Lucky You

Bowl-A-Rama

2012-01-27T16:12:00.000-05:00

When the Girl has a day off of school...we hit the lanes.
The Boy did great, the Girl did even better.
All I can say is I am thankful for bumpers...gutter balls would have been a disaster.

Old and New

2012-01-25T21:53:00.000-05:00

Yes, I realize Christmas was a month ago (so, hey! Only 11 more months 'til next Christmas! Get your shopping on!).

Here's a little visual recap (just 'cause).

Someone really likes Angry Birds...note to self...buy stock in whoever makes that game...

This one was all about the dolphins.

We spent time with Nonna and Papa...and were really missing my Sister and Brother in law. Stupid airline prices.

Of course we hit the annual Christmas Day Cousin Extravaganza...

Then I did something crazy. I decided to do a 5K. I wanted to kick off 2012 with a purpose. I need to get serious about my life and quit acting like I am waiting for the grown-ups to show up and take care of everything. It's kind of sobering to realize I AM the grown-up.

I wasn't last place...but I will take my finish as a motivation to keep going and getting better.

Of course, the only one who stayed up the whole night was the girl. She had to wake me up so we could watch the ball drop.

So that's about it. January has been pretty quiet here.

I need to get back to blogging, there are things I do not want to forget. This year will be a lot of big changes...The girl will hit double digits, Dr. Dad may or may not be entering a new decade (no party, I got it dear) and we WILL get that little boy potty trained because Mama needs him to go to preschool.

It was a great year, and I am hoping for 2012 to be even better.

Millie

2011-12-18T19:33:00.007-05:00

It was time

To introduce

A new dog

Into our lives

Silly

Willy-Nilly

Millie

When Your Laptop Gets Sick

2011-12-09T15:56:00.003-05:00

Soooo. I haven't been blogging. Because I don't have a behaving laptop. Which leads to having no pictures to blog.

I realize I could write without pictures, but where is the fun in that?
The laptop is getting better. I have lots to catch up on. Like we got a dog and Christmas is almost here, etc. and so forth.

Once I get my pics worked out I will introduce you to ~~Jaws~~ Millie.

The Cat is Now The Star of This Blog

2011-11-11T18:41:00.004-05:00

There is someone in this house with more issues than even me.

May I present:

I am not amused

Grumpy Old Cat.

A while back the cat was diagnosed with high blood pressure, which I didn't even know they could check on a cat. I imagined a teeny tiny blood pressure cuff and a teeny tiny stethoscope. But actually it's a lot more complex (and of course, expensive) than that.

So we've been giving him BP pills. human BP pills, which I get at our local Walmart pharmacy and always come with the amusing warning sticker "use caution while driving." You know, in case he wants to hit the road.

He's also fat. Despite the diet cat food and lack of treats. The vet would like us to encourage him to be more active. But, look, he's pushing 16 which is like a million in cat years and who am I to criticize his lifestyle. Floor, food bowl, couch, litter box, chair. That's his little circuit and it makes him happy.

However. Last week he spent the night in the basement because he really couldn't make it up the stairs. So another trip to the vet revealed he was low on potassium. Which requires another medication.

He perked up right away, but at the follow up today his BP is still high, despite his pills and his continued lack of driving.

Now the vet thinks he might have a problematic thyroid (the cat, not the vet). Which would require special food to fix, but might also fix the BP and potassium issue. This is getting expensive. The cat needs to get a job.

But I will pay it. I need my Grumpy Old Cat around a little longer.

Cat Love and Buffer Pets

2011-11-08T18:39:00.004-05:00

We have been the owners of our cat for 15 years now. He is old and fat and pretty happy with his life.

This little boy LOOOOVES him a cat.

When we lost our dog back in February, I thought we would get a new dog soon after. But I was worried about how that would impact our elderly family member.

Plus I am not sure Dr. Dad was so ready to get a new dog.

Time goes on, however, and to be honest, after a cat related health scare this weekend, I am not sure we should be without a "buffer" pet.

Do you know about those? It's the pet you have to soften the blow of losing another pet. It sounds kind of harsh typed out there...but I know having the cat around after loosing the dog was very helpful.

So, we have just put in an adoption application for a dog.

I will let you know how it goes.

In the meantime...we will keep enjoying the cat.

What I Did on My Vacation (Baby Girl Edition)

2011-10-24T19:51:00.002-04:00

Took my fourth plane ride...

Visited my Palace...

Spent time with my BFF...

Took pictures on my favorite ride...

Got a lift from my Papa...

Made a new friend...

Had an awesome time...

What I Did On My Vacation (Baby Boy Edition)

2011-10-15T15:50:00.004-04:00

Fell asleep on a plane...

Got some Mouse ears...

Fell asleep in a car...

Got smooched by a Princess...

Navigated...

Got picked to be a Pirate...

Fell asleep in a chair...

Had a great time...

Lighten Up

2011-09-12T21:18:00.002-04:00

This past weekend was a long and somber experience. I realized today I am still feeling a little down...so I decided to uplift us all with this picture. I call it "Boy Pinching Toad"

It makes me smile...but I am not sure the Toad is feeling the love.

Saucy

2011-09-06T15:15:00.002-04:00

I am third generation Italian-American. Oh, I look like a pale Irish Girl, but the need to turn Roma tomatoes into sauce overwhelmes me this time of year...

My family makes two variations of saucy goodness. The first is what I typically cook, a Marinara...with garlic, olive oil, oregano and fresh Roma tomatoes, cooked down until it's thick and chunky. I use the Romas that we grow in our garden, and then freeze the sauce to use all winter.

I almost sound like an Italian Martha Stewart there, no?

The other sauce uses the juice of the Roma. This is something I just started becoming involved with the past few years.

We juice the tomatoes, cook it down, can the juice, and then later use it to make a smooth tomato sauce. Juicing a tomato the old way was not fun. You hand crank a metal machine until your arm falls off, juice leaks everywhere, and it takes a looooong time.

My Mom and I recently each got an attachment for our Kitchenaid Mixers that, together, let you juice a tomato. We do the juicing in the garage at my Parents' house, just to keep the kitchen free for the cooking of the juice and canning.

The mixer method was so awesome. Cleaner and faster than I thought and so easy even Baby Girl could help!

We're stocked up for now...once I try my hand at turning this into a sauce my Grandma Carmella would have been proud of, I'll feel like a true paisan!

Mangia E Statti Zitto!

The Not Bummer Summer

2011-08-29T20:57:00.000-04:00

11 weeks just doesn't seem like a very long time. Especially when you are trying to have a Not Bummer Summer.

Inspired by the movie I took Baby Girl to at the beginning of June, we decided to make a list of all the things we wanted to do this summer to make it fun...i.e. not bummer.

School starts tomorrow, and we accomplished everything on the list except for two items (a baseball game and camping out in the backyard).

Here they are (in no particular order):

Going to the Judy Moody Movie

Fourth of July Party

Going to Lakeside

Swim Lessons

The Columbus Zoo

Cousin Sleepover

Having a Pool Party

Strawberry Picking

Visiting the Warther Museum

Going to a Drive in Movie

The only real Bummer:

Overall, not bad, not bad at all...

Ode to Lakeside (or How I Learned To Love a Chautauqua)

2011-08-19T16:18:00.011-04:00

Ten summers ago, I was pregnant with Baby Girl, and we were invited to spend some time with Dr. Dad's whole family (at that time, 11 people) at a little Chautauqua resort on Lake Erie called Lakeside.

We settled in this little cottage and I immediately thought Chautauqua meant "boring."

I mean, they have their own "world renown" shuffleboard area, for crying out loud.

Sure, it was pretty...

and there were things to do nearby...

but a week of shuffleboard, concerts and rock painting wasn't our thing.

Or so I thought.

Fast forward 10 years, two kids, three cottages and a house full of 16 people and I have slowly developed a love affair with the lazy week we spend at Lakeside.

We do the same things every year...and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Three

2011-08-01T18:30:00.005-04:00

At Three Years Old You Can:

Spell your name
Count to "twentyteen"
Ride your scooter
Snuggle with your sister
Annoy your sister
Refuse to be potty trained
Play with your best friends Zach, Carter and Liam
Jump like Superman into the pool
Watch endless hours of "Peep and the Big Wide World"
Be brave when you get a cast on your arm
Cry when they take the cast off
Sleep in a crib
Exist on only hot dogs and fries
Almost sit through a whole movie in a movie theater
Refuse to nap
Refuse to go to sleep at night
Love your cat
Love your "Meemo" fish
Love "Racecar"

Love everyone.

Happy Birthday to our love!

The End

Broken

2011-07-20T10:33:00.006-04:00

It started out to be such a fun day...celebrating the 4th of July and the Birthday of our niece.

Then, adventure boy took a little tumble on a rope bridge and that was that.

We certainly are no strangers to broken bones (sadly). His sister was just slightly older than he is now when she broke her arm (coincidentally, her right arm as well). Of course she opted for pink.

Then we were only a week out from his birth when break number two happened. That one was a little worse, and involved pins. (This time, she chose purple.)

And can I just say here that whoever invented waterproof casts deserves a Nobel Peace Prize? Because we have had both types in this house and the waterproof is so awesome I still don't know how we all did it with the other kind.

At any rate, Baby Boy has been a real trouper, but I will be very happy when we (hopefully) get it off this Friday. Just a day after his Birthday. Happy Day for all!

And please, Lord, no more trips to the ER...if it weren't for hair coloring I would be totally grey by now.

Father

2011-06-19T14:43:00.002-04:00

Happy Father's Day to the most awesome Dad two kids could ever ask for.

Thank you for making my life as a Mom (and Wife) such a good one.

We love you.

Where You Been At? (Memorial Day Edition)

2011-06-05T20:42:00.000-04:00

So. Looks like I took a few months off from blogging. I have no idea why. Things feel busy and not busy at the same time and annoying things like laundry and bathing the kids take up most of the free time I have.

I started blogging to keep track of how Baby Boy was doing and keeping friends and family in the loop. Things aren't nearly as exciting on the development scale for an almost 9 and almost 3 year old. But we're still wacky all the same.

