Calina Sophia Tower

Hiker Callie...

2010-04-24T10:38:00.002-04:00

Callie cutting through the bramble on a windy day.

Sisters hiking through the valley...this is actually about 200 yards from our house!

Who's cool...I AM!!!!!!!

A happy hiker!

Chillin' on the hillside!

Whitefish, Kalispell, West Glacier, oh my!!!

2010-04-17T16:22:00.002-04:00

Check out the reflection

Snuggle with daddy

"GIVE ME ICE CREAM!!!!"

"Look, DUCKS!!!!!!"

Into the Rockies!!!

Magnificent Montana Mommy!

2010-04-17T16:17:00.001-04:00

More from the wild west...

2010-04-17T14:09:00.002-04:00

Our morning view...

This picture actually pretty much embodies most of the times we go hiking...lets just say Callie's not much a fan :)

Rock'n roll Callie

Venturing quite close into Lake Tahoe

YES!!!!!!!!

A lazy Saturday morning...

2010-04-17T11:03:00.003-04:00

Callie and Greg's b-day cake.

2010-04-11T16:52:00.003-04:00

Callie may have been slightly overwhelmed by all the instructions she got during her birthday dinner, but she was able to extinguish the candles in the end!

More family, friend, and b-day pics

2010-04-11T16:21:00.003-04:00

Mishka, Anya, and Callie posing on the couch out in Boise.

Yeah birthday cake!!!

Callie got herself a whole bunch of Wee Sing cd's for the car...and she's heard them all...alot...

CHEESE!!!!!!

Callie loves her buddy Connor

Hanging with family

2010-04-11T15:56:00.002-04:00

"Mommy, Dr. Seuss called. He wants his hat back..."

Callie and Hannah watching some cartoons

Callie, Greg and Tina getting ready to eat some birthday cake!

Bouncing in circles with daddy

Callie hanging out with Nick and Larissa

Jump to Montana

2010-04-08T21:04:00.005-04:00

I'll be certain to post more pics from Nevada, especially some family pics and Callie's b-day, but I wanted to throw in a few from where we are at in Montana now.

Weather update, where we are tucked in by the rocky mountains, it's about 30 degrees, VERY windy with snow in blizzard like conditions, it's pretty crazy as about 15 miles away on the reservation it's about 40 degrees with no precipitation and occasional sun!

Tally-ho Tahoe!!!

2010-04-08T20:39:00.006-04:00

Look, a mountain!

Family pose!

Lake Tahoe!

What's over there???

Daddy and the girls!

Callie on ice!

2010-04-08T20:23:00.002-04:00

Nevada...and Cali

2010-04-08T00:05:00.008-04:00

Sun drenched...

Family pic, say cheese!

Sistahs rockin the shades

Callie in Cali!!!

Callie on ice (with a little help from daddy)

Wild Call of Callie

2010-04-07T23:57:00.001-04:00

Oooooooohh

2010-03-28T15:07:00.001-04:00

Garden of the Gods

2010-03-28T14:55:00.006-04:00

Me and Mommy

Hey, what's over there...

This is cooler than a sandbox!

Look, all my teeth came in!

The Rocky mountains don't look so big from here!

Cruisin'

2010-03-28T14:52:00.000-04:00

Callie drove the eastern Colorado portion of our trip...

Kansas

2010-03-19T01:37:00.008-04:00

Yeah running!!!

Just hanging out.

Where did Mishka go????

Callie in KC

2010-03-19T00:41:00.005-04:00

We stopped in to a bunch of shops down town that had a place called Fairy Tale land...Callie caught up with the 3 pigs...

and later was hanging out in Cinderella's carriage!

"What you lookin' at!"

Spinning around the lamp post at the train station!!!

"We're in Kansas!"

2010-03-19T00:28:00.004-04:00

So this little video was taken Tuesday evening after a long day zipping across the Kansas plains...the girls (and parents) needed to burn off some energy, so we ran around like crazy as you can see :)

On the road in 2010

2010-03-17T08:48:00.005-04:00

So Callie was locked in and ready to roll starting this past Saturday as we trekked through the rains of the northeast...we didn't get out of the car much at this point...

BUT when they did, they got some HUGE rice krispy treats. This was from a pie and coffee shop in Terre Haute, IN where we stopped to check if daddy matched. He did, so it called for a big celebration of treats!

