Merry Christmas 2009

Christmas was a very special season in our house this year. This Christmas was highly anticipated by the resident 3 yrd old. Evan enjoyed everything of the season: the advent season and church; Rudolph and other TV specials; baking cookies; visiting Santa and making a list (his list had TWO thing.... a blue basketball and a soccer ball)... and Christmas lights, the tree and mint chocolate candy canes!! From Frosty to the Heat Miser, from stockings to wreathes, from candy to a white Christmas... the day was filled with much joy that you truly do know the meaning Christmas.

Christmas Eve was our typical day.... except we had friends over in the morning who bore presents. That was the beginning of the 'frenzy' known as gift exchange aka... toddler meltdowns :) It was definitely hard to get Evan to nap, but he knew that once he woke up, it would be time to go to church and time for Santa to arrive soon.

Christmas morning was like any other morning. Evan waking around 7 yelling to wake up. So we did. I put on coffee and went to get Haley. It was only then that Evan noticed the tree... 'Santa came.... there's presents under the tree'. And the mayhem began... Evan was very patient and very kind. He'd wait his turn or at least ask who the gift was for before opening anything. And sometimes, he'd even help Haley open her present (especially if it looked big). Unfortunately for Evan, the number of gifts weren't as many as he wanted. But he got his wish... Santa gave him his "blue basketball from the sports store" and the gifts kept coming all day. It was a day filled with candy, cookies, much food and cake.

Dan's parents came mid-morning bring the kids their gifts... and Evan got a kitchen (which he loves) but would love more if Dan and I find the time to assemble it... it's like 1000 pieces.... so we haven't found the time. I swear it'll take all day and night. But we'll find the time....

Christmas dinner was at my dad's house. It was a full house and a long night. Evan had more food, cookies and cake and candy and gifts... a lot of toys.. a LOT of toys.

Haley had a lot of fun too. This was her first Christmas and her joy came first from the crackling paper and then the toy inside. Since she's teething, she loves ANYTHING she could bite on!! And she got a good amount of loot as well.

Our day began at 7am and ended at 10pm (when we finally got home and Evan to bed)....and it was a wonderful day but I know that as the years go on, they will only get better.

Check out the photos: Click HERE

Blizzard 2009

It's been too long AGAIN since I last wrote/typed but better late than never.

So Haley turned 8 months on Dec 5... making her 8 and half months. And what has she been up to you may ask? Physically:) she's getting the hang of sitting on her. She still needs the pillows to catch those falls but she definitely enjoys seeing the world in this new way. And yesterday (12/19) Haley began clapping for her Daddy and Evan. And now, that's one of her favorite things. Although, I do believe she claps to get that reaction out of us... and it's definitely a happy reaction. Haley cut her first tooth on December 11... it was a miserable several hours between 2am and 6am those early hours of the day. But after I checked her mouth at 7am, I felt the little pointy tooth that cut her gum and caused her a lot of pain. And then she was fine the rest of the day.

Of course that teething experience was just the tip of the iceberg :) This past Friday night, was cookie night with our niece Emma... cookie baking and watching Christmas specials. Unfortunately, it was this night or EARLY morning that poor Haley suffered much pain and discomfort from her teeth. Around 4:30 or so, she woke up unhappy and I brought her into our room as Evan slept across the hall and Emma slept by the light of the tree in the living room. And it was about 5:00AM that the pain had gotten so bad, she became inconsolable. And our stress was not only that our little baby was crying and in pain, but we were afraid of waking the other kids in the house. So after a dose of Tylenol, Haley was able to fall asleep around 6:30.... just in time for Emma and Evan to wake.

So how much snow did you get? We got about 16 - 20 inches depending where you measured.
The snow fell at a great time b/c no one had to drive anywhere. We went to bed with an inch or so on the ground and woke up to A LOT more!! This was Haley's first time with snow and she loved it. She sat quietly as I began to shovel the driveway and clear a path to exit. Unfortunately, she used her strong ab muscles and sat up on her own and fell forward flat on her face into the snow.... and wasn't too happy about that afterwards!! She cried and we came back in.

