Yep, we finally moved into our new home. *big grin*

We love our everything about our new house--well. almost. everything. 

This is what I found in the atrium last week...

Who thinks this stuff up?  Hilarious :)

"Are women born this way..."  Gotta love this video!

I'm not back--well not completely...  I miss blogging and all my bloggin' buddies, but it has been nice to have the extra hour or three that I used to spend on the computer every day to do things with Kate and all the family that has been visiting.  One. more. visitor. to. go.  Scott's (real) dad is in town (more on that later)--we just had Grandma and Papa for a month--his sister for a week and one of my best buds for a 6 days (are ya kiddin' me?)  Any advice on how to make the desert look less attractive during the winter months--send it my way!   Happy spring...

Well, I've decided to go cold turkey--quit bloggin' for the time being...  I'm not sure for how long, but I need to focus on my daughter and the things going on in my life. I will, however, still be by to visit all my favorite blogs, and if and when I decide to pick the blog back up, I'll be sure to let you all know. 

Thank you so much for all the comments and bloggy love along the way!  I'll be seeing you around the blogosphere!

Have you been to the site A Picture's Worth 1,000 Words?  Pretty cool... You can peruse other people's pictures and read their captions, or you can post your own.   I don't know about you, but I do get caught up in stories that come from the heart...

Here are a few examples...

Author: Frank DiGiorgio (Harrisburg, PA, USA)

There comes a time in one's life when we look at something or someone for the first time and are amazed. That day happened for me on September 8, 1982 when my daughter [the first of three] was born. It was the typical 24+ hour delivery for us first-timers and she had to be taken with forceps. After a few minutes, out she came at 9 pounds 3 ounces - 21 inches long. I watched in amazement as she was being born. It was so beautiful I cried. The nurses took her over to the table and cleaned her up and presented her back to us. My wife and I lay there with Nichole placed gently on my wife's chest and we stared at her for what seemed like eternity. Three days later we left the hospital and headed home.

This photo was taken on the day we arrived home. I held Nichole gently, her head barely fitting in my hand and lifted her up. I gazed at her. For the first time in my life, I had a sense of purpose, of meaning. I was a father. A huge responsibility for a 23 year old but I welcomed it with open arms and an open heart.

There is a very special bond between fathers and their daughter(s). I look at this photo, now 21 years later, and it still takes my breath away...

Author: mcb (Melbourne, Australia)
Photo location: Cambodia

Lots of people have photos like this one in their collections of travel photos. If I hadn't been there, standing behind M. as he took it, maybe I wouldn't like it as much as I do. I'd probably think it was another boring travel photo. But because I was there I remember the heat and the smells and how excited these kids were to have their photo taken.

Kids are easy to photograph. They still find you, the tourist, interesting, while their parents are tired of you and tired of posing for photos they'll never see. Our friend told us that these kids, in the tiny Cambodian village we were staying in, have never seen a photo of themselves. It's odd to consider that, when you think about how often we in the West are photographed.

Are you a celebrity lookalike? check out Celebrity Matchup.   Just for fun, I did...  At first I was skeptical, but when I saw Eva Longoria was selected as one of my lookalikes, well...Bwahahahahaha  LOL...

>

February 13: Love Letter
February 20:
Feeding Time
February 27: Bonding Time
Join us!

Mommy Moments theme this week is love letters. I thought that I would post Scott’s first love letter to Kate because I love it so much…  Warning—it is pretty long, but comes straight from Daddy’s heart! 

February 2006

To my little sweetheart,

So Katie, it’s the night before your first birthday, and I can’t help but reflect on what a wonderful year it has been with you in my life. 

It all started 364 nights ago when you decided it was time to bless us with your presence.  Of course, you know you made your mom miss an episode of Survivor.  That was the first time that had happened in seven years!  But what a great night it was.  My first glimpse of your face will be forever etched into my mind.  Your eyes were wide as saucers, your lips were pursed tight, and as soon as the cold air hit your little bottom, you let out your first cry.  I’m so thankful you did cry…after all, I needed some company.  The nurses inked your little foot and gave your dad his first tattoo!  The doctor said you were a healthy baby, and sent us home the very next morning.

The weeks and months to follow were an absolute blur.  Your mom and I were afraid to let you sleep unless you were in our arms.  Actually, we just didn’t want to put you down.  You were so darn cute!  You loved being carried around in the Baby Bjorn.  Especially when we vacuumed.  Easter was the first holiday that we dressed you up in an outfit.  You were still so small then, but yet so BIG. 

We had to keep taking you in for your check-ups.  Every time that Russian nurse stuck you with a shot, she might as well have put a knife in my heart.  Poor little thing…you were pretty tough though, and only cried for a minute, or four.  Your check-ups also revealed that you were a big girl!  You were always in the 85-95 percentile in height and weight, and 97 percentile in head size (your mom thinks that is because of my genes…go figure.)  

“Katie Airlines preparing for take-off.”  This was our favorite saying when you were about three months old.  You absolutely loved for me to hoist you up over my head and fly you around the house.  You would smile so big and bright, and even giggle a little bit, too.

Summer came up hot and fast, and oh how you liked a cold pool.  Your mom and I took you to Seven Bays and put you in the pool to see how you would like it.  After just one visit I had to buy a patio pool for you to swim around in.  Of course, I bought one big enough for an eight year old, but that’s beside the point.  Your daddy loves you!

