Budapest and Vienna

We just got back yesterday from a trip to Budapest and Vienna to visit Matt, Hilary and Reese. This was a parents only trip (Autumn was able to spend some quality time with Grandma Lori and her Williams Grandparents). Our hug at the airport was awesome...when Autumn saw us she cam running over screaming with a huge smile on her face...too cute! I should have had my camera running!
We were able to check out Matt, Hilary, and Reese's home in Budapest and spend some time with them while they're in Hungry. Their apartment is really nice, and in a perfect location for Matt's work, Reese's playground, and of course sight seeing. We spent a couple days exploring Budapest before taking a train ride to Vienna were we stayed for 3 days. I enjoyed spending some alone time with Miles and checking out the sights. We had a fun night at a local pub just drinking some beers and talking. We had decent weather that didn't stop us from seeing everything we wanted.
We then came back into Budapest to finish off our trip. It was nice to spend a couple more days with the Dowiak clan. We were also able to catch some sort of festival the last weekend we were there. We had a wonderful time together...
Here we are after a fun around Margaret's Island in Budapest. It's about a 2 minute walk from Matt and Hilary's place. There are no cars allowed on the island, which is awesome because it makes it such a great park.
I believe this is a view from the top of the church in Vienna. Ask Miles about the stairs to get to the top!
This one's for Matt...you can see the castle in Budapest in the background.
This is an aerial view in Budapest. You can see the island in the center. To large building on the right is Parliament. Matt and Hilary's place is about 2 blocks from the end of the bridge on the right (behind Parliament).

I couldn't resist...here's a picture of Reese. She's so cute! She is doing very well and is a very sweet girl.

Valentine's Day

A quick update for those who need their fix! Autumn is picking up some new words. She will now try to say a word after you say it. It's very cute. She's got the body parts down pretty well as well as animal sounds. I love her crocodile sound....she snaps her hands together...also as equally enjoyable is the pig, cat, and monkey imitations. Some friends came over last night for pizza and conversation. We reached the conclusion that are conversations from now on will probably be filled with baby/kid news...(evidenced by the prior "big news" animal sounds)...Today she figured out how to open the fridge door, which isn't so convenient for us!

It's been a bit chilly here in the Burgh lately...around the 30's. Miles and my Dad were busy putting in the screen door for the back entrance this afternoon. It looks a lot better, hopefully it will help keep out all of that cold weather. Home improvements little by little.

We've kind of bunkered down for the rest of February waiting for March to come, and we can't wait. The days are getting longer...spring will be here soon.

Just a cute picture of Autumn. I must have taken it after a meal.

Here's the new back door. I'll paint it white when the weather breaks and gets a little warmer. When the screen door is in I'll put up a new picture. We put in a lock with a keypad so you can just enter a number to unlock the door, a personal favorite.
Here's our Valentine's Day pictures...all kisses! I worked on Thursday so we went out Wednesday night to the neighborhood diner for a beer. It was nice to catch up and spend some alone time together. Dad and his baby girl...
Flowers!!
Kisses!!

Autumn's Name

This one's for Miles

Miles has been in Korea now for a couple of days, and we're really missing him!! I can't wait for you to come home babe, so keep on working hard and we'll be here when you get back. It's awfully quiet without you around, and not as entertaining! Autumn and I have been keeping busy running about and meeting up with friends and family.
We went out to eat with Grandma Dowiak and Hank this evening. Hank's showing Autumn the ropes on how to get a stuffed animal. No luck this time, but Autumn did have fun pushing the button. We've been really busy and I had been meaning to stop by Grandma Dowiak's, so it was nice to spend some time together so she could see what Autumn has been up to.
I was cooking in the kitchen and when I turned the corner Autumn was reading her book on top of the table. We grabbed the camera and took a picture (It was before Miles left so he took the picture and that's how I got in the picture below). The book she's looking at is called First 1000 Words...she loves it, and will study it all day long (I think they should re-title it Reading to Baby 1000 Times A Day :))

Winter in Pittsburgh

We finally have some signs of winter here in Pittsburgh...about an inch of snowfall this afternoon. We've had relatively warm weather so far this season. This afternoon I bundled Autumn up and she was able to play in the snow while I shoveled the walkways. She apparently didn't think my work was adequate enough, she would brush snow I missed off the steps with her hands. What a help! Autumn is certainly giving us a run for our money...she's testing the boundaries and hamming it up at the same time. She's quite a character, and makes us laugh everyday.

Miles and I had another weekend getaway without Autumn this past Friday night to Sunday morning. We took a short drive to Wash DC to visit Lucas. We were able to relive our younger years and go to an open bar (an experience I don't know if I'll repeat...). His roommate (he works for the New Jersey house representative) also gave us a tour on Saturday afternoon of the Capital building, very interesting. We met up with Cate on Saturday night for dinner, some darts, and a little dancing. It was nice to spend some time away...and it was nice to come back home...

Miles found out today that he'll be going to Korea all next week for work. It'll be an experience, but we'll miss him!

This is Autumn and Miles at El Grande for lunch. We ate after dress shopping for Andrea's wedding.
This was funny because I told her to smile for the picture. After I take her picture she'll reach for the camera to see what it looks like and then laugh at herself. She also likes to watch those mini videoclips you can take on the camera after I download them onto the computer.
Here's the new table set and chairs...it's been a long time coming. Now she has a nice place for her coloring instead of standing on the big chairs in the dining room. It's working out well. We did have to move the tent out of the family room for more space.
This is Autumn and Miles at The Center for Creative Play. It's a big open room where they have different areas for the kids to play. It was a nice way to spend a rainy day.

Uncle John, Aunt Amois, and Paloma

John, Amois, and Paloma flew all the way in from Oregon after Christmas for a couple of days to visit. It was wonderful seeing Paloma again, she grew so much in such a short time. She's an adorable, sweet baby...she smiles a lot and is very content. The cutest was when Autumn would give Paloma a hug and kiss, I think she'll make an excellent big sister (don't get any ideas...no plans soon for a second baby, although Paloma was very inspiring). Here are the cousins playing together...It's really hard to get a good shot of Autumn and Paloma these days. There's a delay on the camera, so I feel like I'm always 2 seconds behind the really cute picture that I wanted. Here's my best try...
Amois and Paloma (Jason calls her Palumpa, which I think is really cute) There's no denying this baby has a round rear end...

A busy December...

The holidays felt like they came and went in a whirlwind this year, I can't believe they're over! It's time to start normal life again. For Christmas Eve we spent the day at Uncle Joe's and Aunt Patty's home. The whole Dowiak clan in Pittsburgh showed up making it an enjoyable evening catching up with everyone. Congrats to Megan and Anthony on your engagement!! Christmas we headed over the Grandpa and Grandma Williams. Uncle Jason made a turdunken (I don't know if that's quite right)...but its a turkey, duck, and hen stacked into each other with a sausage stuffing between each layer, delicious. Let's just say I may have gained a little weight over the holidays. (Uncle Bill and Aunt Suanne's fudge may also have had something to do with that). Uncle Lucus was able to come in for a couple of days, and as always we enjoyed his company.
Autumn was more into Christmas this year, but she still didn't get the whole point. Below are two of her favorite presents...a car she can ride on and a baby stroller. She's a huge fan of the horn and says "beep beep" when she presses it, very cute. It's fun to watch Autumn take care of her doll. She puts it in her stroller and walks her around, and then will put the doll in her highchair and pretend to feed her, and will generally just walk around with her giving her hugs...It's very cute.