My Computer is still Broken

Today was suppose to be a happy day for my computer, but alas, the problem is far deeper than the repair woman could see. My computer is being passed onto another expert and it appears it will take yet another week before it is fixed.

When I do get it back I will have lots of catching up to do. I have so many new videos and pictures of Cayman I want to post. I've been keeping record of it all the "old school way"...pen and paper. You see, while you might all think I blog just for you (well, of course I do), this blog is really my very detailed "baby book" for Cayman, which I am having it made into a book through this website.

I will see you in about a week!

("Sorry, Aunt Linda. Hang in there!")

Summer Experiences: POPSICLES

Grandma Sue wrapped the Push-Pop in a paper towel to keep little Cayman's hands from getting chilled. She will not touch things if they are cold anyways, so the paper towel worked out perfectly.

Summer Experiences: SWIMMING

I think Cayman liked her swimming experience. At first she was very quiet and expressionless but soon "warmed" up to the water (perhaps literally) and then she gave us some smiles.

Summer Experiences: HAMMOCK

Life always feel a little more divine when chillin' in a hammock.

Summer Experiences: ICE CREAM

Our favorite route for a summer evening stroll takes us right to a little ice cream shop, just a couple blocks from our house. (You didn't think it become our favorite route by chance, did you?)

Cayman loves ice cream. Do you remember her first reaction to ice cream a few months back? If you missed it, click here.

On one of our visits to the ice cream shop, Cayman and I shared a vanilla cone. Apparently that was not enough for her sweet tooth though, for on our way back to our house Cayman kept staring at Daddy's Frozen Limeade slushie.
We'd walk a few steps and then stop to give her a bite...




Happy Birthday to Cayman's Great Grandma Jeanne!

Summer Experiences: STROLLER RIDES

Come back tomorrow to find out where Cayman likes to go on her summer walks.

Summer Experiences: GRASS

This is Cayman's 2nd summer, but in many ways it's like a first for her.

Last year, she was just a little baby, a few months old, that was recovering from several surgeries. During Cayman's stay in the NICU, we learned that there are times when stimulation can be harmful to a baby, especially one that is recovering from so much.So we kept Cayman very sheltered...

protecting her...

providing an environment where she could rest and recover.

This summer is quite different! Cayman is older, stronger, and is experiencing what summer is all about, as we are too! {"Blessed Normalcy, I don't take you for granted."}

Summer Experince #1: laying barefoot in the grass

She smiled and liked the experience as long as she did not have to touch the grass. She kept her hands and feet tucked up and in.

Father's Day

My Dearest Mike,

Cayman is so blessed to have such a great Daddy. Happy Father's Day!

Always Yours,

Kristen

Today is special for another reason too:

Happy Birthday to Cayman's Aunt Sam!

Kodak Moments

This is how Cayman fell asleep one day; one hand cuddling her favorite musical toy and her other hand inside the fish bowl.

Cayman's first chocolate milk...yummy! She drank the bottle dry.

Cayman loves magazines!

He was Thinking of Me

I was in the kitchen cooking lunch. I heard Mike open the front door and declare his presence, "Honey I'm home and I brought you something!"

He quickly scurried into the family room, whipped out his work laptop, set it before my favorite spot on the couch, so over his lunch hour I could have a brief recovery from my withdrawals.

What a thoughtful man!

"Thanks Mike!"

Get Well Wishes for my Computer

My computer, my friend, is very sick. I first noticed the signs a couple days ago when she began to run slowly. Then came the green spots and lines across the screen. And the worse was when she fell completely silent, not wanting to turn on at all.

I was very worried about her. I called on Dr. Mike for help. After reviewing her symptoms and trying a few treatments with no prevail, it appears she may need to be sent away for further observation.

So I sadly, type away on someone else's computer. It's not mine. The keys feel different. It's not green like my computer. (I love green!) I miss her patiently waiting on the end table next to the couch, ready for me whenever I can steal away and enjoy a free moment. *sigh* I'm ready to have my friend back.

Until then, my blogging may be sporadic.

Wish her well!

A future blogger in training.

Sonic

We've heard people rave about it...

We've even seen the commercials...

but we never have had a Sonic Drive-In experience, until this past weekend.

We drove up...

Ordered our food...

