Maine

Recently we went on vacation to the beach in Maine. Julia got to play in the sand for the first time. She really didn't know what to think of it, unfortunately the water was too cold for Julia to go for a swim.

Julia had a great time playing with her cousins. As usual Sophia continually wanted to play with Julia, hold her, and tell other people to hold her, Julia didn't seem to mind and was happy to be getting all the attention.

Lake Junaluska

Julia had an excellent time on a family vacation to the mountains of North Carolina. It has been a family tradition to get together with all the Rybolt cousins and aunts and uncles for around 25 years, now Julia can join in on the tradition too. This year was especially exciting because between all my cousins there are now 5 little kids... a 3 year old, a 2 year old, two 1 year olds, and a 1/2 year old. John and I also had a great vacation and especially enjoyed the help of family babysitters so we had time to go out to lunch, the movies, and play cards. Julia couldn't take part in the all the fun (including the playground, riding ponies and seeing Thomas the Engine) but she's looking forward to next year already.

Bath time has to happen even on vacation, Ella thinks it is so silly that baby Julia was in the sink and kept telling me to put 'baby Julius' in the bath tub not the sink.

Swimming in the pool is always fun

Baikal and Ella going out for a stroll.

Summer Fun

This weekend Julia got to go swimming with her friend Margaux. In addition to practicing her swimming she can now roll from her belly onto her back.

Russ and Sonia's Wedding

This weekend John's brother Russ got married outside Boston. It was a fantastic weekend and an excellent wedding, but yet again I barely took any photos and didn't get a single picture of the happy couple!

The Caruso Fathers and Daughters

Before the wedding we just relaxed and had fun in the sun. This was also the first time Julia was together with all the Caruso cousins.

Julia, Sophia, Taylor, and Chase finally all together

6 months

I can't believe it, but Julia's half birthday is tomorrow. It seems like just yesterday I was taking her home from the hospital, I don't know how she grew so quickly!! She had her 6 month doctor's visit today, she weighs 14 pounds, 7 ounces (25th percentile) and she is 26 inches long (50th percentile). She continues to be very good at rolling over from her back to her belly (in one direction only), she can now stay sitting up all by herself (though she will eventually fall over so we have to watch her very carefully), she loves her rice cereal, but hasn't decided yet what she thinks of peas (which we introduced last night). Thank you Marisa for the great picture of Julia!


Now that she is 6 months old, John has decided it's time for Julia to a contributing member of society, so he is putting her to work as an actuary.

Grampa and Carole's Wedding

This weekend Julia attended her very first wedding. She had an excellent time despite the fact that she started the long weekend with a slight fever so she was more cranky than usual.

After the ceremony, looking cute as can be in her dress from Grammy Carole

Spending time with her Great-Grandmother

After a night of partying, Julia is exhausted and having snuggle time with her Aunt Ellen

I somehow got through the night without any pictures of the happy couple (in fact the above pictures are the only ones that I got at the wedding), but the weather was perfect, the location was beautiful and the dessert's were amazing!!

At lunch the day after the wedding, Ella finally paid attention to Julia, maybe we need to dress them alike more often:

Dirty and Clean

Yesterday we introduced Julia to solid food for the first time. Here she is eagerly awaiting her first delicious taste of rice cereal. As you will see in the video she really didn't know what to think of the rice cereal at the beginning, but clearly wanted more by the end (though she still managed to wear more rice cereal than she actually swallowed.)

Fortunately bath night corresponded with the introduction to rice cereal. As I was getting Julia ready for her bath, Pearl made the discovery that Julia's hands could be licked clean for a tasty treat.