Missing Footage

Recently some lost footage of you was found, Aidan. And by lost I mean we never talked about it. But it's too good not to share.

Over the summer, you really started living a rock and roll lifestyle:

The trend of rocking out continued in public over Thanksgiving. We went to the new deck park with Aunt Rebekka, and you got a private concert from a Piano Man. You danced, you spun, you clapped...and you did it all seriously. Here's a snippet of a seated and eated rockin' and rollin':

You also know how to rock and roll in private WITH clothes on.

You also can rock out with your own original covers. You should make a record.

And just like a record, baby, you also got to spin right round, round round.  At a trip to the zoo with Pops, you experienced your first Carousel ride!

It's not often you get to see pure wonder on someone's face. But this was it. You really, really loved the carousel.

Speaking of spinning, on the same trip to the zoo, you also got to experience centrifugal gravity. Or whatever it's called at those museums where you drain your parents of all their loose change in that black hole vortex thing. Whatever you call it, you got a kick out of it, and Pops was your enabler.

But life isn't all fun and games. Sometimes it's donuts!

And sometimes it's being a daredevil:

And sometimes it's chasing your dreams (or a bug):

You have to march to the beat of your own drummer, though, especially if you're a rock star. Maybe not if you're the drummer...but otherwise, you can be independent as a drummer. Or something. I don't really know what I'm saying, but look: here's a video of you playing it safe in Mimi and Pops' backyard.

See? The videos were great! And sometimes great footage just falls through the cracks. But that's why I'm here: to shoehorn it all into one random post that basically just tells you what you already know: Your mother and I think you're amazing and hilarious and a star. We love you.

Thanksgiving Turkeys and Six-Week Smiles

Last Week was your first Thanksgiving, Julia! And your third, if you're keeping count, Aidan.

We got to spend a lot of quality time with Aunt Rebekka and Uncle Ross, who came in all the way from California to see us.

We wore hats, we went to the arboretum, we went to playgrounds, we went to Mimi and Pops' house, we went to Gigi and Pa's house. We saw family left and right, and people came flocking in just to meet you, miss Julia!

You and Rebekka shared several special moments.

As did you and Uncle Ross!

You even got to briefly meet all your Sugarland cousins and Uncle Dana and Aunt Mendi as they stopped by on their drive to Arkansas.

You got to meet your Great Grandpa (Pa) and Great Grandma (Gigi), as well as Uncle Phil and your cousins Steven and Lacey. Plus you took a great nap on Baba's chest.

We had a great Thanksgiving, but considering you were only 6 weeks old on the day of, you really didn't get to appreciate the gorge fest in its entirety. But, here's proof you were there...right behind the cranberry sauce.

Aidan, you rocked Thanksgiving too: Wearing olives on your fingers...

 

Wearing out the furniture in Mimi and Pops' dining room:

 And wearing your 'newsies' hat, which you asked to wear.

 And then picking one out for Daddy.

 And then serendipitously matching Pops too!

And then dressing the whole ensemble down to the bare basics.

And wearing us out! Being two can be serious business.

But it has its serious benefits too.

Daddy and Aidan. Daddy on the right.

 You even got to hang out and go exploring on Uncle Phil's farm.

But, more important that what we did or didn't do, was that we were together, as family. And together, we were!

Brothers and Sisters:

Uncles and Nephews/Aunts and Nieces:

Parents and Children:

 

You know, special family, sharing special memories, even if they sometimes started acting like turkeys. 

You know...family!

FAMILY!!!!

And one of the specialist of the special moments we got to share as a family was that miss Julia, as a 6 week old baby, you started SMILING and really reacting to grown-up's voices and faces over Thanksgiving break. Everyone was so amazed by your beautiful smile!

So, to all you Turkeys, Smile!

Julia: One Month Old Already!

Jules,

Last Sunday was November 11, 2012. That means you've been here for a month already...and we can't believe it!

Granted...we should believe it. I mean you've grown from this:

To This:

And this to this:

And From This:

To This:

So it should come as no surprise that in a month you've grown from this:

To this:

It seems just like yesterday you were a glimmer in our eye, and now you're a one month old beautiful little baby girl.

And now you're official...I mean, you've even got your paper work!

So, now that you're official, you've been officially rocking one-month old activities:

You're making serious progress with tummy time and mat time (with some encouragement from big brother):

And, since you're umbilical cord-free, you're taking big-girl baths...in a bucket! And you love it!

All in a day's work for a one-month old! You're a bathing, tummy-time-rocking, good-sleepin', good-eatin', happy, healthy little one-month old baby girl. And whether we want to believe it or not, you're only going to continue this trend of growing up.

Well, it may be happening too fast, but on the other hand, I can't remember a time without you being here. So, onward and upward, Jules. Next stop: 2 months old...but we have plenty of time before that happens. For now, let's just take it one day at a time, okay?