Eve of Christmas Eve

Dec. 23rd and the Pats are still undefeated!!! Who would've thought it... the Red Sox win the World Series and the Pats can end the season next week with a perfect 16-0 record!!

The Eve of Christmas Eve and what to say... I survived my tooth extraction and I'm only half way done. I only got the top 2 pulled and will most likely get the bottom two pulled next year... yikes.

But more importantly, Dec 21st marks the first steps Evan took.... he's not too keen on trying but loves it when he does taken those 3-4 steps. Does this count as First steps... it does for us.... and I am sure by the new year, Evan will be on his two feet and loving it!!

Good bye #1 and #16

My week of nervousness climaxed as I sat in the dreaded chair and he yanked out the first tooth... The big chicken I am, cringed at the site of the needle!! I even needed extra b/c my gums weren't ready. And it wasn't that bad... .. yeah right! The Left upper wisdom tooth was a bit more difficult than the right upper... Guess I have a small jaw or something but it wasn't fun... It was quick as I was out in an hour.

All afternoon, I iced my cheeks to ensure I won't bruise or swell. And as the numbness dissipates, the throbbing begins. As the throbbing increases, the bleeding continues... yuck!!! So here I am waiting for the next hour to fly by so I can take some more meds and "relax" again.

I'm also awaiting the arrival of my little boy. Who, since my face started to swell last week has taken to grabbing my face. And now what he's tired, he likes to hit my face. So I'm scared to see him... but I'm sure he'll be as gentle as a 1 yr old can be....

Wish me luck as I will attempt to eat supper...

Winter Storms

CT got hit by it's first winter storm of the season... and did it. Sure the shoreline only got about 2-3 inches... or ICE. Inland got about 5-8 inches of snow... which I'd take any day. Our driveway is still ice b/c I couldn't shovel the ice off yesterday for a couple of reasons... one... I have a 1 yr old.. and secondly (my second storm of the season).... I had to visit an oral surgeon. For those who know me, I'm a baby when it comes to pain. So for years now, I've been putting off getting my wisdom teeth pulled... unfortunately, I have no choice now.

It's a great diet plan.... too much pain to eat or even talk at times... but such is life. So next Friday is D-Day...Dr pulls teeth day.... and since I bruise easily, I'll probably be nicely black and blue and maybe some swelling for Christmas.... just hope I heal fast!!

Now back to the snow.... since I spent my afternoon in a chair getting x-rayed and signing my life away... I couldn't shovel. So when I came back with my antibiotics in hand, my little civic became the little engine that could (n't). We tried and tried, but I knew I'd either hit the house or the new Pilot (and I knew Dan wouldn't be happy about either one).

So alas, yesterday was not a happy day in Erica's world ... but it is better than next Friday I can tell you that now.... I've heard many a story/trauma about getting the wisdom teeth pulled, but the comforting fact is that my Dr is Santa... he isn't fat like Santa, but his beard is definitely Santa and his reception/assistant is Mrs. Claus.... so I know I'll be OK... or at least on laughing gas, I'll feel OK :)

And speaking of Storms: We are getting hit by another ... a Nor'easter will be coming in after midnight tonight. The CT shoreline will eventually get all rain (which will probably all freeze tomorrow anyway).... but the 'storm' will be in Foxboro, MA when the Pats host the Jets. For those of you who don't know/remember... it was the Jets who "blew the whistle" on the Pats for "videotaping plays" and "cheating". The Jets claimed that is why they lost. I, along with the rest of the world, believe that Belichick and the Pats will really show the Jets what a storm is like and have no mercy. The Pats even 'simulated' a storm and put snow on the field to practice for Sundays' game... watch out Jets because the Pats are on their way to a 16-0 Perfect Season... and they certainly don't care if the Jets fall.....

That is the latest Storm news for CT and New England....

Tis the Season

Life certainly has been busy this past several weeks... after Evan's first birthday, Thanksgiving came and went. It was the first time Dan and I hosted Thanksgiving and we've never made a turkey before. Luckily, Dan's mom delivered a stuffed and seasoned turkey to our oven Thanksgiving Morning. It was a nice transition and changing of the guard as we have officially been given Thanksgiving.

It was an exciting day and Evan slept through dinner (which of course allowed us all to eat peacefully). He did however LOVE his Thanksgiving meal: turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing (his body shakes from head to toe with this joy), and even some apple pie. It was a tiring day but we'll be happy again next year.

But the most exciting of the season was NOT when we put up our tree and stood back in awe of nice it looked and a lot bigger here than at the store. It was not the raking of the leaves we are still doing in December. It was not the "winter storm watch" that gave us only rain... it was having Evan and Emma visit Santa Clause.Evan was very fascinated by the jolly happy man with A LOT of white hair. I was so nervous that Evan was going to "tug" on his beard. After all, he does love to pull mommy's hair. Emma even got to hand deliver her Christmas list to Santa and he was very impressed.

The shopping of the holidays, the year end closing approaches (at work), and Evan is getting more mobile, yet self sufficient. He's officially off baby food and loves eating whatever we are eating. In fact, he insists on eating the same foods we do... With is 8 teeth, he eats, chicken, beef, steak, fish and even started on eating fresh apples.

We know that the holidays are definitely a busy time of year, but I'll try to keep more postings online... it'll help me remember what life was like with Evan's first REAL Christmas (it doesn't count when he's only 6wks old).

Evan's First Birthday

Look who's ONE!!! Today mark's Evan's First birthday. And it was a day that we (including friends and family) felt blessed to share with Evan. I couldn't help but think back to what life was like one year ago. And when I look at Evan now, I don't see that little sick baby in the NICU... I see the overzealous typical boy who can't wait to grab everything and run around like the big kids.

To mark the special Day, Evan and I went up to UHC to visit. It was a nice fall day for a drive. Evan got to show off his skills and his dimples.

Then after Dan came home, we went to Chuck E Cheese's where Evan really had a chance to play. Then we took Evan to Toysrus to pick out his gift.

Check out Evan's special Day... and it was such a good day that Evan was knocked out before we got home.

Importance of Communication and Teamwork

Going into marriage, I knew that not only is communication important and required, but so was working together as a team. It's been two years now and we've done pretty good.

2005 brought our wedding and buying a house. I did the grunt work on the wedding and Dan did the grunt work on the house. It worked out GREAT!! Last year during the pregnancy, I did the grunt work on the baby and baby gear and prepping and Dan took care of everything else, including me... he took care of the house, food and me. After Evan was born, Dan and I shared responsibilities around the house and concerning Evan. I mean, I can meet friends for dinner after work and not have any concerns of Evan's care b/c he's with Dan.

BUT... the one time I planned an event... the one time I didn't communicate to Dan what was going to happen and what the exact agenda was for Evan's First Birthday Party was the time I most needed to... b/c he had to do it on his own!!!

