It's going to be a LONG year.

My little brother Tommy, who is a police officer, began a year-long police mission in Afghanistan today. He just completed 2 weeks of training in Virginia, then flew out last night to Dubai. Next stop: Kabul, where he will undergo further training before getting sent to, well, wherever it is they'll be sending him. He'll be working with Afghan police forces, mentoring and training and assisting them as they learn how the police in a democratic society operates.

Of course, as soon as he told us this summer that he was doing this, things in Afghanistan blew up, both literally and figuratively. I'll be praying every day for his safe return - next October 1.

I'm very proud of him, but I would gladly sacrifice the next year of my life if I could jump ahead to 10/1/2010 and have him back home, safe and in one piece.

She's walking and eating pickles now.

Lily is running all over the house now, and doing well. Or at least she was, until she went hiney over teakettle on Saturday and smashed her head on her vaporizer. Almost instantly she had a big bruise and egg on her forehead. A quick visit to the ER, just in case, and then she was home, playing, and just fine. I told my sister that we should just wrap her little head in bubble wrap until she gets this walking thing figured out. It would be easier on all of us!

Here are a couple of recent videos. I was totally prepared for her to not like the pickle, was hoping for that in fact, and had my camera ready for the sour face (second video). Instead, she loved it. Silly girl.

She's getting big!

Out on the rocks.

07-27-2008 150, originally uploaded by gina64.

Mary, Hannah, Zach and I went for a long hike on the rocks, all the way to the sandy cove where we dig clams. We sat there and had a yummy picnic lunch.







This was on Tuesday, and it was the last long hike I was able to take that week. I hurt my back the following morning.

The Weekend

07-13-2008 017, originally uploaded by gina64.

Lily had lots of company on Saturday: Her father, paternal grandparents, aunt and cousin visited for a while, and then cousins from her mother's side of the family came. If there's one thing this child is not short on, it's an adoring family.

Then yesterday she had her first outing as she, her mother and I all went to the mall for a couple of hours. She slept through the entire trip.



For those of you who are wondering about the pugs, they are adjusting nicely. Mickey is infatuated with her but not overly excitable, and Marty? Well, Marty only has eyes for his mother.

Sweet dreams.

07-05-2008 007, originally uploaded by gina64.

Lily is a good sleeper. And eater. And pooper.

She had her first Dr. visit today and she's doing just fine.

A few more shots: