Almost Summer

This is a picture taken by our friend Rob when the three of us had lunch in the city last week, Ciana looking very seriously into the camera. She is doing so well and has learned to stand on her own without the assistance of furniture, is saying a few words other than "Da da da da" all the time and is on a great schedule. I can't believe all the mimicry that she does, copying practically everything that she is shown. She was watching Joe wipe up the floor after dinner one night and ever since he said to her "wash the floor Ciana, wash the floor" she will pretend to wipe down the floor anytime you say that now! She will also pass you whatever you ask (she expects you to pass it back however) and will go see whoever you name that she knows. Her appetite is great, the only thing she refuses to eat right now is eggs (like mother like daughter) and chomps happily on almost any veggie, of course always opting to feed herself. I am so excited to take her to water parks and the beach this summer. She is fascinated by other kids and especially animals, although not cats so much anymore as she had a run in last night with a friends (very patient) kitty. I hope you are all well and I say bring on the sun!!

Pensive Pookie 

Happy Mother's Day

Just a quick note before Ciana is up from her nap- I just want to wish all the mothers out there that read our blog a very happy mother's day! As you can probably guess I love being Ciana's mom and am very happy to share our daily/weekly/monthly goings on with my mom as well as my mother-in-law and both of our grandma's, not to mention all of you other readers. I think you all know how much you mean to both Joe and I and I want to leave you all with a quote I found that is never more profound than when I think of Ciana joining our lives little over a year ago...

"Love touched our very hearts

with tenderness anew,

the day we heard your little voice

and cast our eyes on you."

-Author unknown

Birthday Girls 

What's This?!?! 

Walking with Flowers 

Posers 

Two cakes for Two Birthday Girls 

G.G., Lysa, Grandpa, Uncle Cody & Little Sydney 

Opening Gifts (new bikini!) 

Two weeks gone by already!!

I know, I am lucky that people still even check in to see what's going on with us still considering that I've been so bad keeping this up to date. Well as you can see we ventured over to the island for Ciana's actual birthday and had a great, albeit quick visit with Mary Lou, Richard, Joe's grandma, his Mom, Dieter, sister Eileen and her boyfriend Cody including cake, presents and a wonderful dinner the Friday night before the big day. Unfortunatley Ciana was exhausted and it was a bit of a late one for her but it was still really nice for everyone to see her. She got her first Doll from her great-grandma Caskey which was her Nanny's very own doll as well as a lovely outfit all the way from China. The three of us carried on to the Marriot hotel where we were camped for the weekend and Ciana went peacefully into the crib provided. The next day we were in Cobble Hill at my parents house for the festivities and Ciana's first overnighter by about noon and it was all very exciting.

Ciana's First Doll 

Blowing out the Candle 

Sitting up is Nanny's Highchair