My Cuties

Can I have some wine with that cheese?

Posing at the Park

Aria has never posed for a picture in her life...until now. Suddenly last Thursday everything changed. No longer was she too busy running and moving and jumping and spinning. She saw me with the camera, I asked her to stop and smile and...SHE STOPPED AND SMILED!!! I couldn't believe it. Just look at these beauties! Gorgeous pics of a beautiful girl and not at all blurry from the camera's inability to keep up with a zooming toddler. We were at the park and she was loving the motorcycle-bouncy-thingy, so proud she could make it move and shake and climb up it herself. She was happy to show off. Here are a few of her cheesiest, cheeriest moments:

I love that grin!

Our Little Artist

My mom is amazed at Aria's artwork and often tells those she knows about what a burgeoning artist we have on our hands. I've been told others don't always believe that Aria can draw faces at 2 (when are they supposed to start drawing faces?) but it's true. For weeks, all the images she drew were similar - faces with eyes, ears, cheeks, hair, chin, etc - and she'd tell you what and who she was drawing as she did it. Here's one example:

Faces by Aria
June 16, 2009

And another earlier version of her faces:

Aria's Chalk Drawing of Shelby
March 26, 2009

Favorite Moments of the Summer

Aria's First Caterpillar
May 2009
We saw this caterpillar as we were waiting for friends on the Hill.
I explained we had to be very gentle with it so Aria let me put it on her arm, then calmly watched it crawl on her, so interested and quiet.

Our First Backyard
July 2009
This was taken only days after we moved to Takoma from the Hill.
Aria and I were outside playing with bubbles and
enjoying the space and freedom a backyard affords us.

Aria's Big Finish
July 2009
This is the same day, as indicated by the outfit.
Aria was singing and here is performing her "big finish" as we call it.

Shadows
August 2009
Aria and Mommy out for a walk on a sunny, hot August day,
admiring our shadows.

Silly Sad Faces
August 2009
Aria and Daddy pretending to be sad.

I'm Not a Silly Girl. I AM ARIA!

So she says. I beg to differ.

Um, honey, you have a little something on your face.
August '09

She picked her own outfit that day.
July '09

Trying on Daddy's gear.
June '09

Teasing Mommy.
Such a twinkle in the eye.
April '09

Second Time Around, Together

Aria and I went to a birthday party today. Our little friend, Grayden, just turned two and to celebrate all the moms and toddlers and some of the dads from our circle met at the park for a big playdate and snacks. It was sooo nice to be back on the Hill, with lovely playgrounds and friendly, familiar faces in wonderful abundance.

It's such a good feeling to be able to get together with other people that are in the same stage in life...and we very much are. As we sat at the table feeding our toddlers (all within a couple months of turning two) grapes and chatting I began looking around and noticing that of the seven mothers there, five are currently pregnant with their second babies and one had a baby less than two weeks ago. And that was just those that could come to this event; there are more in our circle that are expecting. We'll all have our babies in much the same spread as last time, too, within 4 or 5 months of each other.

Unfortunately, they won't all grow up together; some have already moved from the Hill - ourselves included - and others are talking about it. DC is a transient place and no one seems to stay for long. But these kids are forever linked by the times they spent together as babies and toddlers and the moms will long remember the commeraderie enjoyed during playgroups and nursing classes and chance playground meetings. And hopefully in the process, a few friendships have been forged that will withstand the distance.

Aria & Mommy Meet Obama

This post is dedicated to Joy, who has been patiently waiting for a new post for oh, so long.

In my list of Great DC Moments this one ranks near the top of the list.

As with all great stories, it all started with a trip to the DMV. After a long walk and a long wait and a not-too-shabby photo, we emerged from the non-descript building with my updated license and big appetites and started searching for the nearest something edible. Southwest DC, where we were, is an up-and-coming area and the food joints are not as plentiful as in some areas of the District. But it was lunchtime and the starving toddler would not be ignored and pregnant Mommy was getting slugglish. Following the path of professionals toting carryout lunches, we made our way to the nearest restaurant, a Subway. One look at the line told Mommy that neither she nor her cranky toddler would survive it. The only other visible option was the Five Guys (the DC almost-as-good version of In & Out) next door, still with a long line but not nearly as long as Subway's and with fresh, yummy french fries, grilled cheese for the little one and a veggie sandwich for Mommy. Oh yeah, they serve burgers too.

As we stood waiting for our food two teenage boys and their dad started running back and forth from their table to the window, straining their necks to try to see something. As all others seemed to be acting normally, I paid them little mind other than the brief glance toward whatever they were looking at (I saw nothing). Quickly, however, the hubbub grew and soon people were screaming in excitement outside. Suddenly, 30 or 40 photographers, cameramen and microphone-thingy-guys were flooding backwards through the doorway of Five Guys. And then it becomes clear: President Obama, who is known in DC for his love of Five Guys, is here. He walks up to the counter and places an order (no, I do not know for what - he had a very large bag when he left) and then proceeds to wander around talking to the customers.

Obama orders his burger(s).
The guy in front - Security; the guy next to him - Press.

Working the Crowd

Soon he spots Aria and comes over saying, "And who is this pretty little girl?"

"This is Aria," I say.

"Does Aria like to dance?" he says, munching on some peanuts. Aria was wearing a pink tutu skirt.

"Aria loves to dance," I say. Aria stared intensely, not moving a muscle, as she always does when meeting a new person.

President Obama giggled, munched another peanut and moved on to the others standing nearby, first a guy, then a bug-eyed woman nearly coming out of her skin and saying "Will you take a picture with me!?!?" (he graciously did). I took the opportunity to place Aria on the top of the trash can and capture these images.

Aria & Obama

Obama & Aria

A short but exciting exchange for Aria and her liberal-minded mommy. President Obama left a few minutes later to more screams of excitement from the sidewalk outside, waving as he drove away.

Mommy & Aria after meeting President Obama

Random thoughts on this brief run-in with the President:

- He's taller than I thought.

- I still think it's creepy to ask a politician to hold your baby, but it did cross my mind for a second or two...would've made a great picture.

- The Secret Service were remarkably low-key and nowhere near as noticeable as the press.

- I really hope there is a picture published in the paper with Aria and Obama; I'd love it for her scrapbook (let me know if you see any!)