... That's What Little Boys are Made of!

Garrin and James had a blast today! This time that we have been staying with Bill and Gini and the kids has been fun for him. Tons of toys and lots of room to make a huge mess race around in makes for a pretty fun Saturday!

Here is a rare moment of the two of them SITTING STILL.

Here they are enjoying Oreos.

Garrin taught James the fine art of licking the icing from each one . . .

And NOT eating any of the outsides. I told my Mom about this today and she said "They would make GREAT pie crusts!" I said "Ahhhhh, no, they have toddler slobber/slime/goo all over them. NO THANKS." (So, if you get a pie from my Mom with vanilla Oreo cookie crust, you had better ask her if there was a toddler involved in the baking process!!!)

And of course, after about 40 cookies, you need a nice, big, cold glass of milk!

Every time the boys eat a meal at the kitchen island, I look and see this image and think it is SO CUTE.

After playing and cookies, it is time to take a break and rest and watch a movie.


They are so STINKING ADORABLE!

Happy Birthday Ella!

Today Ella Josephine is a week old and I can hardly believe it! Seems like those last few weeks of your pregnancy drag by, slow as molasses while you wait to meet your baby. Then, all of a sudden, it is a week later!


Ella had a follow-up appointment with her pediatrician yesterday and she is doing quite well. She is gaining weight, her jaundice is going away, and her overall health is perfect.


A few fun observations:

• She goes from peaceful, sleeping angel to screaming banshee in about two seconds flat when she is hungry. Chris and I found this somewhat unnerving, as James never EVER cried for more than oh, maybe five minutes. I mean, she gets PISSED OFF. But hey, I like a woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind!

• I was going to post today about how much James is in love with her. Up until today, if you asked him who she was he would say "Oooohh, little baby sister Ella!" and "Ooohhh so cute!" and "Ooohhh, so nice!" BUT--I asked him today who she was when he was on the phone with his Grandma and he said "A monster." I was like, uhhhhh, duhhhhhh, what? So I asked him again and he said "A snake!" I am NOT making it up--I know you all know I have a great tendency to dramatize everything (that theatre degree had to be good for something) but Gini was standing right there when he said it (and her jaw hit the floor). So, I guess the jury is out right now.

• James has been playing very hard while we have been staying with Gini and Bill. He hasn't been sleeping that great, but he has been taking two naps a day. Yesterday I had him take one nap, and he slept through the night with no problem. So, I decided that since the two, two hour a day nap schedule was really more for my convenience while I was working, we would go ahead and try one a day. Needless to say, at 1pm today I brought him into our guest room for a nap while I was blogging. I had just put him in bed and was editing this post when I turned around and saw this:

• My nephew Connor who is in that "I am so cool stage with my Ed Hardy shoes and my spikey moussed hair" ADORES Ella. It is just so sweet. He asks to hold her several times a day. The proof is in the pudding. Take a look:
  

I have been very busy doing NOTHING but resting here at Hotel Herbst. Gini and Bill flatly refuse to let me pick up anything or do any housework. I took out some garbage yesterday and got the look of DEATH from Gini. Hey, what can I say? It is great to have people around who love you!

Oh, and BTW, Happy Anniversary Gini and Bill!

Introducing . . .

Ella!


Arrived at 12:45 pm 08-20-08 weighing 6 lbs, 10 ounces, and measuring 19 1/2 inches long.


Look at how proud Chris is of his new little girl!



Auntie Gini is in love with her new niece. She has been wanting another girl in the family for say, oh, the last 11 years, since Hannah arrived!


Grandma and Grandpa sent James books to keep him occupied int he hospital.


Thanks! It worked!


Uncle Gene and Auntie Mel stopped by to say hello.


On Day 2, James and Garrin brought these two little pink loveys as presents for Ella.


My all time favorite new picture of Ella and James!


Eyes open for her official hospital photo!


First night out of the hospital. James had this sweet double chin when he was born, too.


Everyone was tired when we got to Gini's after four days in the hospital!


I think they are going to get along just fine.


Everyone is doing well--Ella is eating every couple of hours, James is adjusting well, I am resting and Chris is adoring his family. We are settled in at Gini's for the next couple of weeks to rest before we head to Connecticut. It will be a great time to have Gini, Bill and the kids around.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Checking In . . .

Thanks for all of the sweet well wishes you have all been sending the last few days!

We are through the packing; moved out of the house; I am done with my last day of work and the project from Hell; the animals are boarded; the hospital bag is packed and I am now relaxing at Gini's and able to spend some time thinking about the new addition to the family arriving tomorrow.

