Six Months!!

Sapphie turned six months on Friday. It's been a busy month! She started solids, got dedicated, started rolling around the floor like a steam roller, has increased her vocabulary with "da da da", "na na na", and laughs when I wash her armpits. Time with her gets more and more fun every day.
At her 6 month check-up, Sapphie was off the charts for height (95th percentile)! Her weight is now average, so she looks like a long bean pole!
Sapphie loves to eat. So far, I've been pretty liberal with what I let her try (no bad reactions yet!). She still has a pretty strong gag reflex, so I have to give her very tiny pieces or moosh the food up before giving it to her. She's tried sweet potato, pear, banana, mango, hummus, grilled salmon, squash & apple soup, berry crisp, and some veggie samosa from Samosaman. Oh yes, and Isaac also rubbed a salt and vinegar chip on her tongue. She liked it! Actually, she loves everything! If she could fit a create her own meal though, this is the sort of menu I think she'd request:

Appetizer ~ goat milk yogurt with rice cereal and pureed pears
Main Meal ~ pureed sweet potato and grilled salmon
Dessert ~ banana and breast milk puree

Luckily, we haven't seen any type of stranger anxiety yet. Sapphie loves everyone she meets and pretty much lets anybody hold her. We're taking the summer off from baby yoga, but she comes running with me and we're reading a lot. She also likes to play peak-a-boo and she loves it when I sing to her.
Kevin now puts her to bed at least 3 nights a week. Of course she prefers mummy at bedtime, but she's slowly learning to love the way daddy coos her to sleep with his shooshes.
Sapphie still comes to work with me and is such a good girl. Only 2 more months and I'll be done with this job...but I think she'll be crawling before then! We'll figure it out...

That's about it for our six-month update. Enjoy the photos!

First Father's Day (by Kevin)

Father's Day was last Sunday the 21st. I was treated to a day out of the ordinary in terms of routine. My days are very regimented from start to finish. Wake up at 5 am to start work and take care of the dogs, hope to hit the pavement by 8:30-9 am making farm calls and then home around 5:30 or so to see the family followed by maybe a run, dinner, more work, the dishes, and then TV before a 11 pm bedtime.

Well last Sunday Emi and Sapphire were up before me and had already exercised the dogs and had a pancake breakfast cooking. That is definitely not part of the usually routine. Having someone else wake up to feed the dogs and take them out is a blessing sent from God. Fresh Pancakes is like getting extra icing on your piece of cake. The day could not start any better.

A lazying morning with the family, Hannah, Colin and Soe found us down at the lake with the dogs so they could enjoy the water and the nice weather that had graced this day. Some errands around town was followed by a 3:30 tee time with Mr. Brett Smith, a dad as well, at Kwinaska. Brett and I had not played at all this summer together and it was nice to get out on the links just him and I and catch up on stuff and play.

Since it was my day I was allowed to pick the menu for the evening feast. Those that know me don't need me to tell you what we had. For those that really do not know what type of meal I truly enjoy feast your eyes on these bad boys.

That's right the Pride of the Midwest: US Grade A Beef Aged NY Strip Steaks.

Did I mention "Where's the Beef".

Emma knows the way into my heart is always 2 inches of beef or that magical word "LongHorn". So we prepared these steaks with of course a Caesar Salad, My mothers recipe, Lebanese Potato Salad, Snap Peas and red wine (a new collection designed around Edgar Allen Poe from the owner of Owen Roe). Colin, Soe and Hannah joined us on the deck for a great evening of food, laughs and family.

It was truly a great day from start to finish: breakfast, time with the dogs, golf with a great friend and then capped off with steak and wine and a great sunset. Here are a few pictures from the evening.

A picture from Pottery Barn Catalog or our Deck???

Sapphire showing off her new big girl chair for Daddy.

Lemon Drops anyone? Soe and Hannah enjoying their lemon drops before the meal.

Colin is ready for his steak. He knows he will not be disputed when he comes here for dinner.

Cotton candy pink clouds

First Swim

Yesterday, Sapphie went for her very first swim. She loved it!!

Looking good in her British suit

Toes first!

Then we dunk...

Poolside fun with auntie Hannah!

Happy girl

We went again today...

Dedication

Last weekend, Sapphie was dedicated. Do you know what that means? It means that Kevin and I promised, in front of our family and closest friends, that we would raise Sapphie to be spiritual, to love God, and to live her life according to the teachings of the Bible. We chose our very best friends, Brian and Christina, to help us fulfill our promise. They are Sapphie's Godparents.

God and spirituality have always been a big part of my life. Well, not always, but at least for as long as I can remember. I used to be embarrassed to have to go to church. There were so many religious freaks out there that gave Christians a bad name. Now that I'm older, however, I really do cherish the lifelong lessons that I've learned from the Bible. Here are some of the most important things that I use every day:
Forgiveness
Understanding and compassion
Love
Faith
Hope

I hope that Sapphie acquires all of these wonderful gifts, because I know that they are key to a happy life. I also hope that she uses them on me when she is a terrible teenager and thinks I'm a big loser.

Faith is a big one, and I've been sharing my gift of faith with Kevin a lot these days. The financial situation is scary for everyone, especially us young people with very few assets. Poor Kevin gets sucked into the media frenzy that has everybody in a panic, then he comes home all furrow-browed and scared for us. I tell him not to worry, everything will be just fine. We will always be safe and happy, because we are blessed. It sounds cheesy doesn't it? But it's true!

