Weekend Fun

We had an active weekend which featured one of the best investments we've ever made...Lucas' first play set...he LOVES it, don't you think?! Oh yeah, if you look closely, you can see he's wearing his pajama top and hasn't even had his hair combed. Too busy having fun!

Tom and I went to the Dolphins vs. Seahawks game, and sadly, the Seahawks were defeated 19 to 21, but we had a great time just the same.

We Made History

Tonight, America voted to change the course of our nation by electing Barack Obama as 44th President of the United States of America, and effectively end the Bush reign. History was made with the election of the first African-American U.S. president who has brought so much enthusiasm and hope to the people of our nation.

We believe Obama will provide "the change we need" and help unite our country, and take our nation in a new direction both at home and overseas during the most challenging time for our country since the Great Depression. Personally, as we look to Lucas' future, it was critical that Obama articulate his position on disability, including his plan to fully fund IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) -- and he didn't disappoint.

This very long road has come to an end...and the next chapter is about to begin.

We toast to President Obama & Vice President Biden -- and to our fellow Americans as we embark together on this historic and exciting time for our country and our world!

Trick or Treat

For Lucas' first true Halloween experience, we went to Hollywood to join our friends' Susi and Adam and their girls for trick or treating fun in their neighborhood. Lucas made out like a bandit in the candy department. We also visited with our friends Cat and Jimmy and their cutie new addition, one-month-old Valentina. Earlier that day, Lucas dressed up for a Halloween party at school and we carved and decorated pumpkins. Here are photos including one with Lucas and his sidekick. Enjoy!

Bon Voyage

To celebrate Lucas' 2nd birthday and Tom's mom's belated birthday (who traveled from Seattle for a visit), we headed to the Bahamas on a 3-day cruise on the Norwegian Sky. We splurged for a suite at the front of the ship where we took advantage of breakfast on the balcony and relished the awesome views as we set sail from Miami.

We stopped in Nassau and spent the day at Atlantis where we enjoyed the pools, the water slides, and a cool aquarium -- Atlantis is very Vegas! We then headed to NCL's private island, Great Stirrup Cay, and although we were among the few who made it to the island, we were soon shipped back on board because of deteriorating weather, but that didn't keep us from having a great time all around! Everyone (except moi) was a first-time cruiser and I think we'll be back for more!

Lucas' Amazing Year Two

Today, we celebrated Lucas' 2nd birthday. In the blink of an eye, two years have gone by since that beautiful October day when Lucas entered our life and things have never been the same. Lucas has grown and changed so much in this short time, and every day he amazes, entertains, and inspires us. Today we had a birthday party at school where Thomas the Train cupcakes were a big hit, and tonight, we celebrated with a small group of family and friends with Cuban cake and pastelitos (pastries).

Life is good.

And now, for my yearly installment of Lucas' year in pictures (don't forget the sound). Enjoy!

Are You Excited?

Lucas now is walking everywhere, and asserting his independence at every turn. Check out his newest trick -- he had us rolling in the aisle when we first saw him do this and now he does it on command whenever he's asked "are you excited?"

Lucas on Parenting Website

In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness month in October, Parenting's website is featuring a gallery (well, there are now six galleries) of pictures of kids with Down syndrome, and Lucas made the cut. Here he is.

Labor Day Break

Four plus years after our honeymoon, we ventured back to where it all began...Key West. This time marked our first visit with our little bean. Key West still had much of the magic we remember so fondly, except we didn't get to enjoy quite as much pool time, pina coladas in hand. It was both because of our new addition as much as the inclement weather, courtesy of Hurricane Gustav. We made the most of our little getaway and had a great time just the same.

We enjoyed some of our favorite activities including a visit to the Hemingway House to point out the 6-toed cats to Lucas (especially Charlie Chaplin pictured below), a night out in Mallory Square for freak watching, renting bikes to tour Duval street with Lucas in tow (literally!), and everyone's favorite Key West pastime, hanging with the chickens. We ate and ate, and then ate some more...our favorite stops included Blue Heaven and the new Sarabeth's for the most amazing breakfast (the owner spent more than 20 years as the GM of Sarabeth's on the Upper West Side in Manhattan). All in all, a great way to say goodbye to Summer.

Summer Vacations

I still need to post some photos from our summer vacation to Seattle in June (although it felt a lot more like fall with all the rain and wind), but we had several visitors to our neck of the woods over the last few weeks. First up, cousin Denise and her friend Angie from St. Louis stopped in on their way back from a Caribbean cruise, and we caught up with them for lunch on South Beach (first picture).

The second photo is of Lucas with his sister, Tayler, when she came for a week-long visit from Seattle. We loved having Tayler and Lucas is very fond of her (if you can't tell!). We're hoping she can make it back at Christmas time.

Lastly, our dear friend, Rhonda, and her brother passed through from Seattle and Hawaii (respectively) on their way to a Caribbean cruise. Being around all these cruising people has given us the bug to go ourselves...we'll see when we can swing it. It was so great to have them all visit...when are you coming?

Happy Birthday Daddy!

In what has to be one of the most unexciting birthdays in recent history, Tom turned 37 on August 18th as Tropical Storm Fay made landfall along the western South Florida coast. But not even a storm could keep my boys away from chocolate cake!