NO ~ i will not wear the bunny ears
Practicing my 'coy' look
ohhhhhhhhh ~ aren't i adorable
I didn't know there was a dress code.
With Mom & Dad in the 'pipe room' (makes mom giggle)
Ok ~ Really...I've had enough!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Happy Easter lil Bunny!
Ohhhhhhh the Easter Bunny Came (a lil late, but he arrived nonetheless)
NO ~ i will not wear the bunny ears
Practicing my 'coy' look
ohhhhhhhhh ~ aren't i adorable
I didn't know there was a dress code.
With Mom & Dad in the 'pipe room' (makes mom giggle)
Ok ~ Really...I've had enough!
NO ~ i will not wear the bunny ears
Practicing my 'coy' look
ohhhhhhhhh ~ aren't i adorable
I didn't know there was a dress code.
With Mom & Dad in the 'pipe room' (makes mom giggle)
Ok ~ Really...I've had enough!
Monday, March 17, 2008
10 (thats T-E-N) Months
For starters…I love you ~ I love you ~ I love you!!!
This past month has been quite nice. No places to go nothing major to do. And Mommy’s new job is going well. (and by well, I mean fantastic ~ they are sooo nice! They think I’m smart, and helpful, and funny and its just great.)
Our rhythm of life is pretty much the same. You love love love to eat. A LOT! Since your still a boob baby we figured that you’d eat less table food…apparently we wrong.
Of course you love to play (I know, a shocker for a baby) But what I enjoy is how much I looooove to watch you play. At the end of the day after you’ve napped and had your second dinner you often take to wrestling with your daddy’s head. I often sit on the sofa like queen of the Nile and just smile at the riches that surround me.
You’ve also started to become a bit more of a nudy baby. (genetics perhaps) Last night I was attempting to change you into some sort of night time gear. Since you have this icky diaper rash from the sposies of daycare mommy’s likes to let you pee on the carpet for fun. OK~ perhaps she’s letting you bum air out as much as possible and just when she thinks your ok with snuggling on her lap ~ whoosh ~ you slliiide down from the sofa and take off for ‘Fort Dining room’. Along the way spotting a kitty toy you HAVE to have and somewhere along the way deciding that NOW is the time to go potty. Its great fun I tell you. Someday when you’re complaining because we don’t have the money to send you to Europe for the summer ~ I’m going to pull out this letter and the 80 carpet cleaning bills attached.
Peeing on the carpet aside ~ You are just too fun to watch. You are so proud of yourself for getting off the sofa ~ for walking to the tables ~ for bending over and picking up toys and bending back over without falling down (“yes Giuliane, Mommy’s watching you”) I wonder if the infatuation ever ends. Perhaps that’s why soccer is so popular or why parents subject themselves to swim meets and dance recitals. It’s the joy of watching you sublimely happy and unaware of anything around you that just makes Mom feel like the world is just right. But do you mind if your Daddy and I come with a picnic basket of yummy food and cocktails and sit away from the other parents???
Your loyal subject,
Mommy
This past month has been quite nice. No places to go nothing major to do. And Mommy’s new job is going well. (and by well, I mean fantastic ~ they are sooo nice! They think I’m smart, and helpful, and funny and its just great.)
Our rhythm of life is pretty much the same. You love love love to eat. A LOT! Since your still a boob baby we figured that you’d eat less table food…apparently we wrong.
Of course you love to play (I know, a shocker for a baby) But what I enjoy is how much I looooove to watch you play. At the end of the day after you’ve napped and had your second dinner you often take to wrestling with your daddy’s head. I often sit on the sofa like queen of the Nile and just smile at the riches that surround me.
You’ve also started to become a bit more of a nudy baby. (genetics perhaps) Last night I was attempting to change you into some sort of night time gear. Since you have this icky diaper rash from the sposies of daycare mommy’s likes to let you pee on the carpet for fun. OK~ perhaps she’s letting you bum air out as much as possible and just when she thinks your ok with snuggling on her lap ~ whoosh ~ you slliiide down from the sofa and take off for ‘Fort Dining room’. Along the way spotting a kitty toy you HAVE to have and somewhere along the way deciding that NOW is the time to go potty. Its great fun I tell you. Someday when you’re complaining because we don’t have the money to send you to Europe for the summer ~ I’m going to pull out this letter and the 80 carpet cleaning bills attached.
Peeing on the carpet aside ~ You are just too fun to watch. You are so proud of yourself for getting off the sofa ~ for walking to the tables ~ for bending over and picking up toys and bending back over without falling down (“yes Giuliane, Mommy’s watching you”) I wonder if the infatuation ever ends. Perhaps that’s why soccer is so popular or why parents subject themselves to swim meets and dance recitals. It’s the joy of watching you sublimely happy and unaware of anything around you that just makes Mom feel like the world is just right. But do you mind if your Daddy and I come with a picnic basket of yummy food and cocktails and sit away from the other parents???
Your loyal subject,
Mommy
Sunday, March 09, 2008
I want my MTV
Of course no one picked up the camera while this lil girl was really rockin ~ but... still pretty funny.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Monday, March 03, 2008
Sick days suuuuuuuck.
So I’ve had my first official mom-orientation. Last night out of proverbial blue ~ G got sick. (and I mean siiiiiiiiiiick)
Retrospectively, perhaps we should have known what was coming. She’s had a decent little cold for awhile, and some nasty coughing at night. Basically, the typical daycare crap as I’m told. However on Saturday night she introduced us to her new battle cry. Man-oh-man was she l-o-u-d. It had a shriek that we hadn’t heard since the afternoon we went to a nice restaurant and opted for the beer sampler ~ since really…what else did we have to do that afternoon (HA!) Anyhoo…it went on and on for-ev-er. I can’t really explain it, but I’m sure other parents will understand when I just say it was different. An ugly different and I didn’t like it.
The next day she was her typically great self. We hung around at home. Went to Thai restaurant where she had some great rice balls, chicken and a lil Tom Yum/Ka soup. WE FINALLY found a park where they had a at least 3-out-of-4 baby swing parts. Ironically we were also ‘trespassing’ on church property. Ahhh the irony of it all. Basically my point it ~ it was a great day. A normal great day. Night came and she went to sleep as normal and THEN…
As usual she woke up about 1am ~ again with this new battle cry thing (is it those top two teeth? But they’ve already pop’ed…) So I hug, snuggle and generally mom smother her in love to try and get her to calm down. Nothing works. Finally she zips it but what's that I smell ~ funk you say??? Yes m’dear. She’s booted on me. GROOOOSSSSSS. So I swapped shirts, snuggle in and we sleep again. 30 min later we’re up and at it again. Only this time – she managed to hit the sheets (and me again). Hey 4am is the PER-FECT time for a family tub. Funny thing is…her lil face is red and on fire and I stand her next to the tub to put in the stopper and turn on the water and she absolutely squeals in delight. Dude – kid – your sick…act like it damn it. I’m not getting any sleep – the least you could do is be all sad and sappy. So we hop in the tub, rinse off and dare I say play for a few??? Well at least long enough for Peter to change the sheets and de-funk-i-fy the bedroom. So all clean and snuggly with PJ’s #2 – we hop in for at least a fewww hours sleep. (1 hour goes by) WAIL WAIL WAIL !!! O-M-G kid, your killing me. Apparently Peter felt my pain as he got up with her to walk-n-rock her around. A few min later I heard that gross gurgle-y sound I now dread. “uhhhh Jenn!” Poor things booting all over Peter and the kitchen floor.
(Funny observation he holds her like a diseased leper with stiff arms out front and gently leaning forward so as to get everything out and on the floor…anything but on him. Mommy takes off her top for snuggly skin to skin contact and lets the lil babe puke all over her without a second thought. Isn’t that what baby wipes are for?)
Well long story short ~ she skipped daycare today and recuperated with PLENTY of napping and a lil retail therapy.
That’s my girl!
Retrospectively, perhaps we should have known what was coming. She’s had a decent little cold for awhile, and some nasty coughing at night. Basically, the typical daycare crap as I’m told. However on Saturday night she introduced us to her new battle cry. Man-oh-man was she l-o-u-d. It had a shriek that we hadn’t heard since the afternoon we went to a nice restaurant and opted for the beer sampler ~ since really…what else did we have to do that afternoon (HA!) Anyhoo…it went on and on for-ev-er. I can’t really explain it, but I’m sure other parents will understand when I just say it was different. An ugly different and I didn’t like it.