Let's see. I missed blogging about our Spring Break trip to see my Aunt and Uncle in Pennsylvania (delightful)

Easter (cold)

Baby Girl's First Communion (which should be its own post but isn't)

and my birthday (old).

I figure I will jump right back in and talk about Memorial Day weekend. In typical Ohio weather we went from feeling like November to July in a week, and it was HOT. So we hit the local ice cream joint. I love this place because it is seriously old school and the best part is the fact that they are putting in their own mini-golf course. Because why not?

Then we set the kids loose with the new sprinkler. We joined a pool, but we are the weird people who do things like join a pool and then don't go because A. we're too busy and B. it's actually too hot to go.

Then Baby Boy got some sort of random fever and our annual parade extravaganza was looking like a no go but he rallied in the end and we made it after all.

I have never been to a parade that gives out this much loot. The kids love it. Plus, a free tip, if you see a truck full of little league kids and they are throwing candy, it helps to yell out "hey, let's see your pitching arm!" You will get hit with more candy than you will believe. They can't resist showing off their pitching arm.

We spent the rest of the day at the family picnic with a relatively mild water balloon toss...

...then tried some wild tongue tattoos.

Awesome.

I am hoping this marks a more regular update from us. Until then, enjoy this picture...Baby Boy has a need for speed...

The Edge of Three

2011-03-20T09:26:00.005-04:00

You are so charming, little man, that it is becoming increasingly difficult to be stern with you. I am afraid of what you are going to be getting away with...

When I ask you to do something, you rebel so politely.

"It's time to go to bed" gets "No thank you."

"You need a diaper change" leads to "I'm fine, thank you."

You spend most of the time finding "grils" (girls) to chat up. More than once you have sidled up to a young lady and introduced yourself with a "How you doin'" and sometimes you ask for her number. It took me a few times to realize you were asking her age. Either way, if this is a preview of your future, people will need to lock up their daughters.

You've been in more time outs in your 2 short years than your sister has been in all 8 of hers. There is nothing like getting pulled aside at a meeting to be told your son has been sent to run around the gym because he needs to get "some of that energy out."

You've run away from me too many times to count. Once you got so far away from me at the Macy's that I had a nervous breakdown and was just about to call in a code red when I heard my name announced over the loudspeaker. You had made friends with the lady in Fine Jewelry and knew enough to tell her my first name and your first name. However, by the time I got there you told her that your name was really Patrick (your middle name) and she still thinks that is your name.

However.

I live to hear you talk and the funny things you say. Listening to you sing "Life is a Highway" or ask for "lotsem snacks" or the way you can recite almost the entire "Cars" movie and how you can sound amazingly like Mater...you are a special joy.

I see you growing up too fast, so fast...

It's not as often these days, but sometimes, I get a glimpse of the baby you once were. When you want to cuddle or be held...when you catch a nap in the car. Maybe you can stay my little baby a while longer...

Go Irish

2011-03-17T20:51:00.005-04:00

It started yesterday with the setting of the Leprechaun trap.

While we didn't catch any Leprechauns, we did get some chocolate.

This year was another beautiful day...

The cat is not amused.

Happy Irish Family. Ok. Happy Italian/Slovak/Irish Family. Whatever.

Hope your St. Patrick's Day was a great one!

On the Lighter Side

2011-02-22T17:04:00.003-05:00

If you play Just Dance Kids for the Wii, your kids may pick the most unlikely song as their favorite dance.

They will dance to it over and over and over again.

You will sing the song in your sleep.

Behold. Kung Fu Fighting.

(For my Facebook Friends...you will need to go to my actual blog to view the video.)

Maggie

2011-02-15T16:13:00.006-05:00

It's been a little over a week now that we lost our dog, Maggie.

10 years ago, when Dr. Dad and I bought our first house, it had a fenced in backyard, and we decided to do the whole Suburban Neighborhood thing right and get a dog.

I wanted a Sheltie, because I thought they were pretty. I didn't do any research, because I am impulsive like that. When I found out how much a puppy cost I was shocked. We decided to put the issue on the back-burner.

Not long after there was an ad in the paper. A woman was selling her year-old Sheltie because she didn't have time to care for her. We drove over and that was it. We had a dog.

I had a hard time bonding with her because she was never socialized, and she didn't like to be touched. She seemed pretty nervous around me...but she loved Dr. Dad. In time we grew to like one another, and she became a big part of our lives.

She was a very smart and loyal dog. When we were pregnant with Baby Girl we took her to a trainer and she learned so quickly. She made the move with us a few years ago; she went with us on short trips; she welcomed Baby Boy and made him laugh.

She never ran away, she stayed with us and guarded our yard (sometimes a little too well). She was very true to her breed, trying to "herd" us if we did things she didn't like, barking like crazy at anything (or anyone) she wasn't familiar with, running after cars, airplanes, geese or people that crossed in front of or over our property.

We found out she had cancer late last summer. We knew she had a limited time, but it's never easy to actually say goodbye.

She went the best possible way, in our home with all the people around her who loved her. It was fast and she was comfortable for most of the day.

I am surprised at how much I am still looking for her, expecting her to bark when I pull in the driveway; waiting for her to steal a snack from the kids; watching to make sure I don't step on her when I get up from a chair.

I'm sure we will get another dog soon. But for now we are dealing with the new quiet.

We were lucky to have her.

Secret Trips and Killer Whales

2011-02-04T17:28:00.006-05:00

Although the sickness of '11 kept me from the original Florida trip I had planned, my Mom came up with the great idea of taking another trip; this time to surprise my sister.

Of course, leave it to my family to meet up with my California residing sister by waiting until she was in Florida and then flying in from Ohio.

We decided to add Baby Girl to the fun, and take her to Sea World. I have very fond memories of Sea World as a child. When it was still located in Aurora, Ohio, we were able to go at least once a summer, sometimes more than that.

To keep things in order, here was the plan:

1. We would be staying with my Mom's childhood friend who lives in Orlando and was willing to put up with our antics for the 4 days we would be there.

2. My sister's in laws were going to be in Florida and had a fantastic resort room that they were happy to entertain in, and were right across from Sea World.

3. My sister and her husband were coming in to Orlando from California to see the 8 family members that had come down to Florida and go to Disney.

4. I could not blog/facebook/email or talk to her about the trip, (which was killing me) because if she saw any of my posts the gig would be up.

5. We would be spending 2 days at Sea World and the rest of the time trying not to impose on various people when we needed to drive around Orlando and eat (seriously, these were some incredibly generous people!).

For a day or so we were convinced my sister had figured out what we were doing. We tried throwing her off the case by making phone calls and talking about how bad the weather was (while we were sitting by the pool) and putting Baby Girl on the phone who turned out to be an excellent story-teller (makes me worry about the future though, ha).

The look on her face when she walked in the room Saturday night and saw us standing there was well worth the whole trip! We had a great time.

The trip to Sea World was so fantastic. We really did need two days to get through the whole park. The shows were great, especially the dolphin show, which inspired us to do a behind the scenes tour with the dolphins. But that's another post...

The weather was perfect, and several times I had to remind myself it was still January and not the summer! Of course, I had no trouble remembering the month with the ice storm that hit Ohio immediately after we got home.

Our friends and family went above and beyond to make this a great trip

This is my Mom and her friend...it was so fun to hear them talk about their childhood together. I could really see why they were friends. A special thanks to her husband for putting up with the endless chatter of Baby Girl, who never misses an opportunity to entertain a captive audience.

Some of us were even able to go swimming...

I can't even begin to tell you the level of bribery and coaxing that went into getting Baby Girl on this water slide.

We were so happy to see my sister and brother in law...we had so much fun and it was so hard to leave.

I'm so lucky to have my family. Thanks Mom! Thanks Family! Happy Birthday Sis! Love You!

Howdy

2011-01-18T16:50:00.003-05:00

Just checkin' in here.

January is a strange month. Typical for us...post holiday bummer and then the round of family sickness and endless days of weather that can only be described as "grey."

The kids are feeling restless. Calling our house cute things like "The Cottage" and rearranging toys can't hide the fact that it's a pretty small space for spending too much time indoors.

Missing a much anticipated "girls only" trip to Florida with my Mom and sister didn't help things much either (thanks flu).

However. I am trying to adopt an attitude of thanks. Call it puttin' on my big girl pants and dealing with things...or a generous dose of get a grip...I am spending more time being grateful and less time complaining. Or at least trying to.

Life is too short. And my life is too good.

Pixie Power

2011-01-08T15:42:00.004-05:00

I have a very opinionated daughter. She knows what she wants and she isn't afraid to take fashion risks.

In the span of 4 months her hair went from this:

To this:

If anyone could pull off a pixie cut...it's her!

She looks like a supermodel!

But don't tell her that...

She's a Pixie!

Christmas

2010-12-28T10:28:00.010-05:00

So this is Christmas. Crazy as every year. Still amazed at the way we cram it all in, but we never seem to want to change it.

Again wonderful because all of our family was together.

First a Christmas Eve at Nonna and Papa's house with my sister and her husband.

Then a wild Christmas Morning there...

Quick goodbyes and a drive to our home which resulted in Baby Boy falling asleep and missing Santa's visit while Baby Girl opened her goodies...

Packing up once again to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house...

Enjoying more wrapped surprises...

And ending the week with another New Years Eve at home.

The house is still recovering, our gifts were great, the mess is greater.

But the memories...all worth it...

Who's Coming?

2010-12-17T17:16:00.002-05:00

Blimptastic

2010-12-07T19:54:00.007-05:00

Last Saturday Dr. Dad suggested we participate in Toys for Tots. Actually, he very excitedly called me and enthusiastically suggested we go because we were going to be able to drive through an air dock and see the Goodyear Blimp up close and personal.

We live in close proximity to two Blimp air docks, the one we drove through is smaller than the main one...but still an impressive building.

We see the Goodyear Blimp all the time, and it is no secret that Dr. Dad very much enjoys seeing them. We have many, many pictures of them.

Like pictures at the beach...

and pictures at the tall ships...

Anyway.

We drove through the entrance to the air dock with great anticipation.

Even I was amazed to see the Blimp this close.

We were so amazed that after we handed our toy to some very (handsome) Marines, we fished around for some cash and went back through a second time!

If they do this again next year, we will definitely be back!

