Summer 2010

We have been so busy this summer. That's the reason why I haven't really posted anything for a long time. Aria is beyond walking (running actually) and starting to talk and keeping us as busy as ever. She has so many words now. She repeats EVERYTHING and identifies things that belong to certain people (Drums - dada. Slippers - mama. Backpack - mama. Boxers - dada. Cell phone - baba (for babcia)). She also loves to dance. The first thing in the morning that we have to do is put on some dance tunes. If the music ends, she signs and says "More!" and then shakes her hips from side to side meaning she wants more dance music. She is starting to potty train very well. If I ask whether she needs to go siu siu (pee pee in polish) she will either say yes or no. She also lets me know right away if she needs to poop. I predict she will be completely potty trained by 2. She now has 8 teeth (4 on bottom and 4 on top) and is furiously working on more. Here are a few pictures taken this summer.

Sporting a fauxhawk

Morning story time

Ciocia Allegra is starting to show!

"I Love Smoke!"

Hanging out at one of the many wonderful fountains in Portland

Eating sand at Cannon Beach

She is just so gentle with Smoke!

Hanging out with Bubbe!

Building things with Grandpa!

Aria's BFF Aubrey

Smoke really thought he could fit in that little basket

Hanging out with Finn

Doing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" with Bubbe

Aria loves licking cream cheese off my toast!

We also have been very busy trying to finish up some projects around the house before the rains come again. Joe and I finally finished the garage which we have been converting into Joe's office. We could not have done it without our families help. The endless afternoons that my mom has watched Aria so we could work on it and the all the time, work, energy and advice John has given us is priceless. Thank you thank you thank you! Here are some pictures of the process and end product.

This is the driveway before we moved in

This is the front of the garage last summer (before we removed the big door)

Our back yard...

John and Joe putting up siding

Bogusia put rocks around the garage to prevent water damage

Inside after it was dry-walled

Aria helping with putting down the floor

The first few pieces of the bamboo floor. After those went in, the rest was easy!

Bogusia hammering in the last floor piece!

The floor is done!

The finished product! The trim around the windows and the floor is beautiful cedar.

Joe's view from his desk!

The front of the garage now (before we put in the trellis)

I'm planting bushes and flowers around the garage/office to make it look pleasant and to catch water from rainfall

With the trellis!