The next day she was her typically great self. We hung around at home. Went to Thai restaurant where she had some great rice balls, chicken and a lil Tom Yum/Ka soup. WE FINALLY found a park where they had a at least 3-out-of-4 baby swing parts. Ironically we were also ‘trespassing’ on church property. Ahhh the irony of it all. Basically my point it ~ it was a great day. A normal great day. Night came and she went to sleep as normal and THEN…
As usual she woke up about 1am ~ again with this new battle cry thing (is it those top two teeth? But they’ve already pop’ed…) So I hug, snuggle and generally mom smother her in love to try and get her to calm down. Nothing works. Finally she zips it but what's that I smell ~ funk you say??? Yes m’dear. She’s booted on me. GROOOOSSSSSS. So I swapped shirts, snuggle in and we sleep again. 30 min later we’re up and at it again. Only this time – she managed to hit the sheets (and me again). Hey 4am is the PER-FECT time for a family tub. Funny thing is…her lil face is red and on fire and I stand her next to the tub to put in the stopper and turn on the water and she absolutely squeals in delight. Dude – kid – your sick…act like it damn it. I’m not getting any sleep – the least you could do is be all sad and sappy. So we hop in the tub, rinse off and dare I say play for a few??? Well at least long enough for Peter to change the sheets and de-funk-i-fy the bedroom. So all clean and snuggly with PJ’s #2 – we hop in for at least a fewww hours sleep. (1 hour goes by) WAIL WAIL WAIL !!! O-M-G kid, your killing me. Apparently Peter felt my pain as he got up with her to walk-n-rock her around. A few min later I heard that gross gurgle-y sound I now dread. “uhhhh Jenn!” Poor things booting all over Peter and the kitchen floor.
(Funny observation he holds her like a diseased leper with stiff arms out front and gently leaning forward so as to get everything out and on the floor…anything but on him. Mommy takes off her top for snuggly skin to skin contact and lets the lil babe puke all over her without a second thought. Isn’t that what baby wipes are for?)
Well long story short ~ she skipped daycare today and recuperated with PLENTY of napping and a lil retail therapy.
That’s my girl!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Nine Months
Dear Giuliane,
Three – quarters of a year and 100% of my mommy heart. (like the Barosaurus, I have multiple hearts reserved for daddy, family and photography)
This month has been a special one. Not only have you spent an entire month in daycare, but mommy has ALLOWED you to spend an entire month in daycare. Well…almost. Somehow there were already numerous gov’t holidays, a snow day, school delay AND a trip to California!
Admittingly – your life at home has become quite repetitive…
8am: wake up in a panic (how is it 8am ALREADY…wasn’t it just 6am???)
8-8:30: rush to get you ready and walk up to school by 8:30 (which never happens)
4-5p: pick you up
5:30-6: eat & snuggle time
7:30: bed
It makes me SICK that at most, I only spend about 2.5 hours with you a DAY. Somehow in the big wide world of things that matter ~ this doesn’t seem cosmically fair. Hopefully, someday you’ll understand the cost of living, mortgages and perhaps the consequences of bad decisions and forgive me.
But in an attempt to buy your love at such a young and vulnerable age ~ we took you on a trip to California!!! (ok, perhaps we took you out there to meet your Great Aunt Joanne, and see Aunt Jude, but believe me baby…a trip to the beach is a trip to the beach!) You in turn have rewarded us with learning how to wave. Perhaps it was all of the friendly faces you met out there, the warm weather, the sand and ohhh how you loved the swings.
At LAX we were sitting & waiting not so patiently for the plane to board. Daddy had brought me some chocolates and you were playing with the wrappers. (crinkly stuff is a favorite still) You had crawled a few feet away to assert your independence and appeared to be waving at the random passer by. At first it looked like a freak accident that your arm was waving while someone walked past you. Then sure enough ~ your Daddy noted that it was indeed with purpose. It was soo sweet and yet so sad at the same time. Many people giggled at how cute you were and many more smiled as they walked past ~ however there was the occasional traveler who would just walk past you and completely disregard your wave. It took everything I had in my body not to go up to these people and tell them that you JUST learned to wave, no family member has yet to see it and they simply can not disregard you.
But there you continued to sit, waving at each and every passer by and smiling so sweetly.
May karma always return the favor,
Mommy
Three – quarters of a year and 100% of my mommy heart. (like the Barosaurus, I have multiple hearts reserved for daddy, family and photography)
This month has been a special one. Not only have you spent an entire month in daycare, but mommy has ALLOWED you to spend an entire month in daycare. Well…almost. Somehow there were already numerous gov’t holidays, a snow day, school delay AND a trip to California!
Admittingly – your life at home has become quite repetitive…
8am: wake up in a panic (how is it 8am ALREADY…wasn’t it just 6am???)
8-8:30: rush to get you ready and walk up to school by 8:30 (which never happens)
4-5p: pick you up
5:30-6: eat & snuggle time
7:30: bed
It makes me SICK that at most, I only spend about 2.5 hours with you a DAY. Somehow in the big wide world of things that matter ~ this doesn’t seem cosmically fair. Hopefully, someday you’ll understand the cost of living, mortgages and perhaps the consequences of bad decisions and forgive me.
But in an attempt to buy your love at such a young and vulnerable age ~ we took you on a trip to California!!! (ok, perhaps we took you out there to meet your Great Aunt Joanne, and see Aunt Jude, but believe me baby…a trip to the beach is a trip to the beach!) You in turn have rewarded us with learning how to wave. Perhaps it was all of the friendly faces you met out there, the warm weather, the sand and ohhh how you loved the swings.
At LAX we were sitting & waiting not so patiently for the plane to board. Daddy had brought me some chocolates and you were playing with the wrappers. (crinkly stuff is a favorite still) You had crawled a few feet away to assert your independence and appeared to be waving at the random passer by. At first it looked like a freak accident that your arm was waving while someone walked past you. Then sure enough ~ your Daddy noted that it was indeed with purpose. It was soo sweet and yet so sad at the same time. Many people giggled at how cute you were and many more smiled as they walked past ~ however there was the occasional traveler who would just walk past you and completely disregard your wave. It took everything I had in my body not to go up to these people and tell them that you JUST learned to wave, no family member has yet to see it and they simply can not disregard you.
But there you continued to sit, waving at each and every passer by and smiling so sweetly.
May karma always return the favor,
Mommy
Thursday, February 07, 2008
ooohhhhh wadda I do NOW?!?!
Giuliane’s been testing the waters now and again on this standing thing. She thinks she’s super cool with her lil one hand moves on the table and at the entertainment center.
Over Christmas she liked to scare us both by hanging onto the rocking chair and holding on with one hand. I likened it to a children’s version of a mechanical bull at those classy bars someone might have frequented while on spring break.
Day by day she’s gotten steadier and steadier ~‘till this morning as we dropped her off at ‘school’. (I loath the term daycare) She just stood there standing when Peter put her on the ground. Not scared, not surprised ~ but she did display the slightest hint of confusion.
At one point in this hour-long minute I called out ‘Look Miss Betty!’ ~ alerting not only Miss Betty, but a roomful of curious toddlers. It was like we were the animals on display at the zoo. Three of the cutest little toddlers came rushing up to the baby gate separating the next room and in the most reverent hushed tones you could hear…wow that baby’s staaanding!
Over Christmas she liked to scare us both by hanging onto the rocking chair and holding on with one hand. I likened it to a children’s version of a mechanical bull at those classy bars someone might have frequented while on spring break.
Day by day she’s gotten steadier and steadier ~‘till this morning as we dropped her off at ‘school’. (I loath the term daycare) She just stood there standing when Peter put her on the ground. Not scared, not surprised ~ but she did display the slightest hint of confusion.
At one point in this hour-long minute I called out ‘Look Miss Betty!’ ~ alerting not only Miss Betty, but a roomful of curious toddlers. It was like we were the animals on display at the zoo. Three of the cutest little toddlers came rushing up to the baby gate separating the next room and in the most reverent hushed tones you could hear…wow that baby’s staaanding!
Monday, February 04, 2008
Raindrops on Roses, whiskers on kittens…
“…bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with string ~ these are a few of my favorite things!”
Apparently Julie Andrew and the dear Von Trapp children hadn’t tasted the newest and latest craze in culinary delights. Maybe Daddy and I spend too much time watching ‘Bizaree Foods’ on the Travel Channel. Who would have guessed that show was on after 8pm for a REASON.
