I am SUCH a great day today!!! My alarm goes off (4pm) and I am lying in bed. I am thinking...am I supposed to pick Millie up from daycare? Or is Mat? It was starting to thunder so I am thinking...driving in the rain is going to be a pain. Maybe I should leave now so I can get back quickly. Etc etc. So I am just laying there thinking of everything I need to do. And I hear the front door open.

And up the stairs comes Mat and Millie! It was so great to see them! He had picked her up and were home before the rain poured down! Perfect timing! So we all watch the rain come down and Millie took a little nap while Mat and I got to catch up a little bit.

After Millie woke up, we went outside for a bit to swing. After getting swarmed by mosquitoes, we headed back inside. We played around downstairs. We web chatted with Grandpa "Captain" Jon. We had a wonderful dinner. We had bath and bedtime and then I was off to work. It was a lovely day with the family. I am looking forward to the weekend!

Hope you enjoy some random videos from tonight.

Bye Bye Papa D

We were sad to see my dad leave today. As one last surprise, upon my mom's request, my dad planted and hung all of my window boxes. That included cleaning out all the gunk plants from last year. I pulled into my house, saw the window boxes, and just started crying. I really love my window boxes and just didn't have the time to put them together this year and I am so grateful to have wonderful parents. The swing was alot of work and we really really love it. But in addition to that, we cleaned the gutters, cut and hung our old stained glass door/window, installed the baby gate, cleaned out the fridge, mowed the lawn, Dad waited 3 hours at Kaufman Tire to find out what's up with a tire on our car, etc etc etc. I couldn't have done any of this without him here.

I just feel like I (Mat and I) can't get anything done on this overnight shift! We are both under alot of stress and it was just so nice to have Dad here to help get some things done. Seriously, how do you keep thanking your parents time and time again?






Check out my lovely flowers! I promise to keep them watered Mom!!

It's swing time!

Check out what we built!! This has been a work in progress. It started with my dad's sketches and here it is all finished! We had a great time building it and I was happy to help. I even got to use an auger to dig four 3 foot holes! I felt like quite the power woman! It was great fun and I think Millie thinks so too. I absolutely love the way it turned out. Click here to see the work in progress.

pictures from the weekend

Click here to see some pictures from the weekend with Papa D.

E11 write up!

Great write up about Engine 11! Here is the link. Congrats boys!

NEIGHBORHOOD NOSH
Engine 11 Firehouse Tavern
30 North Ave. N.W., Atlanta 404-873-3473

By BOB TOWNSEND
For the AJC
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

This restaurant opened in late 2008, taking over the circa 1909 firehouse building on North Avenue that had been made over into a deluxe, British-style pub dubbed the Spotted Dog. The new proprietors, Mat “Quickie” Tainow and Jose Navarro, own Sidebar on Poplar Street, where they managed to turn a tucked-away alley location into a popular downtown watering hole.

Terry’s meatloaf, named in honor of co-owner Mat Tainow’s mother, is a combination of beef and pork slathered in barbecue sauce and served with a heap of Parmesan mashed potatoes.

Firehouse valet

The biggest challenge for the Spotted Dog was an acute lack of parking. Tainow and Navarro have gone a long way toward remedying that situation by providing complimentary valet service after 5 p.m. The front patio, appointed with picnic tables and umbrellas, has become a busy lunch and after-work destination. Inside, there are a few subtle changes. The bar area has been opened up, and the pub theme has been toned down. But the high ceilings, exquisite tile floors, and dark wood and brass accents still come together to create an atmosphere that’s solid and comfortable. Upstairs — where you must venture to find the restrooms — there’s a large room for private parties and events.