Say what you will about living in the middle of nowhere...sometimes it has its advantages!

Where Ya Been?

2010-11-29T18:56:00.006-05:00

Well hello there.

Where have we been for this past month? Busy Busy Busy. Not a place, I know, but November is just about gone and I thought I should offer up proof that we've been doing things.

First is was the annual Cinderella ball for Baby Girl. Bonus for us, she got to wear her beautiful flower girl dress again!

Then it was Dr. Dad's birthday. Celebrated with pie...so good.

Then it was general sickness...ear infections, pink eye, coughing, etc. Didn't think you would want pictures of that. You can thank me later.

We went to Breakfast with Santa and the Tree Festival. Baby Boy does not share his sister's previous fear of the Man in Red. It was good all around fun.

Finally, it was our annual Thanksgiving weekend extravaganza!

Friday night dinner at Luigi's...

(We all love Luigi's)

...followed by a trip to the Peanut Shoppe...

...ending in the freezing cold watching fireworks downtown.

Let's hope December offers up a little more time for updating you on our never ending exciting life...oh, who am I kidding...let the Christmas Madness begin!

Pirate, Farmer Girl, Ladybug, Cinderella, Dancing Cow

2010-11-03T08:25:00.006-04:00

Some people need costume options...

...and some people are content to just be the cow.

Really, really, content to be the cow.

Things I Don't Want to Forget

2010-10-20T19:55:00.009-04:00

The way you say "I hold you Mommy" when you want me to pick you up.

The way you scrunch up your face when you try and look angry.

The way you sing "Tonight's Gonna be a Good Night" at the top of your lungs.

The way you ask us "You happy?" when you think we might not look so happy.

The way you have to sleep with blue blanket, other blanket, Scout the dog, and a race car in each hand.

The way you say "See you later" when you leave the room.

The way you exclaim "It's Pink!" when we ask you what color something is.

The way you laugh hysterically at the dog, even if she is just sleeping.

The way you love dinosaurs, trains, cars, planes, and, for whatever reason, Tinkerbell.

The way you get excited about everything, especially when your Daddy comes home from work.

The way you scream "CHICKEL FRIZES" each and every time we pass a fast food establishment.

The way you walk like a duck while saying "quack, quack."

8 Years

2010-10-16T10:24:00.009-04:00

It's amazing to me. Being the mother of an 8 year old. Such a funny age.

For your birthday we went to the zoo. It was 15 kids and family and it was a lot of fun. But I am glad I am not the parent of 15 kids. Keeping that herd together was a little nerve racking.

As a special surprise your favorite person in the whole world (other than your Dad, maybe) flew in from LA to celebrate your birthday.

I think your reaction to her leaving a few days later perfectly sums up your age. You were really very sad, until you realized she had left you a dollar to get a snack at the local Speedway (you really love to do that...who knows why). Then it was all "so, can we go to Speedway after school today?" You are up and down in the blink of an eye. Gee, can't wait for those magical teenage years.

We bought you a new bike since you learned (finally!) to ride a two wheeler this summer. Apparently your legs grew a thousand inches and the bike you were riding was like one of those little clown bikes, your knees up to your elbows. You picked this bike out...due to its "cool" factor.

You are happily 44 pounds now. Only 5th percentile. But in another 12 inches you will be as tall as your Mom. Sometimes I still take off your Dad's wedding ring and peer at that little round opening...remembering how your whole hand once fit inside.

This year will be amazing. You will start Brownies soon, you are still dancing and will start piano lessons. You will make your First Communion and probably do a million other things.

We are proud of you and excited for you and love you. Lucky us.

Here's What You've Missed

2010-10-12T10:00:00.001-04:00

So. I guess I haven't been updating very often this year.

I realized (in August) that I stopped monthly blogging about Baby Boy's progress in the growing up department. I think after 2 years the fact that he is still eating/sleeping/walking/talking is pretty much a given and you probably aren't missing the monthly play-by-play.

Of course, I am also not blogging about other things, like, say, Baby Girl turning 8 (!) or going apple picking or dressing my kids up like pirates and taking them to Chick-fil-a.

Therefore, I am going to break it down. Starting with the pirates. Because I can.

Some Pirates are Tough

Some Pirates are Hungry

But Most of All: Some Pirates are Just Cute

The View From Here

2010-09-21T16:29:00.005-04:00

Never a dull moment in our yard.

Vacation State of Mind

2010-09-10T09:17:00.007-04:00

I walked Baby Girl to the bus stop today and it was sooo chilly.

I have my first cold of the season.

I started pulling out sweatshirts and jeans for the kids to wear.

This was a crazy crazy summer. Just now do I feel like I have a grip on everything and am ready to relax...

But it's back to school and fall activities and - thanks to every single store around here - the reminders of the impending holidays are everywhere.

Why do I still have vacation on my mind?

Maybe remembering our annual week at Lake Erie would help...

Thinking about time with family...

Reliving old traditions...

And how we created new ones...

Dreaming about the cottage we stayed in...

Pondering how fast all the cousins are growing...

Wishing once again for sunny days and swimming pools...

First Day...Fifth Time Around

2010-08-31T16:25:00.006-04:00

Wasn't it just yesterday we were starting Pre-School?

And then Pre-K?

And then Kindergarten?

And then First Grade?

And here we are...Second Grade.

Time...you are on notice. Slow down.

Hair Today...Gone Tomorrow

2010-08-19T10:07:00.005-04:00

It all started when some of her classmates began donating their long hair to Locks of Love.

She declared she would be next.

So yesterday was the big day.

Prepping her ponytails.

Of course, not to be left out, Mr. Man decided to get his hair cut as well.

The first cut!

So happy!

Look at all that hair!

We are so proud of our Big Girl.

Goin' to the Chapel...

2010-08-10T19:43:00.007-04:00

What a wonderful wedding...

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs.

13 Years

2010-08-02T12:33:00.002-04:00

Still thanking God I transferred to The University of Toledo and then went on that retreat (which sounded like such a bore to my 19 year old self). However...you were the highlight of that campfire and although it took us a year to figure it out...we have been together ever since.

Happy Anniversary! Here's to many, many more...

Storms a Brewin'

2010-07-28T17:43:00.003-04:00

These next few weeks are going to test my over organizing/anxiety prone/OCD brain.

It mostly feels like this inside my head right now:

(Yes I took that picture. This is what a storm rolling in at sunset looks like...freaked me out.)

Thankfully I live with superheroes. Didn't you know?

Don't let those smiles fool you. They are here to kick some serious bad mood behind.

Ode to a KitchenAid Mixer

2010-07-23T20:53:00.004-04:00

O, dear KitchenAid Mixer

How did I ever live without you?

You turn the toils of cooking

Into a joyous event!

So shiny and red

You complete my kitchen.

Thank you, dear KitchenAid Mixer

For making me (almost) like baking again!

(An additional Ode of Thanks is due to my in laws, who,

in their infinite wisdom, purchased this for us.)

2 Years

2010-07-21T11:43:00.004-04:00

I don't even know where to begin. How did 2 years go by so quickly? To say I am in denial is an understatement.

July 21, 2008

We are so lucky to have you. So happy you are our second miracle. You complete our family.

July 21, 2009

We love you. And even though I am a little sad that you are growing up so fast, we can't wait to see what you do next!

July 21, 2010

Mash Up 2010

2010-07-13T17:47:00.007-04:00

Soooo, lots going on, lots to say...but I don't really feel like writing. I am hoping to give you the short and sweet of the last few weeks. With pictures.

California Gurls

2010-06-28T21:12:00.004-04:00

I just got back today from my trip to California to see my sister. Between taking the red eye and the time change and the wine...I am feeling more than a little foggy.

Therefore, I don't have much to say...just wanted to share some pictures of our fun girls weekend.

I would have more, but I had to make room for more clothes by leaving my camera charger at home...

Thursday Mani-Pedi day.

Friday Wine Tour.

Amazing views outside Santa Barbara.

Dinner at XIV.

Saturday night at Saddle Ranch.

Sunday was Sun Day.

Congratulation to a beautiful Bride to Be.

23 Months

2010-06-21T15:39:00.004-04:00

Well, here we are, on the verge of two.

I am hopeful, so hopeful, that we can enjoy your twos much like we did with your sister. They were not at all terrible. I think they are really the Terrible Sevens. I think this because I just got served a whole lot of attitude from one Seven Year Old who is now in bed early.

But I digress.

Summer is upon us, which means a lot of time outside. You are so amazingly active and fearless that I am not sure I will survive the summer in one piece.

We went to the pool again yesterday, and while there was no way I could get your sister to go down the baby slide, you were all too willing to take it on. Trying to explain to you that there is a little thing called "knowing how to swim" standing in your way did not go over well. Each time we took you over to the big pool and went in, you would plaintively whine "sliiiiddddeeee pleeeeeese" so we had to distract you and swim away.

In most ways you are becoming more and more of a joy. You are starting to use small sentences and sing more. You have learned how to jump and when you run really fast you wiggle your whole body.

You have lately been laughing to hear yourself laugh and then you actually crack yourself up. It's infectious. If someone does something you like, you laugh and laugh and then say "Do again, please" over and over. We usually do.

Your favorite thing when I drive past any fast food establishment is to yell "CHICKEL FRIZES" and while we think this is funny, it makes me worry that you know what Wendy's is before the age of two.

You are endlessly polite. You say "Please" and "Sank You" and "Scuse Me" and "Welcome" and you love to hand us things when we ask for them and say "Here you go." You even know how to turn off the TV when we ask. Of course, that also means you know how to turn the TV on.

I am leaving this week to visit your Aunt in California. I haven't been away from you for this long and I will miss you and your sister.

I'm sure everything will be fine. Just don't learn anything new while I'm gone. Sank you.

This Post is Chock Full of Goodness

2010-06-14T16:48:00.005-04:00

So much has been going on that I am almost at a loss as to how best to describe the whirlwind this last week has been for us. Several times in the past few days I have thought "I should just do a quick post about that" and then I collapsed in a heap in my bed.

Let's see.

We participated in Relay for Life. The theme was Birthdays and let's just say Baby Boy was very, very happy to celebrate. I could have included the hundreds of pictures we have of him celebrating by eating Doritos, climbing a rock wall, or trying to dismantle the birthday candles my friend painstakingly made for our campsite. But I don't think this post can hold that many jpegs.

