This weekend was all about Stella. Each year we celebrate the anniversary of when we adopted Stella and we call it Stellaversary! It was quite the stellabration! Stellaversary is always celebrated with one of Stella's favorite things - a trip to the beach! This also happened to be Maude's first real trip to the beach. You may remember our attempt at the beach a few weeks ago - we spent all of 15 minutes there, fighting the wind and cold before heading back to the car. Stellaversary was a success for all parties involved. In fact, it was one of our lengthiest beach trips ever! The weather was perfect - cool and breezy without being cold and not so hot that Stella poops out on us after a short time running up and down the beach.
Maude seemed to love the fresh sea air and enjoyed watching Stella run into the waves as they came crashing into the shore. There were lots of families with kids there, too. I had visions of watching Maude someday building sand castles while Stella runs into them and obliterates all the hard work. I can't wait to see these two grow up together. This weekend was also the first time I've really seen Maude and Stella interact. Stella has done her fair share of checking Maude out, but Maude has always been a little oblivious to Stella. And the few times we've brought Maude really close to a lounging Stella, Stella has quickly moved to get as far away from the baby as possible. This weekend, the two of them seemed to become genuinely interested in each other. I even put a treat in Maude's hand and Stella gently took it from her. So sweet!
This coming week brings my first two night trip away from Maude. Prior to coming back from maternity leave, I knew the planned business trips I had over the summer and felt somewhat mentally prepared to go on them. A week prior to coming back to work, I learned about one I hadn't planned on, but was able to arrange bringing Mike and Maude with me. I then had another unexpected trip come up - my first without Maude. Now this week I have a planned trip with another unplanned the very next day which means I'm flying from one city to the next and will be gone from Maude for well over 48 hours. Overnight was one thing - I got to see Maude (very very) early in the morning before I left and then again the next late afternoon when I got home. This trip means I'm going an entire day without seeing her. I'm just not ready for it. I have an annual work event in mid-August where I'll be away from her for two nights and I had hoped that would be my first time away from her for so long. This week's events came up so suddenly and much, much earlier than I had hoped for. I know she and Mike will be fine - I'm more worried about me. =)
The pictures below are from our beach trip and some we took today with Maude in her tutu. I bought that tutu well before I knew we were having a girl. I just
knew we were going to have a girl and couldn't resist buying this sweet, pink, fluffy, girly tutu! These are the first real photos we have of her wearing it. I love them so much!!
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| Mom and the girls at the beach. |
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| Daddy and Maude. |
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| TUTU!! |
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| I love her laugh. Stella is loving having her new friend at her level. |
