A Big Day

Happy First Birthday Matthew!

On Sunday, my nephew Matthew Francis is turning 1.
In his honor, I am sharing a favorite birthday poem!

What Would You Be?

By Dr. Seuss

If you'd never been born, well then what would you be?
You might be a fish?  Or a toad in a tree!
You might be a doorknob!  Or three baked potatoes!
You might be a bag of hard green tomatoes!
Or worse than all that- why, you might be a WASN'T!
A WASN'T has no fun at all.  No, he doesn't.
A WASN'T just isn't.  He just isn't present.
But you- you ARE YOU!  And now, isn't that pleasant?
Today you are you!  That is truer than true!
There is no one alive who is you-er than you!
Shout loud, "I am lucky to be what I am!
Thank goodness I'm not just a clam or a ham!
Or a dusty old jar of sour gooseberry jam!
I am what I am!  That's a great thing to be!
If I say so myself, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

He's Discovered the I-Pod

How cute is this?

An Ella Update

My beautiful little Ella-girl.



Can I just say, that when you have one, gorgeous, special baby that you love with every part of your being, it is hard to imagine how you could love a second one so much.

I was terrified when I was pregnant with Ella -- afraid that I wouldn't love her as much, as deeply. I have to smile now, thinking back about those worries.

I heard somewhere someone explain it as your heart just growing larger--so there is more room to love another child just as much as the first. That moment when I saw her for the first time I thought my heart would just break it was so filled with love.

(sigh)

Anyhow.

I have been meaning to jot down a few things about Ella in a post. She is sleeping, and James is on the couch watching Little Bear (one episode of which, incidentally, I found out today is the exact amount of time it takes for me to fold one basket of baby laundry.)

I digress.

I took Ella for her 4 month appointment on Tuesday. She has grown! She now weighs 14 lbs 13 ozs. Everything looks great.

During the appointment, the Dr. asked me if she had rolled over from her back to her stomach yet. "Nope." I said. Then he left the room to take a call and she proceeded to make a liar out of me. "Oh yeah, Mom?" and just like that she flipped over, easy as pie. It was fantastic. She's going to be a pill, I can tell already.

So what else? She has started on rice cereal and will be beginning bananas this weekend (although she has already gotten a taste of bananas from her Grandmother.) That's what grandmas and aunties are good for, right? The sweet stuff?

She is too big for 3 month clothes and too little for 6 month. Why doesn't anyone make size 3 to 6 month clothes? Or, I guess if they do, I don't have any. Isn't that funny?

I do, however, have TONS of 6 month to a year clothes for her, thanks to my Mom, my grandmother, Gini, Kimmy and Denise (and a great last minute stop at the Carter's Outlet in Freeport a few days after Christmas.) This girl is SO LUCKY--decked out in Polo, Gap, Old Navy, Le Petit Bateau, JUICY for heaven's sake?? Puh-leeze. I'm going to look like a bag lady next to her!

Oh, and she also yells. A LOT. James was a very quiet, silent, introspective, gentle baby. Ella is loud. VERY LOUD. That high-pitched, nails-on-the-chalkboard kind of loud screeching that makes your blood curdle. Thankfully we only hear that scream if we are REALLY late with a bottle.

She is so smiley, and happy, and giggly. She is, in essence, SUCH A GIRL.

Oh, and I almost forgot. She ADORES her big brother. I swear she only has eyes for him. And to see the two of them together is simply fantastic. James comes with me into her room in the morning and sings her the Good Morning Song (I need to get that on video one of these days). He also puts his face right up close to hers and asks, "Baby Sister--what choo doing?"

I just love it all.

I think I really forgot how enchanting having a new baby in the house really is. Mind you, we are very lucky--just like with James, Ella has been sleeping pretty much through the night, from 7pm to 7am without a peep. She isn't fussy, or gassy, or colicky--so far. And as long as you have a bottle ready to go, she is, as far as I know, the happiest baby girl on the block.

So that's my long-overdue update. Sappy for me, I know, but that's the way I feel lately. I just have stars in my eyes for my baby girl.

I Have An Uneasy Feeling . . .

Like someone is WATCHING me.



I can't explain it, really.



After a long day of screwing around on
FaceBook, Blogger, Craigslist, Yahoo and Google working,
I finally had an opportunity to sit down on the couch.



The kids were in bed, the dogs were settled,
the cat was sleeping on my lap,
I was just about to get ready to watch
a DVR'd episode of Fringe when . . .