Ma’s meatloaf

The concise menu is mostly takes on contemporary pub grub, including the hefty Engine Burger, topped with bacon, cheddar, and onion straws, beef or chicken sliders on King’s Hawaiian rolls, and wings. But Terry’s Meatloaf (named in honor of Tainow’s mother) has become the tavern’s signature dish. It’s a juicy blend of beef and pork, topped with sweet barbecue sauce and served with gooey Parmesan mashed potatoes. Less impressive is a priced-right ($12.49 with one side) but rather anemic skirt steak that can be kicked up a bit with a choice of blue cheese, chimichurri or queso sauce. Other interesting offerings can be found on a supplemental menu that changes every few weeks. Recently, “in celebration of warm weather,” it was a selection of Mediterranean dishes, including tasty red pepper hummus with crispy pita chips, and tilapia smothered in a tangy blend of feta cheese, kalamata olives and pepperoncini.

Drink up, party down

Engine 11 features team trivia on Mondays, poker on Tuesdays and drink specials every night, including $2 house lagers and $5 Ketel One, with $2 house wines on Thursdays. The beer list has 16 draft and 16 bottled beers, with the usual Newcastle and Guinness, plus a few high gravity offerings, such as Flying Dog Double Dog Ale.


Signature dish: Meatloaf and Parmesan mashed potatoes
Entree prices: $7.95-$13.49
Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fridays; noon-2 a.m. Saturdays; 12:30 p.m.- midnight Sundays. Valet parking after 5 p.m.
Reservations: For large parties
Credit cards: Yes
Online: www.engine11atl.com

Pool time videos (2 of them)

Pool time

On Sunday we hit Virgina Highland Summerfest and then to the pool! We were at the McKoy Pool in Decatur...well, Kirkwood actually. Jackie told us about it and said we must go! It's a great toddler/kid pool. No deeper than 4 feet I believe. And it's very shaded with these big umbrellas. Love it! We will be going back for sure!











It was Millie's first time in the pool and she was a little scared at first. But after awhile she started crawling around and floating. Mat even took her for a dunk and she didn't seem to mind! Hopefully the more we go, the more she will enjoy it! We are getting ready for the beach!

As you can see here, Vince is a pro and will show Millie the ropes for sure!

Dad made his way into town on Thursdays night. We had plans to build a swing in the back yard but Dad had a knee surgery on Wednesday so we didn't want to do anything too stressful. So day 1 & 2, we just chilled and hung out. I am still working overnights so I slept alot the first couple days of dad's visit.

You can kinda see in this pictures that Millie is really starting to point at everything. She doesn't point at people yet but I am sure it's just around the corner!

Papa D

We are having a great time with Papa D! Can't wait to tell you all about it!
Did someone say swingset?

More Ellie/Millie's pictures

Here are some more pictures from Kathryn, Ellie's mom. It's tough getting two 10 month olds to sit still and smile!

book / horse

We had fun opening Millie's 10 month book. I have to thank my mom for putting this book club together. It's alot of fun (for all of us) to have a new book to open every month. Thanks mom!





Millie also took to ride on her horse. She has been a little skeptical but is warming up to Millie the Philly.

Click here for more pictures.

A walk in the park

On Saturday, we got together with one of Millie's new classmates CJ. CJ's mom (Maria) & Mat have been friends for awhile and we were happy that Millie and CJ are in the same classroom. Click here to see a couple more pictures.

Together again!

Millie and Ellie had a playdate the other day! It was like they just picked up where they left off. Ellie taking Millie's toys. Millie taking Ellie's toys. It was funny to watch them interact. I had never seen Millie act quiet this way. If she would take a toy from Ellie, I would take it out of Millie's hands and hand it back to Ellie. Millie would throw her head down on the ground in protest and start crying. It's quite hilarious! Her other daycare teachers would always tell us about this behavior but I got to see it for myself. It was hard not to laugh! Hopefully Ellie's mom get better pictures but here are just a few from the afternoon.

Hide and Seek

Yes, that's our laundry basket!

Millie likes to help me with the laundry!

Tainow's that Polo

On Sunday we went up to Chukkar Farm Polo Club for a Sunday afternoon Polo match. Our friend Pablo was playing on this beautiful day so we took advantage. It was an amazing day. There were lots people, kids and horses. We had a great time. Click here to see all the pictures from Sunday.

BBQ at Hutch's

Our friends Hutch and Mel had a cookout at their place on Saturday night. Mel is a OB doctor and Hutch is a pilot. To get these two in the same place at the same time is a feet in its self!





Jeevan has surpassed Millie on the weight chart. I think he looks more and more like Pavan everyday. Check out those rolls! This is Jeevan being Super Jeevan!







Jay and Melissa Rhoden are pregnant with twins. They are due in September but here is Jay getting some double baby practice! Click here to see more pics from the cookout.

Feeling better

Millie is feeling much better. She is on antibiotics till Saturday but she is much happier these days. Hopefully we will kick this ear infection to the curb! To see pictures in her pretty purple, click here.

Millie's 10 months

I am a little behind so sorry for just doing this now.

Millie turned 10 months on May 22! Kari and Chloe were here to help celebrate. Millie wasn't too into to take pictures. We might take some more soon. Millie is doing all kinds of crazy stuff. It has been so fun watching her develop and grow. Here are some new cool things she is doing.

1. She is doing quite well standing on her own. She has even bent down and then stood back up again. I think she will be walking in no time.

2. She is eating lots of new foods. Her favorite seems to be plain ole' tofu. She eats quite a bit and seems to love it! Cheese as well. Loves the cheese! She is not so into fruits. We have tried several recently and she kinda just avoids them when they are on her plate. She never really enjoyed them in the form of baby food either.

3. She is loving playing peek-a-boo with the dog. And other animals (horses, cats). I have this on video tape but I just need to put it online soon.

4. She is doing great in the mornings. Playing by herself in her crib. "Reading" various books and playing with toys. This is great when Daddy has a late night and needs to sleep just a bit longer!


5. She does NOT like getting her diaper changed. We used to think it was because of her diaper rash. Not so much anymore. We are coming up with all kinds of "toys" for her to play with to keep her distracted (tubes of cream, toys, thermometer, books). Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Hopefully we won't have to learn how to put on a diaper while she is on the move.

6. She is getting around quite well from object to object. She does great doing the side step around the coffee table. Around the bed. From chair to chair.

7. I am not joking, this kid will GRAB your nipples! And thinks it's hilarious! If your shirt is off, watch out!

8. She loves it when you make sounds especially when you are reading a book. If we are reading to her and we make an animal noise for example, she looks right at you with this inquisitive look.

9. We need to start brushing her teeth on a more regular basis. I bought a tiny finger tooth brush and have done it a couple time but I need to be more regular.

10. She is climbing up the stairs like a pro. No, we haven't installed the baby gates. There have been a couple times when we are making dinner and we are like "Where is Millie" and she is 3 stairs up already! And she is so proud too!

Click here for Millie's 10 month pictures.

New Daycare

Millie started her new daycare on May 26. It has been an adjustment for all of us. We were a little shocked when they told us they the 10 month olds typically don't eat baby food and are moving on to sippy cups. It was just a matter of time before we did both of these things so we were happy to get the swift kick to do so.

Millie is the oldest in her classroom. There is only one other little girl, Pearl, who is crawling. But all the others are very young babies. We are hoping that the school will allow Millie to hang out in the toddler room on a daily basis. Once she is walking, she can move up permanently. We can't wait! Millie is a trooper and is doing well. She is having a bit of separation anxiety but seems to like her teachers. She is sleeping quite a bit more on a daily basis. At Canterbury, she was only sleeping about 30 mins total. Today, she took a 2 hour nap! She is eating alot more as well. The school provides 2 meals and 1 snack. We provide the last snack. This is quite a bit more food than she was eating. This week she is doing much better. We haven't given her most of the food that is on the menu so it's all new to her. She is also learning to drink from the sippy cup. We use it whenever we offer her formula/water and then when she becomes bored or frustrated, we move it into a bottle and she finishes it up.

Click here for pictures.