Just to prove it, I'll tell you a little bit about the dedication. It was beautiful, and perfect. Kevin's aunt Jen and uncle Jim let us use their amazing home for the ceremony and party. They have the most green and luscious back yard with a slate patio, a coy pond, an arbor with a pebble aisle, and a gorgeous private yard with hedges all around. Liz helped me a lot with organizing the party. Actually, Kevin's parents and my parents shared the cost of the party with us. If it weren't for them, we would have had a very small gathering in the sticks of Vermont. Thanks to them, we were able to invite all of our extended family and have an intimate celebration with all of our loved ones. The weather was sunny and warm, with just the slightest breeze blowing. Not everybody was able to attend, but it was really the perfect mix of people. Almost half my family and half Kevin's, for the first time ever (his family always outnumbers mine)!
My dad performed the ceremony. It was beautiful and a few of us cried. Sapphie slept through the whole thing, until he anointed her with oil. Then she woke up and was ready to party! After the ceremony, we ate yummy food, had cake, and opened some very generous gifts for our little girl.

That night, while the Giovino's were entertaining a whole bunch of us, I sat watching everybody and thinking how much I love our family. It is so special to come together, to celebrate each other, and show our love for one another. To support us in our efforts to raise our children; to teach them to be grateful for their life and their family; to help them develop a relationship with God. We truly are blessed, and as long as we have one another, we will always be ok.

Here are a ton of pictures from that beautiful day

Self Soothing

Thought you had to let babies cry to learn self soothing techniques? Think again! Sapphie is becoming a pro at calming herself when she's a little fussy. She's chosen my method of choice from when I was little: thumb sucking!

Sisters Reunite

Airport pick up with lots of tears. Excitement with Sapphie, Mister, and the dogs. Lunch and Leunig's with wine and live jazz. Pedi's at Tootsies with Pineapple juice and love. Dinner at the Kouri's with family and good food. Yesterday was a big day.

Beer League Softball - Team Fuse (by Kevin)

Summer has begun when the parks are filled with children playing in the afternoon warming sun and the cracks of baseball bats can be heard as it strikes the ball. The crack of the bat, the ball screaming into the outfield and a great catch followed by cheers are the echos in the dreams of playing for a major league ball team. If I had my pick it would be playing outfield for the Boston Red Sox.

This is my second season with Team Fuse in the Burlington Summer Softball League. We play from June into September and even October if you make the playoffs which we did last year. Fuse is a marketing firm in BTV owned by my friend Brett Smith. The team is comprised of Fuse employees, some people from Burton and a couple of other ringers.

Team Fuse will have to fill that dream of playing professional ball for a big league team because at the age of 32 and the general lack of skill to hit a 100 mph plus fast ball I will have to settle watching the highlights on ESPN Sportcenter dreaming that I made that catch or hit that home run. Additionally traveling around the country and having a multimillion dollar $$$$ contract would be dreadfully boring because I would be away from my friends and family.

Last night was our second game of the season. We had just came off of a crushing loss the week before and we were all determined to play better for game 2 of the 14 game season. We were playing Magic Hat Brewing Company which generally is a perennial power house. We tend to play extremely well against them.

We started the game strong and actually lead the game into the 6 inning. I was playing well in the outfield, fielding two deep balls and batting better then I had in the previous game. Things were looking up and up for me. Reason why I say that is because the pre-season I had a lot of cob webs to dust off and game 1 was miserable.

The 7th inning was one of those innings you do not forget in Beer League. Yes it is called beer league because you tend to have a beer or two while playing. I must make the following disclaimer that I tend not to partake in heavy drinking during the course of the game. I have a hard enough time hitting and fielding the ball I do not need to further handicap myself.

I was asked to move from my traditional righ center spot over to left field. Left field tends to be a hot bed of action because most power hitters are right handed and push the ball to left field.

I heard the crack of the bat and the ball sailing into left field. It was a tight roper up the third base line and I was playing more towards left center. I started my run towards the direction of the ball realizing that I can run this ball down and probably make a great catch. A difficult play for two reasons. I throw right and catch left and the sun was setting in the direction I was running in. I have a good track on the ball and then WHAM POW.

I am down and out and on my ass looking for the ball as the batter starts to round 2nd. I feel warm blood start to run down my face. Like a prize title fighter I get back to my feet and make the throw to third hoping to stop the runner from advancing anymore. I shake myself off and decide to finish the inning on the field before coming in to assess the damage.

A cold beer for the eye and one for the mind and soul I take the next inning off and I am back in the game. Jason Bay, left outfielder for the BoSox, would have made that catch with out a problem. On the other hand this wannabe gets a ball to the eye and a good black eye to show for my 2nd softball outing of the year. I was told by fellow team mates the ball hit my glove and deflected into my eye.

Why do we go out there and play? Feel sore the next day and sometimes get banged up. A simple answer for a simple question. We all still want to feel young again. We want to forget about the days troubles and for 2 hours a week feel like a kid again fantasizing about the big leagues and enjoying the time with our friends and enjoy the best of Vermont, the late afternoon Western Sun. It gives me a break from the job, the depressing news that we are flooded with, the economy, the newest threat to America, politics and general bull shit. Beer League is about fun, family, dogs, respect for each other as teammates and opponents and to realize at the end of the game there is no real winners or losers on the field regardless of the score. So if you want to have a good time come on out and bring a blanket, your favorite snack and drink and watch the "Boys and Girls of Summer".

2008 Fuse Team, pictured, at the end of the season last year. All back together for 2009 season.

PS: Final score Magic Hat 15 Fuse 10 Fuse 0-2.

Puppy play

Sapphie and Cabot have really bonded lately. She's mesmerized by both of the dogs, and of course Cabot gives her lots of attention and kisses. Here they are playing in her room on the blanket that Hannah made her.

Hello!

Cabot gently prodding Sapphie for some love

And she gives him some!

Dinner time

Penelope and Colin were over the other night, to celebrate Kevin's birthday. They witnessed and took some photos of Sapphie eating her dinner. Enjoy! xo