The girls were looking cool and rocking out, BUT there was a more practical purpose of the shades...

We found the sunset in central Missouri, it was REALLY bright :)

Cool Callie

2009-09-01T18:50:00.004-04:00

Hey, what's going on over here???

Callie checking out the parade with Suzie, singing along with the fire engines.

Of note, Callie put these on her self...the girl knows cool! :)

Back in the fold

2009-04-30T10:47:00.010-04:00

So, daddy DB has been a major slacker and has not kept up with the blog...Callie let me know that she was not pleased, so here are a plethora of pics over the past couple months!

Dancing Towers

2009-03-09T08:56:00.002-04:00

Just another typical day at the Tower household...get your dance on!!!

Swing time!

2009-02-04T12:27:00.001-05:00

Here's Callie in her bear suit, swinging away :)

Callie making the rounds

2009-02-04T12:16:00.006-05:00

Callie & Nina

Callie & Grampa Pete

Babu & Callie (during tubby time!)

Callie hanging with Uncle Nico

Abby & Callie (aka, what it would have looked like if Tasha & Tracey met as infants!)

Incoming Mishka bear hug!!!!

Wrapping paper & baseball bats

2008-12-25T18:30:00.004-05:00

Callie loved the wrapping paper...Mishka loved her new bat & ball...keep an eye on Callie in the background ;)

Callie's first present opening!

2008-12-25T17:24:00.004-05:00

Here's Callie opening her stocking with help from daddy & Mishka...she is totally into the wrapping paper (no surprises there) but actually does pretty well for herself getting into the presents!

Callie's First Christmas!!!

2008-12-25T17:10:00.007-05:00

And she started it off like most kids her age do, by brushing her teeth...yup, outside of the wrapping paper, the toothbrush was her most favorite thing of the morning :)

Yeah wrapping paper!!!!

Ooooohhh, can't forget the blocks, Callie loved the blocks!

"Hey, what else you got under that tree!"

"And I'm spent!" Thankfully Callie got her very own princess blanket from Nina, so she cuddled up in her blanket and took a nap!

Sitting in my high chair

2008-12-24T10:36:00.002-05:00

"Hey, pass the cookies!"

Rockin' the UDel sweatshirt...somewhere Uncle Shawn smiles... ;)

More Callie pics

2008-11-09T14:58:00.005-05:00

Here's Callie and uncle Jon (aka daddy Jon-boy!!!)

Yup, Callie was a little piglet for halloween...quite cute ;)

Daddy and his girls

Snuggle time!

Sweet potatoes

2008-11-09T14:33:00.003-05:00

Here's Callie eating solids for one of the first times...check out some of the faces she makes ;)

Chitter-chatter

2008-11-09T14:17:00.003-05:00

Here's Callie hanging out on the couch chatting with Mommy & Daddy in her squeaky voice :)

Callie pics

2008-11-06T10:43:00.005-05:00

First things first, WELCOME JON MICHAEL TOWER JR., AKA JACK!!!! :)

Callie loved meeting Jack, she was all smiles!

Here Callie's hiking with her aunt Meg

YAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

And of course there's chillin with uncle Adam :)

Hi ya'll!!!!

2008-10-20T15:41:00.006-04:00

Happy Monday!!!!!!!

Who you calling pumpkin?!?!?!

Help, my arms and legs are stuck!!!!!

Here's me and my mommy, isn't she beautiful!!!!!

I LOVE my mommy :)

Hey Callie!

2008-09-21T12:58:00.005-04:00

Here are some more random summer time pics of Callie!

Callie hanging with Babu, YEAH!!!!

Callie and Mishka...yup, they look related :)

Wasn't long before Callie was way too big for the bassonette :)

Hey, gimme something to eat I'm starving here :)

Pictures galore

2008-09-21T10:04:00.008-04:00

Admittedly, daddy db has been doing an awful job updating the little ones blogs...so today is Sunday morning catch up! Callie is getting pretty big, she's rolling over, LOVES to screetch (especially first thing in the morning, which is lovely ;)) drools a ton, smiles a ton, loves her sister, enjoys getting her hands on things and putting them immediately in her mouth. So she's a cute, fun loving kiddo! ;)

"Hey, you talkin' 'bout me?!?!"

Tummy time with my sister on the mat!

"BIG smile!"

"MMmmmm, rice cereal!"

