Summertime Wrap-up: August in Review

August has come and gone, and I feel like it started slow and ended fast.  Maggie has had quite a lot happen this last month: she is rolling from back to tummy (which she was struggling with last month), tooth #1 appeared the first week of August, she went on her first family vacation - a trip to the Outer Banks with my family, she made her first cell phone call, she had tooth #2 appear the last week of the month, and she experienced a hospital room for the first cognizant time when we visited Annie's grandfather(more on that later in this post.)

And now....daycare photos!

"I'm on the phone with my Daddy...he's so dreamy!" :)

Maggie mid-roll...do it Mag-pie!!

New classroom photo.

"The world looks so different when I turn my head like this."

The little bit of drool on the corner of the mouth makes this shot!

August also didn't work out well as far as photos over the span of the month, but the few we have are before & after the beach photos...

"Uncle" Joe loves holding Mag-pie now!

Maggie's learning the importance of fiber in her diet while visiting with Great Daddy Pete.

Maggie loves petting Sunny - that is, when Sunny decides that she wants to be pet by Maggie.

The Outer Banks, 2010

I think that it will be no surprise to anyone that, given that this blog is about Maggie, the photos here will largely be of her, along with any familiy member that was with us on the adventure of discovering the beach, salt water, sand, & the pool. 

My brother, Chris, and his wife, Jen, drove (yes, I said drove) down from Halifax, Nova Scotia to spend the week with the family.  My sister, Jill, came in from NYC and rode down with my parents.  So, for the first time in about 7 years, the entire family was at the beach for the whole week!  It was a really fun time filled with relaxation, beer, and games.

Sunday and Maggie is already playing with a beach ball.  This seems like it will be a great week.

Aunt Jilly & Maggie:  Smiles abound.

Bathtime #1 at the beach.  Grandmommy & Grandpa remembered to bring the duck tub. :)

Monday

Uncle Chris & Aunt Jen on beach day #1.

This face was made all week long.  Maggie was constantly rubbing her tongue against her new tooth! The second one was working its way through too.

We brought this great little pool with shade so that Maggie could play in ocean water.  Unfortunately, the lower portion of the pool didn't hold air, but it still did the job.

"I love the feeling of running water - oh I think I just wet myself!"

Maggie's first experience with sand.

The look on her face seems to say, "I'm going to cause some trouble with this sand stuff!"

I think Maggie really liked the environmentally friendly noise machine that is the ocean.

Tuesday

Day two was a little hot for the Mag-pie.  So, since we were both in swim-suits, we practiced drinking from a cup. (we got a bit wet)

Jilly caught me in a contemplative stare out on the ocean.  Hey buddy!  Stop wrinkling that forehead and relax; you're on vacation!

The nuclear family...I think we are a good lookin' bunch!

Oh yeah - I have to note that Tuesday marked the day that Maggie made her first cell phone call.  She was playing with Grandpa's phone, and she managed to navigate to the contacts menu, where she dialed none other than Grandmommy!  It was pretty funny to see my mom pick up her phone and say, "Jim, why are you calling me?"

Aunt Jilly & Maggie chilling on the deck afer our fun tradition of shrimp night! :)

Uncle Chris with Mag-pie.

Maggie's getting pretty good at the stiff arm!

Auny Jen loved spending time with Maggie.

Wednesday

Maggie worked really hard on that hair-do all night!

Pretty Mommy with Maggie...ready for the pool!

The look on Maggie's face doesn't do her experience justice; she really loved the pool.

The family at the pool.  Jill took the photo; Dad was still lounging on the beach.

Thursday was a bit overcast.  So, it became our outing day.  We met my Dad's cousins Sally & Jane, along with their sons, for breakfast.  Everyone loved Maggie, and then we headed off to the shops & outlets today.  Annie was the big winner, scoring a sweet deal on a new purse, and I got a boogie board...

This is the only photo we have from Thursday.  We should have documented Maggie's first trip to the outlets!

Friday

Breakfast with Uncle Chris!

Another rockin' hair style, courtesy of sleep.

Maggie absolutely loved the ocean!

Mag-pie has apparently been practicing her "diva" move at daycare...

This beach place is awesome!  The water is really salty though.

"I love this water stuff - I just peed again..."

Grandpa loves his little granddaughter.

Saturday

Grandmommy put Maggie down for a nap while Mommy & Daddy snoozed.

I think between the feeling of the sand on her feet and the water rushing up to her, Maggie's favorite beach day was Saturday.

Every time we stood her in the water, she kicked her little feet as fast as she could!

