Blizzard in the Hizzie

SNOW DAY FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF MAINE!!!!
And who said valentine's day (which these Towers are boycotting again!) couldn't be happy! :)

Okay, so you're wondering, what's up with the updates, where they been?!?!!?

Long story short: broken camera, exams, preceptorships, exams, sick kid, exams, oh, and exams...you catch my drift. ;)

But it's been exciting times up north, Mishka's done a bunch of new firsts!!!


She can say words now, and know what they mean :)
Mishka can wave and say "Hi" with reckless abandon, it's hysterical, she's so happy when she does it too (mostly because of the reaction she gets from folks surprised and elated to see her "understanding" and communicating back).
She also says Mama and knows it means Tasha...when Mishka was sick and wanted nothing to do with anyone who wasn't Mommie and Tash would leave the room, Mishka would first look around, then call out "mama, mama, mama" and then crawl off to look for her!


Then there's the whole moving around thing...she moves like a little lightening bolt, doing a full on crawl now (no more commando drag crawling), and what she LOVES doing is grabbing onto something (chair, table leg, your leg) and pulling herself up to stand up...she's not to keen on sitting or lying down, she likes being on 2 feet and moving. This has also led to many father daughter discussions about physical balance and gravity...don't think Mishka cares much, but it gives Daddy piece of mind after the talks ;)
Oh, and she can crawl up stairs...notice I didn't say down...nough said for now :)


She's also eating a bunch more stuff...except for this week when we've had 2 other firsts, Mishka had her first GI bug, meaning that she got to have popsicles and pedialyte for a few days (side note: I had never seen anyone have 6 separate bowel movements in the span of 45 minutes until Mishka did it on Sunday...it was unreal...she was okay, mostly surprised with a sore tush...went through 4 pants in under an hour...unreal), AND Mishka gave Daddy an infection for the first time. Good times. Mishka is currently almost 100% better...Daddy's still on the mend. BUT, Mishka has been trying new stuff like salmon, chicken, teething biscuits, and cheerios. She loves to eat, which is a good thing.


Ah, and teeth...her top two teeth are slowly coming in, so now when she bites you she can (and likely will) break your skin. You can see it best when she gets a good smile going.

Okay, the kid just woke up an is talking to herself...wish I could tape that and post it...it's PRICELESS :)

later
daddy DB

Mishka update!!

First, we're currently taking donations for Marina's future psychotherapy because her dad won't stop putting her hair as a mohawk...yes, in this picture she is truly horrified :)


The kid is growing by leaps and bounds both intellecutally and physically. She moves around with reckless abandon (crawling) and likes to stand herself up on any piece of furniture or people's legs...which means that she's learning about gravity in a more intimate way! :) She's babble to herself all the time, and mixes in random grunting, spitting, and primeval yelps, which are all really funny and LOUD. She's sleeping through the night for the most part, on a pretty routine schedule (getting onto one was most difficult on the parents in this case as mommy and daddy are not the most routine oriented people!!!).
Occasionally, Mishka will talk to people on the phone (wished uncle JB a happy b-day yesterday, sorta :)), and has really gotten used to interacting with folks, especially flirting with the boys...daddy's paranoia increases by the day ;)

Mishka is an amazing, fun, happy kid, Tash & I are SO lucky, it's an awesome thing to be able to hang out with her and watch her grow!

That's all from the Maine-land.
Daddy db

Snow suits and toys!

Babu and Mishka playing with the talking/singing/never quiet dog!!


And another with Babu, mommy and Mishka :)







Mishka in her new snow suit (thank you uncle JB--happy B-day yesterday too--and aunt Jess!) Yup, she's warm :)

Christmas on the Cape!

Christmas morning...and Meechy and Guiness are all excited to see what's behind the sliding doors!!!



Mommy and Mishka are all excited to play with the stocking!







