October Update

At the top of the list for this month was a great visit with the Furness Grandparents and Mary Downey down in Massachusetts.  Kiera loved trying to get Mary Downey to drink her sippie cup, and laughed hysterically when she actually did.  We had a mini vacation down in Boston one weekend - we rented a boutique hotel next to Newbury Street, ate lots of great food (including at the Union Oyster House), and hung out at the Boston Public Garden.  Halloween was terrific.  Billings Farm in Woodstock Vermont has a Halloween event where the kids parade through the farm in line with baby farm animals; Kiera blended right in with her monkey costume.  I've added a few photos below from some new skills Kiera is working on: eating sweet corn, and helping with the laundry.  Enjoy

 

Halloween:

Visit with Mary Downey:

Boston Mini Vacation; Hotel Living!

Fall Sweet Corn:



Helping with the Laundry:

September Update

Of course the highlight of this month was Kiera's first birthday.  We decide on an animal theme for the party, with the monkey being the centerpiece - and star of the show.  Marlena and I teamed up to make and decorate a cake ourselves - not exactly show quality but much better than we both anticipated it would turn out.  We had a great group of friends and family, and are so thankful that so many of you were willing to drive the long way up here.  Here are a few of our favourite photo's from this month and her party.

The Morning before the party:

Birthday Time!

Vermont Express

A couple of great videos. The first one is at the Montshire Science Museum.  They have an outdoor water park.  We were wading in one of the streams.  The second video is of the Green Mountain Express; a Vermont steam train you can ride in Norwich. 

August Update

Who can resist a baby that starts to walk.  The first few excited steps.  The look of pure anticipation as they teeter forward hoping that momentum and luck alone will keep them moving.  I'll relish that memory for years to come. 

So its been a great month.  Marlena and I have been dashing out of work at 5pm to spend some time with our burgeoning trouble maker.  Kiera for her part is starting to take a few steps.  And as many toys as we accumulate and stack in towers of chaotic colors, she still cant resist spending all day trying to climb, scramble, and scream her way up the stairs to the second floor.  We've resigned to the fact that its probably good exercise for the family escorting her up and down the stairs, and up, and down...you get the idea.  So we're just a few weeks away from her first birthday.  Marlena has all the decorations bought and ready, and we're starting to check the weather daily for signs that we can use the outdoors.  I have a few photos below from this month.  A couple of great days are worth noting.  We visited the Augusta St. Gaudens estate and took some nice photos of the gardens and Kiera.  Marlena's brother Wyn was able to escape from Louisiana - and the Army - and come home for a few days to visit; which gave Kiera a chance to poke and prod him.  More to come, and I hope everyone enjoyed their summer.  Just a reminder but if your viewing this on the website, you can always click on the photo to make it bigger.

Random Moments

I'm digging through the pictures for the last few weeks and ran across the photo below that I had forgotten about.  A few weeks ago my new Harvard Business book on building "teams with an edge" disappeared.  Turns out Kiera had packed it into her toy box as one of her own.  We managed to get a great photo of her when she took it out to read it.  I think she has big plans for her friends at daycare...

July Update

July was a terrific month.  Kiera's favorite things lately are beating the daylights out of her drum and swimming in her little outdoor pool - which sometimes doubles as an outdoor bath.  We've had visits from both sets of grandparents; and we went to the Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival, the Harpoon BBQ Festival, and the Farmers Market every Saturday.  There are some great photos below.  Kiera was intrigued by Grandpa's mustache and had to continually poke it. 

June Update

Well, I fell way behind in updating the blog.  But the good news is that instead of working on the blog we were at the beach, playing in the yard, or enjoying picnics at the park.  The photos below are from June, and from our town beach which is on Lake Fairlee.  There's a waterslide that goes directly into the kids section of the swimming area.  Kiera loves to kick around in her baby float and watch the kids shoot off the slide into the water.  The last photo was in the afternoon after our first beach outing.  She fell asleep on Marlena and didnt move for hours.  The update for July and August will follow soon.

Love,

Marlena, Kiera, and Will

Family Visit

Here's a few photos from last weekend. Kiera's great-grandfather, Clayton Russell came up for a visit.

Olympic Tryouts

Marlena bought me a waterproof HD video camera for my birthday; just in time to take a video of Kiera's first time swimming.  Our fitness club has a seperate swim facility for kids.  Kiera got to try swimming in the infant pool this weekend.  Check out her little smile and frog kicks about 15 seconds in...

Chompers

Good morning!

So Kiera has two teeth coming in now.  Here's a good picture showing her new teeth.  This was taken at Kiera's daycare yesterday.  Just a reminder, but you can always click on the picture to make it bigger (and actually see her teeth...)

The April Update

We'll its been a wonderful spring already.  We moved into our new house in Thetford, VT; and just in time too, as Marlena was starting to miss her homeland (and the high taxes).  We love all of the windows, afternoon sun, and - in particular - the great backyard with room for a swing set for Kiera.  Dad and Vicky came up for a visit and stayed in the guestroom.  Here are a few of our favorite pictures from this month.

Easter

I'm sure we'll have to apologize to Kiera in 18 years, but here's a great picture of Kiera from Easter.  I love the carrot...

Six Month Birthday

Today was Kiera's six-month birthday.  Here's a quick video with her latest accomplishment - it's all the way at the end.  Enjoy!

Lunch in the Park

It was the first day of Spring this weekend. Marlena and I took Kiera for a walk around Occum Pond at Dartmouth College, and then stopped for a quick lunch in the park. You can see Kiera is eagerly enjoying her bottle - and the warm weather!

Her First Guinness

Alright, so she didnt drink a Guinness.  But daycare did dress her up a few months ago in green for a Holiday Calendar they were making.  Here it is...Happy St. Patrick's Day!

K Cam - Cereal Time!

After weeks of leaping, grasping, and coveting our food, we figured it was time to try some solids.  Here's a quick video of Kiera's first meal of organic rice cereal.

Palm Beach Vacation

Rich was kind enough to get married in Palm Beach, FL in January.  It gave Kiera her first vacaction and plane ride.  She loved the warm weather and beaches.  Especially mashing her feet in the sand and cool water.  She's a born traveler!

Dulcis Domus

This is the first of many posts to come. Marlena and I will be documenting our adventures with Kiera - or as the daycare calls her, "Baby K". The "Baby K Chronicles" will keep track of small moments, big smiles, and great memories. Thanks to everyone for thier pictures and comments for the new website.

Will