Summer Fun!

Summer is here!! As you'll recall, last summer I spent most of my time taking mini-vacations with Mommy and Daddy. However, now that I have 2 tiny little brothers to take care of this summer, I'll probably be spending most of my days closer to home. And that's fine with me. Earlier this week, I said, "Mommy home. Daddy home. Kaira happy now." (Obviously, I missed having everyone together while Mommy was in the hospital on bed rest.)


Here are some of my favorite things that I've been doing so far this summer:


I continue to love to play with blocks. Not only can I do this puzzle, but I also know the names of most of the shapes, too. (The trapezoid is my favorite!)
Look! I can even do it with one hand behind my back!

I also love to draw and color. Just give me a piece of paper, a pack of stickers, and a box of crayons and watch me live up to my ninja name: The Friendly Artist.

I'm still a super reader, too! Would you like me to read you a book?

While those things are all so very fun to do, my favorite part about the summer is the warmer weather. So, now that the snow is melted and the grass is green, let's go outside and play!

I'd better put on my sunglasses!

Have you ever seen a more beautiful day? Have you ever seen a more beautiful girl?

I've discovered a passion for gardening this summer and have been taking good care of my beautiful flowers. Kaira, Kaira, quite contrary...how does your garden grow?

Mommy and Grammie have been teaching me the names of all of the different plants in my garden. Here's one of my favorites...a marigold!

When I need a break from planting flowers, I like to climb trees!

One day I went strawberry picking with the family. First, Mommy and Daddy showed me how to identify the tastiest berries in the patch.

And then I was off to gather berries on my own. Grammy and Papa, I see some good ones down this row!

Here you go, Daddy...here's what I found! Do we have enough to make jam now?

I'd better sample one...

Or two...

Ok, so maybe we should pay for an additional quart to cover my little "snack."

Ooh! Look, flowers in the strawberry patch! Can I pick them, too?

Here's Papa figuring out once and for all whether I "love him" or "love him not". I LOVE HIM!

Even rainstorms can't ruin my summer days! That's because I've discovered the joy of playing in puddles!

Um...I might need a new outfit now, Mom. I just couldn't resist.

And after a long summer day of playing outside, nothing is better than a sippy cup full of juice!

Here's to more fun-filled summer days!!

Painting Pigs

Listen up, brothers. Now that you're both home from the hospital, there's a lot that you need to learn...and luckily you have a smart sister who is willing to teach things to you.

Lesson #1: It's never too early to start saving money. To help get you started on this valuable life-long lesson, I've given each of you a piggy bank, hand-painted by yours truly. Enjoy!

Lesson #2: Papa's pockets are usually loaded with change. I'll leave it to you to connect the dots.

I Like My Trike!

Check out my new ride! Sporty, fun, and fuel efficient, too!

WOW! It even has a huge trunk, big enough to store my rock collection.Thanks, Grammie and Papa!

I'm a BIG SISTER!!!

My twin brothers have finally arrived! Last Saturday (on June 5th) they were born and I officially became a big sister! In the weeks leading up to their arrival, I was a great helper getting the house ready for them. Here's me testing out the durableness of the baby bottles:

I got the cradle all ready for them to sleep in, too. A couple of my stuffed animals helped me make sure that it was comfortable enough for a good nap.

For the past three weeks, Mom has been on hospitalized bed rest at Albany Medical Center. Although Dad and Grammie and Papa have been taking wonderful care of me, it's been really hard for me to be away from her for so long (and she's missed me big time, too!). It was a really long drive to the hospital (just over an hour one way), but I tried to visit Mommy several times a week.

It was SO NICE to see my Mommy when we went to visit her! I missed her so much. It was definitely worth all of the time in the car!

When I would visit her, I would make sure that all of the buttons on her bed still worked (hey, somebody has to check them!). One day, I discovered that her hospital bed also doubles as a slide! WHEE!!!

I brought Mommy my Big Elmo to keep her company during the last few nights leading up to her surgery so she wouldn't be nervous. Night, Elmo!

Although Mom was on bedrest at the hospital, she was allowed to go downstairs to have dinner in the cafeteria. Grammie, Papa, Daddy, and I took her there whenever we could so she could get out of her room a little bit. I'll have the chicken tenders with ketchup, please!

My brothers were born on Saturday, June 5th! Because they had to be born at 33 weeks, they are super small (tiny even) and need to spend some more time at the hospital. Here's my brother Matthew, keeping warm in his little isolete. Isn't he cute?

Oh, Matthew. What tiny toes you have!

And here's my other brother, Nathan. Hey Nathan...you have a nukkie in your isolete!!!

After my brothers were born, Mommy had to spend a few more days in the hospital to recover. One day, I brought her a "Get Well Soon" balloon to "lift" her spirits.

One of the great things about going to visit my mom and brothers in the hospital was getting to go to the Ronald McDonald playroom just outside the NICU. Can you say TOYS TOYS TOYS?

Today was a particularly good day because my mommy got out of the hospital!!!! So now Daddy, Mommy, and I are living at the Ronald McDonald House to be close to my brothers until they get out of the hospital or are transferred to the Special Care Nursery at Glens Falls Hospital (where I spent the first week of my life!). I can't wait for the day when they get to come home and things can settle into their new normal. But for now, I'm just super glad to have my mommy back.