4th of July Weekend

We spent Independence Day weekend this year in Savannah, visiting with Nannie, my dad, and Kandi. There was a food-filled, 4th of July barbecue planned for the backyard, but with weather and work, plans changed, and we ended up having a quiet weekend, just hanging out, enjoying each other's company [and large quantities of all of the food that was supposed to be shared]. Still, it was a memorable weekend, filled with many firsts for Naomi - some lovely, some not-so-lovely.

I promise my genes are in her somewhere, 

but they are nowhere to be found in these pictures:

Her first afternoon spent playing in a plastic pool, 

a necessary experience for any good, Southern kid. 

Her first encounter with a frosting-covered beater, 

homemade cream-cheese frosting, of course.

Her first time playing in the rain, 

with dear Dad to show her the ropes. 

No firsts here, 

just another warm bath at Nannie's house.

  Her first experience with sparklers,

and our first [very inexperienced] time sharing sparklers with our curious baby.

 So, very sadly, her first burn, which was also her first significant boo-boo. 

And one of our first moments of mild parental panic.

Her first real opportunity to demonstrate the extent of her resilience;

she's unbelievably brave.

On this very memorable Independence Day, we tested Drew's first-aid know-how and my capacity to keep cool, and we taught Naomi the word "owie" - moments I have no interest in repeating - but our little girl also played in the sunshine, danced in the rain, licked a cake beater, and went to sleep with fireworks in her eyes. In the balance, I think it will still go down in the books as one very good weekend.