And it was delivered by a waitress on roller skates.
Mike ordered:

• Sonic Burger
• Root Beer Float

I ordered:

• Grilled Chicken Wrap
• Butterfinger Sonic Blast

We shared:

• Tater Tots
• Spicy Jalapenos

It was delicious, greasy, and completely unhealthy. Everything that makes it a yummy American meal.

How privileged I feel to have a 1950's experience in 2009.

{my 400th post}

Cayman Crocs

Did you know that there is a Croc style called "Cayman"?

Naturally, we are a huge fan!

Right now, there's an awesome deal on kids' Cayman Crocs. $9.99 with free shipping on these styles:

High School Musical

Dora

Disney

Pixar Cars

Bob the Builder

Go to this website and check it out!

Garage Sale

Today is the start of my very first own garage sale.

I hope for...

good weather

and

lots of sales.

In Mike's effort to help, he mispriced a few items....

Cayman says, "What?! You're getting rid of me?"

Mommy says, "No Cayman, Daddy was just kidding. You are not for sale, baby doll."

Mac and Blocks

Macaroni and Blocks...

together...

in one container...

makes for a fun sensory activity.

Happy Birthday to my very dear friend, Tammi!

Restoring Walls

{I know I said I was going to post all house updates on my other blog. But that blog has fallen to the wayside. I find it easier to manage one site, not two. I don't like deciding which blog to post on. So I've been considering combining my blogs.}

The steps to renewing our walls:

Step 1: Strip Wallpaper (that contained several steps in itself)Step 2: Sponge clean walls and wood trim.

Step 3: Fix and fill in all gaps and cracks in the wall. (Wall cracks were filled in using drywall mud. Gaps between wood trim and wall or fireplace brick and wall was filled in with a paintable cauking.)
Step 4: Apply dry wall mud texture. (We called in the best drywaller around, my dad. His work is nothing short of perfection. The idea of the texture is to conceal any flaws the aged walls contain. The plan worked because the walls are now flawless.)Step 5: Prime the walls.Step 6: Paint the ceiling.

Step 7: Paint the wood trim.

What a difference a coat of paint can do.

You know how I mentioned my dad is a perfectionist? Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I painted all the base board trim at eye level. No painters tape for me...not-huh. All I need is a steady hand and a concentrated eye...total traits inherited from my dad.

Step 8: Paint the walls.The new wall color is beautiful. It's light, subtle, and airy. When I look at just the color I am completely happy. However, when I step back and view the whole ensemble of the room, it is not at all how I envisioned this space or what I thought the color would be when we picked it out from the paint chip. Mike suggested I give it a week before I set my mind on changing it. That's been easy to do, since I have been too busy organizing and getting ready for our garage sale, to dig into another painting project. But I can say, as the week bears on, the more certain I become that I will be painting the walls again. Hold back those empathic groans though, because I am actually looking forward to it. Painting the walls is the most fun part of this whole renovation for me. When I can decorate I am in my most favorable environment.

Here's a shot of the before.
Of course, it would be frivolous of me to post without a picture of Cayman. So here she is. She was a big help to me while I was busy painting. She contently played and fed herself. This was her favorite eating position. I propped her up on a pillow within my eyesight, but safely away from the paint fumes. She tapped the buttons with her feet, providing some dinner music for her. What a perfect little girl she is!

The Zoo

Saturday, we joined up with members of my side of the family, for a fun-filled day at the zoo.Here's the clan from left to right:
{Back Row}: Mike, Cayman, Me, Laura, Aunt Linda, Uncle Martin, Tyson, Paul, Angela, Grandma, Ben
{Front Row}: Dan, Shon, Grandpa Kary, Madison, Grandma Cindy, Stacey

We had a blast!

Of the 230 pictures that we took, here are my favorites:

A baby monkey hanging on while the Mama swung from rope to rope.

Our picnic area!

Penguins, my personal favorite!

We rode the carousel...

then the train.


The traditional picture of Madison and I standing on the fake dung pile.


Tyson was the videographer. With his witty sarcastic commentaries, I am sure this will be a much need-to-see film (with popcorn, of course).


How did Cayman like the zoo?

She wanted to touch everything!

The door way chains...

the fish...

the jellyfish...


But all that touching was so exhausting, but no worries because...

she has the life of luxury.