Moving time!

A couple weeks ago we loaded all our earthly belongings into a U-Haul - again - and moved to our very first non-rented house! We've had a little time to settle in, and are already finding ourselves a little overwhelmed by the seemingly endless list of projects - both little and big - we'd like to take on. Is there such a thing as home improvement ADD?

A few highlights thus far:

Moving Day! Now which box was the baby in, again...?

Baby summit! Lily and Eva meld minds (as Amy and Cat run interference when necessary).

Enjoying our new backyard - and sandbox! - on one of the last happy days of summer.

Have we mentioned Eva has started feeding herself? Yeah, we've had second thoughts about it too.

Enjoying the new bathtub.

Eva's learned a few things in her many months of life, including, now, how to give - and take!

Fun with Moving

As most of our friends and loved ones may already know, the I. family just bought its very first house, and is preparing to move in this coming week (ack!). As intense as that sounds - and is - packing with a 9 month old baby has its unexpected pleasures...

Flower Baby

This past weekend brought us to Portland OR, City of Roses, for Natasha and Tom's rose-tastic (and beautiful!) wedding, where Eva was the Baby of Honor (more commonly known as the Flower Girl) in a red wagon and a basket of flowers - most of which did NOT end up in her mouth.

We then visited the Portland Rose Garden, Japanese Garden (both of which Eva slept through) and Zoo, which Eva woke up for and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of - in particular when she got to touch her very first goat! (The frantic dancing and waving was almost too cute for spectators to bear!) Was it because she found a kindred spirit in one who loves eating random inedible objects almost as much as she does?

At the wedding brunch: "Excuse me! I'd like to make a toast, please!"

Eva in her chariot.

Wearing white at another girl's wedding? The nerve!

Is someone a little too jet-lagged to party at the reception?

Eva makes a new friend at the Oregon Zoo.

Giving her papa an appropriately disapproving look for making this picture happen (also at the Zoo).

Admiring the Zen garden and sand rakings at the Portland Japanese Garden.

A Strange Critter

This one requires no comment.

Joie de Eva, part deux

We had so many great Eva moments from the past few weeks, we couldn't help but be uber-self-indulgent and put up two posts in one night!

After a couple weeks of sweltering in the summer humidity (and a few day trips to the beaches of Gloucester and the banks of the Mystic River, with varying degress of success), we decided to pack up the family unit and take off for the cool breezes of Vermont and a distinctly not-snowy Mount Snow, where Miss E was regaled by the sights and sounds of many very serious mountain bikers at the USA Cycling national championships; she has already requested her very first bike, and scoffs when reminded that she needs to learn how to walk before learning how to ride.

Eva discovers her next great love on Cape Anne: sand.

What, me, eat sand? Never!

Eva, Papa, and her ever-present companion - the tongue.

Upon reflection, it's no wonder our foam-encased baby didn't love her first canoe ride...

I'll devour you all, puny mortals!

Joie de Eva

Eva celebrated her first 4th of July with a visit from Emi and Brian - she was the perfect hostess, showing off the local attractions and bringing them to the big fireworks display on the Charles River, and then only sleeping through half of the show (and of course, it was the "Rascal Flatts, brought to you by Craig Ferguson and countless sponsors" half, not the "big lound boom + Boston Pops" half.).

The girls hit the (Revere) beach.

Is Eva really that happy, or is it all the blueberry ale she was sneaking from her parents?

My camera - gimme!

Look how well trained I already have them!

Eva'd like to give the Green Monster a run for its money.

Already learning to ride the T (with road warrior face in place)

Back at home, reminding "El Jefe" who's really boss.

Sea legs

Thanks to a fabulously generous invite from our friend Meghan, Eva was able to take her second trip to Cape Cod this weekend, and this time things were a little balmier than they were back in March. While she's still (appropriately) intimidated by the force and presence of the ocean, she did allow her feet to be dipped into the water once or twice, and of course spent most of the rest of her beach time trying to eat sand.

She has also learned the art of the wave (as in "hi there!", not as in awkward-ballgame-group-movement-attempt), which results in winning over more fans than ever while out on the town.

Donuts?

Feet in wet sand - serious progress!

Donuts!

Had enough yet, mister??

Donuts.