James is doing great--we were able to spend a great couple of nights snuggling at the hotel. I am not sure if he knows what is going to happen tomorrow, but I am sure he will handle it in his typical Jamesy style!

Chris has been great handling all of the moving details, (like ordering an extra Pod because our stuff didn't fit), getting one of the cars shipped, getting everything ready for the rental, and making sure that all of the schedules mesh. He has been awesome. As much as I have had on my mind with Ella's arrival, it has been wonderful having a husband that just "takes care" of all of that other stuff.

Love to all of you, please check Gini's blog for Ella updates!

Allison

Pedicure Bliss

Seeing as how I am this:


I really needed one of these:


But I really wanted one of these:



So I went here:


Expecting one of these:


So imagine my surprise when an Asian version of this:


Came walking out, sporting these:


Which made me feel like I was in:


And put this on my face:
IT WAS AWESOME!!! He gave me a basic pedicure AND a long calf and foot massage--all the while bringing me water, making sure I was comfortable and adjusting the massage settings on the chair. At this point, when I can't even reach my toes, my feet are swollen and I just generally feel like CRAP, it was a much needed hour.

Thanks Chris--even though you may not have been the one rubbing my feet, you shelled out the cash and for that I LOVE YOU!!!

Time Flies

Chris and I have been getting together all of the baby items that we saved from when we had James in preparation for Ella's arrival. We pulled out and assembled the little bassinet that we have and Chris thought it would be funny to see if James would fit in it.



He does . . . JUST BARELY!!!!

What you can't tell from the picture is that Chris was getting him to go "Waaaahhhhhh, WAAAHHHHH!!!!" like a baby. Too funny. My guys crack me up!

Almost Time!

Here I am at just shy of 38 weeks!


Ella's arrival is scheduled for Wednesday, August 20th at noon. I can't believe that there are only ten days left. We are so excited to meet her!

Candy for Breakfast

What do you give your little boy for breakfast when you are too busy:

• packing
• writing thank-you notes
• sorting pictures to send out to your family
• posting furniture for sale on Craigs List
• updating your company's website
• burning DVDs for a work project

all before 9am on a Saturday?




A Pop Tart. Oh! The horror!!!

I asked him what he was having for breakfast and he said "Candy."

I won't be winning the Mother of the Year Award this month!

A Lot Going On . . .

Suffice it to say that we have been VERY BUSY. Let me just say it this way--

In a few short weeks we are moving from here:


To here:


Yup. I know I am going to have a baby in less than two weeks, I am packing, I am chasing around a two-year-old who is in the middle of potty training, and I am involved in the biggest work project of my life. AM I NUTS? You bet. AM I EXCITED AND CRAZY HAPPY? You bet.

More later!

XOXO

Allison

A Look Back . . .

I found some old photos yesterday that reminded me of what made my childhood so great!

I love this photo. This was after catching pigs at a kids' piglet scramble at the local fair (you know, where they grease the pigs up with Crisco and let 10 kids into the pen to run around and see if they can catch one.) Oh yeah, and if you catch one, you can KEEP IT!


Going to the country fairs in the summertime and listening to outdoor folk concerts with your Mom and Dad. This is how you develop a taste for folk music! I think this was probably at the Common Ground Fair, or maybe the Bowdoin Music Festival. Mom--any thoughts?


Going to a real swimming hole with your baby sister and floating around in an inner tube. (Aaahh, nice diaper Amy!!)


Being raised by parents that kept an ENORMOUS vegetable garden. JUST LOOK at the bounty on that table! And my Mom--gorgeous, sun-kissed and radiant.


Did I mention country fairs? Did I mention that I grew up loving ponies? Did I mention that I actually got a pony of my own a few years after this photo was taken? Did I mention his name was "Trigger"? Of COURSE IT WAS!


Loved that my Dad built our swing sets. No plastic or metal swing sets for us. NO WAY. And he always used that terrible yellow rope that left splinters in your fingers. OUCH. I remember this bike, too.


And another shot of my Mom, who will probably kill me for posting this pic, but I just adore it. What is she doing, heading out to the garden for fresh green beans? Have I EVER had legs that great looking? And after two kids, no less? Mom, you are my idol!!


We always had a ton of dogs and cats. Here is Gertrude or "Gert" as we called her. Great dog. I am pretty sure they were always strays that my Dad picked up somewhere along the way. I am sure he never actually paid for a dog. They just always found us.


OK, and last one. Super cute. I was always in pig tails or pony tails. Guess what? Ella will be too!


I hope you enjoyed this little blast from the past. Isn't it funny how you go through a stage when you are a teenager wanting to get as far away from home as you can? And now, I look back and see that my childhood was idyllic, perfect, and just the way I want to raise my own children.