Blueberry fun!

The other day, I finally let Miss Sasha taste some blueberries (she's had them before in pureed form, but I've been absolutely paranoid about her choking, so I haven't given them to her whole). I quartered them and let her play around on her tray. She had such a great time and loved them! Some even made it into her mouth (I did have to help a little though too). So without further ado, here's my kiddo eating blueberries:





"What? It's totally in my mouth!"

Long weekend recap

When I typed that post title it was supposed to mean "recap of the long weekend". Then I looked at it one more time and it kinda looked like "a long recap of our weekend". I think it's actually going to end up being both, I have so many pictures to share from the past few days!
We had a four day-weekend and it was great (but did go a little too fast, as always). Jon and Grace got married this Sunday, so Friday Yevgeny and the rest of the guys had a fun night out to celebrate (of course there are absolutely no pictures of this event). The camera stayed with me while we went to my parents' house for auntie Anna's birthday get together. Sasha and I ended up staying over and I have to say, for the first night away from home she did fairly well (all things considered: loud neighbors, ice cream trucks, all the guests playing with her).

Hanging out with grandma


Jumping on auntie Anna


Walking with great-grandma


Grandpa and Sasha



Saturday, Anna and I went to the city to get our haircuts, she found a great deal someplace, so we decided to give it a try (Anna went out with her friends on Saturday too, so it was just in time). Saturday was the night of the rehearsal for the wedding, and the dinner at a nice place on Long Island, called the Davenport Press (it was lovely and the food was delicious!)

Grace with her bow-bouquet




You can see my new haircut here - it's really not much different than what I had before...

Then Sunday was the wedding itself. What can I say of this day other than it was so absolutely gorgeous! I do love weddings, but this one was just awesome. Everything went so great, everybody was having a great time, Yevgeny was the best man and made a very funny speech (he was a bit nervous about it, but it ended up just great!) Grace was an absolutely stunning bride and she and Jon were just beaming the entire evening.

Walking down the aisle with her father


Listening to jon's sister Heidi sing


You may now kiss the bride


Married!


My handsome husband - the best best man ever!


At the reception hall


Grace and I - how beautiful is that girl!!


Toasting with the new Mr. and Mrs.



Monday, we just really wanted to take it easy, after three crazy busy days, so we ended up barbecueing a little on our balcony. My dad came over for a little bit to hang out (my mom is in Russia visiting family for a couple of weeks).



"Mama, are you trying to distract me with your phone so that I won't notice the hat?"


"You will fail!" - hat off


Yum!


Grandpa and Sasha


How sweet are these two!?!?

June 2nd

...is the day I finally become a citizen! It's been a long way coming, and I finally got my appointment (had my interview on May 7th). I didn't think I'd be this excited, but I am! No more getting visas and standing in line at the consulates (except for the Russian consulate, but that's a very very long story for another time, sigh), no more green cards and so many pieces of identification to carry when traveling. Oh, and now I'll be able to vote too. Yippee!

Lucky

I feel very lucky. And grateful. I'm not sure why I have to say this today, but I have been feeling it so much lately. I'm so lucky to have such an amazing little girl, she is the best daughter anyone could ever ask for, she lights up gray days, she makes me laugh (sometimes uncontrollably) each and every day. To have such a great man for a husband, who is the best father any little girl could ask for and the best most caring husband. To have such an awesome support system, our parents, my sister, our grandparents, all of our extended family. We are so so lucky. A little sappy, but needed to be said.

Friday visitors

Auntie Anna and auntie Inna came to visit us, we had such a great time hanging out. Here are some pictures:

Hi!


Auntie Inna, Sasha, and auntie Anna


All of us together


Chewing away on her mouse


Auntie Inna with Sasha


How darling is that outfit!?

Silly girl

She got stuck behind the curtain the other day...






She managed to crawl out of her booster seat while playing in it and this is what I came back to. She was completely content chewing on my cell phone!

Happy Mother's Day

Today is my first Mother's Day. And it was a wonderful day. We went to the Botanic Gardens to look at all the pretty flowers. It was such a nice warm day, and though there were a lot of people (a lot of moms with their kids celebrating the day, it was very sweet), we had a great time.

I finally figured out how to use the macro setting on our camera and took some pretty shots at the Botanic Gardens




Sasha's favorite thing to do is ride on daddy's shoulders






My sunny happy girl


And then she grabbed some leaves off the tree and attempted to eat them


She also likes to "help" me push her stroller











And this poem I found online, I just had to include.

Mom, Now that I'm a Mother

Until I became a Mother,
I did not understand,
The profound sense of love,
In a Mother's heart and hands.

As I whisper, "Mommy loves you",
I rock my precious child to sleep.
Small perfection in my arms,
Sweet breaths, slow and deep.

I now see me as a baby,
You're rocking me to sleep.
You whisper, "Mommy loves you,
My heart is yours to keep."

At last I recognize your love,
As a Mother I now see.
As I hold and love my child,
You feel that love for me.

I will always be your baby,
Despite the years that pass.
You have given me my life,
And a Mother's heart to last.

The greatest thanks I can offer,
More than words can ever say.
Is to give my child the love,
You gave me everyday.

Thank you for everything you've done for me, mama, happy mother's day. I love you!
And happy mother's day to all the moms out there!

I had my citizenship interview today

And I'm pleased to share that I passed! It really wasn't a difficult test at all, I had to answer 6 questions about US history/government, read a sentence and write a sentence. I was one of the last people there (had a late appointment), so I had to wait for about two hours and I had a grumpy old lady do the interview, so I was extremely nervous, but I passed. So yay! Now since I haven't changed my last name on my green card, they have to change that in their system, but once they do that, I should get an appointment for the swearing in. And then I'll be a citizen! I just hope it happens soon.

Eight months!

As of today, we have an 8-month-old baby! I think I say this every month, but where did the time go? How is she eight months already?! She is such a big girl now too: she walks when I'm holding her hands (she gets very excited when I put her down on the floor to walk), she knows where she's going, loooves looking at herself in the mirror, giggles and smiles at herself, loves staring at the picture of all three of us we have from her 3-month-old photo shoot, absolutely adores her papa (and keeps saying papapa when he's not home).
And now for the monthly pictures of my baby girl:





It's getting increasingly harder to take pictures of her with that sign...






"Can you believe it, Ollie, I'm eight months old?!"