Moving up in the World...

or selling out to the dark side,
however you want to look at it.

Either way, a new toy is always fun.

To the rest of the world,
Welcome me in - I'm feeling like the new kid in school.
M

A Fort

The definition and purpose of a fort changes throughout your life.  I think that in every stage and definition, there is a sense of secrecy and a fort always has a connotation of a certain home base, a hideout.  We can all relate to some point in our teenage years, when a "fort" becomes something of a retreat when we want to escape from our existing world.  This hideout for a teenager is essential in the brooding and in the emotional reflection that we are desperately learning to deal with at the time (do we ever really master this?).  I know for me it was always my car.  I could hideout and control the volume, the temperature, the speed and I felt as if I didn't have to be part of the rest of the world for the time that I was safe in my little VW.  I didn't even have to go anywhere, I could just sit and appreciate the perfect isolation.
As an adult, there are far fewer reasons, and even fewer opportunities to retreat to a fort.  But I think that we do our best to find tiny times to reflect and "hideout" - be it a weekend away, or more often just a shower.
But as a child... oh to be a child... a fort is not a retreat from the rest of the world.  No, no.  A fort to a child, is a creation to another world.  Yes, it can still be a place to be alone with your thoughts, but more often than not, they are thoughts of discovery and invention.  A fort for a child is the ultimate place for imagination and creation.
It is where we learn to wonder...





Here are some pictures of Cheyenne's first fort.
(Of course there is the time that there is more fun in the destruction of the fort than the creating... but she'll get there.  This is just the beginning...)

Steps and Stumbles

Just a little peek into our little bird's
walking progress.

Every day a little bit braver
and each morning new bruises to show it...

And here is Part II - 

With a little help from the cupboards, she is quite confident...

Strider's new friend

Strider has a new confidante and dare I say "friend?"  He tolerated his presence for a long time then more recently showed interest.  Now throughout the day we see him looking for his friend in the yard and when he catches a glimpse we even catch him wagging his little tail.

Toothy Grin

Cheyenne now has 8 teeth!  

The six in front and then two large molars on one side.  

They make her look so mature - like a really truly little girl.

Warm Love

"and it's ever present everywhere.... that's warm love"  -Van Morrison

A Journey of a thousand miles...

begins with a single step...

and in this case 6 steps!

Cheyenne has been flirting with the idea of walking for quite a while now - a step or two here, a stand and stumble there... but this morning - she walked clear across the room.  So so proud.

(I think my favorite part of these pictures is Chris' face)

One of Chris' coworkers told him that a father "loses" his daughter three times - when she learns to walk, when she learns to drive, and when she gets married.  Although neither of us feel any sense of loss today, there is a certain pang in our hearts knowing that she no longer needs our hands to balance her sweet little feet.  First of many, I know.

Beach Baby

Park City with a Summer Backdrop

We went to Park City over a month ago and when we returned, life just kicked in swiftly and in a blink, school started and summer ended.  Of all our countless trips to PC, there have only been a couple that have been in the Summertime, one being our Honeymoon 2 years ago!

It really was a wonderful trip filled with many moments that I think back to and keep me motivated some days.  Thanks Mom and Dad and Mama (Great-Great as we now call her) for letting us relax in the "lodge."  Can't wait until Christmas which will be filled with many more memories, and this time with a sparkly white backdrop.

Strider and Mobee

Trolly Ride on Main Street

Fun at Mirror Lake - picnic and  exploring.

Birthday Number One!
Cake, cupcakes, presents, party hats
and even a bubble machine!

Chris and I even got to take a little adventure ourselves to celebrate our anniversary.  We escaped for a day and a half to Midway and Sundance.  We stayed in a quaint resort that made wonderful homemade fudge and went nightswimming in a natural crater that is heated by the Earth's core.  We woke up early and drove to the Sundance Resort and went on a beautiful hike to Stewart Falls and made it down the mountain just in time for our massages.  Relaxed and refreshed we had a leisurely dinner at Robert Redford's rustic restaurant and then finished the night with a "Full Moon lift ride" to the top of the mountain in the light of the huge moon.  Then back to the Park City lodge where our girl and Strider had many stories to tell us about their adventures with their Grandparents.

Pictures from our anniversary trip below:

Waking up...

We wake up every morning to a little tiny singing voice.  We have no idea when Cheyenne wakes up in the morning because it is so rare an occasion that she wakes us up crying or we wake up before her.  We wake up naturally or to our Damien Rice alarm (we have woken up to the same song for over 7 years) and we lay in bed and listen for her sweet voice.  She is normally singing or reading or dropping things one by one over the edge of the crib.  Eventually we get up and peek in, and the minute she sees us she searches for a book or bear to show us what she has been doing.

A little independent girl for sure.

Sweet Morning Face
August 2012

Cartwheels and Pirouettes

Cheyenne took her first steps this weekend.  

Confidence is growing and she will be doing cartwheels and pirouettes in no time!

Speaking of pirouettes, have you all seen this darling clip of this little girl in ballet class?  

She is trying so hard - I bet her mama is so proud.

The Tragedy of the First Position

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdylQeg5B9I

We'll try to get a video or at least a series of pictures that show our little girl on the move, but for now,

Here are just a couple of my very favorite photos as of late...

Baby in a box!

Cheyenne's new obsession is climbing in boxes and drawers and baskets.
She is very good at getting into the boxes but still working on her exit strategy.

Sunday Party Hats