Then is was Field Day and Baby Girl's last day of school. Here she is with her awesome First Grade teacher.

I can't believe we are the parents of a Second Grader.

Also...did you know "Field Day" is not what it used to be? I remember our Field Day was basically a bunch of races and maybe a Popsicle after we sat in the hot High School stadium all afternoon (oh jeez...now I am probably going to start saying "in my day we did things differently" gah). Baby Girl had what I like to think of as a carnival. Bouncy houses! Face painting! Snow cones! A DJ spinning all your favorite Justin Bieber songs, for crying out loud! She loved it.

Then we were on to the annual dance recital extravaganza. Monday night staging rehearsal. Wednesday night dress rehearsal. Friday and Saturday night performances that got us home at eleven at night.

Do you see her there as that pretty pink flower? Yessir I spent the requisite 20 hours complaining about the money/time/schedule thing. Then I watched her on that stage and you bet I signed us up for another year.

Her brother even enjoyed himself. Or, he enjoyed spending the second half of the show in the hallway with his Papa kicking an empty plastic water bottle around and trying to escape up the stairs.

Dr. Dad spent part of the week at a conference and then topped it off with a Bat Survey. How many wives get to say that?

"So, where's your husband?"

"Oh, he's off looking for bats."

"Bats?"

"Yes. He's like Batman, only more environmentally friendly."

We thought we were going to see him off to the Gulf for a few weeks due to that awful, awful oil spill. But it looks like that has been put on hold.

So. Today is Monday again. I feel like I am just catching my breath. But there is always the annual garage sale I am organizing with my Mom this weekend, and then, a trip to LA to see my fabulous sister.

Holy cow. I want to collapse in my bed just thinking about it.

What We Did On Our Weekend Vacation

2010-06-01T09:07:00.006-04:00

Ok. So it really wasn't a vacation. However, it was 3 days of no strict agendas and plenty of family time.

We got started on our new garden. Well, Dr. Dad got started on our new garden. It used to be a patch near our Barn. After some observation last year, we decided it's too shady there, so we are trying a raised bed garden in a sunnier spot.

Observe. Shade.

Observe. Sun!

Then it was off to our favorite local Zoo (thanks again Nonna and Papa for our membership!) where we met up with a sweet cousin and her family.

The Zoo is really going to the birds.

More yard work on Sunday and then a trip to the pool! If the hot weather we had this weekend is any indicator of the summer...we will be spending a lot of time here.

Monday we attended the annual Memorial Day Parade (in the city Dr. Dad is from). We were supposed to go to a park afterwards and have a picnic, but the Weather Channel really came through again with an unexpected storm right in the middle of the day. We moved the festivities to Grandma and Grandpa's house, which was just fine with the kids.

Waiting for it to start raining candy.

We really enjoyed ourselves this whole weekend. Sometimes a weekend like that makes it even harder to get back into the weekly grind.

Baby Girl has 6 more days of school and then we will be doing her dance recital and the summer will be off and running.

I am so glad we took these days to stop and smell the roses!

22 Months

2010-05-21T20:32:00.001-04:00

I took you for a much needed haircut this week. When I took this picture of you the next day, I was a little shocked at how BIG you looked. Like a kid. Not a baby.

Seeing you grow up sooooo fast is making me, to tell the truth, a little sad.

I don't remember it going by so fast with your sister. I would love to freeze this time, this age, right now.

You are a little charmer. A world class heartbreaker. I gotta say: when I hand you something and you say "Sank you Mommy" my heart does little flips and if you work it right, you could probably get anything you want. Especially when you point and say "Peeeeze" and bat those long eyelashes. *Side note. Why do boys get such long, beautiful eyelashes? Share the wealth, would ya?

You are getting way more verbal. You sing along to the all the kid CDs in the car. Your favorite things to point out to everyone are stars, hearts (which you still call "happies"), flags, cars, planes, traffic lights, and cats. You are still all about goldfish crackers, hot dogs, cheerios, pizza and, of course, "like its", although you now call them loyipops. You LOVE to be out of the house...forever asking to go "Owside" and play "Bassetcall" and go down the slide.

You are much stronger than we think you are...still doing things a little too quick and reckless for our liking. You can open doors and climb and run. When we call you "danger boy" we are not kidding.

Still. When you give your mother that grin...I can hardly tell you "no" with a straight face.

In two short months you will be two years old.

I promise to try and not think about that too much. I promise just to try and enjoy the now, and your awesome headstands.

Mother

2010-05-11T08:26:00.005-04:00

Mother's Day has come and gone and the whole weekend was busy but fun.

Saturday was our walk for the March of Dimes and while God answered my prayer of "No rain until we get home, please" I forgot to include a prayer of "No gale force winds to make you think the Wicked Witch would be flying by at any minute" so we had some of those.

Of course, we hit the Peanut Shop after. I love that place.

Then we visited with Dr. Dad's parents and had a little dinner out and a rousing time shopping at Chez Walmart.

The joy of being a Mom to an almost 8 year old is that for Mother's Day, she will raid her art room and come up with an awesome homemade card and a crown. Also, pencils with wrappers she designed and colored and a box of coupons decorated with Gemz and promising snuggle time and another breakfast in bed.

The joy of being a Mom to an almost 2 year old is that when he comes in the room and sees you in the morning on Mother's Day he will give you a grin that makes you feel like you are the BEST PERSON EVER and then promptly try to attack his actual true love, the cat.

We made it to church and then my parents came over. We had dinner at my favorite hibachi restaurant.

Of course, we hit the Popcorn Shop while we were there. I love that place, too!

We really enjoy our snack food shops in this family.

Now we are back into the chaos that is May. Something like 5 birthdays to celebrate and a Memorial Day picnic and general merriment.

I am glad I got one day of hanging around at home and enjoying the reasons I even get to celebrate Mother's Day.

This Girl

2010-05-07T14:27:00.004-04:00

Has been waiting for two weeks for "beach day" at her school.

Has been staying up way too late reading.

Has the ability to make us extremely proud and extremely frustrated, sometimes at the same time.

Has made us so very happy.

We are so excited for our March of Dimes walk tomorrow. Celebrating the 7 years of her life.

Not just lucky...blessed.

Yo

2010-04-28T19:14:00.002-04:00

Keepin' it real, since 2008.

21 Months

2010-04-21T20:00:00.003-04:00

How to sum up a month of constant danger and endless activity?

A video.

Please note. You give me a mini-heart-attack every time I watch you do this. Your sister NEVER went down a slide, let alone barrel up open rung stairs to get to one (and you have barrelled up those stairs with a sippy cup in your hand, and, according to another source, with a piece of sidewalk chalk in each hand).

If I had to sum up the fundamental difference between you and your sister, this is it.

I have a feeling this summer is going to be VERY busy.

April Showers bring ... August Weddings

2010-04-19T16:51:00.003-04:00

This past Saturday was my sister's wedding shower.

We picked her up at the airport on Thursday night and spent some quality time with her and the kids. Which included a "girls only" dinner and then story time!

Friday was a blur of wedding related errands. After a 6 am trip to the gym (what were we thinking?!?!) we went with our Mom to meet the florist, pick up wedding items, have a quick lunch, then Mom and my sister went to finalize the invitations and limo. I took a nap.

Saturday was a fantastic day of family and friends.

Celebration.

The Bridal party (minus one very busy actress).

Gorgeous centerpieces.

Of course it went way too fast.

We spent some time with her friends on Saturday night, drinking homemade wine, laughing as she re-lived her "Pittsburgh Days". Let's just say my stories are VERY boring in comparison!

Sunday she was back on a plane for LA.

Sometimes it's hard to live so far away from family. We all miss her and she misses us but after the winter we had here I don't blame her one bit for living at the beach! I will get to visit her in June and then the wedding will be here before we know it!

Until then, I will continue to keep up my "Matron of Honor" duties and blog about our wedding escapades.

And yes, I will get another video of the kids on here so my sister and her fiance will be in the loop. I promise!

Do the Bunny Hop...Hop...Hop...Hop...

2010-04-13T23:32:00.005-04:00

Better late than never!

A recap of Easter 2010.

Egg Hunt #1

Egg Hunt #2 (Baby Boy finding the prize egg!)

Egg Hunt #3 (yep, we like Egg Hunts!)

Our first visit to Eggshelland!

Easter!

Easter at Grandma and Grandpa's house with the cousins (except Baby Boy)

Baby Boy would rather be climbing

Easter at Nonna and Papa's house

Home again, home again, jiggity jig

9 Weeks

2010-03-27T20:15:00.005-04:00

We didn't really know anyone who had a premature baby before we had Baby Girl. We had no idea what they were able to do in the NICU, that a baby born at 28 weeks would even be able to live.

Just the other day I was talking about her birth, and how she was 5 days old before I could even hold her. It was the day I was leaving the hospital, and when Dr. Dad and I came into the NICU to say good-bye, the nurse there asked if I had the chance to hold her yet. When I said no, she said she would help me do that before I had to leave. The nurse had to take her, the tubes and wires, bundle everything up and somehow get her over to me without moving her CPAP which was allowing her to breathe. I was terrified and thrilled. Then, when I handed her back to the nurse, we somehow dislodged an I.V. connection and she bled all over my shirt. I left the NICU just devastated, and even though she wasn't harmed, I couldn't believe that would be the memory I would have of the first time I held my daughter. I still have that shirt. I am wearing it in this picture. It's the picture I have of that day.

Six years later, immediately after the birth of Baby Boy, they wrapped him up and handed him to me. I had a c-section, but even as they wheeled me into recovery, I still held him. He was considered full term even at 37 weeks. No tubes, no wires, no CPAP. He was all ours, and we didn't have to ask the nurses to help us hold him, didn't have to hand him back when they felt he had enough.

That is the difference 9 weeks can make.

This is the sixth year we will be walking for the March of Dimes.

We started the walk right after we moved from the Big City and Baby Girl was just 2 years old.

We wanted to do something to raise awareness (and money) for prematurity, and this seemed like the perfect thing to do.

If you would like to help us reach our goal of $1000, you can click on the link in the sidebar. Any donation is appreciated.