Its been a great pleasure to serve to avocado, we giggle when you plow through a teething biscuit, turkey’s fine as long as its off mom’s finger and despite a few good carrot days ~ your no longer a big fan. Egg yolks used to be a favorite but now your tastes have…matured?
Perhaps it’s the love of your kitty that has taken you over because for the love of god I can’t keep you away from the cat food!!!!! At LEAST once a day either your Daddy or I catch you in the kitty bowl.
(for grandma) Each and every time we catch you, its just seconds before one of those nasty bites of feline fodder cross your sweet and perfect lips.
(for the rest of the world) 90% of the time before we notice that you are just too quiet for your own good, you have already harvested a tasty little morsel of goodness into your aforementioned steel trap of a mouth and are happily chomp, chomp, chomping away.
And I do mean happily. There isn’t a food we have tried serving you that you haven’t been hesitant about at least at first. There isn’t a food in this house that’s hasn’t taken some getting used to. And clearly, there isn’t a food that we can get you to eat two times in a row without you giving us a look your not supposed to be able to form well until your 7th year of life. With of course…this one exception.
Apparently Julie Andrew and the dear Von Trapp children hadn’t tasted the newest and latest craze in culinary delights. Maybe Daddy and I spend too much time watching ‘Bizaree Foods’ on the Travel Channel. Who would have guessed that show was on after 8pm for a REASON.
Its been a great pleasure to serve to avocado, we giggle when you plow through a teething biscuit, turkey’s fine as long as its off mom’s finger and despite a few good carrot days ~ your no longer a big fan. Egg yolks used to be a favorite but now your tastes have…matured?
Perhaps it’s the love of your kitty that has taken you over because for the love of god I can’t keep you away from the cat food!!!!! At LEAST once a day either your Daddy or I catch you in the kitty bowl.
(for grandma) Each and every time we catch you, its just seconds before one of those nasty bites of feline fodder cross your sweet and perfect lips.
(for the rest of the world) 90% of the time before we notice that you are just too quiet for your own good, you have already harvested a tasty little morsel of goodness into your aforementioned steel trap of a mouth and are happily chomp, chomp, chomping away.
And I do mean happily. There isn’t a food we have tried serving you that you haven’t been hesitant about at least at first. There isn’t a food in this house that’s hasn’t taken some getting used to. And clearly, there isn’t a food that we can get you to eat two times in a row without you giving us a look your not supposed to be able to form well until your 7th year of life. With of course…this one exception.
Friday, February 01, 2008
What did YOU do this weekend?
WE GREW A TOOTH!!! (and by we I obviously mean G, but Peter and I should get a lil credit too don't ya think?)
Its been a long, long, loooooooooooooooooooong time coming ~ so long in fact that when I plundged my finger into the depths of your steel trap mouth and annouced proudly that there was indeed a lil sharp dagger in there I was met with a giant eye roll, sigh and "yes...i know its coming."
NOO DUDE...did you not HEAR me...its THERE, OFFICIALLY, FINALLY
So I proceeded to call all my family who now officially thinks i'm insane, pathic or in need of a good hobby
Its been a long, long, loooooooooooooooooooong time coming ~ so long in fact that when I plundged my finger into the depths of your steel trap mouth and annouced proudly that there was indeed a lil sharp dagger in there I was met with a giant eye roll, sigh and "yes...i know its coming."
NOO DUDE...did you not HEAR me...its THERE, OFFICIALLY, FINALLY
So I proceeded to call all my family who now officially thinks i'm insane, pathic or in need of a good hobby
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Letter from Dad
Dear Peanut…
it’s been awhile so thought I would chime in and write to you. You are so big now…at 8 months you’ve developed into a crawling machine, a talker (no real words yet) and a tremendous eater. We decided to not push the eating thing until you are ready and you are definitely ready. You watch mommy and me eat and smack your lips and give us this look like…hey what about me? It’s amazing the change over the past 2 months…we tried some yams at Thanksgiving and even at Christmas we gave you some sweet potato and banana that Grandma Jan put in your stocking…you would have nothing to do with them. But now we’ve been feeding you homemade food such as mashed avocado, banana and soft egg yolks.
Eggs seem to be your favorite until last night when we gave you some chicken. Yes chicken and not some mashed up pureed meaty pudding you get in the store but small dices of baked chicken…the same that mom and dad ate for dinner. You devoured it…literally diving at the spoon for more. I don’t know why this makes me weepy but it does. You’re growing up and it seems so fast to me. Our little baby is eating real food. I’m so glad we haven’t forced you to do anything before you are ready. We are learning what you like and when and read your body language. You tell us when you are ready to eat, when you are hungry and when you’ve had enough. The latter is done with a turn of the nose and a closed mouth…more like clenched mouth.
You’re so grown up. I enjoy every minute with you and can’t wait for more adventures in the kitchen. Maybe we’ll try some lentils or venison or since you are willing to try anything…you and I can share some liver. Either way I love making food for you and watching you eat and grow.
Love,
chef Dad
it’s been awhile so thought I would chime in and write to you. You are so big now…at 8 months you’ve developed into a crawling machine, a talker (no real words yet) and a tremendous eater. We decided to not push the eating thing until you are ready and you are definitely ready. You watch mommy and me eat and smack your lips and give us this look like…hey what about me? It’s amazing the change over the past 2 months…we tried some yams at Thanksgiving and even at Christmas we gave you some sweet potato and banana that Grandma Jan put in your stocking…you would have nothing to do with them. But now we’ve been feeding you homemade food such as mashed avocado, banana and soft egg yolks.
Eggs seem to be your favorite until last night when we gave you some chicken. Yes chicken and not some mashed up pureed meaty pudding you get in the store but small dices of baked chicken…the same that mom and dad ate for dinner. You devoured it…literally diving at the spoon for more. I don’t know why this makes me weepy but it does. You’re growing up and it seems so fast to me. Our little baby is eating real food. I’m so glad we haven’t forced you to do anything before you are ready. We are learning what you like and when and read your body language. You tell us when you are ready to eat, when you are hungry and when you’ve had enough. The latter is done with a turn of the nose and a closed mouth…more like clenched mouth.
You’re so grown up. I enjoy every minute with you and can’t wait for more adventures in the kitchen. Maybe we’ll try some lentils or venison or since you are willing to try anything…you and I can share some liver. Either way I love making food for you and watching you eat and grow.
Love,
chef Dad
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
My Little Snuggle Bug
We're THOSE parents. The ones that enjoy sharing our bed and have no problem snuggling in for a good nights family sleep.
For a while after you were born you wanted the freedom of your own space. And while I appreciated your individualism, I missed you. Well apparently you missed me too as you've made it quite clear that your crib is for nap time ONLY.
During that period - I LOVED to come in and pick you up...now my favorite time is early in the morning (i know craziness). About 6am you begin to wake up. In a normal household this would be the beginning of a productive day, but not here. We just roll over and play dead so hopefully we can eek out at least another hour of sleep. For about an hour you flip, flop, turn, smack my belly, pull daddy's nose, poke me in the eye and all that general lil kid early-ness. Some days it drives me bonkers ~ but really. I just LOVE it. I love how you snuggle up with me; suck your thumb 1,2,3 ~ FLOP, up in daddy's armpit: snuggle 1,2 ~ FLIP, steal a corner of my pillow: face slap, face slap face slap ~ WIGGLE down to Willoughby: SHREAK and pull her tail, giggle and lay back on my lap.
I acutally think your Daddy sleeps through 90% of this. The other day you were FINALLY 92% asleep and he starts fooling around with the covers.
Moi - "what are you doing?"
Peter - "I'm covering her up."
Moi - "thats her head"
Peter - "oh"
G - FLIP FLOP WIGGLE SMACK
Peter - "sorry."
For a while after you were born you wanted the freedom of your own space. And while I appreciated your individualism, I missed you. Well apparently you missed me too as you've made it quite clear that your crib is for nap time ONLY.
During that period - I LOVED to come in and pick you up...now my favorite time is early in the morning (i know craziness). About 6am you begin to wake up. In a normal household this would be the beginning of a productive day, but not here. We just roll over and play dead so hopefully we can eek out at least another hour of sleep. For about an hour you flip, flop, turn, smack my belly, pull daddy's nose, poke me in the eye and all that general lil kid early-ness. Some days it drives me bonkers ~ but really. I just LOVE it. I love how you snuggle up with me; suck your thumb 1,2,3 ~ FLOP, up in daddy's armpit: snuggle 1,2 ~ FLIP, steal a corner of my pillow: face slap, face slap face slap ~ WIGGLE down to Willoughby: SHREAK and pull her tail, giggle and lay back on my lap.
I acutally think your Daddy sleeps through 90% of this. The other day you were FINALLY 92% asleep and he starts fooling around with the covers.
Moi - "what are you doing?"
Peter - "I'm covering her up."
Moi - "thats her head"
Peter - "oh"
G - FLIP FLOP WIGGLE SMACK
Peter - "sorry."
Thursday, January 17, 2008
8 Months!
Oh what a month, what – a – month! Christmas, New Years, Daycare, Mommy’s new job, DAYCARE. (ahhhhhhhhh)
Lets start with the happy stuff. YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS! Though being honest with myself and thereby you…it should really be ‘your first Christmas.’ While it was wonderful and I got choked up reading ‘The Night Before Christmas’ to my little baby I have to admit it was very anti-climatic. I liken it to my wedding day. Though marrying your Daddy was one of the best days of my life, it was the idea of being married to HIM that made my soul soar ~ not the picture perfect day. Much like your first Christmas. The idea of creating special traditions with you make me weepy ~ not showering you with material objects on one day of the year. I’m not saying that I can’t wait for you to believe in Santa. Or that I can’t wait to see the delight in your eyes when you open that gift that you haaaaaad to haaaaave. But, I also look forward to the day when we can bake cookies for Santa, shop for the perfect carrots for the reindeer (debating, of course, if they would like the stems or not), and see the pride you radiate from making presents for your friends and family (while I vigorously scrub the glitter and paint off the table, walls, floor and your cloths.) I can’t wait to sing Christmas songs in the car with you and giggle in secret about how much Daddy is going to looooooove what we made for him. So while your first Christmas was very special, it was even more so because it is just the beginning of so much more.
Unlike your typical party spirit, your first New Years was to say the least very chilllll. We had planned on taking you (along with your brother and sisters) to the First Night celebrations in Pittsburgh. You however had different plans all along. I’ll grant you it was a crazy week of car rides between Ligonier and Pittsburgh so it should come as no surprise that on Dec 31 you just said STOP. You didn’t take a nap all day and then come evening you were a fussy lil mess. Finally around 8pm you went to sleep. Your Daddy wanted you and I to come downtown with them, but frankly, there wasn’t a snowy chance in hell that I was going to wake you up. So we slept and I watched a movie on Edith Piaf ~ the Sparrow. Good times.
The next morning we woke up early and went to the Mon-Wharf for the annual Polar Bear Plunge. It was a frosty 36 degrees, but mommy had talked a lot of smack for the past year about polar bear cubs and the toasty 56 degree temps of last year. Of course I couldn’t participate in the jump the first year with Daddy and Tyler because I was pregnant, but OF COURSE I’d do it the following. Wouldn’t you know it’d be a COLD ONE.
We returned to DC on Jan 3 and vegg’ed for the rest of that week. The next week your Daddy and I ‘woke up’ from the holiday fog to realize ~ OMG you need a daycare and Mommy’s job starts NEXT WEEK. Frantically we get your pediatrician forms filled out and returned, submit it all to daycare and magically there was an available slot for you. Sunday night I cried, Monday morning I cried, Monday afternoon I did all but RUN into the daycare to grab you. Tuesday I was weepy and cried into work (I’ve now stopped wearing mascara) and Wednesday I was ok. And I use the term OK in the most heart numbing sense of the word. While I don’t flat out cry anymore, I do get giant wells of tears but can now talk them away. The horrible part is I feel just turned off. I truly believe that your perfectly fine with daycare and its probably doing you a little good to be around other adults and children. I think the worst blow is coming to your Daddy. Of course he’s upset as well, but on top of that ~ he’s got to deal with me all day too. Horrible, bi-polar, robotic me. Thankfully no one has a problem with us coming to get you’re at 4pm (1h 21m from now).
You’ve been at daycare for 4 days now and I swear your hair has grown, and you’re going to be a grown up and walking by Friday.
I’m afraid I’m missing it all.
Mommy
Lets start with the happy stuff. YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS! Though being honest with myself and thereby you…it should really be ‘your first Christmas.’ While it was wonderful and I got choked up reading ‘The Night Before Christmas’ to my little baby I have to admit it was very anti-climatic. I liken it to my wedding day. Though marrying your Daddy was one of the best days of my life, it was the idea of being married to HIM that made my soul soar ~ not the picture perfect day. Much like your first Christmas. The idea of creating special traditions with you make me weepy ~ not showering you with material objects on one day of the year. I’m not saying that I can’t wait for you to believe in Santa. Or that I can’t wait to see the delight in your eyes when you open that gift that you haaaaaad to haaaaave. But, I also look forward to the day when we can bake cookies for Santa, shop for the perfect carrots for the reindeer (debating, of course, if they would like the stems or not), and see the pride you radiate from making presents for your friends and family (while I vigorously scrub the glitter and paint off the table, walls, floor and your cloths.) I can’t wait to sing Christmas songs in the car with you and giggle in secret about how much Daddy is going to looooooove what we made for him. So while your first Christmas was very special, it was even more so because it is just the beginning of so much more.
Unlike your typical party spirit, your first New Years was to say the least very chilllll. We had planned on taking you (along with your brother and sisters) to the First Night celebrations in Pittsburgh. You however had different plans all along. I’ll grant you it was a crazy week of car rides between Ligonier and Pittsburgh so it should come as no surprise that on Dec 31 you just said STOP. You didn’t take a nap all day and then come evening you were a fussy lil mess. Finally around 8pm you went to sleep. Your Daddy wanted you and I to come downtown with them, but frankly, there wasn’t a snowy chance in hell that I was going to wake you up. So we slept and I watched a movie on Edith Piaf ~ the Sparrow. Good times.
The next morning we woke up early and went to the Mon-Wharf for the annual Polar Bear Plunge. It was a frosty 36 degrees, but mommy had talked a lot of smack for the past year about polar bear cubs and the toasty 56 degree temps of last year. Of course I couldn’t participate in the jump the first year with Daddy and Tyler because I was pregnant, but OF COURSE I’d do it the following. Wouldn’t you know it’d be a COLD ONE.
We returned to DC on Jan 3 and vegg’ed for the rest of that week. The next week your Daddy and I ‘woke up’ from the holiday fog to realize ~ OMG you need a daycare and Mommy’s job starts NEXT WEEK. Frantically we get your pediatrician forms filled out and returned, submit it all to daycare and magically there was an available slot for you. Sunday night I cried, Monday morning I cried, Monday afternoon I did all but RUN into the daycare to grab you. Tuesday I was weepy and cried into work (I’ve now stopped wearing mascara) and Wednesday I was ok. And I use the term OK in the most heart numbing sense of the word. While I don’t flat out cry anymore, I do get giant wells of tears but can now talk them away. The horrible part is I feel just turned off. I truly believe that your perfectly fine with daycare and its probably doing you a little good to be around other adults and children. I think the worst blow is coming to your Daddy. Of course he’s upset as well, but on top of that ~ he’s got to deal with me all day too. Horrible, bi-polar, robotic me. Thankfully no one has a problem with us coming to get you’re at 4pm (1h 21m from now).
You’ve been at daycare for 4 days now and I swear your hair has grown, and you’re going to be a grown up and walking by Friday.
I’m afraid I’m missing it all.
Mommy
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Seven Months
Dear Peanut,
Mommy’s been a bad bad blogger. NOTHING posted since your 6 month update! I guess that means we’ve been busy busy.
After coming home from Thanksgiving up in PA your Daddy and I took our class to become Bradley instructors. It was 4 very loooong days but hopefully well worth it. Although we enjoyed our time in class ~ we missed you desperately. Grandma Jan came and stayed with you for a few days and then Grandma and Grandpa Alcantara came to stay. It was fun to share you, and a good daycare tester for Mommy, but I really didn’t like it. Along with 2 other babies, you spent a few mornings with us in class. These kids were cute and QUIET. You on the other hand were lil miss rambunctious. You’d see a marker ~ take off to eat it ~ wind up in someone’s lap ~ snuggle and play for a few ~ see another marker ~ take off to eat it…until you got hungry then you’d seek out mama again. It was funny, but tiring all the same.
