Thursday, February 28, 2008

Wednesday in Florida and Thursday we're home

Here are some pictures from the last couple days. Last night was kind of an early night as we had to get up at 3am to catch our flight. Sorry for the belated post but enjoy the pics!!

Iyla and Daddy next to the ONLY Manatee we saw at Manatee Park. Not really a Manatee park if you ask me...


Iyla with Great Uncle Richard and Great Aunt Gisela

Daddy and Iyla at Pinchers Restaurant

Iyla wakes up courtesy of Starbucks--- early mornings are difficult for babies too!!




We had a great time in Florida and loved that our readers got to join us through our pictures, etc. We are happy to be home and look very forward to our next vacation.

We also wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU to our Uncle Richard and Aunt Gisela for all of their amazing hospitality. The awesome restaurants, swimming, beach club passes, afternoon tea, etc-- you guys are TOO much. If you are ever in our neighborhood, we would love to show you a great time!! :)
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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Beaches, Nature Parks, and The Shell Factory- OH MY!


In a nutshell, this is what we did... We went to the beach this morning, visited a nature park with a petting zoo, and of course the tourist trap (like a moth to a flame-- we are drawn to kitsch)-- The Shell Factory in North Fort Myers.
Here are some of the pictoral highlights... So hard to choose-- we took around 70 pictures today!


Iyla just outside the Moorings Beach Club


Iyla in the sand!


Iyla and Mommy at The Shell Factory


ICE CREAM!!! Iyla's first ice cream cone


Iyla and Daddy explore Dinosaur world-- part of the 'Nature Park'. This place was SO gloriously CHEESY!!

Iyla as she 'monitors' the MONITOR!
Well, off to bed-- to be ready for another fun day here in Florida. We are really enjoying the west coast of Florida, especially as we were NOT the ones without power today! The entire east coast of Florida from Daytona to Key West was in the DARK. I guess it was a good day for Floridian east coasters to head to the beach as well!
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Monday, February 25, 2008

Beach Baby, Beach Baby, There on the sand...




Well, you get the gist.... Today we started out at the BEACH!!! Aunt Gisela and Uncle Richard graciously lent us their coveted PRIVATE beach passes to a beautiful, quiet little beach. We were the third car in the lot and parked literally 10 steps from the sand!!


Iyla did a lot of playing in the sand, so those are pictures from today:




In addition to the beach, we explored Bonita Springs and Beach as well as Fort Myers. We also had dinner at a lovely place with our relatives and enjoyed shopping on 5th Street in Naples. Iyla is the proud 'mom' to a new kangaroo from Bonita Springs and a shark from Naples. Too cute.


Well, off to bed for me.. More tomorrow from the sunshine state!!!
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Sunday Part 2-- Sometimes the best laid plans....



Hey Readers-- last night was kind of a blur-- I was EXHAUSTED, the computer did NOT want to cooperate, etc. So, here are a few more pics from the day on Sunday.
Enjoy!!

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Sunday, February 24, 2008

We're here and having fun!!

Well, we got in LATE last night and today we had a VERY busy day!!
Here are some photos from the day:




As you can see, we went to beach and the pool. Actually, two pools-- one of which belongs to Aunt Gisela and Uncle Richard. We had GORGEOUS weather and a wonderful time. We look forward to more adventures tomorrow. But, alas we are EXHAUSTED and need sleep-- plus the hotel's internet connection leaves LOTS to be desired. More tomorrow. Good night.
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Friday, February 22, 2008

Odds and Ends/ Leaving on a jet plane...

Well, tomorrow we get ready to embark on our next adventure, our first FAMILY VACATION!!! We leave tomorrow evening for Florida and are VERY excited!! Lots to do between now and then... Hmm.. Let's see... Animals need to go to the kennel, last minute errands (Fed ex, bank, etc) need to be done, oh yeah-- and PACKING! We will need to do some packing. The packing lists are made (no surprise there, right?) but the actual placing of clothes in suitcases has not been done. No worries-- we will just have to tackle the packing tonight.
(Pebbles LOVES to pack!!)

Look to the blog next week-- it is my ambition to post at least every couple days-- hopefully everyday but, we will see. Look forward to lots of pics!! :)



What else?! This week has FLOWN by and we have almost forgotten to post these pics of Iyla with her new toy puppy sent by Dad and Honey. Thanks again!!





Also, wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS (again) to a very special blog reader-- you know who you are!! :)




So, signing off for now-- from the frozen tundra of Ohio off to the greener, sunnier pastures of FLORIDA!!



Stay tuned.....
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Thursday, February 21, 2008

Swimming Lesson #1

Well, much to my delight-- our first swimming lesson at the YMCA was very successful. Iyla LOVED the water from the minute we got inside the pool. I was kind of nervous about that as she had not swam in a pool larger than our bathtub since Vietnam back in September.