Or, you can go directly to our March of Dimes page by clicking here.

Our wish is that every baby gets our happy, lucky, ending.

20 Months

2010-03-21T20:00:00.006-04:00

Baby Boy.

As I type this, you are standing on our kitchen chair. You have managed to get on the chair, even though I have carefully pushed all the chairs in toward the table to prevent you from doing this.

Your new nickname has become Danger Boy.

The lovely weather we have been having gets us outside more and more these days, and you are showing us your amazing Danger abilities all the time.

There is not a piece of playground equipment anywhere that is immune to your powers.

Six foot drop offs?

Big slides?

Open rung ladders?

No problem.

You climb all over the furniture, you climb up and down stairs, you throw and kick and launch yourself with wild abandon.

Of course, you are still retaining the powers of your alter ego: Captain Cutie. It is very hard to yell at you and tell you no when you flash your powerful Cutie Grin.

Your vocabulary is growing by the day. You are still singing and counting. You are almost always a happy little guy.

Except when we are stopping you from being Danger Boy. But it's only because we love you.

Friday Night at the Comedy Club

2010-03-19T20:34:00.004-04:00

We were driving home after getting some ice cream this evening. Baby Girl was in the mood for some jokes.

She loves to tell knock-knock jokes and wants us to tell jokes all the time. We are really bad at coming up with them...but she is a natural.

These were the ones she came up with tonight.

(Please note...after you read each joke, you have to yell "Get it? Do you get it?" Do ya?")

What does a Vampire say when he is surfing?
Fang Ten!

What does a mountain wear on it's head?
A hatmosphere!

Why did the cookie go to the doctor?
He was feeling crumby!

Why did the banana leave the movie?
He didn't find it a-peel-ing!

What kind of monster carries money?
A Bank-enstein!

Thank you! Thank you very much! We're here all week!

Wearing O' The Green

2010-03-17T17:37:00.006-04:00

We took advantage of this unusually warm St. Patrick's Day to snap a few pictures outside.

Baby Girl was a little disappointed there wasn't an actual Pot O' Gold waiting for her.

Baby Boy was up to more tricks than a Leprechaun.

Don't be fooled...that smile is pure "up to something" cuteness.

This Irish Mama is feeling pretty Lucky to have her Irish (Italian/Slovak) cuties.

Hope you had a Lucky Day!

Alphabet Monkey

2010-03-11T16:20:00.003-05:00

We are not taking credit for Baby Boy's alphabet skills.

He may have picked it up from his sister.

Or, maybe, the endless hours of Nick Jr. and Sesame Street.

But here he is, in all his alphabet glory*.

*Please note, he knows how the alphabet ends...but he would rather throw in his animal noise skills as a bonus. We like our kids to be well rounded, you know?

Snow Day. Again. Some More.

2010-02-26T08:23:00.003-05:00

I am so over it. All this snow.

In fact, I think I am immune to the weather. I got up this morning, looked outside, and thought, "Huh, totally fine, I guess they have school."

So. I woke up Baby Girl, got her dressed, downstairs, packed her lunch, got her some oatmeal and was just about to get her in some boots when I thought I'd check my email.

There it was. A notification from her school that they are closed today.

In my defense, we usually get a phone call telling us but the system must not be working. Poor thing would have been out at the bus stop if I hadn't checked my email.

Baby Girl was at first thrilled, then, a little ticked. "Oh MAN" she said. "I could still be in my pajamas if you would have checked sooner!"

Such is life Baby Girl, such is life.

The Many Faces of Baby Girl

2010-02-24T19:54:00.006-05:00

19 Months

2010-02-21T18:33:00.010-05:00

Baby Boy.

Today you are 19 months old.

In honor of this special day, here is a list of a few of your favorite things:

Lollipops (otherwise known as "like-its")

Doors (which provide endless opportunity for you to practice "open/coshe")

Climbing (especially if there are snacks involved)

Outside

Balls

Baths (I have never seen a kid get so excited about taking a bath)

Counting. You really, really love to count. We don't know how you figured it out, probably from hearing your sister count (or, maybe, just your inherited genius coming through).

Here's a little video of you and your counting skills at work.

Just so you know...you are one of our favorite things.

Snow and Stuff

2010-02-16T08:46:00.006-05:00

I truly can't believe how much snow we have. I think the entire month of February and most of January has been coated in snow.

It's snowing even as I type this.

There have been a few benefits to this...

The birds are all over our feeders and it's a nice show. We have so many cardinals...it is almost shocking how red they are in all the white.

We have TOTALLY gotten our money's worth out of the snow blower Dr. Dad picked up at a garage sale and finally got working.

We have some very good pictures of the kids in the snow.

Otherwise, I am pretty over the snow by now. I miss the sun. I miss just getting some shoes on the kids and walking out the door without coats/hats/scarves/mittens/boots/shovels.

In other news, I joined a gym. Strange but true.

The last time I regularly went to any type of exercise facility was when I was in college. But, to be honest, the Rec Center was more for socializing than sweating. I mean, they had air hockey. Who wants to run when you can play air hockey?

So far I have been going 3 times a week. I had a few sessions with a personal trainer, who made me do weights. So, I have been doing the weights and feeling the "burn" and the "pain" and "working through it". They use a lot of quotation marks at the gym.

This, of course, is all in preparation for my sister's upcoming wedding. I have been crowned Matron-of-Honor (which just makes me sound old and semi-important).

Aren't they cute?

All I can say is, thank GOD for our Mom. She pretty much took care of my entire wedding, and she is executive wedding planner for my sister. Both of us planned our weddings "long distance" (ok, mine was 3 hours away, and my sister is more like 7 STATES away but even so...) and I know it never would have happened without her. If I actually had to fulfill any of the traditional "Matron-of-Honor" duties it would not be pretty.

So, while I contemplate heading out to the gym in all this snow, I leave you with a picture to brighten your day.

Dance, Ballerina, Dance

2010-02-09T20:29:00.005-05:00

For whatever reason, I have not been very motivated to blog lately.

I promised to do a post just about Baby Girl, but I really couldn't come up with one that wasn't a whole lot of "wow my kid is so awesome, here is a list of why I think that way."

Part of me wants to capture what life is like for this 7 and a half year old girl. The drama, the attitude, the little girl antics still evident, but becoming less so.

So I am going to try and do some little "snapshots" of her life.

Starting with dance.

She is a dancing queen. Always she is dancing and singing and prancing around. We started her in dance class when she was 3 years old. She will be in her 4th recital this summer and she is still really focused on ballet.

I played "professional photographer" at her dance class a few weeks ago.

It took a lot to get pictures of her in action, because every time she would see the camera, she would stop and do a crazy glam pose and totally disrupt the class. So I lurked in the doorway and held the camera down and snuck a few shots.

Of course I love it that she loves to dance. I did tap for years and always secretly wished I could do ballet. Let's just say I wasn't exactly ballerina material.

I hope she continues to enjoy this for years to come. Mostly I hope she has this kind of joy and love for everything she decides to do in her life.

Good Day

2010-01-29T11:16:00.006-05:00

We are going to have a good day!

Even though we missed the bus this morning ... we still made it for the drop off so Baby Girl can have her first ever after school play date today.

Even though I am still up to my eyeballs in laundry ... no one got sick last night so I am almost done washing germy clothes!

Even though our kitchen sink leaked into our basement last night ... it didn't do any damage and is almost dried out.

Even after a surprise *urp* from Baby Boy in the middle of the night Wednesday ... he got a clean bill of health at his 18 month check up yesterday.

He is 23 pounds 7 ounces and 33 inches tall. 20% for weight, 70% for height. He already weighs more than half of his sister's weight (despite the nearly 6 years between them!). Of course, she only weighed 19 pounds at her 18 month check up.

I also have been informed by *somebody* that I blog a lot about Baby Boy, but not so much about Baby Girl. I am working on a post all about HER...so look for that soon!

Ok! Off to finish the rest of my GOOD DAY!

Family Fun and Not So Fun

2010-01-26T18:06:00.007-05:00

It all started out so well.

Friday night was the first Family Fun Night at Baby Girl's school.

We played games and bounced on the inflatables and had a great time.

Then we hit our favorite Mexican restaurant, where Baby Boy got his first lollipop.

He was in heaven.

Saturday, Dr. Dad's parents came over. Baby Girl was in the mood to bake, and Grandma was happy to oblige!

They made a Daisy Cake, which Baby Girl decorated herself (sprinkles beware...this girl is very generous with the sprinkles).

Then.

The sickness.

I think there is a rule out there that people should not ignore. Some call it Murphy's Law. Some call it Irony. I call it the if-you-say-something-out-loud-or-put-it-in-writing-the-exact-opposite-will-happen rule.

Blog about your kid sleeping through the night? Next night he will be up every two hours. Tell someone your kids have never thrown up? Yep...it'll happen. Just for fun, it will happen to everyone in your house!

It's a terrible rule. I need to remember it.

Thankfully we all seem to be on the mend.

Oh geez, there I go again! What I meant to say is we are all still sick!

Will I never learn?

18 Months

2010-01-21T10:50:00.007-05:00

A year and a half.

With your sister, I could not WAIT for her to get older. Every passing month was another hurdle cleared. Another indication that she was healthy, that her early birth was not going to hold her back in any way.

With you, Baby Boy, I am silently mourning each passing month. You are changing too fast, getting too big, barreling toward toddler land. Of course I love all the milestones you are conquering, the ways you are just like your big sister, and the many, many ways you are different.

The climbing and running and yelling and grabbing! The singing (Dinkle Dinkle diddle Dar) and rambling gibberish and the giggling!

But, oh, T*W*O is coming upon us. Promise me you won't stop snuggling and giving smooches and being Mommy's Baby. At least for a little while...

Somebody Call Martha

2010-01-11T08:49:00.005-05:00

So here's what happens when there is no school, it is too cold to go outside, and you want to pretend you don't have any real work to do.

You go a little crazy with Bisquick and food coloring.

Turning this...

Into these...

Amazing Technicolor Pancakes!

I even impressed Baby Girl.

So, when do I get my Domestic Diva crown?

What's that? When I finish all the laundry I put off while making these? Oh.