Grandma Jan brought you this ADORABLE lil santa dress and I thought it would be just too cute to have you dressed up for a few pics. We were thinking x-mas cards, but with the dress and the hotel...it all looked a lil to Sears-y for Mama. Don't ya think?
THEN as if that weren’t tiring enough ~ the day after we finished classes we had to return to work, AND the contractors came to fix & paint the walls THAT DAY!. Although it took a week and we were without water for 5 days these guys did a great job and you were even better. How you managed to nap while they were here is beyond me ~ but not once did you seem overwhelmed by having to sleep in the living room on a blow up mattress, or by having 5 extra house guests every day.
You’re also becoming a bit addicted to mommy. I revel in the fact that it’s a known phase for this time of your life and don’t do a single thing to stop it.
Somehow despite stealing her toys and chewing on her tail when you catch her ~ Willoughby still loves you. It cracks me up how she actually plays WITH you. You’ll be happily sitting in the living room, playing with a toy or eight and she’ll come about 2 feet away from you (just out of arms reach to be safe). Then you’ll see her, squeal and take off after her. She’ll run and sit about 5 feet from original position. You’ll follow. You two will repeat this until she takes off into your room, which unfortunately is around the corner and thus out of view from Mommy.
May you always seek comfort in my presence,
Mommy
Mommy’s been a bad bad blogger. NOTHING posted since your 6 month update! I guess that means we’ve been busy busy.
After coming home from Thanksgiving up in PA your Daddy and I took our class to become Bradley instructors. It was 4 very loooong days but hopefully well worth it. Although we enjoyed our time in class ~ we missed you desperately. Grandma Jan came and stayed with you for a few days and then Grandma and Grandpa Alcantara came to stay. It was fun to share you, and a good daycare tester for Mommy, but I really didn’t like it. Along with 2 other babies, you spent a few mornings with us in class. These kids were cute and QUIET. You on the other hand were lil miss rambunctious. You’d see a marker ~ take off to eat it ~ wind up in someone’s lap ~ snuggle and play for a few ~ see another marker ~ take off to eat it…until you got hungry then you’d seek out mama again. It was funny, but tiring all the same.
Grandma Jan brought you this ADORABLE lil santa dress and I thought it would be just too cute to have you dressed up for a few pics. We were thinking x-mas cards, but with the dress and the hotel...it all looked a lil to Sears-y for Mama. Don't ya think?
THEN as if that weren’t tiring enough ~ the day after we finished classes we had to return to work, AND the contractors came to fix & paint the walls THAT DAY!. Although it took a week and we were without water for 5 days these guys did a great job and you were even better. How you managed to nap while they were here is beyond me ~ but not once did you seem overwhelmed by having to sleep in the living room on a blow up mattress, or by having 5 extra house guests every day.
You’re also becoming a bit addicted to mommy. I revel in the fact that it’s a known phase for this time of your life and don’t do a single thing to stop it.
Somehow despite stealing her toys and chewing on her tail when you catch her ~ Willoughby still loves you. It cracks me up how she actually plays WITH you. You’ll be happily sitting in the living room, playing with a toy or eight and she’ll come about 2 feet away from you (just out of arms reach to be safe). Then you’ll see her, squeal and take off after her. She’ll run and sit about 5 feet from original position. You’ll follow. You two will repeat this until she takes off into your room, which unfortunately is around the corner and thus out of view from Mommy.
May you always seek comfort in my presence,
Mommy
Monday, December 03, 2007
Six Months Old
Happy Half Year!!!
How can you already be SIX MONTHS old?!?! I’ve said it before, but these early years are just too darn fast. I think I’d like this baby phase to be twice as long and in return I’m willing to shorten bits of 13, 14, and 15. (Maybe) Although, if Gene Simmons has taught me anything, its that it IS possible to have teenagers & even pre-teens think their parents are cool and still want to hang out with them. Who woulda thunk he'd be a role model? ever.
Not too much crazy stuff has happened this month. Your biggest feat is crawling and standing. Still no butt in the air, but it moves ya places just about as fast as your daddy and I can roll off the sofa to catch you. Another great accomplishment for you is standing. Just days before your ½ birthday your daddy and I were fixin’ up your room a little more and just like that ~voila~ your hanging onto the side of the crib and bouncing up and down. As surprised and pleased as we were to see this, I have to admit, we would have been just as happy to wait a day or two as it was after 10pm and both of us were DYING to get to bed, not move the mattress down to its lowest setting.
I think my favorite part of hanging out with you every day is learning who my baby girl is. Your starting to develop a lil err ok – a BIG personality. For starters your goofy. You just love to make us laugh. Sometimes with the string you’ve pulled out of my sweatshirt or a ribbon from a gift. You love to chew on it and make silly faces.
You also still LOVE the outdoors. I remember you came into this world with crisp morning air to greet you and the sound of soothing rain falling outside. Each time we go outside you seem to grow a little older, a little wiser and far more peaceful. We took you on a hike with about 15 other people one weekend and just about everyone commented on how great you were, like a true Taurus, you just soaked in every ounce of the experience.
I’m soaking you in,
Mommy
How can you already be SIX MONTHS old?!?! I’ve said it before, but these early years are just too darn fast. I think I’d like this baby phase to be twice as long and in return I’m willing to shorten bits of 13, 14, and 15. (Maybe) Although, if Gene Simmons has taught me anything, its that it IS possible to have teenagers & even pre-teens think their parents are cool and still want to hang out with them. Who woulda thunk he'd be a role model? ever.
Not too much crazy stuff has happened this month. Your biggest feat is crawling and standing. Still no butt in the air, but it moves ya places just about as fast as your daddy and I can roll off the sofa to catch you. Another great accomplishment for you is standing. Just days before your ½ birthday your daddy and I were fixin’ up your room a little more and just like that ~voila~ your hanging onto the side of the crib and bouncing up and down. As surprised and pleased as we were to see this, I have to admit, we would have been just as happy to wait a day or two as it was after 10pm and both of us were DYING to get to bed, not move the mattress down to its lowest setting.
I think my favorite part of hanging out with you every day is learning who my baby girl is. Your starting to develop a lil err ok – a BIG personality. For starters your goofy. You just love to make us laugh. Sometimes with the string you’ve pulled out of my sweatshirt or a ribbon from a gift. You love to chew on it and make silly faces.
You also still LOVE the outdoors. I remember you came into this world with crisp morning air to greet you and the sound of soothing rain falling outside. Each time we go outside you seem to grow a little older, a little wiser and far more peaceful. We took you on a hike with about 15 other people one weekend and just about everyone commented on how great you were, like a true Taurus, you just soaked in every ounce of the experience.
I’m soaking you in,
Mommy
Monday, November 12, 2007
Its the most wonderful time of the year!
Yesterday my me and my honeys went on a hike. It was approx 4 miles and though technically thats not far at all...it was a toughie! But the views along the potomac were well worth it. Seeing my lil peanut all bundled up and out in the fresh air was worth it, meeting the people we did and after for Pho was worth it. But feeling like the old Jenn & Peter, version 2.1 made it TOTALLY worth it.
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/TurkeyRun_8872.asp
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/TurkeyRun_8872.asp
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
happy birthday to ME!
its the end of an "era"...the last of my 20's. Can you imagine?!?! How did i celebrate you ask ~ in only the BEST WAY POSSIBLE!!!
I went to the gym with baby in tow. Put her in daycare and went directly to the hot tub. From there I promptly went into the steam room. I came home to a FANTASTIC dinner prepared by my man.
The next day i worked ALL day. But unlike that job that pays the mortgage...this I LOVE. I had a photo session in Annapolis for a great couple that was a lot of fun, then another couple here in DC. Its awesome to know that there is something I could make a living from that i LOVE.
~ now to get that ball rolling!
I went to the gym with baby in tow. Put her in daycare and went directly to the hot tub. From there I promptly went into the steam room. I came home to a FANTASTIC dinner prepared by my man.
The next day i worked ALL day. But unlike that job that pays the mortgage...this I LOVE. I had a photo session in Annapolis for a great couple that was a lot of fun, then another couple here in DC. Its awesome to know that there is something I could make a living from that i LOVE.
~ now to get that ball rolling!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Things I don't want to forget
*how when you begin to giggle - you sound like your gasping for air - and it scares the SHIT out of me.
