feet

When we left the hospital with Melina, the only thing we were missing was a set of her footprints....in fact, we were told that they don't do those at the hospital anymore.  huh?


Below are a few sets of prints we made when she was about 3 weeks (pink) and 5 weeks (black)...and there are a few pictures from one of the "print parties" with my brother and Cassio's sister (which ended with Melina needing a bath to remove tons of ink!).  We were surprised it took several people - I nursed the baby, another person applied ink, and the third person was in charge of the paper and the stamping process.  Babies like to wiggle a lot!

Melina, Family, and Friends - Part 1

Here are pictures of some family and friends since Melina was born...as well as some of our/her travels.  August-November.....not really in order FYI.

coming home form the hospital

so new!

With Lyssa, our wonderful doula.

Rachel came for a preview.

Ludo and Luis couldn't wait to see the masterpiece!

Eunice, Meghan (with Melina), Rachel and Kristin came for a lunch date.

Millers and Tolpolars (except Ryan and Denise couldn't be here that day).

Necklace charm with Melina's name...from Cassio's family collection.

Rejane's passion!

Sara and Dave at our openhouse.

Ilana and Viviane

My Mom had a great birthday with us together.

Uncle Ryan is fantastico!

Tolpolar clan arrives so they can meet Melina!

I hope Melina doesn't make this face in her school pictures in kindergarten. (see cassio)

Dad meets Melina!

with some LACMA buddies (Albert and Alicia).

Felicia finally meets Melina!

mothers and daughters :)

Heather LOVES some Melina...and she's a baby whisperer.

Erin is a natural :)  (PS the flag in the background is not a patriotic choice, but it has been there since Cassio's naturalization ceremony last year)

Looks like a military meal.

Tia Kerley found love.  AND she was really helpful  :)

darn cute.

Ludo and Luis came back for a follow-up visit!  Melina was bigger and had a little more hair!

My brother and Cassio's sister with their niece.

Always fun to see friends when you least expect!

Does cookie monster brush his teeth too?  Cookie was one of Ryan's favorite friends back in the day.

Melina's first manicure.

Elmo makes a guest appearance.

babies like IHOP.

Babies also like the wine section of Ralph's

Grandma Amalia got two great-grandchildren in one week (Melina and her cousin in Brazil). yowza!

Proud grandpas!

4 generations of Tolpolars!

Rachel and Richard agree that the Rainbow Connection is great!

we went to the Farmers Market (it was cold and rainy).

Teaching Melina to love Anthropologie.

A walk in the neighborhood.

first visit to LACMA.

Melina can't help but relax when Heather is around :)

Old-school Strawberry Shortcake came for a visit.

Dolly and onesie from Croatia also came for a visit (from Rosane and Renato).

Learning to chill.