Hi-five from Meechy to Tasha! Sasha & Meech are playing with their new balloon punch balls...notice the plethora of presents under the tree, Santa was VERY good to us this year!




Nico and Meechy are putting together something fun, while Sasha and Tasha are playing with Sasha's new dress up cloths!




Close up of Mishka playing with a new present

And a few more from Scituate

Uncle Adam playing with Mishka!


Topa and Mishka watching the Pats game...







<----Kama helping Mishka, who is very interested in the shiny paper and ribbons, open some of her Christma presents


And here Mishka's deciding what tissue paper to eat first ;) ------>

Mishka and Bella

Mishka got a chance to play with her cousin Bella a couple weeks ago...the cameras were cranking :)


Mish & Bella playing with Uncle Luke's present to Mishka...they got the sharing thing down (we'll see how long that lasts!)





Either Mishka was reaching out to give Bella a hug or to grab her earring... :)




Still playing and chilling!






Mishka wasn't ready for a kiss here, Bella was...but no crying was involved, so no harm, no foul! :)

Chilling around the Christmas Tree in Scituate

Here's Gram getting a kick out of Mishka who is intrigued by Jade the wonder-dog destroyer...Mishka is fascinated by dogs, it's very cute (no Tash or anyone else for that matter, this does not mean we can get a dog...)





Mishka was doing this weird thing with her thumb and fingers, almost sucking her thumb with her fingers all extended...I think she was doing it to see if she could get Topa to mimic her. It worked :)




Mommy and Aunt Jess opening one of the presents Uncle Jon & Aunt Jess got for Mishka...you'll see the snow suit in a later pic...priceless!





Once again, Mishka sees presents, admires presents, then eats presents...







Here Bella and Chris are joining in the fun with Gram, Mommy, Aunt Jess and Mishka...it's a holiday with the Tower's meaning lots of people milling around!!! :)

What did Uncle Adam get me...

"Hey, what did Uncle Adam get me...it doesn't look like a basketball..."






"Yeah St. Mike's hat and teddy bear (not seen here)...but what's in that other present with the hanger sticking out of it?" (note: uncle Adam was dexterous enough to wrap around the hanger...it was pretty funny)





"My very own patriots outfit, woohooo!!!!!"






Which she wore the next day with Topa...here she's yelling at the refs for blowing a call with Topa, who might be more than slightly amused :)

Ride 'em, cowgirl!!!

Hola, bonjour, guetentag (and a few other hellos I now am intimately familiar with thanks to one of Mishka's Christmas presents...)
It's been craziness in the Tower household these past few weeks with the end of school semesters, Christmas time, traveling, and sick babies and parents...hence, no updates (I know, bad daddy don boy!). I've got a few minutes this morning, so here comes the updates!!!

Christmas was a LOT of fun. Mishka was here amazing self (when she wasn't feverish!) hanging out with folks, rolling around, babbling, and attacking anything that was wrapped...so she could eat the wrapping paper ;) The Tower's were spoiled (again!) this year...we're so grateful for people's generousity, kindness, support and love, once again, we're simply spoiled!

Let's get the pics started.
This is what Marina got from Nina and Poppa...as you can see, she's quite fond (and no Tash, this does NOT mean Mishka wants a real live pony...)


An aside, push a button and the horse neighs, gallops, and moves it's head and tail...nice touch. Mishka LOVED that.

Giddie-up!!!!!

"I need a cowgirl hat and some chaps!!!!"

Christmas at Meg & Caleb's

The gals by the Christmas tree...





Aunt Beth carrying Mishka (who wasn't crying in her arms, which is new!!! hehe) while Suzie decorates the tree.





Caleb decorating the tree with willow seeds...






So it looked cool and fluffy like this----------->









No, Suzie is not upset, just overwhelmed as she just opened up her present from Mishka which happened to be a plane ticket to Kansas so she can visit her new niece Anna!!!! :)







The hosts, Meg and Caleb, chilling on the couch. :)