Never mind.

Christmas Memories

2010-01-04T20:42:00.006-05:00

Monday hit like a ton of bricks. I realized I had been coasting through the month of December, just doing the bare minimum on cleaning/laundry/bills.

Like most years, I am inside, staring down a cold and snowy January, determined to get my act together.

So, while I dig out from under my lazy Christmas (and dig out from the snow!), here are a few highlights from Christmas 2009.

This is Christmas Eve, right before Mass. For the THIRD year in a row, we have been stuck up in the "loft" of the church. It is actually where they intended a choir to sit, but you can't see anything in the actual church from there. It's a little bit like listening to church on a radio...all talk no action, which also results in some very restless children. We have decided we will need to camp out the night before to actually get seats next year.

Baby Boy enjoyed his trucks and cars. Santa also brought him an Elmo Microwave Oven and he thinks that is pretty awesome. Thankfully it has an off switch so our ears get a break.

Somebody was just a wee bit excited to unwrap the Wii she has been wanting for 3 years.

This scooter will either provide endless hours of fun...or result in their first power struggle.

Look! Our house is all pretty. Of course, it still looks like this. Nobody is taking down decorations in this kind of weather!

This was a great Christmas in many ways. I think we are all dealing with a little post-holiday let down, but we have awesome memories to carry us through!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

2009-12-28T14:12:00.003-05:00

I am watching the snow fly, my daughter crafting through her Christmas gifts, my son flitting from one toy to the next. Christmas Day has come and gone, and it was a wonderful day. Hectic and too fast, but good.

We have been spending Christmas Eve at my parents' house for, well, most of our married life. First because we lived several hours away and were both working, and it was just easier to see everyone if we came back for Christmas. Next, because we had Baby Girl and my sister moved away and it was one of the few times we could all visit together. Once we moved closer, we just kept staying there, getting up Christmas morning, opening gifts with my family, driving to our house, quickly opening gifts there, and then driving to Dr. Dad's parents' house to do it all over again.

This year we actually gave Baby Girl the choice to change things, but she is happy with our tradition, and so we were all over the place just like always. I have to admit that while I love it, it is exhausting.

This Christmas was even more special because my whole family was at the dinner table Christmas Eve. My sister is getting married next August (she totally stole my wedding month...just kidding sis!) and so she and her fiancee were here. I wonder if they should have code names, too? They currently live outside of LA and I hate that I hardly ever see them. I am sure the wedding will be a hot blog topic in 2010...

Dr. Dad is back to work already, and the kids and I are going to be spending some more time with my sister before she and her fiancee go back to LA.

I will get pictures up soon...just wanted to say enjoy the week...I know I will.

17 Months

2009-12-21T16:57:00.006-05:00

You are changing so fast now that I am afraid to blink.

Like a little parrot, you love to repeat our words...'side (outside) 'ungry (hungry) choo choo (train) sisi (sister).

You know way too many cartoon characters. Dora, Elmo, Olivia (and when you sing the theme song to that show you are so cute I can't stand it).

You are still all boy...your love for cars and trucks and running and climbing and food never ceases to amaze us. If you think you could potentially drive something you will try...

Still, you are developing some habits that remind us of your sister...playing the piano, singing, looking at books.

When Santa came to visit you and your sister on his Firetruck this week, I was not sure how you would react. I don't think you knew what was more thrilling: Santa in your house, or a giant truck parked outside.

We are so excited for Christmas morning. Last year you were just 5 months old and slept through most of the excitement. This year you have embraced everything about this time of year with such an exuberance it has made us all a little more aware of how awesome Christmas is for a child.

Thank you for teaching us to look for the joy...in everything.

Done

2009-12-20T20:27:00.004-05:00

Cards written! Shopping completed! Groceries purchased! Cookies cooked! Just need to get the wrapping wrapped and I am DONE!

Santa...we are ready when you are!

(Well, we all look ready except for Baby Boy. He has the sniffles and it is seriously bringing his Christmas spirit down, poor guy.)

Happier Holidays

2009-12-16T17:19:00.006-05:00

Amazing what a decorated tree can do for your spirits!

And now, by popular demand...a video of our number one Santa fan...

Greeting Cards Have Not Been Sent...

2009-12-15T17:00:00.004-05:00

Every time I hear that Carpenters song I get a little more panicky. I am staring at my Christmas cards as I type this and I think they are multiplying while I sleep. Our tree is up, but not decorated. We have given up any hope of baking. I am not done shopping.

Each and every year, right around Thanksgiving, I think "this year it will be different! I will be done with everything by the end of the first week of December and then have the whole month to sit back and enjoy, stress free!"

It's the 15th. I am stressing.

Mission not accomplished.

Sigh.

However! Baby Boy can say Santa and HoHo and he is enjoying himself immensely. He got his first taste of Christmas cookies a few weeks ago and he has been on a mission to get more. Now that he can ask for them by name...there is no stopping him. Enjoy a video of Baby Boy and his new love...the Gookie. I'll just be over here, addressing envelopes.

Home is Where the Germs Are

2009-12-07T12:11:00.003-05:00

While December may be the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, it is also, at least at our house, the Most Germiest Time of the Year.

Just when we got Baby Boy on the mend, Dr. Dad started a hacking cough that I also inherited. Of course these are the lovely viral types of issues that nothing other than some cough syrup might help, so they just seem to go on and on and on.

Then, Saturday night, after a day of busy fun, Baby Girl pronounced herself unwell and proceeded to get a fever. She is still not so hot (or hot, depending on how the fever goes) today. So we are spending the day chilling (hahaha, the fever humor just doesn't quit) at home.

Of course, hiding out under a blanket while watching Dora on TV seems to cheer up everyone.

High Hopes

2009-11-29T19:28:00.006-05:00

A few years ago, I had what is now referred to as "The Perfect Thanksgiving Weekend." It was chock full of family and fun and completed projects and impromptu happiness.

Here is the problem.

Whenever you have one of these types of experiences, comparisons will be made.

The year after "The Perfect Thanksgiving Weekend" I was moody and grumpy and had no fun at all (of course, I soon after found out I was pregnant, so I chalk that one up to hormones). Last year was good, but we were trying it out with Baby Boy and all his spit up and, well...you get the picture. So this year I was really, really trying to just let it go. See what happens. Enjoy the weekend for what it is and quit writing little compare and contrast paragraphs in my head.

I did pretty well.

We managed to fit in all the old (dinner with the family, tree lighting downtown, a trip to the Peanut Shop, our niece's birthday), and some new (paintball for Dr. Dad, Black Saturday shopping for me).

What I am learning is that every year is unique. It's fun to reminisce but not so fun to have expectations that may not be met.

I am also learning that remembering to be thankful is not always easy, but it is important for my personal well-being. It does me no good to blog about being "lucky" if I don't ever stop to remember why I'm lucky in the first place.

And I am.

16 Months

2009-11-21T19:19:00.000-05:00

Dog! Goldfish! Dora! Quack! Down! Up! No! Snack! Kitty! Elmo! Sister!

So many new words, so little time has passed!

You are so busy.

Busy getting teeth. Busy chasing the Cat and Dog. Busy tackling your sister when she gets home from school. Busy fighting your first goopy cold of the season. Busy eating all our food. Busy waking up at 3 am every night for the past two weeks. Busy reminding us who is boss.

We are exhausted and excited. Proud of you and perplexed by you. Wondering what is in store as you march toward month 17.

My guess is: we will all be busy.

Cinderella

2009-11-20T12:03:00.004-05:00

Last weekend, Baby Girl was escorted by her Daddy to the annual Cinderella Ball.

She gets to wear a pretty dress, put flowers on her wrist, and dance with her Daddy.

He gets memories to tuck away for a day, not too far in the future, when she doesn't save all her dances for her Daddy.

I love that they get this special night together.

I think they love it too!

Happy Birthday To You

2009-11-17T08:04:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to you, Dr. Dad.

Thank you for being such an awesome husband, father, and all around good guy.

We love you very much!

Baby Boy

2009-11-05T13:41:00.003-05:00

At the doctor's appointment today, Baby Boy weighed in at 22 pounds 6 ounces and is 32 inches long.

Still only 15 months old, but after another haircut...

I'm gonna have to change his name to Mr. Man.

Yoda One for Me....

2009-11-03T09:44:00.009-05:00

First we carved the pumpkins...

Some of us (Dr. Dad) got creative. That is Moose A. Moose from Nick jr. The other is a Baby Girl original design.

Baby Boy wasn't too sure about the goo inside...

Then we had the First Grade party...

A big costume parade with the whole school was the highlight of the day.

Finally it was time for Trick or Treat!!!

I think Dr. Dad has been waiting his whole life to have a Star Wars moment like this.

Baby Boy seemed to really enjoy his short time as a Jedi Master.

Baby Girl was Rosetta from the Tinkerbell Movie.

We had Dr. Dad's family over and braved the chilly weather...but the kids never seem to mind when candy is involved!

As you can see from the picture, Disney and George Lucas were well represented this year.

Hope your Halloween was a good one!

Fish, Fashionista, Fall Fun

2009-10-27T10:43:00.008-04:00

Another mish-mash post. There is so much going on lately and, let's face it, I am too ~~lazy~~ busy to post every single day. So let's get caught up, shall we?

First, and most importantly, I have promised Baby Girl I would mention here that her fish are now celebrating their second anniversary with us. We bought them for her 5th birthday and they have been going strong ever since. We are not sure if it is because they are GloFish (learn all about them at this website) or if it is because of the excellent care they receive from Dr. Dad. I am betting it's because of Dr. Dad. There are 3 GloFish and some sort of algae eater in there (it hides in the filter so we never see it). Their names change depending on Baby Girl's mood...but I like to think of them as Blinky, Inky, Pinky and Sue.

Second, Baby Girl has new glasses! Her prescription hasn't changed, but after 2 years we felt she needed some new frames. She originally picked out a pair that were very similar to her old pair, but with some rhinestones on them. Then she went for a pair that were tortoiseshell. Then she found these beauties. They are, of course, from the Hannah Montana line. They are not at all what I would have chosen but this girl knows what she likes. She is very happy with her selection and has declared herself very stylish. We agree!