*how much you love Willoughby and how it terrorizes you when she runs away
*how easily you can be put to sleep for each nap
*how much you love to snuggle right now
*how you have NO interest in eating if there is anything remotely exciting going on ANYWHERE else in the world.
*how much you love Willoughby and how it terrorizes you when she runs away
*how easily you can be put to sleep for each nap
*how much you love to snuggle right now
*how you have NO interest in eating if there is anything remotely exciting going on ANYWHERE else in the world.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Five Months Old
Happy un-birthday my lil mobile one!!!
This morning after your daddy changed your diaper and before he wrangled you in for a wardrobe change you got the urge to show off your latest and greatest skillz! At one point I think you may have actually done a proper crawl For the past few weeks you scoot about doing what I refer to as the ‘seal’, but today you seem to have a new nifty mode of transport. The lift and flop. (Its similar to the bend and snap*, but waaay cuter says your Father) Its mirrors the inchworm approach that so many babies start out with, but well…yours looks a tad more painful and is definitely far more enthusiastic!
[video]
This month you’ve given up your predicable schedule in favor of random acts of sleepiness. I’ve been saying this for months now…its cause your teething. Apparently all moms have excuses and this is mine. I used to make fun of those moms…ok, I admit I still do. And I know I vowed I wouldn’t do it and I know I cringe every time I hear the words come out of my mouth (but)…I REALLY BELIEVE IT! You’ve even taken to wearing a bib during the good majority of your waking hours because as much as I don’t mind doing laundry and cleaning your cloth diapers, swapping a slobber soaked shirt every 30 min gets to be a bit much.
Speaking of laundry and all things dirty…I’m afraid I have bad news for the both of us. Now while I do hope you grow up and surprise me ~ I think you have a good chance at being the dirty kid.
Baby Girl you have toys. Granted not as many as most kids I’ve met your age, but clearly more than enough than you need as you’d be happy with the remote control, butt paste container, my pc, all the cords attached and DIRT. How is it at 5 months you can find the dirtiest spot on the porch and decide that looks like fun…lets eat it! At he Del-Ray Art-On-The-Avenue you found…dirt. Dirt, dirt, dirt.
As for food – even though you’re still a booby baby, you are sooooo into food. It may have more to do with the above paragraph (things you can’t have) but clearly your getting ready. Occasionally you’ll get a swished up bite of this, a smashed up finger full of that and if your REALLY lucky…you get some water out of a straw. Man those things are cool!
With everything that’s been going on the past couple of weeks: crazy work schedule, holidays looming, home no longer for sale, and oh yea…that whole water destruction thing ~ you remain my sunshine. When you laugh and giggle it makes all my frustration and sadness disappear.
Eternally grateful,
Your Mommy
This morning after your daddy changed your diaper and before he wrangled you in for a wardrobe change you got the urge to show off your latest and greatest skillz! At one point I think you may have actually done a proper crawl For the past few weeks you scoot about doing what I refer to as the ‘seal’, but today you seem to have a new nifty mode of transport. The lift and flop. (Its similar to the bend and snap*, but waaay cuter says your Father) Its mirrors the inchworm approach that so many babies start out with, but well…yours looks a tad more painful and is definitely far more enthusiastic!
[video]
This month you’ve given up your predicable schedule in favor of random acts of sleepiness. I’ve been saying this for months now…its cause your teething. Apparently all moms have excuses and this is mine. I used to make fun of those moms…ok, I admit I still do. And I know I vowed I wouldn’t do it and I know I cringe every time I hear the words come out of my mouth (but)…I REALLY BELIEVE IT! You’ve even taken to wearing a bib during the good majority of your waking hours because as much as I don’t mind doing laundry and cleaning your cloth diapers, swapping a slobber soaked shirt every 30 min gets to be a bit much.
Speaking of laundry and all things dirty…I’m afraid I have bad news for the both of us. Now while I do hope you grow up and surprise me ~ I think you have a good chance at being the dirty kid.
Baby Girl you have toys. Granted not as many as most kids I’ve met your age, but clearly more than enough than you need as you’d be happy with the remote control, butt paste container, my pc, all the cords attached and DIRT. How is it at 5 months you can find the dirtiest spot on the porch and decide that looks like fun…lets eat it! At he Del-Ray Art-On-The-Avenue you found…dirt. Dirt, dirt, dirt.
As for food – even though you’re still a booby baby, you are sooooo into food. It may have more to do with the above paragraph (things you can’t have) but clearly your getting ready. Occasionally you’ll get a swished up bite of this, a smashed up finger full of that and if your REALLY lucky…you get some water out of a straw. Man those things are cool!
With everything that’s been going on the past couple of weeks: crazy work schedule, holidays looming, home no longer for sale, and oh yea…that whole water destruction thing ~ you remain my sunshine. When you laugh and giggle it makes all my frustration and sadness disappear.
Eternally grateful,
Your Mommy
Monday, October 08, 2007
Making Lemonade
Me - "Peter wake up, the toilet is overflowing"
P - "umm, no - water's leaking from the ceiling"
Me - "WHAT?"
P - "yea, its coming out of the vent from above us"
AHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
After 129 days on the market ~ our condo is officially tell us that it doesn't want us to go. EVER. In fact in its own sweet little way - i think its trying to tell us that it loves our little family.
Sooo making lemonade out of the lemons we're given...or perhaps mojito's from the limes - they're sour too right...i'm hoping to get the ceiling painted and new carpeting. Both of which could use a lil updating.
P - "umm, no - water's leaking from the ceiling"
Me - "WHAT?"
P - "yea, its coming out of the vent from above us"
AHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
After 129 days on the market ~ our condo is officially tell us that it doesn't want us to go. EVER. In fact in its own sweet little way - i think its trying to tell us that it loves our little family.
Sooo making lemonade out of the lemons we're given...or perhaps mojito's from the limes - they're sour too right...i'm hoping to get the ceiling painted and new carpeting. Both of which could use a lil updating.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
ahhh reflections
Last night I enjoyed a fantastic night dinner out with friends. Somehow Giuliane knew that this was a fancy restaurant and was on her beeeeeeest behavior, as there was hardly a peep heard from her all night! However for what – the second time this year – this post isn’t about her.
There’s something about fall weather that just reminds me of college and behaving badly. Bonfires and piles of leaves, spiced and spiked cider and Icehouse on tap. All day – everyday. Only to be replaced by loud thumping music and lots and lots of dancing at the end of the night. Ohh to be able to just have a taste of the freedom of those days again.
Fast forward to last night. Our table of four (and a half) was sitting next to a date-night table of two. The girl was over-dressed, over loud, had over imbibed, and most importantly soooo over the guy she was with. Course that’s presuming she was ever into him in the first place. But don’t hate ~ a girl’s gotta eat.
That was my phrase in my lower 20s. If someone asked me out and was remotely a passable date…why say no? ‘A girls gotta eat.’ And that was my life. I made enough at a non-profit to pay my bills and look uptown trendy. It was others responsibility to keep me well fed and the drinks coming. As I looked at this girl at the table next to mine I thought. GAWD ~ was I ever really this shallow, so transparent, so obvious, sooo obnoxious? Sadly, we all know the answer to this is a resounding YES!
For a second I felt ashamed, maybe even a little guilt. But as I looked at my husband beside me and took a quick glance at the happy baby on the floor beneath me ~ I no longer cared. I was who I was and its who led me to be who I am today.
I LOVE MY LFE.
Always have always will. That girl 10 years ago was very obnoxious, but she was fun and she loved life. This girl in her upper 20s might not be as ‘fun’ on the outside, but on the inside she couldn’t love her life any more.
There’s something about fall weather that just reminds me of college and behaving badly. Bonfires and piles of leaves, spiced and spiked cider and Icehouse on tap. All day – everyday. Only to be replaced by loud thumping music and lots and lots of dancing at the end of the night. Ohh to be able to just have a taste of the freedom of those days again.
Fast forward to last night. Our table of four (and a half) was sitting next to a date-night table of two. The girl was over-dressed, over loud, had over imbibed, and most importantly soooo over the guy she was with. Course that’s presuming she was ever into him in the first place. But don’t hate ~ a girl’s gotta eat.