That's right. I spent weeks preparing the menu, agenda, games, favor bags, supplies, desserts, cake, camera moments... I planned it all. Then 15min after it started, I accidentally ate something that had peanuts. YIKES!!! Being someone who is allergic to all types of nuts, this wasn't a good thing. I took a benedryl hoping I'd feel better. We did the cake and was preparing to start the games. But then it happened... my allergic reaction came flowing forward and I was hauled up in bed for the rest of the party.

It suddenly became Dan's responsibility to entertain the guests, take care of Evan, and "Throw the party"!!! And since I never communicated the agenda, or the planned games, or the prizes, or even the location of the favor bags for the kids.... it all just didn't matter. Luckily, my cousin Sigrid was there and she helped Dan... for example, she decided it was time for tea and coffee and then time to leave.... little did they know, folks were having so much fun, then stayed for a second cup.

So I beg the question.... was it a bad party? Evan had fun. I think the guests had fun.... the first guests began to leave around 4. And for a party that was scheduled to end at 2:30... I think 4 is pretty good.

So that was Evan's party... he had his friend Christopher and his cousins Samiah and Emma and also Emily and Andres... we had friends and family for CT, MA and NJ and Toronto join us for the special celebration. Yet the day reminded Dan of our wedding... where he only got to speak to folks for no more than 3 min and had to keep running around between Evan and the kitchen. And the day reminded me more of 1 year ago the days following Evan's Birth Day... I was loopy, sick, and totally out of it!!!

The next morning, Evan got to enjoy his gifts and his balloons. I got to enjoy breakfast and sunlight. And Dan got to enjoy doing nothing.

Unfortunately, we didn't get any photos during the party... we got some of Evan opening his gifts, but none that the party existed. I do have hopes that my friend has a couple of photos... but if not, this party will definitely be ingrained in my memory as the most memorable birthday party.... YET!!!

Lesson learned for the future.... I won't take "sole" responsibility on such events and I'll fully communicate my wishes and desires... and hopefully avoid this in the future... The key to communication is TEAMWORK!!!

Undefeated 9-0

What a game... we knew that it would be a good game.... or a major blow-out but didn't know who would come out the winner. A strong Patriots fans for years, I wasn't confident they'd survive the Colts. After all, the Pats and Brady don't fair well in the dome of Indy. It was a sad and rough first half... turnovers, penalties and interceptions left the Pats in the hole.... they aren't used to that this season. But classic Brady and New England, they brought it on in the 4th and won 24-20.... and yes, Evan was wearing his Brady jersey.... the true reason the Pats won!!!

OH... speaking of Evan, did I mention that he's started climbing the stairs today.... boy are we in trouble!!!

Halloween!!!

If you haven't heard, Evan was Tigger the Tiger... He was going to be a baseball player, but his lost his red sox baseball cap (only cap he owns) at the zoo last week. So he was Tigger.... and what a cutie he was. I tried to take photos of him next to the candy, but he was more interested in eating the candy.. go figure. And for some reason, he'd always pick up the nutty ones. For those of you who don't know, the nut allergy can be deadly in my family (as I have an allergy to all nuts)... but he didn't break the wrapper in those. Evan even went trick or treating. Is he too young? Yes, but it was more of an excuse to meet our neighbors and say hi to the 2-3 that we know. He was shy... can you believe Evan shy? And when presented with a bowl of candy in front of him, did he grab for everything. No!! He simply went to grab, look at me or Dan, take his hand out, look at me again, put his hand in and look at the neighbor... and never took any candy. But by the time we got to the last house (4 out of 4) he just drove in and took it. When we got home, it was our turn to hand out candy. And we didn't have that many kids this year. And there wasn't any one costume that stuck out and said... "THAT" was the best. So while we waiting for the kids, Evan got a hold of a KitKat. Since he didn't get into the others, we thought there wasn't anything to worry about.... next thing Dan knows... there's KitKat on the floor, all over Evan's face and he's smacking his gums with a smile! Guess he liked it. Oh, did I mention that my brother has an allergy to chocolate. The fear came upon us.... but nothing happened. Not adverse reaction... Thank the Lord!! Evan enjoyed seeing all the kids and their costumes. Even though he was tired, he still raised his head when he heard the knock on the door.

I hope every had a happy and safe Halloween!!!

Washington DC

Last week, Evan and I had the opportunity to join Dan in DC. Dan was attending a week long training and I figured why not join him! It was Evan's 2 plane flight and after we barely made the noon flight, Evan just snacked the whole ride (about an hour).

It was a week of many new sites for Evan and some old for Dan & I. We had nice weather the first half of the week and rain the last few days. But it was fun. Check out the photos.

We saw all the monuments: Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson... the memorials: WWII, Vietnam, Korea... the museums: National Zoo, Natural History, Air & Space, sculpture garden, African, and a couple other random ones... plus shopped at the Ballston Mall, Pentagon City, and Union Station.... and even had time to have dinner with old high school friends and watch those Red Sox WIN!!!

It's been almost a week since we've been back, so I'll just give the highlights:
1) Evan had a hard time adjusting b/c there were so many new things to see (places, people, trains) that he didn't nap much.... that lead to unpleasant times for all.

2) Evan arrived in DC with a cold. That meant a runny nose and much spit up (post nasal drip). And he ended up sleeping in our bed b/c the hotel crib just wasn't comfy and he'd wake crying... didn't think our neighbors would appreciate that at 1:00AM.

3)We went to the National Zoo and Evan flipped out. I think he was tired and hungry. He got so upset that he wouldn't eat. He cried for what seemed like an hour, as I dashed through the zoo looking for the Giant Anteater exhibit to hide and nurse. He was definitely better after that. But unfortunately, the sun was beating down on us at the zoo. And the protective mother that I am, I put a hat on Evan's head... Evan hates hats, but didn't fight the Red Sox hate his daddy bought him (Dan stood in line for about an hour in Fenway during a game for this hat). Well, when I wasn't looking, Evan thew the hat.... it is lost.... and you KNOW no one is going to turn that hat in to the lost & found the morning after the Sox made it to the World Series!! I felt so bad.

4)We went to the Natural History Museum and again Evan freaked out. And in the giant rotunda, his cry echoes! So we went outside onto the National Mall and walked to the Capitol as we waited for Dan to be done with class. And the moment we stepped outside.... he was find. We passed through the butterfly garden and what a fascination Evan took. We perused the outdoor sculpture garden and so some "interesting" pieces. And once at the Capitol's reflection pool, Evan got out and did some exploring on his own.

5) The Air & Space Museum was so good for Evan that we went 3-4 times. Not only does it have a cool interactive exhibit on "how things fly", but it has unpopular exhibits that Evan can roam and be free. Not to mention a room meant for babies and moms. But Evan would roam for about 30 min or more and then tired himself out. I could then explore that museum or another in peace :) It worked for everyone.

