Our Sad Farwell to Miles

We are a bunch of mopes in the Blandford house as we are saying goodbye to Miles (our first child) tomorrow.  As energetic, crazy, protective and unpredictable that he is, he has been a huge part of our family, he has made us so incredibly happy and we will miss him more than we can even describe.  Miles came to us from PAWS, a no-kill shelter in city and he is going to go back to PAWS where they can hopefully find him a perfect home in no time.  

Joe and I still remember when we saw him in the window at PAWS and fell in love with him immediately.  To us, he is the perfect dog - so loyal and loving.  Unfortunately, he has some aggression issues with strangers, kids and other dogs and we didn't feel we were the right family for him as Lucy is getting older and more mobile.  We are so sad to say goodbye to Miles tomorrow, but know that he will find the perfect home and will be loved as much in his new home as he was loved by us.  We feel so lucky to have been able to raise him over the past two years and can't imagine our home without Miles.  But, we are certain it is the best decision for our family.

We will miss you Miles!!!!! It won't be the same without you here!

First day in our home....a little pup

                                       

                                        

                                        

Teenage years.....

All grown up....

Memorial Day Weekend

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend!

We had a great weekend that included a first birthday party on Saturday, some working and a lot of playing, and and a BBQ on Sunday that left Joe on the couch with some Advil the next day (I saw this coming the moment he suggested I take Lucy home to bed and he would just stay out a bit later....).  It was great to see both groups - some of the friends at Johnny's first birthday party we hadn't seen since before I was pregnant!  So, it was great to catch up and Lucy got to see Aunt Jenny there :)

It was so beautiful out this morning so we headed out for coffee and took a walking tour of the homes and neighborhoods we are hoping to move to once we finally sell our home. At the rate our showings are going, we aren't counting on it being soon, but we really are looking forward to moving so wanted to check out all the homes for sale!  And, we never can go on a walk without finding a park for Lucy to play at. She just loves being outside and can't get enough of swings, slides and crawling around in the grass.....as I follow her around with wipes to keep her clean.

New things that Lucy is up to:
- Pulling herself up onto everything and anything she can - drawers, ottomans, the bath tub
- She learned how to open her bedroom door when it is just cracked shut. I used to be able to run out for a second to grab something, but now I do and hear the door opening behind me!
- Saying "ba ba"
- She is starting to mimic us
- When we ask for a kiss, she leans in with her mouth wide open but she is starting to get the picture
- Won't let us put a diaper on her or change her clothes unless she is on all fours crawling around.  So, I have started putting her diapers on backwards :)

I feel like Lucy is doing so many new things every week so I am going to try to list a few "new things" each week!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!!!

Happy Memorial Day! This is the most "still" photo I can get these days

Party host Aunt Amy!

Hanging out with our BBQ grill master, Uncle Joe (not Lucy's best pic)

Who doesn't love a rooftop game of bags (followed by 26 rounds of flip cup which I happily missed)

Having fun with Uncle Brian, although Lucy doesn't look to be enjoying it. The wind just wouldn't cooperate with her hair after losing her bow.

Hanging out with fun Aunt Katie!  Lucy loved her flower ring and gave me the great idea of a "toy" for babies. She couldn't stop spinning Kate's ring!

Out in the city

Checking out the grass with daddy

This one is for my dad, he laughs that her tongue is always hanging out! I think she is very focused.

Lucy and Lilly, a friend she met at the park

And like I said, she climbs on anything and anyone....

Fun with Daddy!!!

Lucy and daddy got to spend a lot of time together this weekend since I had baby showers on both Saturday and Sunday.  Maybe it is just that we are at the age of everyone starting families, but it seems like there is a baby boom this summer and just about everyone I know is pregnant.  So, Lucy will have lots of friends come July and August.  But, our little babbler (she says "da da" nonstop these days) and dad did just fine without me around - playing at the park, going for walks, drinking in a beer garden, and daddy's favorite - when Lucy goes down for a nap the entire house does!  Joe took the camera with them to the park yesterday - and I have never seen a baby having so much fun!!

We also had a fun night out with friends so Lucy got to spend some time playing with Grandma Chris.  Thanks Chris!!!!! and got to visit Great Grandma Fran in her new nursing home.  She looks amazing and we hope will be able to go home soon.  

Hope everyone had a great weekend!   

Lots of updates....but no pics

Life has been very busy, but nothing picture worthy so this is a picture-less post!  Most exciting, my grandma is out of the hospital (as we all knew would be the case) and she is moved into a nursing home!  She is making great progress and we can't wait to go visit her this weekend!  A close second is Lucy's first tooth is coming through.   We were worried she was going to need to get baby dentures, but can see and feel her first tooth. She is getting so big! I did get a bit teary-eyed because I will miss her big "all gums" smile.  Maybe it is just because I am her mom, but it is the most precious smile ever.   AND, we finally got our baby-friendly place listed on the market, so have our fingers crossed that we can sell it soon and move into a house where Lucy (and Miles) have some space!

