Fun with blocks and Daddy video:

Thanks, Uncle Brad, for the blocks!!!

Photo Shoot, part the third:

Starring Miss K and her best friend, Slicky Bunny:

K’s Photo Shoot, Part 2

Some more of Christina’s great photography—and our cute kiddo:

Spending time at Auntie Susan and Uncle Brad’s house

Thanks, Auntie Susan and Uncle Brad for great times at your house!  We love you and miss you!  MWAH!

Baby Chocolate…

When we first met Miss K back in Sept 2009, I kept telling people at home who had a Russian connection “she looks like the baby on the chocolate bar.”  She did, too! 

A few weeks ago, a dear friend of ours who is a professional photographer took Miss K’s first “real” pictures (yes, I know, after WAY too long!)  A few of the pictures she took at the end were of Miss K in a similar scarf.  They may look like this was an easy process, but this was a kiddo who was about done with having her picture taken and was not at all about having a scarf on her head.  Christina was a trooper, though, and so good with her.  Here are some of the proofs with the scarf:

yep, that’s my arm you can see in the background!  Ooops!

So now…..drum roll….with thanks to my dear wife-in-law, Laurel, here are the two pictures side by side:

I know that there are some differences—especially with her bangs now as long as they are, but I thought the comparison was too good not to show it. 

Will try to post the rest of the photo session soon---and to actually post something that isn’t just pictures.    Love to all of you!

Baking Cookies with Mimi

St Patrick’s Day blessings today:

The Lorica of St. Patrick

I rise today

with a mighty power, calling on the Trinity,

with a belief in the threeness,

with a faith in the oneness

of the creator of creation.

I rise today

with the power of Christ’s birth and baptism,

with the power of his crucifixion and burial,

with the power of his resurrection and ascension,

with the power of his return for the final judgment.

I rise today

with the power of the love of the cherubim,

in obedience of angels,

in service of archangels,

in hope of the resurrection and reward,

in the prayers of the patriarchs,

in the preaching of the apostles,

in the faith of the confessors,

in the innocence of the holy virgins,

in the deeds of righteous men.

I rise today

with the strength of the sky,

with the light of the sun,

with the splendor of the moon,

with the brilliance of fire,

with the blaze of lightning,

with the swiftness of wind,

with the depth of ocean,

with the firmness of earth,

with the strength of rock.

I rise today

with the power of God to guide me,

with the strength of God to raise me,

with the wisdom of God to lead me,

with the vision of God to see for me,

with the ears of God to hear for me,

with the words of God to speak for me,

with the hand of God to protect me,

with the path of God before me,

with the shield of God to guard me,

with the friendship of God to keep me safe from

the contriving of demons,

the temptations of sin,

the inclination of my nature,

and everyone who wishes me harm,

far and near,

alone and in the crowd.

I summon today all those powers to protect me

against every cruel force which may attack my body and soul,

against the incantations of false prophets,

against the evil laws of unbelievers,

against the false laws of the heretics,

against the subtle temptations of idolatry,

against the magic of women, blacksmiths and Druids,

against every knowledge which corrupts body and soul.

Christ protect me today

from poison and burning,

from drowning and wounding,

so that I might gain an abundant reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ below me, Christ above me,

Christ to the right of me, Christ to the left of me,

Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I stand,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye which sees me,

Christ in every ear which hears me.

I rise today

with a mighty power, calling on the Trinity,

with a belief in the threeness,

with a faith in the oneness

of the creator of creation.

In the mirror video:

Favorite Pictures of the Week:

fashionista :-)

Outfit today---from the bottom up:

Pink ballerina shoes (from favorite Auntie Susan)

Gap jeans (also from favorite Auntie Susan)

New Minnie Mouse nightie that mommy bought at the Disney Store yesterday (which is too big, but she loves anyway)

Red sunglasses from the sale table at Gymboree (LOVE the sale table at Gymboree)

Inside:  one cute kiddo with definite fashionista tendencies. 

(At one point she also had on her fuscia hooded jacket, which made her look a bit more like someone coming through Ellis Island at the turn of the century—only from a very brightly colored country.)

Happy Friday, everybody!