6) Out last day, Dan finished training around 1:00 or so. It was a day of purely POURING rain (of course this pouring of rain occurred after Evan and I were already out). Dan met us at the Air & Space. We stopped at McDonalds for lunch (b/c in the pouring rain, you choose the most convenient--inside the museum!!). Evan had his first french fry (hope he enjoyed it b/c he won't be having another for a long time). But the one thing Dan wanted to see was the Mint... where they make the money. So we hunted it down and trekked in the rain... and missed the last tour @2:00. Mighty disappointed we were. So then we headed to the Natural History Museum (b/c Dan hadn't been yet on this trip) and it was near the Metro stop anyway. Evan slept during our first part of journey. Woke in the Minerals and Rocks exhibit and even got to climb some of the different types of rocks. This was our last day in DC.

7) We headed home on Saturday and again.... barely made our flight. Just didn't take into account a different schedule on the weekends and repairs & delays on the lines. Yikes. Evan LOVED being home and adjusted w/o a problem. He's sick now and we suspect it's the croup... and the triage nurse at the Dr office agrees. But he did sleep last night after a small dose of Benedryl.

Oh, I almost forgot... our habitrail.... we stayed in the Hilton in Arlington... which is connected to the mall and another building (housing a Manhattan bagel) via tunnels and such. So you never had to step outside... and neither did Dan for his training... just walk through glass tunnels/walkways and buildings... strange but true... made you feel like hamster... just looking for that wheel!!!

OK... have to go... but just wanted to end on this note... The Sox Rocked!!! What a series for those who watched it... can you believe you would witness not 1 world series win but TWO!!!!

Game 6 - - Supersitions

Are you superstitious? Do you have a lucky ritual or lucky charm? I do... For the entire month of Oct, when Evan wears his Red Sox uniform, the Sox win... so he wore it all day today (until bedtime... aka game time)... and what happened? The Sox won 12-2... but you knew by the end of the 3rd, that you can safely go to bed and still be happy in the morning... unless you are a Cleveland fan.

So it is now 12:15am and I am still awake waiting for Evan's clothes to dry... why so late... why wait... b/c tomorrow is Game 7 and I have to make sure that Evan is wearing his lucky clothes... after all, it is the Fate of Red Sox nation on the line.... however, if the Sox make it to the world Series, they'll be on their own for Games 1 & 2 b/c Evan won't be wearing his luck clothes. But I'll do laundry in time for Game 3... IF there is a game 3...

What does this mean for the fate of the Patriots... b/c Evan won't be wearing his Brady jersey? The 6-0 Pats will just have to try their hardest to beat the 0-6 Dolphins... and it really shouldn't be hard to do.

Do you think I'm crazy for "believing" that my son's clothing affects the outcome of a game... maybe I have... but you have to "Believe" and "Keep the Faith" !!!!

Lia Sophia

Lia Sophia

Yesterday was my Lia Sophia party. I did it after attending my friend Jen's... and it was fun... not only the jewelry but the fun of having a gathering of friends. So I said why not... and with Christmas time, it's a great time to shop.

Every party has to have it's "thing". And yes, the jewelry was the main draw, but not for me. I was anxiously looking forward to the chocolate fountain.

For those of you who don't know the history of the fountain: I wanted one for my wedding. However, due the style and layout of the reception, there wasn't any room for it :( So my friend, Barbara, gave me one as a shower gift. She actually bought 2, one for a smaller groups and one for larger and let me choose. I choose the larger one (b/c when chocolate is around, people will come). We attempted to use it for the first time back in February for Evan's Open House. However, it didn't work... and then Dan figured it out...

So yesterday, I laid out the fruit, the pretzel rods, the shortbread cookies and the mini-brownie muffins... and watched as the chocolate slowly rose and climbed and then began to overflow in a chocolate decadence... reminiscence of my visits to the factory at Hershey Park as a child.

And I do believe it was successful... both the fountain and the party. Didn't have enough wine-- who knew you'd need more for an afternoon shin-ding... but everyone had fun and that was my goal.


With the good there sometime comes bad.... and unfortunately, the bad came at the wee hours of this morning.... as the Red Sox crumbled in game 2 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians in extra innings. Not need to relive the moment... especially since I fell asleep in the 8th tied 6-6... but it was torture to watch I hear (from Dan). Good thing is that it is the best 4 out of 7 games... Good Sox in Cleveland!!!

Jamm packed week

We are one week into October and what a week it's been. Monday marked my 35th birthday. It doesn't phase me (thank goodness). 30 didn't bother me either and the thought of 40 doesn't send me screaming. But it was a nice birthday.

Evan on the other hand has had a VERY busy week. He mastered getting into the sitting position the last week in Sept... and now he is crawling, pulling himself up to stand on anything that he can find and he walking along furniture... so needless to say, he's increase in activity has been tiring him out and his naps are longer during the day... but all that excitement seems to wake him up at night.

Not to mention that he's cutting tooth #8... which means he enjoys his chicken and asparagus (feeds himself and makes a nice mess as most of the food does actually make it into his mouth).

Our little baby is growing fast into a toddler!!

As the calendar states that it is fall, the temperature doesn't show that. We've been wishing for rain for WEEKS!! The poor yard and flowers are desperate for it.... and I'm too tired and lazy to get myself out there to water. But today I did tear down my veggie garden (except the herbs). I know what you are thinking... why if the nice weather will keep those tomatoes coming.... because it was wild and I couldn't find the ripe tomatoes until they were already rotten... but I think of it more of a fall/winter prep for next year's garden. I learned a few things for this year's garden.... most importantly, is that I won't be planting more than 4 tomato plants... and I'll probably try eggplant and squash... maybe even cucumber.

I posted some new photos of Evan... but nothing will show you how much he's growing unless you see his photos from last Christmas and see him now...

And yes, Evan does have a Brady Patriots jersey... wears it every day the Pats play... and how are the Pats doing... 4-0 and they clobber the opponent.... Go Pats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baby Milestone!

What a week of discovery for Evan! Several weeks ago, he accidentally went from his belly to the sitting position. And Evan hasn't done it again... until Monday, Dan went to get him from the crib, and he was sitting. Now Evan loves to go from his belly to sit... except there is always a motive. For example, his Winnie the Pooh talking book was out of reach on his belly... so he sat up, CRAWLED, sat back done and played with the book!!! What a great feeling to see and experience... he didn't repeat is for daddy, but watch out world here comes Evan!!

Off to continue the venture of baby proofing the house.... what a task for someone who has a lot of knick knacks and various other souvenirs :)

Tomorrow is the Big E!!!!

Girls' Night Out

The funniest thing happened on Friday afternoon... I received a call from the local radio station informing I won the "Girls' Night Out" contest. I vaguely remember entering. But I won dinner (excluding alcohol) and tickets to a show for myself and 3 friends! So Saturday Jen, Becky, Cathy and myself went to dinner at Kream in downtown New London (across the street from the Garde Arts Theater). We were the only customers there at 6pm on a Saturday, but we certainly didn't care b/c it was FREE!!

