Hawaii Vacation 2007-2008 - Installment 1

The Corys were nice enough to take us to Hawaii for a family vacation along with Aunt Susan and Uncle Pete and Aunt Mel. We've had a great time so far....the house is amazing, the island is beautiful and Magnolia is loving the sunny warm weather and fresh air!










Magnolia's first hotel room: En route to Hawaii at the Sofitel in Chicago (note the angel wings)













Face off

Plumb wore out












Good things on the horizon....











Sleeping beauty

Hangin' out on the Lanai

Chillin' by the salt water pool

South Padre Vacation

The Hamachers were nice enough to take us on vacation to South Padre Island, TX last week with the whole clan. It was Magnolia's first time leaving home, first time on a plane, first time seeing the ocean, and first time in a bikini (more on that later).

She did amazingly well on her first plane ride and she LOVED being outside and getting some fresh air finally (without being all bundled up and draped in blankets). We all had a blast. Brace yourself....there are a lot of pictures:

She really left her mark on Texas

All dressed in white

Loves being naked (the baby, that is)

Byron had this same look on his face out on the golf course when the pressure finally got to his competition

Out under the moon

Magnolia's Beach Fort

She had a whale of a good time in South Padre

"Hey, can I come play in your fort?"

Cutest......baby.......ever!

"It's hard work being this cute."

After a day of fresh air.....

Big blue eyes

Eyes wide shut

Here's her first shot in a bikini. If you think she doesn't fill that bikini out, you should see the bottoms!










After a bath....














"What'd you say Grandpa?"














Adorable













Looking in....

Not looking out....

The last hurrah for her favorite Gymboree outfit....she's outgrowing everything!

"Hey, you lookin' at my hat?"

X-Mas Pics

It's been quite a while since our last post, so I'll just get right to the pics. We had a great Christmas with the families....blessed to have Magnolia here for her 1st Christmas.








Baby's First X-Mas














First Family
Christmas
















"Hey you look just like my Dad!"
















Checkin' out her Mimi


















Bouncin in her Mushroom suit

Santa Pics and More

We took Magnolia to get her pictures with Santa over the weekend. I wouldn't say she was terribly impressed with Santa, but I think we got some good pics out of it. You can see them here: http://www.traditionsphotography.com/ ( click on "Online Proofing" then "Santa Saturday" then "Skalski, Cory").

Here are a couple of her on her way home from the historic Santa meeting (really took it out of her). You can sorta see the outfit that she wore, which Jenica made for her (booties and all). Pretty cute.

We rearranged our living room to give Magnolia a "play space" this past weekend. Thanks to the Mimi and Grandpa Cory for the awesome rug and rocking horse! Magnolia loves the room.....

This is Magnolia

"playing"

A couple of headshots

Two lovely ladies

New Pics

Sorry for the delay in updating all you loyal readers (i.e. Brooke). To make up for it, here's a picture just for you....we told Magnolia to do an impersonation of her Aunt Brooke and this first one is what she came up with.....

Little Brookster

Baby Blue

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing....

Mama got a new pair of shoes

These are some stylin' shoes that Jenica knitted for Magnolia.

"You know, the shoes really do make the whole outfit guys."

Daydreaming.....

A Prayer for My Daughter

This has always been one of my favorite poems, but now it's particularly special.

A Prayer for my Daughter - William Butler Yeats

Once more the storm is howling, and half hid

Under this cradle-hood and coverlid

My child sleeps on. There is no obstacle

But Gregory's wood and one bare hill

Whereby the haystack- and roof-levelling wind,

Bred on the Atlantic, can be stayed;

And for an hour I have walked and prayed

Because of the great gloom that is in my mind.

I have walked and prayed for this young child an hour

And heard the sea-wind scream upon the tower,

And under the arches of the bridge, and scream

In the elms above the flooded stream;

Imagining in excited reverie

That the future years had come,

Dancing to a frenzied drum,

Out of the murderous innocence of the sea.

`

May she be granted beauty and yet not

Beauty to make a stranger's eye distraught,

Or hers before a looking-glass, for such,

Being made beautiful overmuch,

Consider beauty a sufficient end,

Lose natural kindness and maybe

The heart-revealing intimacy

That chooses right, and never find a friend.

Helen being chosen found life flat and dull

And later had much trouble from a fool,

While that great Queen, that rose out of the spray,

Being fatherless could have her way

Yet chose a bandy-leggd smith for man.

It's certain that fine women eat

A crazy salad with their meat

Whereby the Horn of Plenty is undone.

`

In courtesy I'd have her chiefly learned;

Hearts are not had as a gift but hearts are earned

By those that are not entirely beautiful;

Yet many, that have played the fool

For beauty's very self, has charm made wise,

And many a poor man that has roved,

Loved and thought himself beloved,

From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.

May she become a flourishing hidden tree

That all her thoughts may like the linnet be,

And have no business but dispensing round

Their magnanimities of sound,

Nor but in merriment begin a chase,

Nor but in merriment a quarrel.

O may she live like some green laurel

Rooted in one dear perpetual place.

My mind, because the minds that I have loved,

The sort of beauty that I have approved,

Prosper but little, has dried up of late,

Yet knows that to be choked with hate

May well be of all evil chances chief.

If there's no hatred in a mind

Assault and battery of the wind

Can never tear the linnet from the leaf.

An intellectual hatred is the worst,

So let her think opinions are accursed.

Have I not seen the loveliest woman born

Out of the mouth of Plenty's horn,

Because of her opinionated mind

Barter that horn and every good

By quiet natures understood

For an old bellows full of angry wind?

Considering that, all hatred driven hence,

The soul recovers radical innocence

And learns at last that it is self-delighting,

Self-appeasing, self-affrighting,

And that its own sweet will is Heaven's will;

She can, though every face should scowl

And every windy quarter howl

Or every bellows burst, be happy still.

And may her bridegroom bring her to a house

Where all's accustomed, ceremonious;

For arrogance and hatred are the wares

Peddled in the thoroughfares.

How but in custom and in ceremony

Are innocence and beauty born?

Ceremony's a name for the rich horn,

And custom for the spreading laurel tree.

June 1919

Countdown to Christmas!

25 days until Christmas and we got an early gift from Santa under our tree.............

Magnolia's Favorite Outfit

Well, Magnolia reportedly showed her first few smiles yesterday for her Mom. First few smiles NOT caused by gas, that is. Plenty more to come, I'm sure. She also rolled over today! It seems like it should be impressive, but it was from her stomach onto her back, so we're not really sure what that means. OK, we'll just say it's impressive. Congratulations Magnolia!

Here are some pics of her in her favorite sleeper. It's a fitted one from Gymboree and we would highly redommend it for any of you out there in the 8-14 lb. range. High quality, stylish and sensible. What more can a girl ask for?





"How long do I have to hold this pose, Dad?"














"That's my name, don't wear it out."













"See, I don't just lay around all the time"