"I LOVE tubby time, Mishka does too!"

And we're sleeping.... :)

Giggles

2008-09-21T09:59:00.001-04:00

Check out older sister instigating the giggles in the younger sister ;)

Fridays

2008-09-05T12:40:00.004-04:00

Hey, is it Friday yet????

I'm smiling, so it must be. TGIF!!!!!!!

Did you miss me!!!!!

2008-09-01T16:35:00.006-04:00

Hi there!!!! It's been a while since I've checked in, and I've had so much fun stuff to say!!!!

Here I'm playing on my mat with the elephants, monkeys and parrots, they make me smile!

This is me with my big sister Mishka. She likes to sing with me, and hug me and tell me that she loves me. And I love her too!

Here I am at the beach in my cool hat, I love the beach!!!!

Carseat chatter

2008-07-15T08:59:00.007-04:00

Callie and Tasia are sittin' and chillin', getting ready to go for a ride to the beach. These two are so cute together, Tasia likes to talk to Callie who stares back with a happy, curious grin, really cool!

Start of a smile here, big open mouthed and happy smile!

The girls relaxing under the ceiling fan in the summer heat.

More talking and smiling in her chair.

Here Callie and Abby are hanging out in their chairs, probably talking about world peace or what's for dinner ;)

And there's another big smile (yup, daddy db is slightly obsessed with Callie's smiles!)

Howdy from my high chair.

2008-07-11T10:54:00.002-04:00

Callie got her high chair the other day...she likes it :) Check out our smiley lil' gal!

I'm bringing cuteness back!!!

2008-07-10T08:48:00.006-04:00

Hello everybody! I've been out of town for a little while, but now I'm back and wanted to share some pics of where I'd been to :)

So I've been growing quite a bit, I really enjoy looking around and checking out the scenery. And I love chewing on my suska (aka-pacifier), except when I forget I'm chewing on it and I start talking at the same time, and it falls out...

Here I'm cuddled and falling asleep...

Look at my cute feet!!!! I love to wiggle my toes and my feet are very ticklish, tickling makes me laugh :)

And I'm really good at sitting up in my swing, I play with the toys on the swing and listen to my music, which is cool!

Here I'm hanging out with Daddy and we're cheering for Mommy. We have alot of fun playing together.

So that's just some of the pics...more coming soon!!!

Diaper time!

2008-06-16T19:13:00.003-04:00

A couple weeks back when the heat was cookin' in Maine, the girls spent alot of time in their diapers...check out the size difference between the 2 year old and the 2 month old ;)

Just hanging out...

2008-06-02T20:34:00.004-04:00

Here's a pic of the 4 generations of ladies (sans Sasha & Gus) hangin out in Bethesda!

Babi and Callie cuddling on the couch.

"I'm open, pass the ball over here!"

Misha and Callie giving their best crying faces!

Who's talking...

2008-06-01T20:21:00.003-04:00

Callie's trying out her voice...she kinda sounds like an off key cat, but she's still cute nonetheless!

Hi There!!!

2008-06-01T19:55:00.005-04:00

"Hi there! My name is Calina, and my daddy told me that this is my website, so I wanted to say hello and welcome to everyone who's checking in! Mommy and Daddy have taken alot of pictures of me and I wanted to share them with you to show you all the things I've been up to...c'mon and take a look below!"

"Here I am chewing on my souska, one of my very favorite things to do, that and staring at my fish that float above my little bed and play music. I don't know how Mommy got this picture in black and white...maybe she took the picture in pencil rather than crayons..."

"This is my buddy Tasia, aka, Gus, she's very cute and like me, sits around alot and likes to drool, so we're cool ;)"

"And here I am all bundled up in my car seat, I'm playing hide and seek...they'll never find me in this hiding space!!!"

"Snuggle time!!! My favorite time, if I'm not snuggling, it's time wasted. Daddy and I snuggle while we dance in the living room. Last week we danced a merengue, in this picture we danced a slow waltz. I'm a pretty smooth dancer but daddy sometimes has two left feet :)"

All I do is sleep!

2008-05-22T20:59:00.000-04:00

And look cute to!

Happy Friday :)

The christening!

2008-05-22T20:50:00.005-04:00

So Callie was Christened a few weeks ago along with her cousin Tasia

Here are the christened kiddos along with their respective Godparents, Vanya and Anna (filling in for Frances...thank you Anna!!!) with Tasia, aka Gus, and Suzie and Misha with Callie!

