Sleepy Midget...

Mia has finally begun to give us a bit of a hard time sleeping... It comes as such a surprise since we've been so spoiled by what an easy child she is. Or so we're told... For the past week or two she has been waking up in the middle of the night and the only way to get her to go back to sleep is to bring her into our bed! While it's amazingly cute, this is not something that Mommy or Daddy are ok with. So we're told that we're going to need to let her 'cry it out'. Not something that is very easy... Maybe we'll try that next week!

I took this picture last night at about 3:30 am. We had some of the worst monsoon storms I can ever recall. We even lost power for about 13 hours, which is really fun when it's over 100 degrees outside!! So we tore the sheets back, brought the Midget to bed with us, and all spread out on the bed trying to remain as cool as possible. She's beautiful even when she's sleeping... Like Mommy!

Mad Love for Elmo!!

Ok, I'm guessing this isn't unique with children, but Mia is madly in love with Elmo! In fact, this borders on obsession... The good news is that if I turn on an Elmo movie during dinner she relaxes and eats her whole meal without launching her milk across the room to watch Daddy go get it! (The little things) Veronta & Paul got Mia a gift card and I bet you can guess what she decided to buy with it... Yep, another Elmo for the collection! Mia is very appreciative and can't put her new Elmo down. Thank you Paul & Veronta, you're too sweet to our midget.

Pocahontas!

Mommy & Trenna took all the kids to the new Phoenix Children's Museum last week. Mia had a blast, and decided to make herself an Indian head dress. Pocahontas felt the need to wear it around the house for a few days... I think she thought Baby Bear & Little Bear were her hostages!

Schulz's Visit!

Trenna came to visit this past weekend with Savannah & Sawyer. They are very sweet kids, and Mia had so much fun with them. In fact, I'm fairly certain that all three children grew gills by the end of the weekend they spent so much time in the pool... Mia even learned to jump off the diving board at the Club!!!!! Crazy midget...

Tubby Time with Sawyer!

Mia & Sawyer were so cute together in the tub! Our midget is getting spoiled by having playmatese around so oftern... She sure loves Sawyer & Savannah!

My Girls...

This is another one of Mia's 18 month portraits. Mommy jumped in on this one and it's my favorite photo! So beautiful...

18 Month Photos!

Mommy took Mia to have her 18 month portraits taken. What's amazing is that this kid doesn't take a bad picture. She is shockingly photogenic... Look at the little cutie!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!!

Believe it or not, our 18 month old midget started school this week!! Mia attends school from 9-1 on Tues & Thurs. We were a little worried about starting her this early, but some of our friend's children that attend this school are far more socialized than other children we know... Plus, when we took her to observe a while back she hopped out of Mommy's arms, joined the other kids for play, and even tried to take a snack away from another little boy! I figure she's ready to start stealing lunch money and bullying the other children.

She did surprisingly well. She whined a bit when we were leaving, but when I peaked in the window about 90 seconds later, she was sitting on the teacher's lap giggling and reading a book with her! Luckily, there are only 6 children for 2 teachers, so she'll get lots of attention! Plus, after all the excitement she took a 3 hour nap her first day! By Thursday it was as if it was a familiar routine for her... Note her glasses in the picture. The teachers were quite amused! She loves to wear those damn things.

Stop & Smell the Roses

Could there be a cuter picture?! She is so phenomenally sweet... Every day she makes us appreciate our lives a little bit more than yesterday!

Camaro Girl...

No question that being in Cleveland was great. We got a chance to see so many people & had so much fun... However, the pinnacle of the trip was when our little midget climbed into Daddy's 69 Camaro and excitedly pretended she was driving it! Can you ask for more from a midget? The future looks bright for this kid... (and Daddy!)

Swing Time!

While in Cleveland, Mommy & Mia got a chance to hang out with Lisa & Steve Pastor and their beautiful daughter Gwenyth! They hung out in the park for a bit and, as you can tell, the girls loved the swings. Unfortunately, Daddy couldn't make it as he had gone out a little late the night before...

Puppy Love...

While in Cleveland, Dave & Sandy hosted a barbecue at their beautiful home! It was so great to see their whole family, as well as Brian & Eileen. Here's Paul & Andrea's daugher Sophia & Brian & Eileen's daughter Greta flanking Mia, as she harasses the puppies... Unfortunately our midget wasn't feeling so well that night and was abnormally whiney... She even ended up projectile vomiting all over Mommy before the night was through. Lucky Mommy!

Booksmart Friends!

While in Cleveland, Mommy & Mia had a play date at the library! Here's our midget sharing the chair with her new friends. Mary Hollish's son Peyton and Cindy Sherman's kids Robby & Leah. Aren't they all so cute?!

The Last Bottle...

On Sunday night we gave Mia her last bottle forever... Mommy wanted to cut the bottles off months ago, but Daddy wasn't having any of that! After all, it's the most enjoyable moment of the day. So I finally caved, and tonight we'll have yet another new experience with our precious little midget who, by the way, has now begun calling herself Mimi... She's a fruitcake that one!

Zoe & Lilly!

Mia had so much fun playing with Doug & Heather's kids, Zoe & Lilly, while we were back in Ohio. In fact, they were kind enough to watch Mia while we went out to dinner with the Caplan's one night. In every picture we have of them playing together, Mia has a huge grin from ear to ear. While we were at dinner, we received a text picture of Mia in their front yard with about 10 neighborhood kids around her, and again, Mia smiling! They are incredibly sweet girls and Mia can't wait to have them visit her in Arizona. Plus, she's hoping Heather might bring along one of those cakes that are so damn tasty! Ok, maybe it's Daddy who really wants the cake...

First Visit to the Beach!

While visiting Cedar Point, we took Mia to the Lake Erie beach! This was her first time in the sand. She was a little tentative at first, but quickly fell in love with it... In fact, within about 15 minutes she had absconded a shovel and bucket from some unsuspecting little boy and was buildling sand castles!

Cedar Point!!!

On our first Saturday in Cleveland we went with Uncle Chris & Aunt Donna to Cedar Point, a huge amusement park on the shores of Lake Erie. Mia had an absolute blast spending the weekend with her cousins Madison, Michael, Michelle & Maria. They are all so good with her and she's never had so many play mates in one place at once! Maria, one of the twins, was especially sweet, following her around all weekend to make sure she was safe! Madison & Michelle were always quick to share, and Michael is always good for a squirt gun shot in the eye! I'm pretty sure she's never played so hard... She definitely loves her cousins!

Crazy Ride Hopper!

Our crazy little midget never got scared on all the rides! Truth be told, Daddy was a little unsure of some of these kiddie rides, but Mia never flinched... That's our crazy midget!!

Crazy Ride Hopper 2

Here's Mia cruising on the Jeep ride with her cousin Madison, who was so sweet and helpful the whole weekend! Mia has decided she loves Ohio. Being responsible parents, we feel we owe it to her to be fair and balanced, and take her back in January or February! We'll see how much she loves it then...

Late Night...

Miraculously, our Midget made it until almost midnight in the amusement park!! As you can tell by the residue on her lip, there may have been a little sugar responsible for this late night surge... She had so much fun with her cousin's that she slept through the night without waking up a single time!

Bucket Head...

When we first checked into our hotel room at Cedar Point, Mia decided that the ice bucket would be much better used as a fashion accessory to her pool attire... Always the stylish baby!

First Tricycle Ride!

Mia wanted to make sure you were all witness to her greatness! She had so much fun riding her tricycle at Grandpa's house this past week. She already misses her Ohio friends and family...