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:

Fun in the sun!

In case you haven't been able to tell from these past blog titles, we definitely have had some fun this July, but sadly the month is almost over.  Our week in Nags Head, NC flew by in a heartbeat, July is about gone, and soon summer will turn to fall.  Sigh.  We've been enjoying the sun while it lasts though (although not so much the heatwave...) and have some beach pictures to prove it.  So I say once gain, brace yourself- there are lots of them!

 

First time taking in the ocean breeze

First time feeling the cool ocean water and the wet sand between her toes

 
First time sitting in the sand



Hamming it up out to eat!









Splashing in her own personal pool!






Those delicate little footsteps...

Warming up to Too-dad who made the trip all the way down from DE just to spend some time with us- so special!  (I say "us," but Maelee's definitely the clincher!)

Loving her new toy from Too-dad and "Nart!"


 
The company was even better than the view :)












Getting sleepy but that can't stop her from grinnin' in her shades!


 





With some of her  favorite people




That is pretty much my entire breakfast on my lap... oops.
(Maelee actually had nothing to do with it.  Sigh.)




Enjoying her little pool out on the deck


Making "the face"  :)



 What's better than waking up to a GREAT Too-dad and an incredible Nana???

Placing the ball in the cup is SO much more fun than hitting it in with a silly club!

 

 

Enjoying a beautiful sunset over the sound with just the two of us

 

Feeling brave enough to let go of our hands the day before we left!

We are so thankful to have had this time at the beach!!!

Enjoying our last evening in Duck

Maelee especially enjoyed getting to try ice cream (well, peach frozen yogurt, but close enough!) for the first time- hard to tell who enjoyed the experience more though, Maelee or her Nana & Pop-Pop!!!

The face says it all...

And the hands say "please!"

Some last-minute beach play before the long car ride home

Even more pics in this slideshow:

It was definitely too short a trip, but we sure did enjoy it and are SO thankful to my Aunt Viv & Uncle Tom for so generously offering up their beautiful beach home for us stay in! We are also SO thankful to have gotten the chance to see Too-dad and Mary Catherine (Nart), and SO, SO thankful to my mom and dad for basically making the vacation possible.  Oh, and so thankful for Pop-Pop's driving skills in getting us there safely and back :)  We're already looking forward to some fun in the sun next summer in the Outer Banks!