The atmosphere was nice for a martini bar. The food selection was limited but everything was delicious!!! And there was a special for Saturday nights.... buy one drink, get the next for $1!! So we took advantage of that... and yes they have good martinis (chocolate, tiramisu, mint chocolate chip, capacinnitini, and key lime--those were the ones we tasted).

Then off to the see "Girls' Night Out: The Musical".

Girls Night: The Musical follows five friends as they re-live their past, celebrate the present, and look to the future during a wild and outrageous girls night out at a karaoke bar. From the pen of Where the Heart Is writer Louise Roche, this production showcases a few recognizable characters…Carol the party girl, blunt Anita who tells it like it is, Liza and her "issues," boring Kate the designated driver, and Sharon the not-so-angelic angel who just can’t resist tagging along. Girls Night: The Musical is bursting with energy and packed with classic tunes.

Recently adapted for the US premier tour, Roche’s emotive and witty script cuts straight to the heart of anyone who spent their teen years dancing with their girlfriends. Sharon is a feisty disco gal who died years ago in a moped accident and now returns as an angel to oversee the antics of her ageing friends. And what a bunch of misfits they are; all recognizable caricatures of femininity. It soon becomes evident that there is much more to these ladies than first impressions. Amidst the laughs and songs, some profound observations are made about all kinds of issues. Presented on a single disco-style set, the girls replay their lives in flashbacks, in-between giving stirring renditions of seventies favorites, from "I'm Every Woman" and "I Will Survive" to "We are Family," "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," and "At Seventeen." Girls Night: The Musical is an unmissable slice of sizzling entertainment for anyone who really knows how to have fun. The Buckingham Advertiser calls it, “A must-see for women everywhere!”

We had a blast!! We all were able to relate and put ourselves or our old crew into one of the characters. And the audience certainly did get involved... singing and dancing on their feet...

If you get a chance to see this show... GO!!! It really is a tribute to women and the bonds of friendship!!

Our house... in the middle of our street.....

Have you ever felt like your house was falling apart? We are rapidly approaching 2 years living in this house... and every year we try to invest $$ by improving an aspect of the house (sometimes the "improvement" becomes required unexpectedly). In our first year, we replaced the roof, cleared some brush/trees, landscaped flower gardens. This past year, we replaced the main circuit breaker (unexpectedly required) and fix the flawed design of the fireplace and it's not existent flu. I had my first veggie garden that yielded so many tomatoes I didn't know what to do.

So what is next.... well...we have to fix a window that apparently cracked in the past year. It's a family room window which was sealed for the winter and the shades were always drawn... so when we raised the shades recently, we saw a crack window. I suspect that during this past winter as the city was blasting the rock ledge to build the new school, it literally "rocked" our foundation.

As the rising costs of energy climbs, we are looking for ways to improve our heating/cooling.... and conserve heat. With electrical heat, we look to do as much as we can. Luckily we have newer windows (except in the kitchen) but the heating design of the house leaves a lot of heat to escape... especially when we forget to turn the heat down at night or when we leave for work... so our next project... look into a digital thermostat ....i even went out and bought one (after extensive research)... we read the directions. The options were for 3 wires or 4 wires or 5 wires types of systems. And I bought the one that is accommodating many systems. However, when we started, we discovered there are "7" wires for our system... so this DIY project has moved on to... "hire a professional"...

And then on Wednesday morning Dan was feverishly getting ready to start his day. Since I leave so early in the morning, Dan is in charge of getting Evan ready for the day and take him to daycare. But as Dan was getting himself ready, he heard a "THUD!!!"... and his description was "it sounded like a bird crashing into a picture window".... so logically, Dan went into the living room and checked out the picture window... sure enough, he saw this.....

If you click on the image to enlarge, you'll SEE the outline of the bird in flight. I took the liberty of not only photographing it, enhancing the outline to make it more visible. As Dan loaded up the car, he did check to see the fate of the bird.... and the birdie was alive... not in the best of shape. So Dan decided to let nature take its course. At lunch, Dan came home and check the bird thinking it'll either be dead or dragged away by the predatory cats that wander through our yard. And to his surprise, the bird was still there and more lively. And Dan took a step forward, the bird rallied all his energy to scoot into the bushes... up against the brick faced house. And that is the last we saw of the bird.

So I now question.... didn't the bird SEE the dirty window? We hadn't cleaned it since we moved in.... and now, how do we remove the guts. I suspect I'll be climbing up the ladder to scrubbed off the feathers left behind. But I sure hope the pressure washer or hose will work on it.

So now it's been 2 years of living in house... and sometimes I do miss living in a condo ... and having someone else take care of the outside.... wait.. I have Dan ;)

Summer's Over

Summer is unofficially over and as usual it flew by. I think I got the most out of my summer. I got to use the pool's condo for the first time in.... seven years. As a family, we went to the annual Loberfest, vacations (Maine & Maryland), lunch at beach for chili dogs, got to use our deck for BBQs, and of course the very healthy veggie garden...


All in all, I enjoyed my summer... and I enjoyed not working on Fridays' anymore. Definitely gives me more time with Evan. We are now looking forward to the Fall in New England: the Big E, pumpkin carving, apple picking, fairs, leaves changing colors and of course... FOOTBALL!!!

Goodbye summer... see you next year...

It's been a busy couple of weeks!!

It's been a busy couple of weeks for Bouges'.

Ocean City: It's a good thing that I didn't have high expectations going into the trip... just looking forward to spending time with the family, away from work, watching Evan learn from his new experiences and of course the beach. Well, 3 out of 4 isn't bad. The weather was dreary, cloudy and drizzle like every day except for Friday and the Saturday we left MD. So we did get to put Evan in the water and he got to play in the sand. But the bad weather got us to do other stuff like mini-golf and laser tag. And we also got to spend time with family and friends and get to know each other better. I even found some time to read my book. But as with most vacations, the fun had to end and we had to leave (on the day it was 100 degrees out).

And vacationing with a baby definitely changes a trip... especially one you've been on so many times... single. But it was amazing to see him grow... we took some photos, but definitely not enough... we were so busy with taking care of Evan that we didn't get to take many photos....

But our trip home was extended as we stayed at relatives in NJ Saturday night... convenient because Sunday was the Christening of my cousin's daughter in NJ. Staying at my Uncle Seth & Auntie Brenda's house gave them an excellent chance to get to know Evan. A 1-2 hour visit can only tell you so much.... but an overnight stay, tells you more :) The Christening was nice and typical as all the babies were crying at one point in time, but it was wonderful to see them.

Monday brought a whirlwind day. Sigrid and family (7 in total) came to CT for a short visit on their way to Boston. Her in laws wanted to see to CT, so I had to find something that represented CT in just 4-5 hours of activity. Hard to site see with 2 babies... major delays occur... but the gang spent time at the beach and got to visit the Nautical Museum (first nuclear sub) and Olde Mystic Village. They left at 5:30am the next morning as they continued their tour of New England in Boston. But it was nice to have family stay here and great to spend time with Samiah. She didn't get to interact much with Evan but in 6 months or 2 years, they'll be playing together and having fun.