Evan loved the idea of playing in the snow and going sledding and making a snowman. Unfortunately, this snow was so light and fluffy that non of the above was possible. So instead, Evan and his daddy made snow angels and played in the snow. Of course, Evan had to come in once he kept taking his mittens off and his fingers were cold!!

And Dan and I took turns shoveling the driveway and watching the kids. Unfortunately, it was Sunday and the NFL took priority for some.... but the driveway was passable...and the next day the ice coated drive prevented me from going into the office b/c my little civic couldn't make it back up the hill. We now have enough salt for the next month (or at least the next couple of storms :).

Happy Thanksgiving

So as Thanksgivings go, this was a good one... harried as usual but when is it not. We hosted Thanksgiving and had a good turn out... a little less this year but the added pleasure of Haley and Evan joining us.

This year (and past years), Dan's mom would drop off a stuffed turkey Thanksgiving morning and all we have to do is cook it. Unfortunately, the turkey was done at 11:15 and people didn't arrive until after noon... so we had a dry turkey :( But it looked good!!

In past years, Evan has always slept/napped through Thanksgiving meal... But this year, he joined us. And so did Haley... all she ate was sweet potatoes but it was nice to have them both there and partaking. Of course, Evan wanted nothing to do with his meal... he was focused on desserts... and then he ate EVERYTHING ... he did want he had to do to get desserts!!

So next up... Black Friday shopping!!!!

Look who's 3 !!!!

So it's been a busy weekend... in FL one day and home and it's Evan's birthday the next!!! And unfortunately, I packed too many things into our weekend that not everything worked out well.

We started Evan's birthday with his birthday dinner... and Evan requested "Lucky Charms" for breakfast... it was a special day, so sure why not. Then we attempted to get portraits done. Unfortunately, Evan wanted NOTHING to do with it... but Emma and Haley were totally having fun.....
And after we attended a friend's birthday party at Build-A-Bear, Evan craved and needed his nap... took a 3 hour nap!!

And the next day, we had a small party for him. So small, it was last minute and I was lucky the grandparents could make it (well, my dad was still in FL)... and so last minute, all the guests lived within 5 miles!!
And who would've guessed that at the end of the day, Evan was still tired from the trip... he asked for a nap...

Family Trip to Orlando

As the summer quickly passed by, we had an opportunity to vacation in Orlando, FL with my dad. We planned the trip for November to give Dan that 'extra' vacation day with the built-in holiday of Veteran's Day.

So with nervousness, Dan and I left for Orlando with a toddler and a baby on Nov. 8. Our early flight on Southwest Airlines, went smoother than I had expected. In fact, Evan was SO excited as the plane took off that sheer joy was on his face and happiness exuded in every word he uttered. Haley's first plane ride went as smooth as we could hope... the smooth flight landed us in Orlando around 10:30am. And by the time we loaded all our stuff, changed diapers and clothes AND waited in line for the rental car, it was after noon when we left the airport.

On our way to our 'temporary home', we stopped for lunch. Not wanting the regular fast food fanfare, we opted for the buffet at Shoney's. Have you ever been? It's only ok... but it was an experience. Why, because I was actually able to win a mini-basketball from a crane machine for Evan.. on the first try... and I think Evan realized it was going to be a GREAT vacation!!

My dad's timeshare allowed us to stay at OrangeLake Resort located only a couple miles for Disney. In fact, it even borders Disney's Animal Kingdom.

I certainly give you details on the trip but my fingers would get tired too fast... so here's the short version :) We arrived on a Sunday afternoon. And as expected, Evan didn't and couldn't nap. But to acquaint ourselves with the resort, we attended the Sunset Celebration. It was a daily celebration for young families and fun. Evan enjoyed activities and the atmosphere!!


Through out the week, we all enjoyed the amenities of the resort: pools, splash pads, water slides, lazy rivers, mini-golf, shuffleboard, palm trees and many many more...

The weather held out for us on the most part. If it rained, it was only at night. The days were chilly at 65-70 but that was better than in CT :) And Evan never cared what the temp was as long as he got to play mini-golf and go swimming. We tried to stay away from Disney; after all, Evan was only 2 and would he even know the difference if we didn't go see to WDW? Well, by the end of the trip... YES, he cared.