Here's Suzie and Shawn hanging with Callie post dunking!

And to celebrate the event, the rest of us played with bubbles...

whilst Callie took a nap ;)

Here's looking at you kid

2008-05-11T19:50:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday!

Lullabie for Callie

2008-05-11T19:35:00.003-04:00

Mishka is sharing her lullibies with her little sister...and daddy serves as and anti-germ shield ;)

Sweetness

2008-04-28T19:25:00.006-04:00

Callie's growing like a weed, for which both mommy & daddy are pretty excited about...already out of newborn diapers...all we need now is for her to learn how to change her own diaper and we'd be set ;) As I'm getting to know my daughter, I find new ways to describe her (which as many folks may have experienced, it's not particularly easy to ascribe adjectives to an individual who exists in a routine of sleep, eat, poop, pee on daddy while he's changing the diaper, fuss, fart then sleep a little more), along with cuddly, I'd have to say she has quite a sweet temperment. She's typically pretty content, loves kisses and being held...which goes over well with visitors ;)

Here's Callie finding her thumb for something to chew on!

"Looks at my tiny feet!"

Aunt Suzie hugging the girls!

Sleepy time!

Sleepy time part 2...this time with daddy watching the Sox...at least trying to with our eyes closed ;)

More pics soon...have some pics to download from Callie's christening and her visit to Maryland!

The girls!!!!

2008-04-16T13:31:00.003-04:00

A couple of pics of all daddy db's girls!

Me thinketh Mommy won't be happy about this pic making the blog as she looks as tired as she is here on a daily basis...but Mishka is her usual excited self and Callie is calm, hence, the pic made the blog ;)

And here, Mishka is her excited self, semi-mauling Callie (although she's getting better about the mauling ;)) and a better rested Mommy ;)

On the homefront...EXHAUSTION! IMAGINE THAT! ;)

The good news is that Callie will tend to sleep for 4 to 5 hour blocks, which is a glorious, wonderful thing, meaning that between the two parents, someone gets 4 hours unadulterated sleep...BUT, between both kiddos, one of the two of them is usually up and about during the night. Poor Mishka caught the current virus making it's rounds so she's felt crappy...we've had to practice not coughing on Callie quite a bit, and Mommy has sanitized the house 3 times and counting (love that bleachy smell!!!)

Callie is quite the observer, she's typically pretty chill, likes to look around and take the world in, she can now see people and realize that it's us talking to her, so she looks more responsive to us, which is really cool. And she is quite the snuggler, Callie and daddy have gotten to cuddle this week while watching some baseball and basketball (startin' em young, yeah baby). But, to keep us on our toes, Callie has also inhereted the LOUD gene, and will not hesitate to use her volume when she feels left out ;)

Mommy, well let's face it, everyone who know's Mommy knows that SHE ROCKS, and that really hasn't changed too much :) She is an amazing mother, she's dealt with feeling like poop, getting pooped on (among other things), healing, readjusting to breastfeeding at all hours of day and night, and being available to love and hang out with Mishka. She rocks! Enough said there :)

Time to change a diaper.

daddy db

Sisters

2008-04-08T08:53:00.004-04:00

So Mishka loves her new baby sister, even if she does seem to regard her in the same ilk as her own plastic baby dolls (which in one moment she's walking around the house in their stroller, and the next she's throwing them off the bed)...she love to give Callie hugs and kisses. As for Callie, well, she just stares and squeaks :)

Mishka sneaking a kiss on Callie's forehead.

Callie's moving forward or something, but Mishka seems more intent on watching TV!

Quick shout out

2008-04-03T21:20:00.002-04:00

Wanted to take a post to send out a collective thank you to everyone who has sent their love, support, and kind words to us over the past couple of days, thank you all so much.
Tasha is tired but is doing okay, she is adjusting to being a Mommy to her newborn and her almost 2 year old while being sore and exhauted...thankfully we have Babu here helping us out, she's been AWESOME!!!
Mishka got to meet her sister yesterday, and while I don't know if she's figured out yet that Callie will be a permanent fixture in the Tower household just yet, she enjoys giving her lil' sister alot of kisses :) She has actually enjoyed having all the visitors come over because she has more people to play with!

