A happy heart makes a cheerful face.

~Proverbs 15:13

Behind Closed Doors

I found this picture on my camera tonight. Apparently Charlie and Sam are indoctrinating Mary into the love of all things LEGO, when I'm not looking. This little girl adores her big brothers!

There's Just Something About Carrie

We had a very special visitor this evening. Carrie, the surgical nurse from Loyola, came for dinner. She is the amazing person who (literally) held our hands through Mary's first surgery, and then came back to Loyola (after she had taken a position with another hospital), just for Mary's second surgery! I really can't express how much Carrie means to our family. She was the person who walked us through everything that would be happening with the surgery, and then acted as a liaison between us and the operating room during the actual event. But what really endeared her to me, were the days in the hospital during Mary's first recovery. Six days post-partum for me + major surgery for brand new baby girl = emotional roller coaster. Multiply that by several medical professionals with different opinions, with poor Carrie being the most approachable of them all, and that means she got to deal with me, mama bear, in all my hormonal, breast-milk pumping glory :) Carrie really does an exceptionally good job - she is clear without being overly explicit, and is reassuring while still being realistic. She is such a blessing to all of the families she works with - and now we are so lucky to also call her our friend!

Although Mary wasn't interested in a photo shoot - in her heart, she loves Carrie, too :)
Of course, Sam, the ladies man, had to get in on the action, as well~

Isn't she sweet?

So Big!

The boys taught Mary "so big". She's gotten really good at it, too~

Someone must have gotten a strike at bowling today~

And here she is, having an opinion on how to pick up that tough spare~

Hold on Tight to Your Dreams

This weekend, Mary made it to her 4th state (other than Illinois). That's pretty impressive for just under a year old, considering that she also squeezed in two major surgeries :) Grandpa and Pam had the fun idea to check out the City Museum in St. Louis, and so we decided to take a little road trip.

First stop - Lenny's, erm...I mean, Denny's. Mary shared my grand slam~

With Daddy~

She's just started the whole "putting her food in your mouth" business. We love it!

Here is Mary Ruth, on the steps of my grandma's (Ruth Stafford Kovacs) (former) house, in Jacksonville~

We had a (not-so) quick detour in Hannibal, MO. Checking out the Mighty Mississippi~

And finally, to the coolest place on earth - The City Museum~

Mary loved the slide! This was easily her most favorite section~

Where's Mary?

We had beautiful weather~

And back at the slides~

The Grandparazzi~

We don't yet have a pianist in the family - perhaps she'll be the first to master it?

What a trooper she was, spending over 12 hours in the car, over two short days~

Swinging

Mary has been sticking her tongue out a lot lately - I was able to catch this shot while we were enjoying the crisp fall air~

And here's my happy baby girl~

She will be one in a little over 2 weeks! This time last year is so vivid in my memory - the worry and the waiting. We didn't know it was Mary who was coming - she was the best surprise!

Shake, Shake, Shake Senora

Mary, like most babies, loves music. She usually swings from side to side when she hears it, but sometimes she bops, too. I made a CD of some of her favorite songs. When she's playing and I put the music on, she stops, looks up, and starts "dancing", with a big grin on her face.

I'm not sure why this video is at the wrong angle - but it's still cute ~

Baby Love

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Aselin Debison

And She Was - The Talking Heads

1234 - Feist

Life Could Be A Dream - The Crew Cuts

Who's My Pretty Baby - Elizabeth Mitchell

Blackbird - The Beatles

Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte

Three Little Birds - Bob Marley

I'll Fly Away - Alison Krauss

Come On, Let's Go - Ritchie Valens

Tiny Dancer - Ben Folds

Little Mama - The Clovers

You Are My Sunshine - Ray Charles

Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder

Crazy Love - Van Morrison

Walking After Midnight - Patsy Cline

Teach Your Children - Crosby, Stills and Nash

Birdhouse in Your Soul - They Might Be Giants

Peace Train - Cat Stevens

Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da - The Beatles

At Last - Etta James