Here & There

Backtracking a couple months again, here's a selection of pictures from the end of August through the middle of September. 

The end of August saw the threat and heavy rains of Hurricane Irene:

Followed by beautiful sunshine at the Central Park Zoo only a few days later:

Maelee LOVED feeding the goats!!!

In mid-September, Maelee and I took a trip down to VA while Steve spent a week in San Francisco for a work conference (I know, tough job...). 

We were able to see Too-Dad and "Nart" one afternoon:

Enjoyed night time kisses and peek-a-boo with Nana & Pop-Pop:

Got to stay up late waiting for Nana to get home from work, only to show off our hyper/silliness when she got home:

Went to the National Zoo:

And even saw Cindy & Alli (!):

(Note the adorable, coordinating outfits)

Yet we still had some time to just relax on the couch with Gracie on Nana's lap:

It was a great trip and a fun month watching our little lady continue to blossom.  During the 17th month, we had to institute some "time-outs" for her feisty-ness and finally gave up on keeping track of new words cause one of her favorite things to do is repeat (or at least *try* to repeat!) what we say.  Steve's most proud of her attempt at "hydrogen" and my favorites are her emphatic "yucky!" whenever she sees trash and "good girl" when she's in time-out and wants to convince me she's a good girl and deserves to be let out of the chair in the corner. Much to our dismay, she got the hang of "no" and loved to use if for a reaction... sigh. 

She really is growing up so fast, but with all the trying facets to this phase, there are equal, if not more, delightful sides to this big personality.  Her hugs and kisses melt us any day and her exclamations of "I you!" in response to our "I love you" are priceless.  She definitely still is our little sweetheart.

Here are some more pics of the 17th Month in this slideshow:

Miss Big Stuff

About a month ago, we took a family outing to Central Park and got our attempt at a 1 1/2  year photo shoot of our little sweetie with her BIG personality.  She was, technically, just shy of 17 months old, but close enough...  

Anyhow,  the sampling below shows off some of that personality in her expressions and we are having too much fun with her.  She really is hysterical- talking up a storm and being little Miss Toddler in her onery-ness and independence.  More to follow but for now, enjoy some of our favorite shots...

As if those weren't enough, here are more in a slideshow:

And we had to make sure her dancing videos made it onto the blog so here are both-

At the Live United festival:

At home, dancing in honor of her Uncle Dan:


 
Stay tuned!

Lovely Ladies

It's hard to believe that Labor Day weekend is over and summer has just about come to end... During Maelee's 16th month, we've enjoyed some lazy days, some busy days, and days with some very special ladies.

In the beginning of August, we had the pleasure of Nana's company for several days- we had fun at some parks, ate good food at lots of restaurants, and Steve and I even got a date night in!  Steve returned the favor by letting my mom and me go see a show one night- "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying," starring David Radcliffe and John Larroquette.  It was AWESOME! Definitely one of our favorites. 

So, onto some pictures from the visit!

Someone was quite tickled to see her Nana!!!

A special treat from Nana- Violet, the puppy!

Her first toy that had to be programmed on the computer...  it actually says her name!

Such a fun trip!

And a few random but sweet shots...

Our lovely, little lady rolling around on our lovely, little kitchen floor, pretty much the entire, lovely, little afternoon... sigh.

Three very lovely, little ladies- friends from their 1st month.

Hanging out with friends in their courtyard

Enjoying a big band concert by the river in Carl Schurz Park

Yes, that's a make-up brush.  It's starting...

Already.  Sigh.

She loves to watch mommy putting on make-up...

And yes, that is our Parker.  

He has become an incredibly patient cat with our little lady.

(Note: there is no actual make-up on the brush as hard as Maelee may try to cover up Parker's white spot)

Just before Maelee turned 16 months old, we enjoyed a WONDERFUL treat of having one of my dearest friends, Sarah, come to visit.  We were inseparable in grad school in San Francisco and it was SO awesome to have her here and meet our little girl. 

Me and my girl.

Our girl :)

Me and my Sarah!!!

Our pose.

And finally, more of Maelee with her awesome Auntie Sarah!!!


And as always, here are more pics in a slideshow: