Category Archives: Dagny

by Barbara

Zoo Part II

My Mom and I decided to take advantage of the nice weather before the rain comes yet again for five days and take Dagny to the zoo. This is the first time my Mom went to our local zoo. It’s not the Bronx Zoo, but it’s perfect size for a toddler and some years after that.

The last time Dagny went to the zoo was back in March. It was a lot colder and the experience was very new to her. This time Dagny and the weather were perfect. She is a little older and so much more aware of the different animals. She was so cute, she never wanted to leave the animal we were looking at, until she saw what was coming next.

Here is Dagny checking out the Rhinos.

checking out the rhinos

I think she might be a bit excited about seeing them.

Mama, look!

rhinos, Mama!

someone is happy

Rhinos need a break too.

taking a break

It was a fun day and we are planning to go back lots more this summer. I am sure I will be posting more later on.

Barbara

by Barbara

Happy 19 Months Dagny

Dear Dagny,

Not quite sure where the month went, but I must admit I almost forgot that today was your 19th month. This month just went by so fast. It seems since you have come into our lives, time has sped up. I don’t like that at all.

Little D

Here is what you did in your 18th month.

You are talking, talking, talking. It seems every day you are saying a new word. You have started to put words together to make small sentences. You know your body parts, from head to toe and everything in between.

Here are some of your words: Lily, toes, water, ceiling, Agi, hi, head, tree, turtle, gata, baby, cool, again, cat, dog, swing, door, good, bye bye. These are the ones I can remember off the top of my head.

You are truly the poster child for “monkey say, monkey do”. You do what ever you see someone doing. We need to watch what we say and do around you now.

You are now a fan of Sesame Street and more importantly, Elmo. I am enjoying this phase. I like Elmo too. You can sit and watch an entire episode, that is if it’s a good one. I can already see when you’re going to like it. If there is lots of music, your hooked. Your love for music seems to have grown stronger. Your Daddy will play his kind of music for you and you start to dance, which is the cutest thing ever.

all serious with Elmo

You love to build with your blocks and legos. You love to hug and kiss your babies. You love to come around with your doctor bag and check my reflexes, temperature, and check my heartbeat. I call you, Dr. Johnson. You love your flashcards, you ask me to sit on the floor with you and you like me to put the flashcards on the floor, where I ask you to give me a specific one and you hand it to me. You love your books. You love to read to us and you love for us to read to you. Every time I go into your room to get you from your nap, you wont get out of your crib until we go through your animal book. You point at animals and I have to tell you what they are. When you are satisfied then you will let me get you.

This month was the first time your Daddy and I went away for the weekend without you. It was hard on us, but you did great with Agi Mama. You guys get along so well. I think after your Daddy and I, she is your favorite person. You love her so much and she loves you so, so much.

This month you went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Johnson in Ohio. I must admit, you’re not a fan of long drives, but who is? You did great with the new environment.

What we have noticed about you, is you’re a great sport. You go with the flow with no problems. Even if you miss a nap, if your out and experiencing something new, your all good. If we aren’t challenging you or showing you new things, your not so happy. That is when you start to cry and get crabby.

You love to laugh and make us laugh. You have that “it” quality. I can’t explain it, you just have it.

We love you little Boo… you’re our everything.

you love your Lily

I love you.

Mommy

by Barbara

Girls Afternoon Out

My Mom, Dagny, and I went to the Strong Museum of Play today. We practically had the entire place to ourselves. Score one for us. It was nice to be able to walk around and not walk into anyone.

The last time that we went was back in March when Grandma Johnson was visiting. It is amazing what a different experience it was this time. Dagny walked the entire way, I never had to pick her up or put her in her stroller. She was so interested and engaged in everything and every kid. It was wonderful.

Dagny would of been happy just watching these guys. She loved the fish.

Interesting side story, while we were watching the many pretty fish, there was a woman and her son also checking out Nemo. Dagny and the little boy started “talking” and the mother and I started conversing as well. When she found out what Dagny’s name was she got all excited. She told me that her best friend from college was named that too. Sweet! She said it was a beautiful name, which of course I agree with. Craig and I love the name we picked out for our daughter, it has a special story that we can’t wait to share with Dagny when she gets older.

she loved this

After some time I was able to get Dagny to say good-bye to her tank sea friends and go over to Sesame Street. Dagny has really gotten into the show. She is becoming so much more focused on things. I do believe we have entered the Elmo phase. She loves Elmo.

Here is Agi Mama with her youngest grandchild.

Agi mama and Dagny

This time the Wegmans experience was so much more fun. Dagny got the cart, put items in and even played at the checkout. I take Dagny to Wegmans all the time, I want her around people, smells, and sounds. Honestly, she seems to like it. I am sure that will change, but for now it’s an adventure and today she was the star.

I’m ready, Mama… lets go.

I am ready to checkout

I want to push those buttons

look at how intense she is

Here is my girl and I on the train. It goes around five times, five times… that’s long for an 18 month old, that’s long for an 33 year old, but we loved every minute of it.

Mom, no more photos. I am looking at the landscape.

In this photo I really get a sense of how big she has gotten.

so big

Almost two hours later we were done. It seems that Elmo decided to come home with us. I do believe he found a good home because Dagny won’t let him out of her site. He is glued to her hands. We embrace the Elmo phase and are ready!

Elmo came home

We ended the afternoon up with ice cream. It was a great girls afternoon out.

Barbara

by Barbara

Six Months And Counting

Six months ago today the courts in Moscow City ruled that Craig, Dagny and I were a family of three. This day is also special because we got physical custody of Dagny. We were able to be all together for the 10-day waiting period.

December 1 st

in our arms

June 1 st

today

I can’t believe how fast time is flying by and how much Dagny has grown. I catch myself staring at her in amazement and having to snap myself out of it. I just can’t put it into words how much my life and outlook on life has changed due to this little girl. Being Dagny’s mom is the most amazing experience and I wouldn’t change it for anything. She is the reason I want to be a better person.

*Edit: I forgot to mention that the US Government also celebrated with us, Dagny got her US Passport! We are so ready to hop on a plane and show her the world.

Love,

Barbara

by Barbara

Grandma And Grandpa Johnson’s House

We went to Ohio for Memorial Day weekend to visit with Craig’s parents. This was the first time that Dagny has been to Ohio. She took to her surrounds well, walking around and exploring the house all by herself, of course looking back every few steps to see that Mommy and Daddy were in view.

Dagny has many fans in Ohio that followed her process of coming home and they all wanted to meet her. It was so wonderful to be able to introduce her to all the people that care about her so much. With that said we had a very eventful weekend with lots of activities.

Time line of events:

Thursday Craig, Dagny and I went for a very long drive that ended at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

This is what Dagny did all the way…

Awwww…. if only

… in a parallel universal… and here is our reality.

reality

It’s not very fun to be in a car for 7 hours with an 18 month old. Guess who is doing it again in July?! NOT CRAIG!

We got in late due to the multiple stops we made, which did seem to help a lot. Dagny got recharged and was good for another two hours or so.

Friday, we got up and had breakfast. Dagny sat in her great-grandmother highchair. The chair was used by Craig’s father’s mother, how cool is that?

perfect fit

We hung out at the house waiting for Uncle Tim’s plane to arrive from Texas. While we waited Uncle Troy (not by relations just by lots of love) came over (he was there every single day). The entire family was going out to Phill’s Seafood for dinner. That restaurant is the diamond in the rough. It’s the best seafood place, EVER. Before we headed to Phil’s Craig, Uncle Troy, Dagny and I went to the hospital to visit with Troy’s grandmother who really wanted to meet Little D. It was so great to see her again and happy to hear she is doing good. We then met the rest of the family at Phil’s where Dagny petted a live Lobster and Uncle Troy promptly ran the other way.

Saturday, was a very fun day. In the afternoon we went to the visit with Troy’s family at the campsite where they were camping and stayed for the cookout. It was so nice to see Mr. and Mrs. Alford, they are the best. Mrs. Alford has been one of our most devoted visitor on our site. Craig and I couldn’t wait for her to meet Dagny. We had so much fun with Dagny there. There was a playground there and we took Dagny to the swing and afterwards she played around in the grass.

She was having fun squating down and jumping up.

playing around

I know you shouldn’t laugh when your child falls, but this is so funny. (She wasn’t hurt)

weee

After the fun she was all pooped out in her daddy’s arms.

in daddy’s arms

Sunday, was the big day where Grandma and Grandpa Johnson threw a party for Dagny. There were guest from all over the place. It was a great time. It was so nice to hear how many people have visited our site and how they enjoy it. Dagny did so well with everyone, especially Olivia. She is the one year old daughter of Uncle Tim’s friends. She is such a little cutie.

Dagny and Olivia

My little girl and I went outside to check out the trees.

me and my girl

Here is the guest of honor.

party girl

We had a wonderful time and can’t wait to go back. Thank you to all the people that made the time to meet Dagny and us.

Barbara