18 Months!

So as evidence that life has been busy the past few months, I haven't been able to publish many posts these days.  It's definitely not from a lack of happening.  If anything, too much is going on!  And in the midst of so many life changing decisions that our little family is currently experiencing, our little Naomi is all of a sudden turning 18 months today!  I mean, this girl was literally getting comfortable with taking steps just a minute ago,  now she is practically walking the dogs herself.  It's bitter sweet watching her grow up so fast.  And as she continues to discover her own voice and strength, it's such a rewarding and comforting feeling to know that every time she shares happiness or frustration, she is potentially sharing something with the two people she trusts most for the very first time.  That's such a magical thing to me.  Each and every time that she want's to explore a fallen leaf, or pile of rocks, such simple things, I remind myself to witness this not through my eyes, but through hers.  What a world she must see.  I could never explain just how much I love her.  Happy 18 months in this world little Naomi.  

love, 

Papa

Random pics from past few weeks

Because it's harder and harder these days to keep up with everything I'd like to do for the blog and for our little Naomi,  Nadia thought it would be nice if we just randomly post pics that we take from time to time to show a little more of her day to day.  So in that spirit, here are some of our favs from recent days. 

During a morning stroll with Papa and Babushka, stuffy nose and all.

She loves to lounge in her crib after her naps.  Sometimes for 30 minutes!  

Here's a few that Mama took.  I love when she puts the camera to use :)

Piggy backing with Dedushka

Pictures from Grandma Kat

All of the pictures in this post (with exception of the ones that she's in) are courtesy of Grandma Kat :) 

I'm embarassed to be so late with this post, but better late than never right?  A few weeks back, my mother came to town to pay us a great visit.  It had been a few months since she last saw Naomi, so we were anxious for her to see just how amazing our little Naomi has grown in that time.  We visited our usual spots and also enjoyed a trip to the Aquarium.  Throughout the trip, Grandma Kat, in her typical fashion, was a little shutterbug taking tons of photos.  And as many of you know, I love photography, it's no wonder where I get it from.  I wanted to dedicate this entire post to sharing Grandma Kat's visit through her eyes and her lens.  Thank you for the beautiful pictures Mom! 

Father's Day

Although I don't know my biological father, and my last memories of him were from a visit I took to Venezuela when I was around 12 years old, I know that he loved me then as I know that I am in his thoughts to this day and loves me now.  I understand that life serves us all many challenges.  Sometimes those challenges Keep people apart.  Sometimes those challenges steer our lives in different directions.  But life also has it's way of bringing people into your path, even if it's just to walk with you for a short while.  In my younger years, my step father served as my example of what a man was.  There was the good, and of course there was the bad, all of which I remember, and the things I did not understand then, I grew to understand now.  I think of both these men every day.  Later in life, I was introduced to my future father-in-law.  I've never really told him so, but as I have my entire life, the men who have either entered or exited along the way, I have loved each of them for different reasons, and from him I have adopted inspiration and a much needed example of what a hard working father is.  I have never to this day held a grudge for those whom have left, and I have taken from each and every one of them bits and pieces that somehow have helped shape me into the man I am today.  So today on father's day, I offer my love to all of you,  I offer re-assuremence that I took from all of you every bit of love you had to offer me and I've also learned from the examples, good and bad that you shared with me.  I have grown to be a good man, and I have learned to be the best father I can be.