We spent some time at Downtown Disney... a shopping area owned by Disney. Evan spent all our time there looking for Mickey Mouse. Then after our lunch at Rainforest Cafe, the joy of the trip glistened in Evan's eyes, as he spotted Mickey and Minnie Mouse:
But Evan's happiness was squelched by the realization that it wasn't a "moving Mickey". But the day was still fun with the Lego store.

So with much guilt (applied by my dad and Dan), we made a day trip next door to Animal Kingdom. The day was supposed to be sunny but it ended up being cloudy and cold most of the day. The day included the safari ride seeing rhinos, elephants, hippos, lions and giraffes; the musical Nemo; the park rides with a flying Dino; a play area called 'The BoneYard" including looking for bones; and the most important thing was meeting Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy.... and from the opening to the closing, we had perfect kids and well behaved kids who made us realize that we made the right choice in going... going broke too :) Click Here to see the photos.

So was the highlight of the trip Disney or Evan going down the water slide by himself?

7 Months Old

It's already November and not enough time to 'catch up'.

Haley: As Haley marks 7 months tomorrow, she's made leaps and bounds in growth. At her last appointment, she jumped in weight percentile from 25th% to 45th%... and in height, she jumped from 40th% to 75th% percentile. Our little baby is growing healthy!!

As she hits her milestones, she is only slightly delayed. She is starting to sit up on her own.

She is also trying to 'move' and travel. Haley has taken an interest in many of her toys and those of Evan's. And after she eyes her target, she tries to 'roll' towards her goal. Unfortunately, she only will roll over one time and then forget to continue on to her toy. The Dr even said that if he didn't know she was early, there would be no developmental delays to indicate she was a preemie.

However, Haley's interest in food is interesting. She started strong on cereal and spoon feeding. Then for some reason, she can't seem to figure out that once the food is in her mouth, she needs to use her tongue to push it down not out! But my friend, Laurie, then suggested giving her some table foods... so yesterday, I decided to break a cheerio for her... and she LOVED it. I still had to help her keep the Cheerio in her mouth, but she tried to "chew" it. And the best part was how helpful and excited Evan was about his baby sister 'getting bigger'.

Evan: Our little Evan is growing up so fast. He's going to be 3 soon but he looks like he's already 5 :) We've hit a brick wall in the potty training front... but figure we'll try again when we all have the time. We have finally passed through the fussy pickiness of food. At one time it was chicken nuggets, broccoli and grilled cheese everyday. Now I get to make tilapia or steak or lasagna and we can eat as a family(without any fights). And he's even gotten to liking grape tomatoes and salad... now if I can only get his daddy to eat them.

Halloween: So Haley's first Halloween proved to be more fun for her older brother... as this was his first Halloween in which he truly understood. However, it also mad him a fiend for candy. Check out the photos.

Gap Photo contest VOTE NOW!!!

So I've done it again... I've entered my kids into a photo contest... but his is a little different.

There are 2 different contests.
1) FAN FAVORITE: The photo with the most votes gets a trip to an all inclusive resort... VOTE HERE ... Haley's code is 102894785
Evan's code is 712894251
******There apparently is a hitch to vote, you have to register to the site. Then you can vote every day until December :)**** And as a reward, I believe you get a coupon for 20% of your next Gap purchase. Vote once, vote often :)

2) The other thing about this contest is that a panel of judges will select the top 5 photos in each candidate... then I'll be asking for your votes :)

Fall is officially here!!

Funny thing happened today... today was the first time for apple picking and pumpkin picking for Dan, Haley and myself. This was Evan's 2nd or 3rd time... it took use over 35 yrs to go apple picking and Evan did it b/f he turned 3... wow... Check out our adventures by seeing the photos... click here.

As the weather has been whacking... hot, cold, gusts of wind that blow tents away and leaves falling and covering the grass... fall is here.


It's official... Haley is now 6 months old. She weighs 15 lbs 5.5 oz and 27 inches tall. That puts her in the 45th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for height. She definitely went through a growth spurt! And the doctor was very happy. She doesn't like the cereal and eating much and she gets about a spoonful only each time. But since she's growing the Dr isn't worried.

