Happy cinco de Naia! (sortof)

NAIA IS 6 MONTHS OLD TODAY!

I wish i had time or even the words to describe how much our lives have been blessed in the past 6 months. I can't believe how lucky I am to have this family of mine and scratch my head thinking about it everyday. But since its time to party, I'll just let you guys see how we spent the day....


we went and got a library card... Naia's mom figured 4 years was long enough to live in a place without stepping foot inside this public heavenly haven of words ...


we're considering trying out thursdays at 10 (kids stuff...)


we played on the porch with chester



and did some outside tot riding


[we saw the red sox beat the yankees, not pictured, but a nice "half-birthday" bonus]


and the cake finally got done



thats our girl, 1/2 year old!

the art critic

i think its great that naia isn't 6 months old yet (but very close), and has just attended her second gallery opening. Of course i like it because we get to dress her up =).

these first two are getting ready to go:




this is about half way through the evening taking a break and a snack in the car...

(and NO, she never sits like this really....

i forgot to actually take a picture in the gallery or with any of naia's fans... she had lots of fun though.

and, finally, home. POOPED

And that same day...

the reason we're so excited in this one is because prior to this, she kept crashing into the wall.... methinks she's learning something here =)



and this is just fun. this thing is called a "tot rider", so naturally, when she's in it we call her "tot rider". you know us, we have to have names for everything...

WAIT TIL YOU SEE WHAT'S MAKING HER SO HAPPY

Naia LOVES chester (the cat). Have i mentioned this? i dont think so. When he struts into the room, her face lights up, and brooks and i can barely make her as giddy as he can. He's been a lot better behaved lately too. i think because he gets all this new attention. he lets us help her "pet" him, and gets extra nonspastic pets and treats from us. everyone is happy.

Naia's First Solids!!

very liquidy solids, but solids nonetheless.
this is was a pretty big deal around here. I think she handled it really well. i think most of the time, she was just trying to figure out what was going on and why we were smiling at her so much =). the video is about 5 minutes into the production...










just messing around (this is from her pumpkin outfit... it almost fits..)


i remember when i used to "help" my dad pay the bills. Maybe it will become a family tradition. She doesn't think much of bills though...she tries to eat them (good girl)

Finally-- Brooks takes a video!!

or two or three....
excuse my nerdiness here please.

We do a lot of dancing in front of the mirror. but without the mirror, i lose little in the choreography... but you get the idea:



and this one... i dont know if i am always smiling like this, but it feels like it. she gives us LOTS of reasons to smile


and how about some stills...
look how fun she is. This is her response when i say (and i usually do say) "ready for an adventure?"







thank you for joining us on our walk in ...(drumroll and with deep voice)...
the h a u n t e d f o r e s t !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

... TO MY SEEESTER!!

And while, I'm here, here's a video of naia "calling the dolphins". Since Naia means 'dolphin' in hawaiian, brooks always says she's calling her friends with this happy dolphinesque squeal. So here she is squealing for you all, and especially you erica.
happy birthday! We love you