This FUNNY FEELING CAME OVER ME



and



the hair on the back of my neck stood up . . .

I wonder why?

Crystal Clear

Some days I am just so amazed by the beauty of nature.


Today was undoubtedly one of those days.

The Photos Tell the Story

Just Pics

Crazy busy, just a bunch of pics--we have so many to share and have just been having so much fun that there is no time to post.

Ella on New Year's Eve:


Brrrr!!!! A great way to start New Year's Day (I did ask for the cold weather, didn't I"):


Ella smiles all the time, even when we are freaking out about how much formula costs and how fast she goes through it (Although our pound a week of Starbucks addiction is just as bad):


James watching Wall-E with his entourage:


My baby girl dreaming of all things pink:


Isn't she gorgeous?


Can you see James in here?


Always, always taking pictures (like his Mommy!):


Ella helping me cook dinner (yes, she is quite close to the counter edge--nobody ever said I was gonna win the Mommy of the Year award.):


A few James-isms of late:

• "Dude, are you kiddin' me?"
• "Oh SHIT!" musta learned that from his Dad.
  
• "Mommy, I miss it!" when I slept in late this morning and came down after he had been up with Daddy.
• When he is done talking on the phone and passes it to me he says to the caller "OK, hold on tight!"
• "Whaaaaaatz up, homey?" Thanks for that one, Chris.
  

More later! Ella goes for her late 4 month check up on Wednesday, so I'll be posting her stats after that. Hope everyone is doing great!

XOXO

Me

A Toddler's-Eye View

Hi! My name is James. Mommy is letting me post the pictures I took with my new Fisher Price camera that my Auntie Amy gave me for Christmas. Mommy thought you would all enjoy seeing the world from my perspective, so here we go!

This is my Grandpa, Mommy's Dad. Auntie Amy is in the background. Can you see her?


I like to visit Grandpa because he takes me to see all of the animals on the farm. This is Mommy's horse, Sonny Boy. He is cranky and old and mean. But he likes me. I gave him an apple.


This is Flash. He is a new pretty horse that Grandpa helps take care of. He is nicer than Sonny Boy. I got to sit on his back!


This is a little bunny that I found in the barn Isn't he cute?


This is a picture of my feet that I took while riding in the car with Grandpa. I was obviously NOT in the car seat, and I got to sit in the front seat next to Grandpa.


Here is a picture I took of some of the geese and the chickens. That grey goose is Gaston. HE BITES.


This is Grandma and Grandpa's cat, Porky. He is cute. And fat.


This is Grandpa's wood stove. It is a close up picture, huh? Do you think Mommy would have freaked out if she saw me taking this picture?


This is Grandpa again. He is a TALL man. See?


This is a rug I like at Grandma's house.


This is a picture of Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas tree. Grandpa cuts one down every year off of the farm. It has bubble lights. They are SO NEAT!


This is Auntie Amy. I was taking a picture of her while she was taking a picture of me. It is such a fun game!


This is my Daddy. He was trying to give me a photography lesson. Hi Daddy!!!


Guess who this is? Me!


I hope you liked my pictures! I'll post more of the next batch I have been taking soon.

Love you all. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2008 -- A Special Year

This was a tough year for our country. The economy took a dive, the joblessness rate is at a 10 year high, and many people are struggling just to put food on the table.

For me, 2008 was a year full of wonder and love. My little girl was introduced to the world, my little boy went from baby to toddler, we made a move back to New England, and I celebrated five years of marriage with my best friend.

While others can't wait to turn the page on 2008, I am a little sad to do so. I truly felt it was one of the best years of my life.

I was thinking about how to appropriately mark the end of this year with photos, and decided to share my favorites with you. It was hard to pick so few, but these are the ones that make me smile the most. Here they are! My favorite photos from 2008:

Tonight we are saying farewell to 2008 and welcoming 2009 with some friends that have two little boys, each a month older than James and Ella. They have invited a few families with children the same age to join in the fun. I am looking forward to sharing these last moments of 2008 with them in the warmth of their home.

As we turn the page on this year, I want to thank you for your friendship across Blogland. Your comments, humor, insights and attention have given me great satisfaction over the year. Thank you.

Best to you and yours in 2009!

What a Wonderful Christmas Holiday!

We hope you had a Christmas like we did;

filled with warmth, love, family, friends, great food
and the sheer magic of the holiday.

We are looking forward to a happy and healthy New Year!
Hope yours is all you are wishing it to be.

With love,
Chris, Allison, James, Ella, Rocco, Gino and Henry