Where have the last few months gone?

It seems time has flown and our little one year old girl is now just over 16 months and is a full-blown toddler. She's eating solid food, literally running around the house, usually trying to dribble a ball or chase Chloe, she is talking, traveling and my goodness is she growing! Her last check-up she was 29 lbs and 34" tall. That's almost 3 feet tall! I'm a bit blown away by it all, and we are just so, so happy that she's healthy and happy and still sleeping 11+ hours a night, with a three hour nap during the day. Yay for sleep!!!

A celebratory wave/high five after her doctor's appointment

Bill went back to work last month and so our neighbor has been watching her during the weekdays, and next week Cristina will go in to a group day care with 3-4 other kids. It's so convenient as it's right down the street from my work, and so drop-off and pick-up will be a breeze.  Let's see how Daddy and Papa do with letting her go to someone else's house all day, though...I'm a bit nervous about it, as she's been in the cocoon of our house since she came home at 9 days old. I hope she adjusts ok...I'm being a bit of a nervous parent about it...but I'm sure she'll be fine.

Labor Day weekend we had our good friend and Cristina's god father in town. So both god parents had to pose for a beach pic with our beach babe.  Cristina loves, loves, loves the ocean. And has no fear. I can't wait until she can swim! It will make me feel much more comfortable, too.

Kay, Cristina and Todd

About two weeks ago Cristina and I flew to see my father, who had had a stroke, and is not doing very well.  He had never met his granddaughter so we really felt like it was time to get to Illinois to spend a week there. The travel was brutal, and poor Cristina was such a trooper...being strapped to me like a monkey in the Ergo carrier while I lugged a carry-on and the diaper bag and one checked bag around. Many a flight attendant and passenger helped me snap snaps, and adjust her just right...thank God or else I would have never been able to do it.  The trip was worth it, and through the jet lag and the different surroundings and the non-baby-proofed house we were staying in, we made the best of it. And in the end, the big Papa got to meet the littlest grandchild. So the mission was accomplished!

Papa Sr. and Cristina saying their hellos...and goodbyes...

This iPad Guy case SAVED the iPad on the trip! Highly recommend it!

Even though we spent a lot of time at the hospital visiting my father, Cristina was on her best behavior and made the best of it...such a good little girl.

All strapped in and ready to go home!

Making the same face, after a very long jet lagged nap

Just as I got back from the trip, our sweet blog friends Laura and Brea of Mamas & Sons were on vacation in Hawaii with their two adorable boys Blake and Ben, and we got to have lunch and finally meet them after following each other's journeys to become parents. There's something very special about meeting people you've never met but know so much about -- their struggles, their victories, all of it...and then you finally get to see them in person. We had a great lunch at The Contemporary Museum and then let the boys and Cristina run on the lawn. Fun times...!

Cristina is also a big fan of copying us making faces...here she is making fish lips!

And of course she's full of wonder, a curious little girl. 

Just love her so much.

Thanks for following along....

DBCC