full of my homemade chicken and noodles. She's still not a picky eater, and we're eating much more solids during the day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She naps for about 3 hours total each day. She breaks it up between morning and afternoon. We can skip afternoon naps if need be, but oh no, if we go without that morning nap Lily is a super cranky pants. Unless miss thang is teething she sleeps solidly through the night from 7:30/8:30 until 7/9 in the morning. Speaking of teeth. Lily has her four front bottom teeth, her two front teeth, and her right top tooth. (forgive the lack of correct terminology)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lily's in to everything and ridiculously destructive. As I speak she's taken the kleenex box off the end table and is proceeding to pull each kleenex out. Too much fun! Glad it's a cheap box. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lily has been enjoying her time at the child care at the Y. It's nice to go work out come back to pick her up, and see that while other babies have been screaming their heads off Lily's eyes are crystal clear and not a speck of tears are on her face. We've been going to BabyGarten each week at the Library. Lily really loves all the corny songs and the the play time after wards.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now that life is slowing down for us I should be able to update regularly again. However, speaking of naps... it's Lily's naptime! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Cayce, Sara, and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05288280519226691634noreply@blogger.com1