Newborn(ish) pics of Delaney

Once again, Molly has taken some amazing pictures...she never disappoints. After showing me a picture on her camera during the shoot I said, "Molly, that's beautiful!" To which she replied with, "Yeah, I know what I'm doing!" And she does. The proof is in the pudding.

Check her out at http://www.mollyconnor.com/

Bouncer, party & tomatoes

Mike came home Friday with an early birthday gift for Izzy: a mini bouncer complete with 150 balls! Izzy immediately fell in love and was giggling all night while jumping & playing. Mike claims that "this is just what daddies do," meaning spoiling their kids with extraordinarily large toys that are loads of fun. I suppose it is. Needless to say, we're transitioning our dining room into a play room for the next year. Not only do we not entertain (who has the time or energy with 2 small children?) but the toys are becoming too big and cumbersome for our living room. Should be a fun place for the girls to play while they are home with the nanny!

Loving her new toy
Static hair...Mike found this hilarious
Catching her breath

Daddy joined the fun
Saturday morning I woke WAY too early (considering I only had 5 hours of sleep) to join Jaime & Lori for some garage sale-ing. I scored by finding a double jogger, ballet shoes for Izzy's dress-up repertoire, and 100 milk storage bags (I paid $6 for these - they retail for $40!!!). I was most excited about the storage bags, and my girlfriends thought I was crazy. Anyway, after that excursion, I returned home just in time to join the family for a birthday party for Max Musgrave (2) and Jude Moosbrugger (1). There was pumpkin painting and cupcake decorating for the kids...while there was pumpkin donuts & chili for the adults. Was so much fun to catch up with the entire Musgrave clan.
Painting
Sunday afternoon Izzy and Mike picked tomatoes from our garden...Izzy ate the entire (large) tomato on the spot!
And finally, we met Luke & Aunt Gi Gi (Jaime) at the park this evening to get the kids some fresh air (and Jaime & I some girl time). How cute are these two?!

Delaney's namesake

My girlfriend, Jaime, is in her 2nd trimester of her 2nd pregnancy. She just posted on her blog about a song that her husband introduced to her that has moved her to the core. Jaim has an instinct that she is pregnant with a little girl. If this is so, I'm curious if she'll name her Zoe (the song's title)? Also, I hope our girls grow up together and become as close as Luke and Izzy have. Anyway, her blog posting inspired me to share where we got the name for Delaney.

As most of you know, Mike and I have been long time fans of Jimmy Buffett. We've gone to his concerts every summer since we met (and sometimes twice!). Mike has a favorite song that Jimmy sings called "Delaney Talks to Statues" that is about a father's love for his daughter, Delaney.

Delaney talks to statues

As she dances 'round the pool

She chases cats through roman ruins

And stomps on big toadstools

She speaks a language all her own

That I cannot discover

But she knows I love her so

When I tuck her 'neath the covers

Father, daughter

Down by the water

Shells sink, dreams float

Life's good on our boat

Delaney draws me pictures

She finger paints the sand

We chase the dogs and hop like frogs

Then I do my bad handstand

She's growing up too fast for me

And asking lots of questions

Some I know the answers to

And some I'm looking for suggestions

Father, daughter

Born by the water

Surf's up, sun's down

Life in a beach town

And some of the things I've seen

Maybe she won't have to see

But there's a lot I want to pass along

That was handed down to me

Delaney talks to statues

As she dances 'round the pool

She chases cats through Roman ruins

And stomps on big toadstools

She speaks a language all her own

Just a little like her mother

And she knows I love her so

When I tuck her 'neath the covers

Father, daughter

Down by the water

Shells sink, dreams float

Life's good on our boat

Museum & Art Fair

This weekend Mike went out of town for a wedding, so I asked his dad & step mom to come down for some extra hands with the girls. Was SO nice to have them here to both entertain Izzy and to allow me to sleep in both mornings! Saturday we kept very busy: museum in the morning, shopping during nap time (Bob stayed home with the girls) and the Carmel Arts Festival in the evening. I ran into countless friends at the Fair - I just love living in Carmel! So much fun...

The Children's Museum was offering free bicycle helmets & fittings. We didn't think she'd be big enough to fit into a helmet...
...but we were wrong!!! Should have known with her big noggin!
A little ride in the race car

Water play

Endless carousel rides with Grandpa

Strolling through the Fair

Mommy and the girls...sorry that Izzy is showing her food, this was the best picture she'd give us.

ps- Today is Delaney's 1 month birthday...we're surviving!!!

Sisters, picture day & creative gifts

Tummy time for Laney means playtime for Izzy!

Love that they are staring at each other
Picture day at school...
My very talented girlfriend, Lori, made this frame for Laney. Can you stand how beautiful it is?! She's the same friend that made Izzy's butterfly mural for her bedroom. I swear Lori needs to start a business! P.S. - those are Laney's feet in the frame!

And Jaime got Laney these uber cute bloomers - now I want a pair for Izzy!!! So stinkin' cute!

Little of this, little of that...

Izzy has been very interested in what's going on in the kitchen (she must get this interest from her father, clearly!) and has helped Mike bake a cake and me bake brownies this past week! She loves watching them bake through the oven window!
This pic is from the Monon, when we went to meet Molly for lunch at Bazbeaux's.

Tummy time for Delaney...

She's a rock star already!

Smiling at daddy...

...and snoozing on daddy!

She just can't hide it...

Izzy's "excited face." She's so excited, she just can't hide it! This face NEVER gets old. You simply ask her to show us her excited face and without fail, this is what you get. She holds her breath and squeezes so hard, I swear she's going to give herself a hernia one of these days!
This is Izzy's sad face. We're working on her emotions and expressing them with her face. Her most recent is HAPPY! She runs around the house yelling HAPPY and smiling. Then we switch to SAD, then EXCITED. It's a roller coaster around here, folks.
ps-Thank you to MOLLY CONNOR (www.mollyconnor.com) for taking these pics. She's my personal photographer and Izzy just so happens to LOVE HER. So do I :) If you are even THINKING about getting newborn or family portraits done for your holiday cards, you should book with her NOW! She has amazingly special rates right now and does phenomenal work. Trust me, she's profesh.