Backyard Barbecues and Hangin' by the Pool

At the pool!

Grace and Lucy in their matching tricked out floaties.

The sippy cup.  Sometimes a means of getting fluid in this child; sometimes a chew toy.

This represents what could be a single photo out of a flip book: on her tummy, on her side, on her back, on her side, on her tummy - she rolls and rolls and rolls.  

 

Right  Because you girls worked really hard on that walk.

It's just really too bad she's never happy...

I needed to do some baking before we headed to a party at a friends' house and Paul wasn't at the farm for the afternoon so I thought I would take Lucy over to my parents house and I could cook while they played.  I had just put the carrot cake cupcakes in the oven and was getting ready to start on the deeeelicious cream cheese frosting when I thought, "gee, it sure is quiet in there."

And this is the scene I came upon.

Some of Lucy's best buddies -  black & white dress and always on the run: Miss Izzy, Grace has the cute yellow bow and Sam is the youngest perched up with a little help from his Mom.

Lucy and Grace

Lucy and Uncle Sam by the pool.  Again.

There's a story behind this one.  Lucy thinks it is HILARIOUS that you can throw a ball, tell Buckley to go get it, and she will bring it back as fast as she can.  The concept is too funny for her to not laugh at.  I mean, it is strange that we have these little animals that run around our houses and we throw toys across the lawn only for them to bring right back to us.  I used to think the purpose was to get Buckley some exercise and tire her out, but now that it also entertains our third wheel it's effective on a whole new level.

Seeing Purple

And for the first time EVER, it looked good.

Last Friday we participated in the Relay for Life.  We were there first and foremost to honor the survivor in our family, immediately followed by the survivors in other peoples' families, friends we know who are survivors and the memory of those who were unable to be there.  It was a sea of bright colored shirts representing team captains, team members, event staff and then the purple shirts indicated the SURVIVORS. 

When Paul put that shirt on, I almost lost it.  He became just one story in a sea of purple; he had joined an exclusive club: Survivors Only.  It took me back to (almost) a year ago when it felt as if the life we were creating was coming unglued.  I was five months pregnant and my husband was diagnosed with CANCER.  I don't wish that on anyone.

But the more I looked around, the more I realized we had joined the lucky ones when Paul became a member of that exclusive club; not everyone gets in.  The battle never ends, but he's here today and we're SO fortunate for that.  I felt proud as his wife, I felt proud as we carried our child around that track (yes, we went all the way back to my parents house to get the stroller I forgot, only for Lucy to decide that half-way through LAP ONE she wasn't having it...), I felt proud to be walking with my mother-in-law who helps sick people everyday; I was proud of our family and our story.  One of millions.    

It was overwhelming to see people we have encountered in life without knowing their whole story.  My third grade teacher was there - as a survivor, my grade school friend's dad was there - as a survivor, a friend's sister-in-law was there - as a survivor.  There were people I knew who were walking for someone they had lost and although it could have been terribly depressing, the overpowering feeling that night on the track was HOPE.  Hope for a cure, hope for continued health, hope for a world where Lucy might not have to ever know someone who lost their battle.  Here's to a world full of purple shirts. 

Seven Months.

Lucy,

You're getting so big!  At your last doctor's appointment you weighed in at 18 pounds 4 ounces and were almost 28" long - and I would bet good money you've crept close to 20 pounds since then...eating is one of your many fortes!  You love sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, turkey, peas, apples, pears, bananas and you've started drinking water. 

You thoroughly enjoy sitting on the floor playing with your toys, particularly ones that make music, the rainbow-colored stackable rings that have been around for generations, and books are starting to keep your attention a little bit longer.  Making you laugh is getting easier and easier; you enjoy bouncing on our knees, dancing with us, being tickled, being sung to and playing peek-a-boo.  You roll over in every direction and when you are on your tummy you are certainly threatening to start scooting around; you spin in a quick 360 but aren't making much progress forward or backward.  We are going to have to start mopping and sweeping more than twice a year. 

You talk a LOT.  Often times we pick you up from school and they say, "Lucy was so happy today; and she talked A LOT."  And then they laugh.  Kind of.  You are one loud cookie, but I'm convinced you just have lots to say.  Keep it up.  The word "Mama" is definitely coming out of your mouth - I'm not the only one that thinks this! - though I'm not sure you've actually associated it with me.  I know it's coming.  I know it.

We play the classic "sooooo big" game and when we ask you, "How big is Lucy????" you are starting to put your hands up in the air on your own.  It makes my heart melt and others watching this new trick clap and laugh.  

Stranger anxiety isn't something that you've gotten to quite yet, though you have a part of you that acts shy now and then burrowing your head into my chest when someone new comes around.  Of course you are your mother's daughter and as soon as you think someone might not be paying attention to you, you find a way to remedy this.  Insert the screaming, here.   

You are very into grabbing right now - necklaces, noses, mouths, toys, Buckley, pretty much anything you can get your hands on you grab with intention and then everything goes directly into your mouth. 

Tonight, we did what every 7 month old dreams of - went to Henry T's for a burger and a beer.  I'm pretty sure you enjoyed yourself; there were several huge TVs to look at, beer mugs to grab and a table to play on.   

We love you to pieces.  Happy Seven Months to you!

XO Momma

Celebrate!

The end of May brought us lots of excuses to celebrate!  My cousin Aaron graduated from high school, Paul's brother Jack officially graduated from college, we attended two weddings in one weekend - Katie & Jack and Elizabeth & Paul - and the world welcomed Landon Elise Roche (we can't wait to meet this beauty!)!  In between celebrations and thunderstorms we have been spending lots of time outside enjoying a spring that is beginning to look eerily similar to a hot, muggy summer.  I see lots of pool time in our future!