Summer went by fast.  Your dad didn’t get to use his new golf clubs very much.  For some reason there were so many better things to do.  Hmmmm….I wonder what (who) that could be?  You were a busy little body.  You learned to crawl, open cabinets, use your walker, take a bath in the kitchen sink, pry things open with your new teeth, give kisses, cough on cue..oh the list goes on and on.  It was so much fun to watch you grow and learn how to do new things!  It seemed like your mom wanted to show me something new that you did every day when I got home from work.  You’re so smart!

As September closed in, your mom had to go back to work teaching all of those icky 7th graders.  Fortunately, your grandma decided to retire a year early to take care of you while your mom and dad worked.  What a lifesaver!  It was very hard for your mom to leave her beautiful little girl for eight whole hours a day!  Now she knew how I felt all summer long.  Grandma quickly became your favorite person…she must have given you some tortillas and chorizo when I wasn’t looking!  You know, she’s won a lot of people over with her cooking!

For Halloween, we dressed you up as a rooster.  You looked so cute.  You were too small, and it was too cold outside to take you out trick or treating, but we had fun at home anyway.  The Yankees lost in round two of the playoffs to the Angels…  The White Sox went on to win the World Series.

With the holidays around the corner, we received the horrible news that your mommy had cancer again, and that she was going to have to undergo at least one surgery.  That she did…times four.  FOUR surgeries in 30 days, and your mommy was as tough as nails!  Nobody or nothing was going to stop your mom from making your first Christmas a special one.  She bought you toys, books, clothes and everything that would fit on to your dad’s Visa. All that and your favorite gift was the Christmas wrap and tissue paper that they came wrapped in!  To say the least, it was a very special holiday for our family.

January came around and I’ll be darned if you didn’t start the New Year off walking!  It was so cool to watch you try to stay on your feet.  You went from the couch to the ottoman, to the couch, to your final destination…usually Mom or Dad.   You spent a lot of time with Grandma this month because your mommy had to start her chemotherapy, and it made her very sick and tired.  Your dad also started working for a new company, and work required a lot of his time, too.  Thank God for Grandma!

So here we are in February.  Your first birthday!   I’m so excited for you, Baby.  You are such a beautiful, smart, well-mannered one year old.  You have at least eight teeth and a beautiful smile, and infectious laugh, a confident walk, a head full of golden-brown hair (that’s hard to comb).  You have a thing for cars and busses, macaroni and cheese, eggs, blueberry buckle, and fuzzy water.  You love going outside, or standing in the windows looking outside.  You crawl up the stairs.  You turn around to go down them the right way.  You love to pull Pink’s ears.  You love to get Rambo mad by following her all over the house.  You hate going to bed for the night, but you love to nap during the day.  You LOVE music, and especially like to play the Dixie Chicks.  You love to dance around the living room with Mom and Dad, or by yourself.  You love to turn the CD player on and off, and crawl toward the glass banister (gives your mom a coronary every time!)  You love peeking under the couches for toys. Sighhhh. There are so many things that you do that make your daddy smile, but I’ve left out the one thing that makes me smile the most.  You are a great kisser!  I’ve never had any better than yours…ok, maybe your mommy and you are tied for 1st!

Oh Katie, you wonderful and sweet little girl.  Your daddy loves so many things about you that he can’t help but cry when he thinks about how blessed he is to have you in his life.  I promise to make this year even better than the first.  Happy Birthday, Angel.  I love you!  

Dad

To all my friends, relatives and/or other who have sent me best 'wishes,' chain letters, 'angel' letters, or other promises of good luck or serendipity...


NONE OF THAT SHIT WORKED...



Could you please just send cash, Vodka, chocolate, Mexican food, wine, or airline tickets instead?  Thank you!

(courtesy of my email inbox...)

How fast the week goes!  It's Thursday Thirteen, and I've decided to interview my angel...  She loved giving me her answers, and interviewed me when I was done asking her questions... Too Cute!

1.       What’s your favorite TV show?  The Cardinals

2.       What’s two plus two?  Three  (Correction)  No, it’s four… Two plus two is four.

3.       Favorite knock knock joke…  “Knock Knock.”  “Who’s there?”  “Boo.” “Boo who?”  “It’s just a joke;  you don’t have to cry about it…”

4.       What do you want for your birthday?  A doll with a pink dress and pink earrings.

5.       If you could have one wish, what would you wish for?  A big kiss from Mommy…

6.       Favorite color?   Bamember (remember)?  Pink!

7.       How do you make cookies? Fistaball (first of all), I help Mommy pour the things you need in the cookies.  That’s it I guess.

8.       Why do we exercise?  It helps your bones and when you run; it’s kind of good for your muscles.  And you can get taller.

9.       What’s your favorite food that’s good for you? Pancakes, no eggs—yum… Favorite that's not good for you?  BUTTER!  JUST BUTTER...

10.   What’s your favorite holiday?  Santa Claus

11.   Something Daddy did that he wasn’t supposed to?  You tell me…

12.   Who’s a better driver?  Mommy or Daddy?  Mommy…

13.   What’s your favorite book? "Pretty Little Lily," but Max and Ruby’s my best show… Can I eat now?


Fascinating stuff, I know--but Mommy just can't resist her little babes!  Thanks for the interview Miss Kate--and now you can eat...  


Oh yah, one more thing Daddy...

KISS my butt--'cause I'm the best driver!