Haley is started to sit on her own. AND she started giggling today. Nice hearty laugh :) She's always been easy to get that smile but now she'll give you a giggle too. She is hearty in sucking her thumb and does it only when tired; so that is good. And she even has a little elephant blanket thing and she'll cuddle it as she sucks her thumb and falls asleep.

As the picture above displays, Evan is having a hard time sharing life with his sister? Everything is all about his mommy. And he wants mommy to do EVERYTHING... it's exhausting! Now I just don't know what he's going to do when Haley starts going to daycare on Tuesday. I suspect Evan is NOT going to handle it well. I'll let you all know.

First Foods

Now that Haley is 5 1/2 months, I finally found the time to start her on cereal. I kept waiting until the time was right and Dan was home to take pictures. After all, it was such a big moment for Evan and we made sure it was well documented. So yesterday, I realized there will never be a 'right' time... and it just so happened that Dan came home for lunch and was home for the big event.

As expected, Haley truly enjoyed her first bites of cereal. So much so, that she would grab the spoon and shove it into her mouth!! I couldn't keep up with her appetite. Unfortunately, her tiredness overruled hunger and she only ate half the meal.

And interesting thing to note during Haley's meal is that 'perhaps thumb sucking is hereditary'. I used to do it as a child. Evan does it now only with his panda. But the first day Evan found his thumb, he started sleeping through the night :) Haley began sleeping through the night weeks before she discovered her thumb. But on the ides of September, Haley began sucking her thumb. And this week, she has perfected the ease of putting her thumb into her mouth in a single shot!!!


And we don't know if she's a lefty or a righty... she actually tends to switch which hand she uses???????

So what else is new since Haley got her ears pierced? Nothing and everything? Every day it feels like Haley is learning something... like getting better at sitting in her bumbo... or going hiking at Bluff Point and watching the sunset----and getting bitten by a mosquito.

We also made a trip down to NJ to visit family for a 90th birthday. And it was the first time that I allowed Haley to be held by strangers (to me). I was busy at the party with the party games and chasing down Evan. And my family was very happy to hold Haley. And every once in a while I'd loose track of her and I'd find her in the arms of someone I didn't know.... But Haley was happy. and she was the star of the show b/c she did go to anyone and was happy :)

I'll post some new photos now :)

My Little Lady

Today marked a very important day in my life and in Haley's... today I took my baby girl to get her ears pierced. It is something I had decided to do before I ever had children... to get my baby girl's ears pierced no later than 6 months old. In 1973, my family traveled to India and I happened to get my ears pierced by a man near the beach with just a needle, ice and a bar of soap or an apple or something... and I never knew life without earrings. In fact, up until I was in the 5th grade, I was never allowed to even remove my earrings... that will be the same rule that applies for Haley. In 5th grade, the school made my parents remove my earrings so I could participate in wrestling in gym class so I didn't fail.

Haley is a classy little lady. I had spoken to my pediatrician and he didn't say NO but says the American Association of Pediatrics does not endorse the idea. And he did say that he's never had any babies with ear piercings get infections :) In fact, doing it young means they don't play with them or get their dirty fingers on them :) And it was his nurse that suggested the local jeweler where she took her infant daughter.

So today, August 31, Haley got her ears pierced... 5 days short of being 5 months old. She was so happy all day and even sitting nicely in my lap as the woman 'dotted her earlobes'. And then afterwards, the pain caused many tears and even the crying so fierce, her body would shake.

But after those first minutes of pain, she was smiling and crying... and she even let her 'assailant' hold her and make her giggle... so hard feelings. And in the end, she left sleeping and little 24k gold heart earrings... now I wonder how the next couple days will be for her?

The vacation photos have been uploaded.... just click here...