And on the Baby News front: Evan is now cutting his 2 upper front teeth. Back on May 16th, we saw that first tooth (lower middle) cut through with it's neighboring tooth not far behind. Then about a month or so ago, we saw the next pair come in and it was painful for the house... Evan's our little vampire as he has his canine teeth (fangs) and not top middle teeth. But yesterday our suspicions were right... he's cutting his 2 front teeth right now. This may explain his crankiness or his clinginess but we also think he's starting the "separation anxiety".

Well, I didn't start the blog with a "wha hoo"..... so Evan didn't win the Q-Test baby in SECT. But that's OK but we all know he is... The winner received more than 29,000 votes... sure she's cute but I think someone spammed in the votes... 29,000!!!!

OK.... time to sleep.... but what will this long weekend bring... hopefully some fun.... and home improvement!!

A different kind of trip to OC

How fast can one year fly by... 365 days, 52 weeks, 12 months.... it's time for our annual vacation to Ocean City, MD. It's a trip we make almost every year for the past 7-10 years. And every year it is different with new people... some people return and others don't. And every year we have new vacationers join us (Rick & Janie and family and of course Evan) But the core folks who have always made this trip for the past 7-10 years have been my brothers. My parents didn't make it in 2003; I didn't go in 1997 or 1999; but Joseph & Joel have always made the trip. Except this year.... this year Joseph and his wife Tanya were unable to make it... what does that mean... Dan and I can not help but wonder how Joseph's absence will be felt.... off the top of my head: who will make the 'tee' times; who will shuck the crabs for me so I don't have to work for the meat; and most importantly.... WHO will dominate in Lazer Tag? We'll miss you Joe.... the trip will not be the same.

It's time to pack... but I first want to remind you all to vote for the QTest (cutest ) baby--- Evan = qtest282..... Here's a reminder how cute he is and to vote for him. We'll be away when they announce the winner next Saturday... but you have until midnight on Thursday Aug 23 to email your vote (feel free to vote more than once).

Vote for Evan !!!

Is Evan the cutest baby in Southeastern CT? I think so... do you? Dan and I have entered him into a local contest the radio station and mall are sponsoring. And you can vote!! Read below or Click Here to see the rules on voting. Voting ends August 23rd at midnight!!

Voting for the Q-Test Baby Contest will take place from August 13 to August 23 at midnight.

Vote for the baby that you think is the cutest by sending an email to: photos@q105.fm . (Please read directions below)

The email subject line should contain only the number of the photo from the photo gallery (Evan = qtest282). A number sign or any other info in the subject line besides the number may cause your vote to not be counted.

In the body of the email please include your name, address and daytime phone number.

But essentially you need to compose and email to photos@q105.fm. In the subject line, you'll put Evan's contestant # : Qtest282 . In the body of the email, you put your name, address and daytime phone. I do not know why they need your daytime phone. Maybe this is there way to ensure folks don't stack the voted. There are about 300 babies to choose from... so make sure you vote for Evan (aka qtest282 ).

I hope you all vote b/c even though this photo may not capture Evan's total cuteness, you know there are plenty of cute photos that prove Evan deserves to win :)

You can help him win!!!

VOTE once
VOTE twice
VOTE as many times as you like

Teething

Pregnant, I always worried about "how" will I know why my baby is crying. Everyone told me that you just learn. Evan came home and that first night was a rough one for all. But then I watched Oprah and Priscilla Dunstan was demonstrating the 5 universal cries a baby makes. It was fascinating and educational and true. So I felt less nervous. And yes, I learned Evan's cries. But this theory is only for the first 3 months. So when he started crying inconsolably when he was 4.5 months... we didn't know what was wrong... he wouldn't eat or anything... so we decided he was "teething".... and he was... A month and a half later, he cut his first tooth on May 16.

So this week, when the crying and fussiness began, we knew the teething was full blown. Sure, for the past couple months he had a rash on his face and biting down hard on anything you gave him. And the time is here... Evan is rapidly getting his next 2 teeth (the top canine) and it's tough. Waking at night and just screams. He loves this teething ring and the baby orajel.

And just as these teeth are cutting through, he has swollen gums for his 2 front teeth... meaning the next 2 are just around the corner....

Just can't believe he went from zero teeth to his 2 bottom teeth and soon 6!!! Well, it was a rough night, so it's time for my nap :)

New Things

It's been a busy several weeks.... and not enough energy to tell all... so here's a quick highlight... We finally traded in Dan's car and bought a 2007 Honda Pilot.... It's a great SUV. Aberdeen Metallic Green with the Olive leather interior..


And a year-end clearance that sold us... sure it's poor gas mileage but a great car for those long road trips to Maine and Maryland.

The day after we bought it, we in fact took it to Maine for the Marr-Pierce Family Reunion. It was a great turnout for Dan's Paternal Grandmother's side (confusing huh??). About 21 family members flew in from Nebraska for the weekend. And Evan was the youngest attendee by 2 months.... Luke was a couple months older... and Luke is the grandchild of Dan's cousin. Can you believe that???

There are some photos from our trip available to see here. I didn't put all but just enough to get the idea. Dan's father comes from a family of Lighthouse keepers... and in this case we visited the lighthouse in which Frank was born--- Hendricks Head. There's a museum dedicated to this quaint little lighthouse (a non round lighthouse). But during our visit we toured Boothbay Harbor as well.

So in Evan's life of 8.5 months, he has visited RI, CT, NJ, FL, Toronto, ME and soon he'll be visiting Ocean City, MD and then Washington DC (with a trip to PA in between???). So you have to beg the question... Where have you been in the past 8.5 months of your life...

FIREWORKS

Sailfest 2007... the long tradition of going to the Groton-New London fireworks has continued... and what a show. Last year, we were sitting on a private pier as we gazed at the illuminated sky. This year we were truly unsure of where to watch the show... with Evan in tow. For those who have met Evan, you know he's a pretty laid back kid, but would the loud booms make his cry if we by the water....well we were going to see.

So off we went... Dan, Evan, myself, Joel, Emma and Dan's parents (Frank and Jeanette). It was only about a 30min walk or so and the streets weren't that crowded... we sat on the curb in front of Garbo Lobster and Joel and Emma sat above us on the wall of Sound Medical. We were worried... about 50/50... but as we looked around, we were in the kid zone... from 3month old to 5yr old... and we had a quick exit route planned... if needed...

And no, it wasn't needed. Evan in his usual self was absorbed in the newness of it all... the crowds, the neon flashing lights of the wands and swords and playboy bunny ears (look at the crowd in the photo--neon green). As the first rocket went up, Evan followed the colorful lights. The child in front of us cried and buried her head into her mom's shoulder and Evan just stared... then he'd turn his head and suck his thumb (as to re-energize b/c it was past his bedtime). It was a great first for Evan.... as he enjoyed watching the rest of the show.

