Wine festival at Smith Mountain Lake

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My little giraffe

Sadie went in for her 18 month checkup this week. I think it was the first checkup appointment of either kid that I've missed so far. But Ali took notes so I felt like I was there. Here are the stats:

Weight: 22 lbs, 10 oz (30th percentile)
Height: 35 inches (99th percentile)

Sadie is tall. She's taller than 99 percent of other girl babies her age. She's almost two inches taller than I was at her age, and an inch and a half taller than Jake was. She's my little giraffe.

Here she is eating ice cream at Union Station, in yet another dress that is too short for her:


We were a little concerned about her vocabulary, but Dr. Halpin assured us that she was actually right about where she should be, and that Jake was very talkative for his age. And Dr. Halpin was so impressed when Sadie put on her shoes all by herself! Sadie seems very coordinated for her height. She's a menace on the jungle gym, and no slide is too tall for her.

Happy Birthday Ali!

With two kids of my own now, I can imagine how happy Mike and Pat Carr were 30 years ago, when Ali was born. I've only known her for eight years, but I've known since the day I met her that she loves life. At first I didn't believe that anyone could be so friendly and happy and eager to get to know people. When my good friends Heidi and Jamie met her, they thought she was being sarcastic and was poking fun at them. But as it turns out, Ali is that happy and genuine and nice. She just is. And she means it. But, she's human and has her limits (I'm looking at you Ms. Alaska Congeniality runner-up!). I love her empathy and I love her conviction. I love that her excitement for life is contagious with the kids, and that she also reminds them that others aren't always as fortunate as we are. I'm lucky to know her and to have her as my partner. Happy Birthday, Ali!

Here's Ali in 2002 when we flew out to California to visit her aunt and uncle Kate and Bob, and my grandparents:

This is one of my favorite picture of Ali, giving me a goofy look, in our old house downtown:


Here we are downtown, celebrating Ali's 25th birthday:


Celebrating our first anniversary in October 2003 in Shenandoah National Park:


Coy Ali in early 2004:


In Venice, Italy, 2004:

Capri Italy, 2004:

Rome, Italy, 2004:


Here we are in Califoria again, in 2006: Ali looking radiant as a new mom:

Here we are early this year en route to California to see my grandparents and visit Disneyland:


In Bermuda on a scooter exploring the island:


And here's Ali, just a few weeks ago, as the kids got ready for their first day of school and her first day back at work. I'm so proud of you, Ali!

Goodbye Madison

Enjoying a fantastic brunch at a place called Sardine, overlooking one of the lakes.
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