Third, we have been trying to get in as many fall festivities as we can, despite it being rather gloomy in the weather department. We made a mad dash to pick a pumpkin on Saturday.

It was the fastest pumpkin picking trip we have ever made. We usually like to do the whole ride out to the pumpkin patch and pick one from the field, but we couldn't seem to make it work this year. They each chose a pumpkin from the "pre-picked" section and we had just enough time to get a fun picture before the rain came (again).

I was hoping for a picture outside, but since the weather would not cooperate we did a little picture at home in their holiday finest. Hopefully I will get one outside during Trick or Treat.

Sunday proved to be a better day, weather wise, so Dr. Dad took the kiddos on a fall hike while I attended a baby shower.

Here they are on the trail.

Here is Baby Boy, practicing for his Senior Pictures.

Next up, Baby Girl's school party and Trick or Treat! Until then, Happy Halloween!

15 Months

2009-10-21T16:43:00.009-04:00

Fun things about Baby Boy at 15 Months!

He has 7 and a half teeth.

He is moving up to size 4 Huggies.

He still eats like a champ. He seems to like everything but carrots. We don't know why.

He says: dog, mama, up, dada, sis, ni-ni (night night), bye bye, hi, car.

He waves bye bye and hi, but mostly to passing cars.

He LOVES cars.

He has finished nursing (too much information, I'm sure, but considering his sister took until 18 months to give up her bottle, this is news).

He is between 18 months and 24 months for clothes, mostly for length.

He lets his sister dress him up.

He loves to play "chase" with his sister.

He enjoys pointing at pictures and looking at books.

His eyes are green. For now.

He still loves to climb and get into everything.

He didn't flinch at all when a garter snake slithered up his pant leg.*

He really enjoys being outside.

He is a real joy.

*Ok, here's the story. Yesterday, I took Baby Boy outside since it was such a nice day. We were on the driveway when I saw what I thought might be a stick, until I got closer, and realized it was a small garter snake, sunning itself on the concrete. Snakes do not bother me at all, so I thought it would be fun to show Baby Boy the little snake up close. I sat him down next to it, and then tried to get the snake to move. Well, the snake wasn't too crazy about being disturbed and took off for the closest shelter it could find: up the pant leg of Baby Boy's overalls! He looked at me and I looked at him...and after laughing nervously, thought it was probably a good idea to get the snake out of there. So I picked up Baby Boy, gave him a little shake, and the snake slid right out. We then watched it slither up the driveway and out of sight.

Long Weekends, Bad Weather, Broken Cars and Adenoids

2009-10-15T16:47:00.007-04:00

This is one of those entries where I ramble on about nothing and everything. Nothing monumental happening, which is good, I guess. But there is a lot of little stuff I might as well document. Birthdays are over, we are firmly in the school groove, it's not quite Halloween and it's still too early to think about Christmas (you hear that, Target? It's TOO EARLY! There should be a rule that all the Halloween stuff has to be gone before you can start putting up the Christmas stuff. It stresses me out).

We have a long weekend and Baby Girl is THRILLED. I think she really likes school, but she really, really likes being at home. We have a few fun things planned, but the weather here has been awful. No, it hasn't snowed, but this has to be one of the gloomiest Fall seasons I can remember. I feel like we went directly from flip flops to parkas. I am hoping we will get the kids to a pumpkin farm but it's not looking good. We may get snow on Saturday and I am not a fan of picking pumpkins in the snow.

Baby Boy is still being his adorable self. Except for the giant molar. It shouldn't be possible for a tooth that big to show up in the mouth of an almost 15 month old. He is still eating like a crazy man. We went to a bonfire last weekend and he ate 3 hot dogs. It is a mystery as to where this food is going. I suspect it is what is growing the giant molar.

A few weeks ago we had to say goodbye to our fabulous 1991 Ford Taurus. We had high hopes that the car would last us until we paid off our other car (an equally fabulous station wagon) but I knew we cursed it when Dr. Dad mentioned that in 6 short years we could apply for Historical Car status. I don't think the Ford liked hearing that. So the transmission went to the big Car Dealer in the Sky and we started looking for a slightly better fabulous car for Dr. Dad. We are closing in on a Toyota Camry that should work just fine.

So. About that adenoid thing. We took Baby Girl in for her 7 year check up. She is now 3 feet 11 inches...and not yet 40 pounds. Still long and lean, and for the most part, healthy. She had her yearly fall ear infection a few weeks ago, and the doctor that saw her at that appointment mentioned we might want to have her adenoids looked at. Dr. Dad had his removed as a child, and Baby Girl is a champion snorer. But I was genuinely surprised when her doctor took one look at her xray and declared we will be making a trip to an ENT. They are pretty large. Well, at least that is what the doctor said. I looked at the xray and just saw a bunch of white stuff. Apparently they sit on the roof of the mouth (toward the back) and you can only see them by xray. I had no idea. We aren't sure what we are going to do...we will talk to the ENT and see if removal is something that is necessary.

So that is what is going on. I think I covered all the topics and so will leave you with a picture. A rare moment of quiet, brought to you by a can of Pringles and Dinosaur Train.

7 Years

2009-10-03T13:09:00.001-04:00

There is something harder about this year than your previous birthdays. You are very much not a baby and not even a little girl. You are a big girl now, practicing your attitude and letting us know (just the other night at dinner) that we treat you like a baby and you are ready to be grown up.

Of course, we told you that was fine...and that you can start with a good list of responsibilities like making your bed, feeding the pets, setting the table, etc. You thought maybe being treated like a baby was just fine.

There are more times, still, that you want to cuddle with us and be silly and hold hands. But there are other times when you roll your eyes and stomp your feet and inform your Mom that "maybe you shouldn't sing out loud anymore."

Still. You are an amazing girl. Smart and funny, kind and thoughtful. You love to read and draw and play on the computer. You love to dance and sing and tell jokes.

Seven years ago we could never have imagined this day. Every year we are thankful that God allowed us to be the parents to a miracle. To celebrate your birthday is a special joy, a reminder of the blessings in our life.

Although it makes us a little sad to see the time flying by, just knowing how far you've come, and how far you will go, makes us so proud to be your parents.

Happy Birthday.

IM ON UR BLOG WISHIN U HAPY BLOGIVERSARY

2009-09-24T19:47:00.004-04:00

Started this blog one year ago. Still at it. Thanks for reading it!

Lucky

14 Months

2009-09-21T17:12:00.004-04:00

Changes these days don't come as dramatically as your first few months. More like small steps than big leaps.

You are still perfecting your walking. Working up to a good speed on some occasions. I am not looking forward to when you learn to run. You already enjoy being "chased" even when we don't know that is the game we are playing. Like when you got away from me in the library and worked your way up and down 3 rows of books, laughing maniacally, before I caught you. Like I said, you can work up a pretty good speed.

You love to open and shut doors, point, dance, take baths, climb, throw and be outside.

You have learned how to turn the cable box off. And on. And off. And on. And...well, this really, really annoys your sister, because you especially like to do this when she is watching one of her shows. Let the sibling fun begin!

You also love the cat door. It is your very own secret passage to a world unknown (well, in this case, the basement). Everything goes down the cat door. The new rule before going down to the basement is to look for objects that will cause you to plummet down the stairs. So far we have found: shoes, magnets, small cars, dog toys, my calculator, and a nice assortment of Little People animals from your Noah's Ark set. If we are missing anything, we look there first. If it's not through the cat door, it may also be in one of the following locations: the basket of dog toys, your toy box, one of the two kitchen cabinets we have not baby proofed yet, or in the bathroom.

You like to hide things.

We are still waiting for some more words. You can say dada. Sometimes even mama. Cars go 'beep' and you can say 'hey!' You really, really like to say 'no.' Even when you mean yes. It's your standard answer to everything.

I guess the only dramatic change from month to month is how much more we love you. It grows and grows, Baby Boy. Just like you.

Curly Q

2009-09-18T14:47:00.004-04:00

I spent a lot of time sleeping in sponge rollers as a young girl. Special occasions are always more fun with curly hair, right?

Baby girl had school picture day today, and I thought, why not carry on the tradition?!

We did a trial run a few days ago, and she liked it so much we went ahead and put them in after her shower last night.

Before

After

She was very, very happy with the results.

This is her "model" pose.

Her words, not mine.

In two short weeks she will be turning 7.

We'll be taking her for her birthday pictures soon.

I can't wait to see the "model" poses for those!

Totally 80's

2009-09-12T15:25:00.008-04:00

When you get asked to go to an 80's Prom, and you are, say, about 20 years out from your 80's prime, expect two things:

1. You will be shocked (shocked!) that nearly everything you need to relive your past is available, new, in stores now.

2. You will feel old.

I was really trying to go for a certain look. Maybe one that my parents would not have let me get away with when I was 16 years old. Kind of an "I am so totally going to the Bon Jovi concert tonight" look.

I think it went pretty well.

However, I was not prepared for the amount of time it would take to apply that much makeup and that much hairspray.

Dr. Dad was channeling his inner Sonny Crockett.

I dare you not to hum the theme to Miami Vice.

We did have a great time. We won the fill in the blank 80's song contest (only one wrong out of 100!). We had fun looking at all the wild outfits.

Unlike our actual Prom experiences, we were completely exhausted by 11:00 and could barely muster the strength to slow dance to "I've Had the Time of My Life."

And even though we have some fond memories of the 80's, we are pretty happy with our here and now.

Totally Awesome.

She's a Poet and Don't Know It

2009-09-11T11:25:00.003-04:00

Last night I got back from a meeting to find Baby Girl had been busy writing.

This is the poem she wrote (with her spellings and punctuation):

He and She

(by Baby Girl, age 6)

He is packing up his Backpack.

She moved out of town,

Helen is on the Mokeybars,

& hangs up-sidedoune.

Max is In fist grade,

& he is at Luch.

Eating his cracker & Samwich,

Much! Much! Much!

First Day; Second Haircut

2009-09-02T08:40:00.004-04:00

Baby Girl had her first day of First Grade yesterday. She was up very early and very excited.

We went to her open house the night before and she was very happy that several of her classmates from Kindergarten are in her new class.

Her teacher seems very nice and there is a class bunny so she feels right at home.