And now we are off to Harry Potter!!!! without Evan of course...

Pool Time

What a nice we had. Yesterday was the Lobsterfest in Niantic. If you grew up in East Lyme, you went to Lobsterfest. Sure every year the crowds are getting smaller and smaller. The event is sponsored by or put on by the Lions Club and its a good cause... but the cost of the lobster isn't worth it anymore... apparently. I, personally, enjoyed my lobster. I have been desensitizing myself to my shellfish allergy... and because it's not severe, I have been successful. But it was my first and probably only attempt at 'digging for the meat' of the lobster. Next time, I will just stick with the lazy man's lobster or a lobster roll.

And today was a nice first. It sure can get hot in the summer... and I sure wished I knew someone with a pool... and I do!!!! My brother Joel lives in a condo complex with a pool.. so today it was a fun family day. Dan and I packed up Evan and his stuff... including his ladybug inflatable floaty. And joined Joel and Emma and my friend Becky and her kids and Joel's friend Ed and his family... and my dad came and so did Emma's Mary grandma (also known at Becky's mom). So we did some splish splashing in the pool.

It was a very crowded pool (for this pool more than 5 people is crowded). Evan took his snoozer as we arrived and woke up ready to go. And go he went. He had that initial shock of water... but enjoyed himself floating in the pool. He enjoyed himself so much that he started lounging and sucking his thumb.

We took plenty of photos with Joel's camera. Now we just have to wait to get them off the camera... if you know Joel, it may be awhile. But there were some great photos, so I'll be sure to share soon.

So now my angel is sleeping and I'll soon be joining him. But first it's time to get ready for the work day... Mondays... who likes them!!!

Aquarium & GHO

It was a very family oriented weekend for the Bouges'. Friday afternoon we went to the Mystic Aquarium. It had been almost 10yrs since Dan had been and about 6 years for me... but it was Evan's first time. How did he like it? Well, he liked what he saw... it was to the penguins, seals/sea lions and even the beluga whales... but it was soon after the whale watching that Evan napped the rest of our visit. He of course woke up as we were about to leave.

I truly enjoyed the penguins and even the touch pool. I reluctantly touched a stingray. I did it not because I wanted to but because I knew I wouldn't have another opportunity anytime soon. I skipped picking up the crab though.

After the aquarium, we decided to grab dinner at TenClams in Olde Mystic Village. Why is this noteworthy, because it was like the Wizard of OZ walking thru the shoppes. As we crossed the the road from the aquarium, the wind began to blow... then the wooden pinwheels (you know the hen pecks at the corn and the lumberjack chops the log) began to spin. It reminded me of the movie Twister and the wind began to howl and the rain began to slowly fall... an a CRACK came from the left as we swiftly walked by.... a tree branch fell!!! Luckily the pedestrians had just crossed from underneath that bow before it broke. It became a mad dash through the village as we made our way to the restaurant.... as then we got there.... sat down and the sun came out, no more wind... and it didn't start to rain until we began our journey back to the car. It was the WEIRDEST weather day!!!


And yesterday was a stressful day for Dan. I took the day in stride and just wasn't worried about Evan at the PGA Tournament of the Traveler's Championship (aka GHO). It was the first outing for Evan that included Grandma and Grandpa Bouges. Evan was so interested in everything from the people, to the trees to the many green surroundings. So Evan didn't nap. Sure he'd try and even make his nap noise (grunts and moans and groans as he tries to sleep). However, that wasn't too appreciated by the golfers as they attempt to putt for birdie. He really wasn't THAT loud but I could see he had moments where he wanted to be heard. Then after he got his diaper changed on the abandoned 9th hole fairway (after the leaders had moved on to the back 9)... Evan was ready for his nap. And he fell into a deep welcomed sleep. So after 3 hours of walking around and keeping baby happy, we sat by the 18th hole and watched the players finish. Dan was finally relaxed about Evan... Evan was finally sleeping and everyone was enjoying the day. Then Eric Axley chipped in his ball and the crowd roared... and Evan awoke with such fear and fright... rather reminiscent of his vaccinations. Then we left!!

Look who Sitting

"Look what I can do!!!" says Evan as he smiles... That's right, our little man is learning to sit on his own and gets better every day. He even falls on his belly and keeps smiling. He's 7 months and about 1 weeks old... and weighs 20lbs and wears a size 12 months in clothes. Sure we can squeeze those chunky thighs in a size 9months, but barely!! I've uploaded some new photos to share in Evan's growth.

It's been about 3 weeks with me back at work on an adjusted schedule... and it's different. I enjoy my job but miss Evan. I feel the guilt but know Evan's in good hands. We are still looking for a permanent daycare situation, but until then, Evan is being nurtured by his loving grandparents.

Evan's making great progress in the food eating.... he's eating peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, peaches, pears and bananas.... and cereals (rice, barley).... and likes almost all of it... he tries out his sippie cup but likes it more as a teether :)

This weekend will bring a couple firsts for him. Friday we are going to Mystic Aquarium and then Saturday we are off to the Traveler's Championship (formerly the GHO). I am sure he'll LOVE the aquarium b/c he loves his fish (I won a goldfish.... named him Rhubarb/Ruby... as the church festival a couple of weeks ago) and loves nature and trees... so wish us luck at the tournament. I'll let you know how he does.

Enjoy the photos...

6 Month Check up

Well, Evan just got back from his 6month check up... and at 6months and about 2 weeks, he officially weighs in at 19lbs 3 oz and 27.5 inches in height/length... that makes him about the 75th percentile for his age. If you've seen him recently or maybe from the photos, you can tell, but he's a healthy baby... and a big baby. Even the Dr and nurses were surprised about his size for his age.... and it's not fat... it's mostly muscle. But he can't sit on his own yet. Doesn't matter b/c Evan would rather stand if you give him a chance.

His latest thing... besides his second tooth... is his new toy. His friend Christopher let him have his "jumparoo". Chris outgrew it and Evan is just now figuring it can be fun. Evan loves to "bounce/jump" on my thighs... and this toy lets him do it "on his own". The first time scared him but then he liked it. Then it tired him out so fast he started to cry b/c he was just ready for nap.

He's certainly growing fast... already 6 and a half months... which means... I return to the office on MONDAY!!!!! ...... oh my, are we ready for that....

Change Thievery

Just vegging out b/c the police just left. It's the weirdest thing... someone "broke into our cars" which were unlocked and rummaged the car looking for loose change. Dan's car is parked in the driveway and was unlocked. They left CDs, stereo, cell phone and even the digital camera, but took his loose change in the cup holder. They went through the center console and even left the "change purse" but removed the ash tray.

The garage door was left open, so we had multiple visitors. The thief(s) went into my car and also went through the center console, and even the back seat of my car (all the floor stuff was now on the seat)... but they couldn't find the change drawer in the civic... so my change was safe.... and they even went into my trunk because my golf clubs were moved. Just can't believe they didn't take anything... fine by me though!!! The other visitor was a critter or two... not sure which violates me more.