That was my phrase in my lower 20s. If someone asked me out and was remotely a passable date…why say no? ‘A girls gotta eat.’ And that was my life. I made enough at a non-profit to pay my bills and look uptown trendy. It was others responsibility to keep me well fed and the drinks coming. As I looked at this girl at the table next to mine I thought. GAWD ~ was I ever really this shallow, so transparent, so obvious, sooo obnoxious? Sadly, we all know the answer to this is a resounding YES!
For a second I felt ashamed, maybe even a little guilt. But as I looked at my husband beside me and took a quick glance at the happy baby on the floor beneath me ~ I no longer cared. I was who I was and its who led me to be who I am today.
I LOVE MY LFE.
Always have always will. That girl 10 years ago was very obnoxious, but she was fun and she loved life. This girl in her upper 20s might not be as ‘fun’ on the outside, but on the inside she couldn’t love her life any more.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Must - Not - Ruin - Surprise
So what do you do when you have a friend over, drink 4 bottles of wine and your daughter wakes up for her midnight meal?
Dress her up in her halloween costume and dance around the living room with her.
DUUHHHHH
(and yes, it was a frozen bottle of boob juice, no flames)
Dress her up in her halloween costume and dance around the living room with her.
DUUHHHHH
(and yes, it was a frozen bottle of boob juice, no flames)
Friday, September 28, 2007
just can't believe it
4.5 mos and G's really gettin going. This past week has been so fun to watch her play. She scoots here - she scoots there - she's scooting everywhere - BACKWARDS. totally normal but it still cracks me up. Yesterday she got on all fours and took a good look around at everything should could break, chew, and generally destroy in 5 minutes.
we have work to do. lots of work to do.
we have work to do. lots of work to do.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Dr. Seuss for nursing moms
Would you nurse her in the park?
Would you nurse him in the dark?
Would you nurse him with a Boppy?
And when your boobs are feeling floppy?
I would nurse him in the park,
I would nurse her in the dark.
I’d nurse with or without a Boppy.
Floppy boobs will never stop me.
Can you nurse with your seat belt on?
Can you nurse from dusk till dawn?
Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull,
I will nurse her ..till she’s full!
Can you nurse and make some soup?
Can you nurse and feed the group?
It makes her healthy strong and smart,
Mommy’s milk is the best start!
Would you nurse him at the game?
Would you nurse her in the rain?
In front of those who dare complain?
I would nurse him at the game.
I would nurse her in the rain.
As for those who protest lactation,
I have the perfect explanation.
Mommy’s milk is tailor made
It’s the perfect food, you need no aid.
Some may scoff and some may wriggle,
Avert their eyes or even giggle.
To those who can be cruel and rude,
Remind them breast’s the perfect food!
I would never scoff or giggle,
Roll my eyes or even wiggle!
I would not be so crass or crude,
I KNOW that this milk’s the perfect food!
We make the amount we need
The perfect temp for every feed.
There’s no compare to milk from breast-
The perfect food, above the rest.
Those sweet nursing smiles are oh so sweet,
Mommy’s milk is such a treat.
Human milk just can’t be beat.
I will nurse, in any case,
On the street or in your face.
I will not let my baby cry,
I’ll meet her needs, I’ll always try.
It’s not about what’s good for you,
It’s best for babies, through and through.
I will nurse her in my home,
I will nurse her when I roam.
Leave me be lads and ma’am.
I will nurse her, Mom I am.
Friday, September 21, 2007
non baby post (gasp)
please note that i did not say 'cool - non suburbanite post'
OUR CAT IS SOOO COOL.
Not only does she let someone pull her tail and ears for a min or two before cooly walking away...but...
She can open the screen door. I love it.
For some reason I've never minded a bug here, a fly there so we typically leave the screen door open when the air's off. But come nightfall - i get a lil leery of things that go bump in the night and always want at least the screen door shut. Sometimes kitty's not home from her rounds and like a true mom ~ i worry. Well worry no more, as she can now open the screen door with a few well placed scratches at the bottom of the rail.
OUR CAT IS SOOO COOL.
Not only does she let someone pull her tail and ears for a min or two before cooly walking away...but...
She can open the screen door. I love it.
For some reason I've never minded a bug here, a fly there so we typically leave the screen door open when the air's off. But come nightfall - i get a lil leery of things that go bump in the night and always want at least the screen door shut. Sometimes kitty's not home from her rounds and like a true mom ~ i worry. Well worry no more, as she can now open the screen door with a few well placed scratches at the bottom of the rail.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Four Months Old
Dear Giuliane,
Personality is what I think of when I think of how you've changed this month. Your really starting to get one my lil peanut. I have to laugh at myself because when I think of you and your ‘big personality’ I’m reminded of your cousin Alyza when she was a baby and her videos that were sent from CA. ‘King Bubby’ always talked about how much personality she had while the rest of us just stared blankly at the television and a googly albeit cute ~ baby.
This month was highlighted with another trip to Pittsburgh / Ligonier. You finally got to meet your Uncles!!! I still giggle that Uncle Randy’s first comment was on your hairstyle ~ leave it to the hairdresser in the family to notice your lil fauxhawk.
Also important, your daddy and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary. You went and hung out in Arlington with Miss Becky (and by default her kind roommate Erin). We had brunch at one of our favorite places, the Market Inn, then walked around the National Arboretum. It was so nice to just be the two of us for a few hours, but we couldn’t help but consistently think of the day when you’ll be able to stroll around with us and enjoy the flowers and big trees.
We also went to the Centreville Days fair, apple picking, and you got to enjoy your first ever Steelers game on TV. Clearly your quite at home with the Steeler crowd already.
But more about you... You giggle is still infectious. So much so that we had to video-tape it and sent it off to friends and family alike.
You’re also starting to get the hang of this sitting thing. You def like the comfort of being propped up on the sofa or in between our legs, but if given the opportunity you can hang on your own for a few seconds. In fact, just the other day, your lil Buddha belly proved strong enough to pull yourself up from a semi-reclined position into a full sitting one. THEN you even hung out long enough for me to run and get the camera and smiled for a picture.
Your also becoming very intrigued by food. You watch us eat it and love to smell smells. Especially good wine and fruits. But who can blame you there. I imagine that by the ripe ol age of 4 or so, you'll have quite the snobby palate. No chicken nuggets for you lil one!
But the best of all is that you really know how to love your Mommy and Daddy. I’ve just begun to feel comfortable leaving you in others care (be it the gym, church or with friends) For the most part you are great in their care, but its your sheer joy upon seeing us return that makes every moment being away from you worth it. It’s like coming to get you first thing in the morning all over again.
But don’t worry, I’m storing up these moments of great joy for when your 11 and can’t stand the sight of me.
I’ll never get tired of you,
Mama
Personality is what I think of when I think of how you've changed this month. Your really starting to get one my lil peanut. I have to laugh at myself because when I think of you and your ‘big personality’ I’m reminded of your cousin Alyza when she was a baby and her videos that were sent from CA. ‘King Bubby’ always talked about how much personality she had while the rest of us just stared blankly at the television and a googly albeit cute ~ baby.
This month was highlighted with another trip to Pittsburgh / Ligonier. You finally got to meet your Uncles!!! I still giggle that Uncle Randy’s first comment was on your hairstyle ~ leave it to the hairdresser in the family to notice your lil fauxhawk.
Also important, your daddy and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary. You went and hung out in Arlington with Miss Becky (and by default her kind roommate Erin). We had brunch at one of our favorite places, the Market Inn, then walked around the National Arboretum. It was so nice to just be the two of us for a few hours, but we couldn’t help but consistently think of the day when you’ll be able to stroll around with us and enjoy the flowers and big trees.
We also went to the Centreville Days fair, apple picking, and you got to enjoy your first ever Steelers game on TV. Clearly your quite at home with the Steeler crowd already.
But more about you... You giggle is still infectious. So much so that we had to video-tape it and sent it off to friends and family alike.
You’re also starting to get the hang of this sitting thing. You def like the comfort of being propped up on the sofa or in between our legs, but if given the opportunity you can hang on your own for a few seconds. In fact, just the other day, your lil Buddha belly proved strong enough to pull yourself up from a semi-reclined position into a full sitting one. THEN you even hung out long enough for me to run and get the camera and smiled for a picture.
Your also becoming very intrigued by food. You watch us eat it and love to smell smells. Especially good wine and fruits. But who can blame you there. I imagine that by the ripe ol age of 4 or so, you'll have quite the snobby palate. No chicken nuggets for you lil one!