(Somerset Grand Pool in Hanoi)

We ate dinner, got Iyla into her spiffy little swimsuit (pictures to follow in another post), and drove off to class. As soon as we arrived-- we went to the dressing rooms and next headed for the POOL!!!

The pool room was incredibly warm-- kept at something like 90 degrees (no kidding-- I think they said it was actually 91 degrees!). We met the instructor and were told to get into the pool. Here goes nothing.....

The water was nice and toasty and there were other kids and parents, much to Iyla's delight. As soon as we got in, she started splashing around and a big smile crept accross her face and stayed there the WHOLE time!!



She LOVED the songs (All around the Mulberry Bush, The Grand Ol' Duke of York, etc) and tried all of the suggested skills. Iyla can blow bubbles-- if I allow her to drink half the pool-- we will have to work on that! She feels comfortable doing a front float (head out of water) and a back float if she is held closely. She even liked to sit on the edge of the pool and 'jump' (be picked up) into the water.

Her favorite part of class was playing with the plastic balls in the water. The child would do ANYTHING to get one of those little floating orbs. She swam like crazy to get to them and asked for one even after it was time to put them away!!
Too cute.





Well, as far as pictures-- (sorry to disappoint dear readers and fans)but I do not have any pics of Iyla in the pool as I was in the pool with her and we were unsure of the guest policy (AKA Daddy taking pics of his girls swimming). So, next time-- I promise to have M come and take the coveted pictures and will post them here. I will also post lots of pics of Iyla in her suit from our Florida trip in TWO DAYS!



In the meantime, here are a couple pictures from AFTER swimming. Miss Iyla sure was a hungry little fish after she got out of the pool!! Enjoy!





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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Getting Closer to Walking.....


Iyla is inching ever-closer to that all-important developmental milestone- WALKING!! She has the crawling thing down pat. She has the 'furniture walking' or cruising down to a science. But as far as the real deal, the 'look Mom no hands' standing up and ambulating forward (backward, sideways, whatever-- we are not picky!)-- we are just not there yet.
According to the pediatrician, Dr C., Iyla is perfectly on-track and that normal babies walk between 7 (SCARY) months and 18 months. He also said that she is showing all the signs of getting ready to walk, etc. So, I should have NO worries. See, I should have NO worries-- but this is me-- I have worries. Will she ever walk alone? Will I need to send her to first grade with a grocery cart or chair she can push for her to remain standing? YIKES!

To combat some of these fears, we have encouraged Iyla to use her walker toys and she is very good at them. She is quite the speed racer. We even try to get her to stand up by holding on to our hands and walk with us. Sometimes she complies-- other times she becomes this boneless creature, similar to a jellyfish who REFUSES to stand or go one inch further.
The other day-- Iyla got bit by the 'Walking Bug' and took steps alone and stood up all day. We saw that she CAN walk-- when she wants to. So for the moment our worries have been assuaged... For the moment... let's just hope she gets to walking soon!!!


Here are some pictures of her various walking abilities:


Furniture Walking Pro


Standing with minimal balance assistance and reading at the same time-- extra credit!


Standing balanced on one foot, reaching up and grabbing at the same time--FANCY!



Climbing and stepping OVER her toys-- notice the knee up!

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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Long Weekend Whirlwind

Here is a re-cap of our weekend....



Friday night we went for a fun dinner just the three of us to Perkins. Iyla did fairly well but was not a huge fan of the pancakes we ordered her. She was WAY more interested in everyone else in the restaurant and watching what they were up to instead.




Saturday morning we stayed around the house and Iyla did some SERIOUS playing with her toys. We grabbed a quick bite of lunch and did a little shopping.






Later that day, we were joined by Grandma Lori and Grandpa Marty for a fun trip to the playground. We were amazed at all she could do-- the climbing and toddling around the various playground equipment. Here were some pictures of Iyla exploring the playground:



She is still NOT sure of the slide-- doesn't hate it but-- doesn't really love it either!










Saturday evening we went for dinner at a local, family-owned restaurant and we had a GREAT time!! Iyla loves playing with her grandparents at the table and they spoiled her with all the attention and new foods they offered her to try.

Thanks again Mom and Marty!! :)


Sunday it was off to the Children's Museum for another round of 'Exhaust the baby so maybe she will nap'. Well, this time it WORKED!!! Iyla had the greatest time in the infant section and approached the place like an ol' pro. She tried several things that she overlooked during our last visit. A big hit was the grocery cart that she could wheel herself and the cash register that had a drawer that opened. She also got absolutely SOAKED at the water table-- next time we are bringing her a change of clothes!!




Later it was time for lunch and Mom and Marty departed for home afterwards. When we got home, Iyla napped for 2.5 hours-- the longest EVER and we even had to wake her for dinner and errands!!!



Monday we were off work for President's Day so, we spent the days at various appointments and ended the weekend on a productive note!!



We had a great weekend and can hardly believe that next weekend we will be in sunny FLORIDA!!! Palm trees and warm weather here we come!






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