A Family Pic

Happy 4th!!!!!

Hanging out with the cousins!

"Here Mishka, try this hat!"...Meechy is very helpful!

Mishka and Sasha watch as Meechy plays with Tasha and the hat!!! :)

Inquisitive Mishka

Yeah flying!!!!!!!

Hey, do I have any drool on my chin? What's going on over there...? I'm super inquisitive!

Slow dancing

I've never denied that a few years ago (maybe not even that long ago) I really didn't want kids. I never believed that I could work through my own mental/emotional issues well enough to not royally screw up my own kids, so that lack of "want" wasn't really based on ambition (or lack there of), more centered on fear. I distinctly remember reading through "Tuesdays with Morrie" (one of my favorite books...great, quick read filled with tons of thought provoking, meaningful topics!), imbibing every idea presented, and it reached the topic of love and children, how you grow in love with all the relationships you make in this world, but nothing compares to the uniqueness in the love of a child. It's not that life is incomplete without that love, that wasn't the message by any means, more that the experience of loving, caring for, teaching to, learning from, growing with a little being that's "on loan" to you for a little while is something you can't replicate anywhere else.
I've been many things in my life, I've avoided many things out of fear, but I've also boasted a fearless streak to the point of recklessness that often overcomes the paralytic forces of fear. After reading what Morrie had to share, I knew the seed had been planted in my mind, that the path for learning more about the mysteries of unconditional love (which, in my opinion, is one of the most fascinating, meaningful searches and adventures to undertake thoughout life) would likely take me to the doorsteps of parenthood, and should my higher power deem it fit, I'd be blessed to help another new soul find their way through this world.
This realization did NOT mean that my fears where not legitimate (my reactions to them may have been illogical, but the fears did overlie deeper issues), so I started working on them and with them, and as I worked with them my perspective changed, I grew bolder in venturing into more situations where love could grow...I've become (once again, my opinion only!) a much more social and friendly; much more comfortable in my own skin; a better friend; a better sibling and son; I become a husband to the most amazing woman I've ever come to know...and as fate or a higher power would have it, the path brought me to fatherhood.

So why the rambling, and what's the picture all about????
That picture was taken this morning in our living room, and you can't see it, but Mishka and Daddy are slow dancing to Norah Jones (note to all: Norah Jones has a GREAT, melodic music that is dance-able and soothing to the lil' one), occasionally I sing with the music to her. What you can see is the snuggling, she fell asleep in my arms as we were dancing away...I remember my dad (yeah Topa!) reminding me to enjoy these moments as time moves along quickly, and those unique moments move along with it. This is what Morrie was talking about, I can't tell you exactly the feeling I had dancing with my little girl, it was supreme happiness, comfort, and contentment laced with a sadness in knowing that with each step that moment has vanished, but topped with satisfaction because I lived simply in that moment, and whether or not Mishka remembers the moment, it's something that we'll share forever. I hope all parents (and parents to be!) are able to have those moments. One more step in learning about unconditional love... :)
I'm off to relearn how to salsa dance, Mishka wants to try something new for our next dance ;)
db

Fore(wo)man Mishka

So you think Mishka's main focus nowadays is learning how to coo or smile or figuring out that the hands she's always seeing in front of her belong to her...NOT SO FAST MY FRIENDS!!!

Mishka has also been busy overseeing the construction in the upstairs of her house! She happens to have quite a bit at stake in this project as she will finally get her own room after Mommy and Daddy move out to the newly renovated room :)



Here's one of the middle before pics...we ripped down the old crappy tile ceiling and made sure we had the right amount of furring for the drywall...Daddy is likely tripping over a piece of wood here...Mishka, always observant, made certain that Daddy checked the integrity of the insulation (yes, my child used the word integrity properly, ah, the child of an english teacher).




A few hours later, Daddy and Uncle Caleb had half the room hung, Mommy also helped with the bigger pieces and the taping, and Mishka gave the final inspection, burping in approval or pooping for disapproval...
We actually finished hanging all the drywall in the room and plastered over the holes and creases, it was a very productive Friday!




Here's Uncle Caleb removing a light fixture...Mommy and Daddy are VERY lucky to have received the guidance, knowledge, and hard work from Caleb, without whom this project wouldn't have ever come to fruition! THANKS UNCLE CALEB!!!!!

Fingers and Toes

New Jersey Madness, part deux

Who loves hanging out with Uncle Samit in her cute hat...MISHKA!!!!! :)

Marina got to spend some of her weekend playing with Aunt Nicole who was all tanned after her adventures in Greece!

Baby Tower snuggling with Baby Somers!!!

And here's Marina chatting with Daddy on her first (and Daddy's first) Father's Day!

Synchronized swimming anyone?!?!?!?

Random pics

Look at Mishka in her cute dress!!!!

Here's Mishka trying to deal with the humidity...as you can see, she's not particularly amused ;)

And I'm spent again... :)

Marina update

Last week was not only yucky due to the awful weather...poor Mishka had a rough go of it with her tummy (lots of spit up and constipation) and lots of fussing. Thankfully her tummy got a little back in order and she was able to rest a little more (which means that mommy and daddy got to rest a little more too!!!).
She's smiling alot more frequently, and is also much more interactive, which is cool. We put her on her play mat now for some time intervals (ie-until she starts screaming) and will walk around the yard with her to show her around, which she enjoys because she likes all the different colors!
We also took her to church for the first time yesterday and I'm proud to say that she was the most well behaved kid there ;) (which is odd for a Tower...I'm sure she'll grow out of that!)

Mommy is keeping the home afloat with her boundless positive energy...Mishka's got it good! :)
Daddy's still cleaning the spit up off of all his clothes (without fail, if Mishka has some big spit up or poop to let out everywhere...it's going on Daddy!)

Enough chatter, more pics...




Here Mishka and Aunt Suzie are checking out Federal Jack's beer sampler. Mishka likes the summer brews...j/k. :)










I'm not sure, but I think she's vogue-ing in this pic...isn't she so beautiful as she sleeps, like her Mommy when she sleeps, peaceful and beautiful!

Bigger smile :)