Okay, so maybe we aren't all THAT busy but our families are so it makes us feel busy. My dad finished second (he was just 2 minutes off from taking the gold!) in his marathon this past weekend (GO DAD!), Bill, Chris, Grandma and Aunt Pat just got back from a wonderful trip to Disney World, my sister and mom were among 13,000 screaming women in bright shirts at the Oprah taping last night and Jill and Jake are celebrating their one year anniversary next week!! And, I can't keep track of Kate between classes, work and David.

Outside of trying to grow a tooth, Lucy is crawling everywhere, pulling herself up onto anything that she can reach, and is really starting to socialize with other babies which is so much fun to see.  She will crawl right up to other babies and try to touch their faces (and unfortunately sometimes will take their toy).  But, she also has this very focused, introverted side to her which makes me laugh. Today in our music class all the babies were crawling around and Lucy was by herself banging on a drum.  She takes after her mom - she likes to be social but when it becomes a little too much, she needs her alone time :)

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Praying for Our Grandma Fran

We are all praying for our Grandma Fran - she has been in intensive care with a virus/infection since Sunday night.  She seems to be doing better with each day but needs all our prayers and thoughts.  At 97 years old she is truly a fighter!!!  We all love you Grandma so so much and know you have the strength to get through this! You are truly amazing!

We love you!

Hanging at the Park

Finally! It is walking weather outside, so we have become regulars at the park down the street where Lucy has become very brave in the baby swing.  I keep trying to sit her in the swing like a little lady, but she just hangs forward with her arms out, mouth on the front of the swing. Oh well, so much for trying to sanitize.

Hanging with her boyfriend Tommy

Weeee!!!! 

Swinging in the Big Girl swing with mommy - I forgot how much fun swings are :)

Happy Birthday Aunt Jill!!

Happy Birthday Aunt Jill!!! You are such a fun, loving aunt and I am so lucky to have you as my aunt!! I loved getting to spend so much time with you in Arizona and Florida this winter.  Hope you have a great birthday! I love you!

Happy 8 Months Lucy Lu!!!

HAPPY 8 Months Lucy!!!! A few days late, but we still celebrated her 8-month bday on the 4th! You are getting more beautiful every day and we love you to pieces!!!

Just a random pic from this morning that I thought was so cute.  Lucy loves baths more than anything - she loves the water, loves her toys, loves to splash and loves to try crawling in the water but it is always too slippery.  Anyways, it is one of my favorite times of the day as well! We usually take a bath right after breakfast and it is a great way to get ready for our morning nap. This morning I was filling the bath tub (she is a big girl now, in the big tub) and when I was getting her towel and everything ready I found her like this, watching her toys.  I thought it was so cute!

A Weekend of Enjoying the City

We had a great, relaxing weekend in the city!  By looking at our summer calendar that is already full of showers, weddings and a few trips, we figured we should take advantage of this one!  Joe's best friend Matt visited on Friday and spent the night - although there wasn't much sleeping since he was coming in when Lucy was getting up.  Lucy got a lot of time playing with her 3rd favorite Uncle (behind her two real Uncles who are the best) and judging by her long Saturday nap, I am guessing the playing took a lot out of her!

We took dinner over to our friends' house on Saturday evening so Joe spent the day cooking and his two lovely ladies went out to enjoy the day with the stroller.  Our linner (started at 4:30 so maybe it was still lunch?) was great and it we always love visiting with Aaron/Erin (yep, they have the same name so we are hoping they will name their boy Laren to rhyme) so we are offering to bring dinner over to anyone's house who will invite us over!

On Sunday it was daddy/Lucy day while I headed downtown for a day of shopping for some upcoming weddings and parties we have.  Their day sounded so much more exciting than mine - lunch at Joe's favorite sandwich shop, taking Miles for walks, lots of playing and some napping in there too.  But, someone has to dress this family for all these summer parties, and I can't imagine Joe on Michigan Avenue anytime soon.  Plus, the last two times Joe dressed Lucy her pants or shirt were on backwards.  

But, we did fit one project in this weekend.  After catching Lucy standing in her crib looking over the edge, we dropped her mattress to the bottom. Now, she is officially a big girl in my eyes!

Uncle Matt is so fun!

Where did you come from mom?  I was just checking out my sleep sheep down there. 

Mom thinks this is the first time I pulled myself up....

Lucy helping daddy drop her mattress