But the best of all is that you really know how to love your Mommy and Daddy. I’ve just begun to feel comfortable leaving you in others care (be it the gym, church or with friends) For the most part you are great in their care, but its your sheer joy upon seeing us return that makes every moment being away from you worth it. It’s like coming to get you first thing in the morning all over again.
But don’t worry, I’m storing up these moments of great joy for when your 11 and can’t stand the sight of me.
I’ll never get tired of you,
Mama
Thursday, September 06, 2007
What they don't tell you
is that you will go bald after having a baby.
Yes - everyone says you'll lose hair, but that doesn't exactly convey what REALLY happens. What REALLY happens is that you will run your hands through your hair and end up with a fistful that would make a lovely hawk home.
That folks ~ isn't loosing hair, thats going bald.
Yes - everyone says you'll lose hair, but that doesn't exactly convey what REALLY happens. What REALLY happens is that you will run your hands through your hair and end up with a fistful that would make a lovely hawk home.
That folks ~ isn't loosing hair, thats going bald.
Monday, August 27, 2007
my baby's growin up!
So this weekend was the first weekend that I formally bagged the cloths & diapers that no longer fit. I got soo weepy. I can't believe that in this short time she's changed soo much. Couple that with the newborn video of a friends niece and i'm downright missing my newborn! I wouldn't trade the time I have with Giuliane for the WORLD ~ but i want to enjoy every phase of her, every day! That's not to much to ask, is it?
Friday, August 17, 2007
Three Months Old!
Dear Peanut
(as this you are called more often than Giuliane)
In two hours you will have reached 3 months. Well officially in 8 hours as you were born at 6am, but let’s not split hairs. I’ve just taken you from your crib beside the bed and put you in bed with me. Daddy’s at band practice and won’t be home for a few more hours and you fell asleep shortly after he left. We hardly got to play, so I’m getting my snuggles in now. I’m amazed that in 95 days – I still haven’t gotten tired of the way you smell, the way your lips fall open, the sound of your breath or that you look like a little smurf in your green jammies.
We have had SO much fun with you this month. Just the other night, you were snug in your Daddy’s arm muchin’ on a teething ring. Sad to say – Mommy said its 9pm and your tired, so I stuck you in your crib and said that’s that. Daddy went in and changed you, played with you and then brought you out and gave you a nice cool teething ring. That’s love.
A couple times this week something has come over you that neither Daddy nor I know how to handle. You just WAIL. It’s uncontrollable and you almost hyperventilate yourself – I worry to the point of passing out. Also sad to say…Mommy thinks it’s kinda cute. (I’m not doing to well here am I?) But timing in human development is quite magical as with this new found uncontrollable cry, you’ve also learned to wrap your arm right up around our neck and give us the slightest little hint of a hug. Equally adorable… When your not trying to raise the dead with you banshee imitation, you giggle. Forget giggle, your laugh comes straight from the belly just like you imagine Santa would do. I wish I could laugh with my whole body like you do just once a month, much less the 20+ times you do it a day.
I’m pretty sure in the past note or two I’ve mentioned what a cute lil thumb sucker you are, but baby…you’ve moved on to champion thumb sucker (declared by me). Nothing but net nearly every time you go for it. It’s amazing. Then you also have this way of using your left hand to cover the right – just to make sure something crazy doesn’t happen to that thumb – like it falling out or something. ;0
I’m doing ok. Aside from my hair falling out – I’m a lil bummed about the idea of you going to daycare. Its been 3 weeks since I went back to work, but since your Daddy and I work from home, we’re cheating and keeping you here with us. Its HARD though. Not only do you demand attention, but we want nothing more than to give you 110% alllll of the time! So it is with heavy hearts that we went and looked at the daycare up the road. I have to say – as far as daycare goes – this is a great one. The owner is crazy about teaching good manners and Miss Betty – the baby attendant – is sweet as pie. She’s totally a Grannie and has a great smile and a light in her eyes that is very important to me if your going to spend every day with her. I don’t want you to be influenced by the Debby Downers of the world. My sarcasm is enough for you to have to learn to deal with. Our home is still on the market, but it’s not looking good. So I’m interviewing in hopes of finding a better job and making the most of the time we have in DC. Besides, we’ve made a lot of good friends here that I’m not too excited about leaving.
Someday we’ll have a home big enough for toys in your bedroom and a garden out back. You will help me pick tomatoes and I’ll teach you how to fry the green ones.
Love,
Mommy
(as this you are called more often than Giuliane)
In two hours you will have reached 3 months. Well officially in 8 hours as you were born at 6am, but let’s not split hairs. I’ve just taken you from your crib beside the bed and put you in bed with me. Daddy’s at band practice and won’t be home for a few more hours and you fell asleep shortly after he left. We hardly got to play, so I’m getting my snuggles in now. I’m amazed that in 95 days – I still haven’t gotten tired of the way you smell, the way your lips fall open, the sound of your breath or that you look like a little smurf in your green jammies.
We have had SO much fun with you this month. Just the other night, you were snug in your Daddy’s arm muchin’ on a teething ring. Sad to say – Mommy said its 9pm and your tired, so I stuck you in your crib and said that’s that. Daddy went in and changed you, played with you and then brought you out and gave you a nice cool teething ring. That’s love.
A couple times this week something has come over you that neither Daddy nor I know how to handle. You just WAIL. It’s uncontrollable and you almost hyperventilate yourself – I worry to the point of passing out. Also sad to say…Mommy thinks it’s kinda cute. (I’m not doing to well here am I?) But timing in human development is quite magical as with this new found uncontrollable cry, you’ve also learned to wrap your arm right up around our neck and give us the slightest little hint of a hug. Equally adorable… When your not trying to raise the dead with you banshee imitation, you giggle. Forget giggle, your laugh comes straight from the belly just like you imagine Santa would do. I wish I could laugh with my whole body like you do just once a month, much less the 20+ times you do it a day.
I’m pretty sure in the past note or two I’ve mentioned what a cute lil thumb sucker you are, but baby…you’ve moved on to champion thumb sucker (declared by me). Nothing but net nearly every time you go for it. It’s amazing. Then you also have this way of using your left hand to cover the right – just to make sure something crazy doesn’t happen to that thumb – like it falling out or something. ;0
I’m doing ok. Aside from my hair falling out – I’m a lil bummed about the idea of you going to daycare. Its been 3 weeks since I went back to work, but since your Daddy and I work from home, we’re cheating and keeping you here with us. Its HARD though. Not only do you demand attention, but we want nothing more than to give you 110% alllll of the time! So it is with heavy hearts that we went and looked at the daycare up the road. I have to say – as far as daycare goes – this is a great one. The owner is crazy about teaching good manners and Miss Betty – the baby attendant – is sweet as pie. She’s totally a Grannie and has a great smile and a light in her eyes that is very important to me if your going to spend every day with her. I don’t want you to be influenced by the Debby Downers of the world. My sarcasm is enough for you to have to learn to deal with. Our home is still on the market, but it’s not looking good. So I’m interviewing in hopes of finding a better job and making the most of the time we have in DC. Besides, we’ve made a lot of good friends here that I’m not too excited about leaving.
Someday we’ll have a home big enough for toys in your bedroom and a garden out back. You will help me pick tomatoes and I’ll teach you how to fry the green ones.
Love,
Mommy
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Work Sucks
Ahhhh its 4:56 and the end of day my second day “back at work”. I use the term back at work loosely because I’m working from home AND Giuliane is still at home with us. With both Peter and I working from home we’re hoping to save a few thousand over the next couple of months and of course….GET MORE BABY TIME! She sleeps 5 out of the 8 hours of a working day, so for right now its really not that hard.
We’re also recently returned from our whirlwind last month of activities. Tyler, Siena & Micah were in for their two weeks of the summer. As previously mentioned we went Hilton Head – had a wonderful time, came home to DC for 4 days. Then went to Ct to show all 4 kids off at Peters parents. Once we dropped the kids off at the airport we went up to Ligonier for a night – then to NEMICOLIN for a few days. Peter gave me the bestest relaxation smage EVER. TWO HOURS of heaven. Then we went back to Ligonier for a few days. I took my first ever fly fishing lesson and fished the next two days (no luck though). It was very very relaxing. However I am happy to be home.
Giuliane seems to like it too. She got a bit of a cold and seems to be sleeping it off. Hopefully she’ll wake up in time for Grandma Jan and Aunt Jude’s visit on Thursday!
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