Of course, the first day she misplaced her lunchbox, so she was pretty bummed when she got off the bus. I promised her we would find it, and she felt better.

Then, she talked and talked about her class, her day and her friends. What a difference from last year, when we could barely get her to tell us anything she did! We can't wait to see what this year will hold for her.

On Monday, I took Baby Boy and Baby Girl for haircuts. She wants to grow her hair out, and so just wanted a trim.

But this guy...

Can really grow some hair!

I am going out to get some more hair gel, because this is one stylin' guy!

13 Months

2009-08-21T09:59:00.006-04:00

At 13 Months you:

Walk
Take one nap
Eat more than your 6 year old sister
Wear size 18 month pajamas
Wear size 4 Huggies Diapers
Say DaDa
Say Deedledeedledeedledeedle
Play Pat a Cake
Do all the motions to Eensy Weensy Spider
Wave
Pretend to talk on the phone
Love anything with wheels
Climb stairs
Love the water
Think throwing things for other people to pick up is hilarious
Have 5 and a half teeth
Still have not been in for your one year check up!

We call you Loves His Cat:

We also call you Walks With Cars:

Mostly we call you Loves A Lot!

Happy 13 Month Birthday Baby Boy!

First Steps...First Cousins

2009-08-18T10:09:00.006-04:00

We are back from our last trip of the summer. A week at the lake with Dr. Dad's family. All 16 of us!

Just before we left, Baby Boy decided it would be a great time to start venturing out on two feet.

After spending the week basking in the glow of all that glorious cousinly attention, he has really taken off.

Here they all are. The first cousins. In this picture they are ages (in order) 11, 9, 8, 6, 5, 5, 3 and 1.

We are all trying to enjoy the last of the summer weeks.

Baby Girl starts school again September 1st.

Dr. Dad is hard at work.

My general club and volunteer activities will start up in full swing shortly.

Most of all, we will all be chasing after this guy.

Fun!

Happy Anniversary

2009-08-02T20:08:00.004-04:00

Twelve years ago today, I married this guy

I think we have lived each and every vow we took on that day. Better, worse, sickness, health, good times, bad, richer, poorer.

Well, except the until death do us part vow. We'd like to wait a while on that one.

We've known each other for sixteen years, nearly half our lives. And we are still in love.

Lucky us!

One Year

2009-07-21T20:01:00.012-04:00

Dear Baby Boy,

One year ago today your father and I were up at the crack of dawn and on our way to the hospital to have an amniocentesis to see if you were ready to be born. I was 37 weeks pregnant. We had a scheduled C-Section for July 22nd, so we would do the test to check for lung maturity on the 21st. For some reason, when the nurse told me that a very small percentage of women will go into labor as a result of the test, I thought "well, since it is a small percentage, it will probably happen to me!" So we brought my packed bag and our cameras and left your sister with her Nonna.

Just in case.

While waiting the required hour after the test to see if labor would start (and secretly planning a very non-Gestational Diabetic lunch at McDonald's) the nurse who ALWAYS read my blood pressure as too high came in. I knew I was in trouble. Sure enough, she got several high readings and they decided to send us over to the hospital just to make sure everything was ok.

I was still planning my lunch at McDonald's.

While waiting in Triage, lamenting the huge co-pay we would be stuck with for the visit, the doctor on call came over. She wanted to know if I could feel the contractions I was having.

Huh.

Not really.

Until I did.

Ouch.

After that, things went pretty fast.

Dr. Dad barely had time to run to the car and get our cameras, call our families and get back to me. I was taken to the OR and Dr. Dad got on his Daddy Scrubs and it was show time.

You didn't cry when they took you out, and I panicked for that brief moment. Dr. Dad ran over and took a picture of you and they suctioned you out a little bit more and then I heard it.

Your cry.

There you were, at 2:32 pm, 6 lbs. 15 oz and 20 inches long.

You were the perfect ending to our journey. After all that had gone so terribly wrong with my first pregnancy and the birth of your sister, this experience was so wonderfully right. We had done it, had the bad and then the good and amazingly, miraculously, had two healthy, beautiful, wonderful children.

I didn't get my McDonald's that day, but I think what I got instead was a lot better.

This year has been a blur, as everyone told me it would be. We are so busy in our lives as a family of four. To be honest, I haven't enjoyed every minute of it (spit-up, anyone?) but I have loved you every second of it.

I can't wait to see what your next year brings.

And aren't we all just so Lucky.

Birthday Party...Cake Edition

2009-07-20T11:40:00.005-04:00

Did someone have a good time at his First Birthday Party?

I think so!

Firsts

2009-07-13T16:52:00.004-04:00

Someone went to her first sleepover at the house of one of her Kindergarten friends.

She was a little excited.

She made it through the whole night and probably would have stayed there all day if we hadn't come to get her.

Someone else took advantage of the one on one time with Mommy and Daddy to take care of some business.

Before.

After.

A true champ, he never cried. But he really liked looking at himself in the mirror. He looks very grown up. Does Harvard Business School take almost-one-year-olds?

Beach Baby

2009-07-01T23:21:00.009-04:00

It took us 12 hours to get there, stopping 4 times and spending the last half hour driving with a very, very unhappy Baby Boy.

We waited in the outdoor hallway of the condo for an hour in the rain with all our luggage while the realtor found keys that would actually open our door.

We made it inside only to find the carpet still wet from the carpet cleaners.

Baby Boy ran a low-grade fever for the first 3 days there.

I sat on the beach, ignoring logic on an overcast day, and ended up with a sunburn so bad I took motrin for days after for the pain.

Most of all:

It was seeing dolphins, watching Pelicans dive into the surf, eating crab legs, walking the boardwalk, playing mini-golf, reading good books, finding shells, swimming in the water and spending time with family.

I love Ocean City.

Thanks for the trip, Mom and Dad. We all had a great time.

11 Months

2009-06-21T07:39:00.000-04:00

Dear Baby Boy

For your 11 Month Birthday we decided to throw in a few extras.
Father's Day (I should have a whole post about how much I love Dr. Dad and what an awesome Father he is. But we are on vacation. See next point).
Your first trip to the beach (more on this later...like I said, we are on vacation).
A lovely Mexican dinner.
Time with my whole family.

I am sorry to say, don't expect this kind of fanfare when you actually turn a year old, in, yee gads, less than 4 weeks now.

I don't know what happened. When your sister turned one, I went a little crazy. We invited, like, 40 people. We brought in food from our favorite BBQ place. We took her on a trip to the NICU to celebrate with the nurses and doctors, we went to the zoo, we bought her a special dress with her name on it that I ordered from a boutique and spent more money that I even care to remember.

I haven't even picked out invitations for your party. The one that is happening in, oh holy cow, 23 days.

Please, please don't think it's because we love you any less. You are one amazing little guy. In just this past month you have been working on all kinds of toddler like activities. You stood on your own for a brief moment. You cruise all over our house, holding onto whatever is convenient (the couch, the fridge, the dog). You started waving just this week! We think you call me "Mim" and you like to eat sand and you can scream at a decibel that will probably attract dogs to our house.

I am starting to wonder if I am procrastinating because I am in denial. You are almost not a baby anymore. And you are our last baby. So that's that. I promise you will have a lovely party. I just need to catch my breath.

Dance!

2009-06-17T09:13:00.004-04:00

So we survived another recital. For all the complaining I do about the money and time and semi-dictator-type rules I am quickly realizing why we come back year after year.

Not only does Baby Girl love to dance, I love to WATCH her dance.

Probably a part of me fondly remembering my own dance recital days...I loved the performing and costumes and make-up and getting flowers.

Through the whole week of rehearsals that went until 8:30 at night and recitals that lasted 3 hours and spending most of that recital time "back stage" in the high school cafeteria, Baby Girl never complained. Never said she didn't want to do it. Most of the time was spent prancing around and admiring herself and having a good time.

When she steps on that stage you can see the joy in her face. She smiles from ear to ear. She is never nervous. It makes me happy just to see her do something she so obviously likes to do.

I sometimes get to know the other mothers during the year while we sit in the lobby of the studio. Many of them won't be back next year. They list all the reasons I have already complained about (money, costumes, crazy time commitments) and I don't blame them at all. But most of the time they also admit their daughter just didn't like it. Didn't like the dancing and the practicing and the performing. But I have a daughter who loves all that. So I will bring her back in the fall. I already registered her for Pre-Cecchetti II (do I sound pretentious yet?).

So I continue with my love-hate relationship with the studio. Maybe it's my thing. I complain endlessly about it and then sign her up for another year.

So I can see more of my daughter, happy like this.

End of the Year

2009-06-05T13:39:00.009-04:00

I didn't realize this until just recently, but I measure my year September to June.

I guess it's a result of growing up in a house where my parents worked in education.

Or maybe I am eternally wanting a summer off.

But here it is. June.

Today was the last day of school.

My Baby Girl has "graduated" from Kindergarten.

I was not at all sad to watch her go to Kindergarten. I knew she was ready. She was nearly 6, has been to Preschool and PreK and could already read. Plus, I had a newborn and I thought...yippee! a break!

Today I surprised myself by crying after I put her on the bus this morning. It's over. That first year when school is still awesome and full of rest time and crafts and games and innocence.

I am more proud of her than I can even put into words.

And I am even more proud of us. We made it through this year. A year of adapting to being a family of four. A year of learning how to get everyone to bed on time and get up on time and pack a lunch and get out the door and only miss the bus once.

A year where I decided it would be a good idea to have a baby, be Head Room Mother, President of our Newcomers club and start a blog.

Maybe we all graduated from Kindergarten.

Now, let's take a break!

Holiday Weekend

2009-05-25T19:33:00.011-04:00

One of my favorite blogs wrote about the long weekend in 46 words or less.

I took the challenge.

My Birthday! Strawberry Pancakes, Awesome Gifts, Flower Planting, Target, Hibachi Japan, Metropolis Popcorn! DQ Ice Cream Cake, Baby's 3rd Tooth, Yard Work, Walmart, Pizza, Tinkerbell Movie, Cavs Game Anxiety, 3 AM Angry Baby, McDonald's Iced Mocha, Awesome Parade, Candy Catching Extravaganza, Family Picnic, Exhaustion.

Hope yours was as good!