The cops said they had several houses with reports of "change thievery". We were the latest callers and the earlier shift had some calls as well.

Dan had trouble sleeping last night and even heard noises like a car door closing in the middle of the night... good thing he didn't investigate it.

I am just thankful they didn't take anything nor did they enter the house.... I'd probably freak if they entered the house while we were sleeping and Evan is in the house.

May FIRSTs

May is a month of many changes for Baby Evan. Earlier this month, Evan joined his mommy and Papa on a road trip to Toronto. The 11 drive up north proved that Evan is a traveling baby and loves new sights.

Once we got to Toronto, he was quiet for the first couple of days. He observed his new surroundings and got to know his extended family. He was introduced to a fish tank and was mesmerized. He couldn't or should I say, wouldn't take his eyes off of it. No matter how tired he was that first night, he enjoyed watching the fish and playing with his cousins.

Evan met a lot of new family but the newest was his cousin (2nd or 3rd)...Samiah. He wasn't much interested in her until his mommy was holding her... then a little bit of jealousy came out and Evan was suddenly feeling anxiety.

Did Evan miss his daddy? I am sure... every morning he'd look at the door and I am sure he was awaiting his daddy's arrival. Luckily, Evan had his uncle Cash who was the fill in... Cash would hold Evan, sooth him and carry his car seat (heavy with a 17+ pound baby ).

May was the month in which Evan found his feet. He LOVES playing with them and trying to see what else his feet can do.

But most importantly, it was yesterday, May 16th that I discovered Evan has finally cut his first tooth. We knew that the extensive drooling, need to gnaw and bite down and his crying in his sleep was all part of teething... now we are on the new path of discovering what that tooth will bite down on.

And May isn't over yet... I am sure by the end of the month, Evan will accomplish another new first or two :)

Spring is Finally here!!

It's spring... finally!!! And that means it's golf season. I never thought I'd be happy to be golfing. But I do enjoy it. And now that I am on a golf league, I will make sure I make the time to get out there... plus it's a great way to catch up with old friends. I took a golf lesson a couple weeks ago and man did it help. I wasn't great, but I played well for me. I probably played as well I did a couple of years ago... a good game. So I have a lot of hope for me this year. Not every hit was a winner, but at least I didn't allow myself get rattle by the other golfers who... well, golfers who aren't there to enjoy time with friends. So let's just hope we don't get rained out at all this summer.

If you ever want to feel old, go to a Pop concert. Last week, Dan and I went to see Christina Aguilera. It was a GREAT concert. She definitely puts on a great show. I felt like I was watching the opening act to an awards show.... every song. However, even though there were plenty of late 20-somethings and some 40 somethings, they were way more teens!!! I felt so under dressed b/c I wasn't wearing my heels, club shirt and Prada bag... I was lucky to get a pair of clean jean, some make-up and washed hair :)... but it was still a great concert!!

On the Evan front: He started eating cereal about a month ago. It's hard to find the time to feed him... and I guess I'll have to find the time b/c he'll need to be fed :) But it's been a slow introduction to food. But he's loving it. He gets so excited that his arms and legs shake as the spoon approaches. And Mr. Independent wants to hold the spoon himself and put it his mouth. Needless to say, if I don't pay absolute attention, he's wearing his food. And his hunger for cereal has resulted in him weighing in at almost 17lbs... I can't believe it.

As his 6month birthday approaches, he'll be going on vacation .... again. This time we travel across the border to Toronto, Canada to visit my cousin Sigrid, her husband and her brand new baby GIRL... Samiah. We'll have plenty of photos posted when we come back ... the true test of Evan's traveler's genes will be how well he handles this 8-10hour car ride. Good thing the car puts him to sleep!!!

-Erica

Lego

This is the first entry in a while - though I can't say there is a good reason why. Life just seems to go so fast now that we have a little guy to take care of - I'm sure you parents know what I'm talking about. There just isn't the time to do the silly things as much as before. That said, Joel and I managed to slide in some video game time last night - 'Lego Star Wars', or something like that. I am quite certain that I am embarrassed to say I played this game, and even more embarrassed to say that the game kinda rocks. I gotta say, though, it's just plane weird that they decided to take regular Star Wars characters and make them look like they were made out of Lego, and then make a video game around their Lego-style adventures. Weird....but fun.

Evan is doing well. He had a play-day yesterday with Erica's good friend Geralyn's daughter Lia, who was born a week or so after Evan. There is a great picture of Lia holding Evan's hand and looking at him intently while Evan clearly couldn't give a damn - a chip off the 'ol block!

Big Yankee/Red Sox series this weekend!!! They're all big, yes, so I can't give a reason that this one is special except that it's the first one of the year and the Yankees pitching staff couldn't hold back the Sox AAA team. A-Rod is driving me crazy this year - but sorry, you can't make up for all your postseason busts and clutch situation chocks throughout the years by winning every single April game with walkoffs, it'll take more than that!

And lastly....Alec Baldwin is officially insane. He may be cool, funny, and the unofficial 10th SNL cast member - but dad-of-the-year he ain't. That was just nuts. It is a little scary, though, that your voicemail can end up on national news. Yikes!

Easter 2007

Happy Easter!!!! I pray everyone had a nice Easter. On the Evan front, it was a wonderful first Easter. Evan attended mass and was an angel ( like usual). He was dressed in his new suit... unfortunately, he gained a Buddha and his vest was a bit tight and the clip on tie... forget that. But he was sharp looking and enjoyed dressing up for the special occasion.

The Easter bunny was very good to Evan and he even got TWO baskets this year... one at his house and one at grandma's. And lucky kid got 2 stuffed animals that engage him and keep his interested. You can check out the new photo album at the link.

As anyone who knows kids, Evan's learning capacity is amazing. Just last week, he witnessed the crawling world (while at infant massage class). And now, he's starting to sit on his own when prompted. While on his tummy, he's beginning to creep forward using his knees and elbows... time to baby proof the house. And on 4/7/07, he had his first taste of Rice Cereal... and he did great. He enjoyed eating from a spoon and had a wide open mouth. Just can't believe he's going to be eating solids now!

Life is adjusting very well in the Bouges household. Getting work done and the housework and the baby is definitely a challenge. And I am sure life will get interesting once I start working in the office again.

As the spring is here (well the calendar says yes, but the temperature says otherwise) it's also time to tend to the yard. Believe it or not, I am looking forward to tending to my flowerbed. I started it last fall and the bulbs are now growing. It's great to see my work pay off. Then I plan to tackle starting a veggie garden. And another spring time past time... getting back into the swing of things with golfing. The past couple of years found me with a broken toe while planning a wedding/buying a house or morning sickness and exhausted... so this year, I'm back to golfing... can anyone say FORE!!!

Spring Break in Ft. Lauderdale

As some of you know, we had our first vacation with Evan. Back on March 10th, we (Dan, Evan, my dad and myself) flew down to Ft. Lauderdale, FL for a vacation. We all had our objectives: visit family and friends, spring training, beach, golf and relaxation. This was a trip filled of firsts for Evan and us. First of all, traveling with an infant is not an easy feat. He demands a lot of things, not just clothes. Luckily, my cousin Dawn lives in FL and she was able to let us borrow a couple of things. Evan's first flight was OK. He was little cranky and gave his parents a lot to do while in flight. His flight home was so pleasant that mommy got to nap, watch some TV, eat and snack all while Evan slept.

Evan next "first" came our first night there... Evan couldn't bring his crib nor did we want to bring his portable crib (airline would probably damage it)... so we brought his bassinet mattress and converted his stroller into a bed... he was a little cramped, but slept like a baby every night. We visited a lot of places and was on the go every day. Day one we visited our family (Dawn, Frank and there soon to be 1yr old, Mikaela---aka Mika). The day before we arrived in FL was the GRAND OPENING of their franchise restaurant... Quiznos. Yummy foods and they stock SoBe (pina colada flavor). During our trip, we also visited their other restaurant... Indian Chillies... a wide variety of delicious foods.

We spent time at the beach of course... first was Miami Beach at sunset and strolling on the boardwalk. Then we went to Hollywood Beach with Dawn and Mika. It was Mika's first time walking on the sand. It was Dan's helpful hand that built a bond between them of trust. It was also Evan's first exposure to the Atlantic Ocean. And he enjoyed the warms temps in FL... wait til he experiences the New England Atlantic... way different. And of course we visited the Ft. Lauderdale Beach which was located just a block from our resort. With sunblock of 50 and a UV umbrella, Evan was well protected.

We did some site seeing in Miami, but I didn't have my camera... so I'll have to rely on Dawn's photos. But was went to the Bay side Market Place and took a boat cruise to see the homes of the stars... like Ricky Martin, Shaq, Elizabeth Taylor and many others. And it was a sunset cruise, so we were able to see the city lights at night. Of course the 2 kids did NOT enjoy the wind, so we were indoors on the boat (pictures not the best). But they slept most of the duration while in their infant carriers.

And talk about a first... one night Dan and I went for a walk with Evan in his Baby Bjorn front carrier. We wanted to go to the Mexican Restaurant for take-out. And it was outside this Cantina that a some-what tipsy (perhaps) grandpa like fellow asked if he could give the baby a gift. Dan was protective and I was reluctant but we accepted the rolled up piece of green paper... thinking it was a dollar bill... we were half right. It was a bill but a little more than a dollar...as I unrolled the bill, it was revealed to be a $20!!! Dinner was on Evan that night! We figure it must be just a nice old guy who we hope had money to spare.

And of course, we couldn't go to FL in March and not attend a baseball game or two. We attended 2 games at the home of the Orioles: vs. the Marlins and then the Twins. Luckily we had great seats both games and we were able to hide in the shade when needed... for sun protection, feedings and a diaper change... Yes, Evan had his diaper changed in the grandstand seats... what a site :)

Last but not least... we got "stuck" in FL due to a snowstorm that closed the airports in the Northeast. So instead of returning on the the 17th, the next available flight was TUESDAY 3/20. Dan took a earlier flight which allowed my dad, Evan and myself to flight at a decent hour. And it's not easy lugging a baby and his gear (stroller/car seat, diaper bag) through the airport and it's security measures. Dan missed his baseball draft, but instead he had to do it via speaker phone. And instead of eating lunch with the guys, we hit the hot tub! So all in all, it was a GREAT trip. Visiting family, FL and baseball games... beaches and relaxation is what a spring break trip should be... can't wait for our next vacation!!!

Check our photos from our trip...

Sleeping thru the Night????

So far so good... it began Sunday February 25 and Evan's been going strong... sleeping through the night. What a nice change not to have to wake up at 3am or midnight anymore. Sure this may change at any time and I am prepared for that, but I am enjoying the uninterrupted dreams. Since Evan found that sucking on his thumb puts him to sleep and comforts him, he's a lot happier.

Evan will be 4 months on March 14th and we are amazed by how much he's grown. He's growing out of his clothes by leaps & bounds... then again that may have to something to do with the fact that I've been drying his clothes on the wrong setting apparently... but not all the clothes have been shrinking.

Yesterday was the perfect example of how kids and babies are sponges... we were shopping at the mall and Evan woke up. He doesn't like the stroller stopping.. just constant movement is his wish. So while I stopped to browse, he'd fuss and just suck his thumb with a 'force'. Then we got to the shoe dept... he's never been to the shoe dept before... well, he became wide eyed, quiet and just looking EVERYWHERE. It was new to him and you could tell he was processing and absorbing everything he was seeing. And this is just the beginning.... I am sure his dad would say that he just wanted to get out of the shoe dept...

What will today bring....I don't know... but look forward to see .....

oh... don't forget to "spring forward" Saturday night and change the batteries in your smoke detectors as you loose that hour of sleep but gain a lovely hour of daylight.

First Snow

Monday was the first real snowfall in Southeastern CT. So much fell that schools were cancelled and Evan wanted to go out and play. Sure, he can't sit up on his own or really "play" as much as you and I but from the window, he spied a white-ness to the usually brown and green outdoors. So his fascination with the new scenery inspired a hands on approach to the learning. So we bundled up and explored. Evan reacted as usual to the cold and not much bothered. But as he sat on the snowy chair, he watched the snow falling... and looked confused... then he started to fall :)

I actually started this entry on Monday and it's now Friday... busy week. Evan is sleeping less during the day as his naps last about an hour. This means, however, he is starting to sleep through the night. So far it's been about 3 or 4 times this week and I think we finally can get a full night's sleep and still keep the household happy.

Last night, was another first for Evan and our family. We went out to a restaurant for dinner. It was a birthday celebration and we couldn't NOT go.... so Evan slept somewhat peacefully for most of the dinner. He even had the little boy in the next booth concerned when Evan would cry... but a little rocking and he was fast asleep. It was a success... I am sure our ability to take Evan out to restaurants will be short-lived until the days the Evan will be screaming, throwing food and just very excited about being at a restaurant.

TGIF!! Time to start the day.

Back in the Saddle

Hi everyone – it’s Dan this time!! Yes, I’m back – like a bad rash or another Jay-Z “come back”. Things have been quite busy for me lately, with Evan new on the scene and work being a tad on the overwhelming side of late – but I seem to have caught up at work (for now) and Erica and I are settling in as parents.

So Evan is 3 months and few weeks old now and when I weighed him last night before his bath he was up to 14 and ½ pounds! Now, I’m no expert, but that seems like a lot. He’s got chubby little cheeks and very chubby thighs at this point – basically he’s a little porker. But he's OUR little porker and very, very cute. He’s starting to make new sounds and he even slept through the night twice this week (thank god!!!).

I’ll keep it short today – I don’t want to strain myself since it’s been so long. More to come soon!