As for Callie, well you've seen the pics, she is a gorgeous little gal! She seems to have a pretty quiet, observant temperment, she loves to quietly look around with her tiny, dark eyes. Her cry is usually a little squeak at first which can range to a pretty hefty roar when she's ticked off! Callie is our little cuddler, she LOVES to curl up on your chest, she keeps her legs tucked quasi-indian style when she's swaddled in her blankets. I forgot how tiny a 2 day old kiddo is, and while Callie is pretty decent size for her age, she's still a wee little thing!

More pics to come along with more blabbing from me regarding Callie's hospital adventure thru the NICU...
later
daddy db

Solo shots of Callie

2008-04-03T21:05:00.006-04:00

Callie looking around while lying on Mommy.

Callie peering out with one eye

Okay, time to dish out some props to Beth Nason, who is currently getting alot of grief at school because somebody forgot to pass on this blog site to her first (uummmm, ooops ;)), BUT who also made the quilt you see Callie wrapped in here, in fact she has been cuddled in the quilt almost the entire time she's been home and EVERYONE loves this quilt. So many thanks to Beth!!! :)

Here's another pic with Callie and her new quilt...I think she likes it!

More pics with friends and family

2008-04-03T20:57:00.005-04:00

Uncle Nico thinks Callie is quite the cutie!

It was a lazy afternoon at the Tower household... :)

Babi looks onto her 5th great grandchild with loving adoration!

Mommy and Callie both exhausted, but still finding time to bond :)

Meetin' Callie at home!

2008-04-03T20:42:00.008-04:00

Let the meeting begin!!!!

Here's Suzie and Shawn checkin' out a sleepin' Callie

And here's a big smile from Suzie, aka the Godmother :)

Uncle Louie made the trip northward...of note, Callie looks quite a bit like her Uncle did as a baby, which made uncle louie even more smitten!

Nina got to spoil her newest granddaughter with lots of love, hugs, and kisses!

Meg and Caleb got in some cuddle time!

Poppa is hanging with Callie who was rockin' out with her new pink bear.

Here's uncle Nico making faces at Callie who was in turn, making faces at him ;)

Homecoming!

2008-04-03T10:14:00.009-04:00

So here are some pics from yesterday when we were able to take Callie home from the hospital!

Here's a tired but happy mommy cuddling with her daughter

Daddy got clothing duty prior to hitting the road...here I'm trying to get some socks on her tiny feet!

Then we got to try out the car seat for size, Callie was stylin and ready to hit the road!

And at home, Mishka greeted her new lil' sister with a kiss!

Here's Callie!!!!!!

2008-04-01T22:13:00.001-04:00

Here's my beautiful lil' girl :)

daddy db

Close ups of Callie

2008-04-01T22:06:00.005-04:00

First, when I'm feeling a bit more awake and energetic, I'll post some text regarding all the craziness surrounding the arrival of Callie. To everyone who sent all their prayers, positive karma and good wishes, THANK YOU SO MUCH, for today Callie is doing great, and we look forward to be able to bring her home in just a couple days. In the meantime, more pics :)

Let the Callie meeting begin!

2008-04-01T21:56:00.006-04:00

Here's Mommy with Callie right after she was born

And Babu got a chance to hang out with Callie in the NICU...

As did Kama, looks like Callie opened her eyes a little bit too!

And here's daddy with her new little love bug, finally out of the NICU and chillin' in a quite room with mommy, chewing on a pacifier!

Now introducing...

2008-04-01T21:46:00.004-04:00

No, not just mommy sporting a fashionable johnny...

And not just mommy and Babu hanging out in the delivery room...

Now meet the newest edition to the Tower family, little Calina Sophia Tower, aka, Callie!!!

Almost there!!!!

2008-03-30T20:08:00.002-04:00

Figured we should put on a 9 month pic of Mommy before Callie makes her appearance. Yup, Mommy is all belly!!!

We go into Maine Med tomorrow for the induction, tonight we pray for a healthy delivery of our daughter into this world. Can't wait to meet this little munchkin :)

daddy DB

The Waiting

2008-03-25T09:32:00.001-04:00

Winter of 2008 is coming to an end, and with Spring starting the 3 of us, Tasha, Mishka and myself, are all waiting for not only the snow to melt, but the arrival of our new family member!

Rest assured, ice cream was eaten in anticipation ;)