Mikaela in Florida

~ Mrs. Arcfide

From us, to you . . .

~ Mrs. Arcfide

I put up Christmas lights and decorations for the first time (in our home) this year, and the look of wonder and delight on Mikaela's face when she first woke up from her nap to see it more than repaid me for the little effort I'd expended that afternoon.

This blogger's words made me wish I'd set up a Christmas tree, just for the heck of it. :D

If only time, and (especially) space, allowed . . .

~ Mrs. Arcfide

Hmm . . .

I don't usually cry when I read my news feed, but this post and its accompanying song brought tears to my eyes, and comfort to my heart.

~ Mrs. Arcfide

Survey

Aaron asked me to post this and requests that all you mothers/homemakers fill it out! Thanks, ladies! :)

Questionnaire for Stay-at-home mothers

~ Mrs. Arcfide

Will Waddle for Food

~ Mrs. Arcfide

Mikaela at One Year!

Someone once told me that we realize, in children, the swift passing of time. Goodness knows, I have repeated that to myself often enough, and to several other friends as I marvel how quickly my little princess has grown.

Could it be, that exactly twelve months later, the sweet little newborn I held in my arm is now the same toddling, chunky, kissable baby I see?

And that in the three weeks since she took her first, tentative steps at 11 months, she's already looking more girly, independent, and less like a baby?

I don't want to blink.

~ Mrs. Arcfide

Summer, it's too soon to go . . .

Between Aaron's graduation, my summer classes, the Karen Kingsbury Book Party and Picnic, fun times with our neighbors (one of whom is from my parent's small hometown in Malaysia - what were the odds?!), hanging out, celebrating our 2nd anniversary, playing at Six Flags, going to The Muny, puttering in Montreal, catching the much-dreaded flu, and attending a friend's wedding in Wisconsin . . . you could say that the past few months days literally took on wings and disappeared.

The 50 degree weather during our time in Montreal and Wisconsin caught us unprepared, and caused me to lose some faith in summer. Amazingly, Mikaela appears *not* to have inherited any of my Southeast Asian cold-bloodedness in her.

Like her dad, she thrives in cool weather, but melts in the heat:

In front of the Notre Dame Basilica, sporting a sundress
on a wet and windy day (Montreal).

Melting like butter on a humid Missouri day.

Scariest thought about Summer being almost gone?
The knowledge that the days Mikaela remains as a baby are numbered.

I mean, c'mon.

Babies don't climb stairs, turn around, and celebrate by balancing precariously whist clapping their hands!

Toddlers do.

~ Mrs. Arcfide