Surprise Mia!

Surprise!!!! Mia had no idea that Bucca had planned an elaborate 50th birthday party for her with friends and family from near and far!

She was surprised to see everyone! She had expected a quiet weekend with Quinn and Dave before she realized that Tom, Carolyn, Pete, Kim, Kasey, AJ, Daddy, Mommy, Haley and I would be joining them!

We had fun with surprise after surprise! We even celebrated her and Bucca's 30th wedding anniversary!

As always a few family photo ops to boot...

some hide and go seek- or peek-a-boo- a new favorite game...

a little Mia and me time...not without demands...

some dress up...

no doubt a little all-in-fun-cake-smashing (after 30 years you deserve a little retribution, right??)

and, of course, a few last words from me...

Congratulations Mia and Bucca on 30 years of marriage and Mia on 50 years of age! Live, love, laugh, enjoy and don't forget about that Ferrari you promised...I'll need it about 2023 (how scary is that?).

-Busted-

Yes, yes, this is T-man, not my Mulligan. We forgot to post this lovely image from my northern adventures the other weekend- but it was too classic to simply let slip through the cracks.

And yes, as you can clearly see, I was caught skinny dipping on camera. I would lie and tell you that I at least had pants on, but alas, my dress is quite obviously placed in plain sight, much like most of me.

I would, however, like to point out my very own appropriate censoring-- mommy didn't even have to crop this one!

Body Art

Saturday morning activity: Body Art...immediately followed by shower.

ohhh...sounds interesting!

So...Mommy has this book that tells her all about activities I might like dependant on age. We were reading it the other day and there was "Body Art" smack in the middle of the 12-18 month-old section. It looked so fun and exciting on paper that we just had to try it. Somehow, believe it or not, this is not what she had envisioned.


I guess mommy thought "body art" was art you made with your body on paper (like hand-prints, etc.) and well, I had to demonstrate for her that no- "body art" is made by simply painting your body (and mommy's body, and quite frankly, anything you can get your hands on once they are covered in paint).

When will she learn that I am always right?

half the battle

Now that we're back from our visit north and things are settling down a bit (not to mention my 15 month milestone), mommy decided it was time to crack down on learning some of the things I should already be doing. So...we have kicked the bottle and are officially going on 6 days with no bottles, of course, this also pretty much means 6 days with no milk. We asked Dr. Bellah and he said it was OK as long an I was getting enough fluids (which is negotiable) and that I will probably adjust here in a few weeks. Apparently it is totally normal for babies to associate milk with the bottle and water with the cup and when you go mixing all this up, it just makes a mess of things! In the meantime I am eating lots of yogurt and -when necessary- ice cream. Uh yeah, mom...good plan, this is definitely going to make me want to go back to the milk...

Mommy has also been encouraging me to feed myself (and to think, after all that mopping!). I have definitely got the part where the spoon goes into the mouth...it's the getting the food on the spoon that's troubling. Oh well, we have time.

At 15 months I am a beautiful, happy, healthy, very inquisitive and busy little girl! I have maybe started to say a few words- ma-ma is a definite now, da-da too, na-na (banana), bye-bye and pup-pup (puppy)- the last two are still up for debate but mommy thinks she hears them.

Our days are filled with play time and lots of laughing (I have just started to stomp my feet when I laugh- it is hilarious) a single 2 hour nap and several sessions of eating. I wake up about 7am and go to bed about 7pm. My favorite thing to do these days is "shop"- I will find any sort of bag (fitting over the shoulder like a purse is a pre-requisite) and go around choosing items to put in it and carry. I go for my official 15 month check-up right after Labor Day, so we'll keep you all posted on my growth stats too!

mommy see, mommy do

I, of course, believe that I should be able to do all the things that grown-ups do, and when it comes to cleaning- mommy has absolutely no objections (although she swears she does not make that face when she mops the floor ;-).

I am a good helper too and love to be of service when needed. I also...wait- what?

What do you mean I'm not getting paid?!?

SUNDAY, AROUND NOON- not to be confused with TUESDAY

Congratulations Aunt Quinn!

Zara, Tia, Daddy, Mommy and I all joined forces to shower Aunt Quinn (soon to be Mama Quinn) and Ms. Kennedy with our love and affection...oh yeah, and a few gifts!

We themed our party on one of Aunt Quinny's favorite children's books- Tuesday by David Wiesner. It is a fabulously imaginative story where one Tuesday frogs acquire the ability to fly. It is wonderfully illustrated and reminds you that-no matter what- anything is possible! Like...

Daddy decorating cakes...

beautiful Bucca and Mia-hand-made rocking horses...

(a boy at a baby shower- you're a good sport Uncle Dave!!! ;-)

and a special gathering of family and friends from near and far to celebrate Quinn and the upcoming arrival of Kennedy Louise Turocy!

Hokie Dokie

And just like that, little Aunt Haley goes to college! We gave her one last Dover hurrah- Miller style- of course. She will head to VT on Thursday!

Fun was had by all- including me- you can see just how hilarious I found the trampoline. I jumped and jumped with my cousins Digby (3) and Kylah (1). Digby would jump and Kylah and I would sort of flop around like fish and bump into each other...laughing all the way. Mommy really likes the pic all the way to the left- she says that even though it is out of focus, it is an excellent rendition of the moment ;-)