Saturday marked the end of our vacation.  We headed home that night because Annie's grandfather was in the hospital.  He's doing great now.  He's out and feeling fine, but Maggie got some good practice as a therapy baby when she visited Great Daddy Pete nearly every day after we got back.

Fast forward to a week after we got back.  I had to get some end of the month photos of the Mag-pie.  :)

Fun on the play mat.  Mommy was supposed to be sleeping, but she came down a few minutes later.

Tooth numero dos, showing its cute profile!

I think Uncle Chris needs to give Maggie some xylophone lessons.

Tummy time!

Maggie is sporting a do-rag and trying to dial Grandmommy...it's not as easy as Grandpa's phone at the beach. 

Well, that basically wraps up this month.  Tune in next time - hopefully by mid month - for another installment!

Cheers!
Peter

Baptism!

This past sunday, we had Maggie baptized at Annie's church, which is the church where we were married.  It was a great experience to be a part of.  It wasn't even close to the experience of welcoming Maggie into the world, but it was a great way to welcome her to the Christian faith.  Now, I'm sure you all know that I don't talk religion & faith on a daily basis, but I was deeply grounded by the faith that my parents, extended family, and church instilled in me as I grew up. I can only wish that Maggie has the same experience & faith on which I was raised. 

Maggie is quite possibly one of the best behaved babies.  Our only worry was that Maggie would burst out with razzberries during the service.  While she kept her razzberries at bay, she did let out a few loud baby sounds during the sermon!  During the baptism, she was completely quiet, although she definitely kept her visual curiosity in tact.  She probably looked at everyone & everything in the church as she was walked around.  It was a very joyous occasion, and we were happy to have a lot of family there to share in the moment.

Annie's church asks that we designate godparents, so Annie & I asked her cousins, Joe & Mary, and my sister, Jill.

The baptismal gown is an heirloom: Annie's Mom & Aunt wore this, as well as several cousins, including Mary & Joe.

The pretty (and delicious) cake.  I just ate another piece tonight. :)

Who's ready to celebrate?

Great Daddy Pete & Grandmommy visiting.

There's nothing like the ceremonial baptismal peas to complement the baptismal water.

Even though Joe is the Godfather, Maggie made Joe the offer he couldn't refuse: holding her for the first time!

The baby of the hour in her special gift chair.

"Mmmm, this bastism card tastes heavenly!"

Despite the gift of a snowglobe, her tongue did not freeze to the outside.

Maggie was very worn out from the day, and, actually it looks as though Granddad was too!  A few others were tired.  Order of sleeping: my dad, Maggie, Annie's dad, then Annie :)

Now, I can't promise that I'll have another post before the end of the month, but with vacation coming up, I might have some time to post another entry.  That all depends on the availability of the internet at the beach.

Cheers,

Peter

Holy Geez....another month has flown by!

I don't know how it happened, but another month is almost over, and I didn't post anything since last month!  I will have to put it on my list of things to do every other week so I don't end up with a giant post all the time!  But enough about my slackerdom.  This is about Maggie and our fun adventures in parenting.  So without any further to do...

Daycare photos! :)

Recovering from a fit of laughter.  It's as if she's saying, "Oh that was funny!"

Mag-pie posing for the "Gosh, I'm cute!" photo.

This is Maggie's latest look: the turn, pose, & smile.

This month, Maggie brought the razzberries back.  She has started charging through the house in her walker, now with wheels, since she has a bit more length on her.  And we have a confirmed ambi-roller!  Maggie hardly waits a minute before she desides to roll one direction or the other during tummy time.  Now, we're just working on rolling from back to tummy.  We also stopped swaddling Maggie since she's a rolling machine, which, in turn, means more times up at night to reinsert the pacifier or calm a baby who has woken herself up from peaceful slumber by rubbing her face with her hands.  And finally, Maggie has discovered that glasses can be pulled off! 

Time for more photos...

Post-breakfast siesta.

Maggie is showing her patriotism in her "baby's first fourth" outfit!  Happy Birthday America!

The next weekend, my friend, Matt, came for a visit.  Matt took more photos of his visit than we did!

Maggie has figured out that the walker is a great way to chase Sunny around the kitchen & family room!

Hey, where'd the dog go?

Mid-charge!

Sunday morning fun with Daddy.  Mommy was sleeping. :)

Maggie loves her Daddy's soccer ball.

This walking thing is amazing!!

Bathtime with Daddy!

Well, that just about wraps up the photos for the month.  I will have a special edition post tomorrow night for anyone who just can't get enough of the Mag-pie.

Cheers,

Peter