Kindle, fruit, and a bit of sun. Summer break has officially started. (Now we just need some heat.)

I am not sure what or why, but some days Juliet doesn't want to leave the house without her glasses. And who am I to say no to that.

(And please don't judge me for the front facing car seat. We recently flipped it around because her little legs are just too long for the rear position. She was so crunched up that I didn't want to make her wait any longer.)

Sneaking a touch

Once Juliet discovered the umbrella, there was no stopping her. Now she always likes to hold it if I am carring her in the rain, and last weekend she jumped in puddles and ran around happy as can be. We finally had to bribe her to get her to come inside.

Juliet loves bubbles and dancing to Casper Babypants (or really any of our music, but C B is the only kid music we really listen to around here). Last week we took her to see the Bubbleman and she couldn't care less. It was so anticlimatic. I expected her to shout and run around chasing the bubbles like she does at home, but she stayed close to me and B for most of his show.

Today we went to see C B perform and again she was so over it. She was fascinated for the first song I think because it is one we play a lot at home. I imagined her little brain firing away connecting the music to this man playing the guitar.  But then she saw a couple of babies behind us and was way more interested in staring at them than dancing. It didn't help that we were 30 minutes into her nap and she was awake before 5:00 am this morning, but I still thought I would see a little more excitment. She really only shook her thang for one song, and every time I tried to get her to move a little she just plopped down in my lap. The last time we saw him she again stayed in my lap and just stared at Sadie dancing. During the last song, she said to me, "Bye bye" and started for the door. I guess concerts just don't do it for her!

After a busy last week of school, I officially started break today! Needless to say, I am a little behind on posts...

This Father's Day weekend we were all about the festivals. Juliet attended her first Fremont Soltice Parade on Saturday and her first Washingon Beer Festival on Sunday (in honor of her daddy).

Loved: Painted people in parades (that or was just really curious), dogs, and chocolate covered strawberries.

Hated: Bouncy house maze (I made B  crawl into the big blow up house to save her.)

After viewing my camera pictures, I once again managed to get through a holiday without a family (or even a father daughter) shot. Somehow I capture the everyday moments, but never the celebration of loved ones or special days. 

So in honor of Juliet's darling daddy, I pulled up one of my favorite photos from a time when I first felt like it all hit me. Never did I imagine to love someone in the way that I love J, or to fall more in love with B as I watch him with our daughter.

In this moment after we left our hospital room I really understood how our life as we knew it would never be the same. I couldn't have asked for more from him then or now. As I watched B carry J out, with each step I felt as if I was watching my life unfold right before my eyes, and I had never felt more certain or happy with everything. And that is what B does for us, and for that I am forever grateful. Happy Father's Day!

My brother took this picture of the girls at the beach this week. As I sat and stared at the photo from work, I couldn't help but feel so happy and blessed. It was as if I was looking into the future and seeing these three girls grow up right before my eyes, taking off on adventures all on their own. Even now as I look, it seems as if they are little women racing toward a day of fun and a future full of endless possibilites. I treasure these little moments because they are such reminders as to how the time with our children is so precious.

It was  a blistery morning when we went to meet my dad for coffee on Father's Day, but nothing will stop this girl from getting in some beach time.

Doing a little light reading.

After a long business trip (during which J asks for her daddy nonstop) we were happy to welcome B home and head to Alki for some beach time and dinner.

Time for tea.

Juliet loves going to the beach to throw rocks in the water and chase the seagulls. When I ask her if she wants to go or what she would like to do at the beach, she raises her arm and mimics rock throwing. (She makes up quite a few of her own signs since she still doesn't have the language for all of her favorite activities.) And when we pull up at Alki, she calls out, "Bee, bee, bee!"

Somehow Juliet is turning two in just a couple of months and I am loving this stage because things just seem like they are getting easier and easier.

Juliet is independent and can do and understand so much. It is amazing to me how much growth we still see from month to month. The biggest change I notice is her independent play. This morning she wanted to stay upstairs reading in her room while I got breakfast on the table. Just having those five minutes alone to make breakfast was amazing. Usually B and I take turns getting ready and watching her, but today I felt like we got a little glimpse into the future.

I can ask her to go get her socks and she happily heads to her dresser and pulls them on. She loves to put her shoes on (although more often than not they go on the wrong feet), wash herself in the bath, and drink from big girl cups. At home she takes herself to the potty a few times a day without us having to ask (and usually points for me to stay downstairs, waves, and says bye-bye.) We haven't tried nap or nighttime potty training, but this still feels like a huge milestone. I don't expect to be fully potty trained any time soon, but the thought of only one in diapers is thrilling!

Juliet loves her baby dolls, drawing, her water table, Elmo, and books. She is still so easy going and mild tempered. We switched her bed into a toddler bed mainly because of my growing belly and the fact that we still rock her to sleep, but she took to it and loves to just sit on the edge for a quick read or little break. She is finally attempting to talk more, and although she is just using the beginning sounds of many words, it is hard not to feel so proud and happy at her effort.

At 21 months, I can't believe we are already beginning to think about her second birthday. But I try and remember to take each day one at a time, and really each moment by moment.

Happy 21 months to the girl that still makes our hearts soar.

20 months

19 months

18 months

17 months

16 months

15 months

14 months

13 months

The first 12

These two cousins have the exact same hair color, even down to the little sun bleached blond highlights.

I ran into an old friend (Nora) yesterday who commented how much Juliet looks like my sister Pauli, and I was thinking the same thing about both of these girls when I took this picture on Friday.

Out for an early Sunday morning stroll for some pastries.

School's out for summer...for Juliet at least. Today was her last day of preschool. I didn't expect to feel sentimental, but it was a bittersweet day. I suppose it is because she completed her first year of school and has grown so much. I remember her first day and thinking that she seemed so old and now when I look back, she was so young and so little. And I am sure I will think this every year for many years to come, but no matter what she will always be my baby.

June 6, 2012- Last day of her first year of preschool.

September 21, 2011- First day of her first year of preschool.

Always my serious one.

I love that my mom sends me sweet little photos of my Juliet because they always make me smile when I am at work. She adds little captions to them like, "I wanted to wear my hat to preschool" or "I am having so much fun with..." My mom is so good to her and really to us.