Ocean City MD part II

OCEAN CITY part II

As I look at the photos, I have noticed something interesting... there are a few photos of me and only 1 of my dad :( I'm usually the one behind the camera (been that way since high school really) and my dad... well, he was busy on his vacation and we'd see him at the beach briefly and at night. But I can he did have a good time as did I... you just may not 'see us having that fun' :)

Mini-golf: So all summer Evan has been a big fan of golf... watching it and playing it. And this vacation Evan played his first, second and third game of mini-golf. In fact, if he had his way, he'd play mini-golf 5 times a day every day. I missed his first time playing but heard it was a blast. I was on his team the second time he played and witnessed his first 'Hole In One'. I hit my ball and muffed it, so it rolled back to the starting tee. Evan picked it up and teed it up and hit my ball... and it rolled up and down the first hill and up and down the second hole and then down the tube tunnel and right into the hole!!! The third time was the HOTTEST day and we played with Evan's friend Chris and his mom Laurie. (I don't have those photos yet but will post those when I get a chance). And it was so hot that Evan wanted to quit and go inside...

Beach: The beach was a variety of experiences for everyone. You probably already read about the jellyfish 'attack'. But the heat and humidity proved that the beach was needed. We first tried the beach in the AM hours but it was so hot and the sand was so hot it hurt to walk!! So then we tried the beach in PM (after nap and before dinner). The sand was easier to walk but the lifeguards were off duty at 5 or 6. And then Hurricane Bill started traveling up the Eastern seaboard and the waves became tough. The first few days, Evan spent time playing in the sand and jumping the waves and even boogie boarding.

So in a nutshell and in 2 blog entries that was the highlights of the trip. I do feel bad that Haley spent most of her time sleeping and that is what was captured on digital film, but there is always next year... next year when we'll continue to chase after Evan and next year when we'll have a mobile Haley to chase after... wonder how much it would cost to get a nanny???

Ocean City MD

Ocean City, MD 2009

It's that time of year again... it's our family vacation to Ocean City. As a kid growing up in PA, my parents always took us on an annual family vacation. It was usually a beach vacation. We would alternate our summer outings between Wildwood NJ and Ocean City, MD. The trips became less in frequency when we moved to CT. Perhaps this is because we moved 250 miles away or we were teenagers and we didn't have a desire to 'hang out' with our parents. But as we became adults, we began enjoying our days in OC again. And now as parents, we bring our children.


This year was an interesting year... it's become full circle. Dan and I drove 9 hrs and 360miles with a toddler and an infant to spend time with family and friends. This year we were joined by family (my dad, brother, niece, and cousins) and friends Laurie (college friend) and Karen (friends for almost 30 yrs!!!) and her family and Dave(friend who loves to come to OC) and his nephew. Every year it's always a different group and this year was no different.

This was Haley's first trip and Evan's second. The temperature was a high of at least 90 with a humidity level of stifling and a low of 70 with the same thickness in the air. The warm temps made it 'comfy' for Haley and she spent most of time sleeping (so be lucky to see her eyes open during this trip).

This being Evan's first trip, he got to experience all the fun things to do in Ocean City: mini-golf (he went 3 times and even got a hole in one); building sandcastles and drip castles and moots; playing games on the boardwalk; amusement park rides like the carousel and race cars (scared him); flying kites on the beach; and boogie boarding.

The drive down was difficult. We left at 4:30am and can you believe that Evan was awake the whole time except for about 20 minutes (when Haley woke up and was hungry). And that lack of sleep stayed with Evan the whole week.... even after he took a 4.5 hr nap one day. And when we finally got to our unit, Evan literally was running around in circles for about 15 minutes!!! Guess he felt cooped up in the car.

Jellyfish: So on our first full day in MD, we went to the beach... all of us (imagine 5 umbrellas, about 9 or 10 chairs and 24 of us) were enjoying the relief the water gave from the 90 degree + heat and humidity... and the waves were crashing at our ankles and knees (depending on how tall you were) and others were body surfing and boogie boarding... then IT happened. Like a scene from 'Jaws', someone spotted IT... a jellyfish... and then another and another and soon folks were getting out of the water and away from the site. Unfortunately, we all weren't that lucky!!! Little 3 yr old Chris was playing in the water with his bucket when a wave crashed at his knee... and then it was instantly that the screams began, it was instantly the cries and tears came and it was instantly that we realized that wave was carrying a jellyfish and it stung his knee. That was the last time Chris went into the water and the last time his family was able to enjoy the ocean.

All in all it was a great trip... beaching it up, using the pool, the boardwalk, outlet shopping, kite flying, dining out and spending time with friends and family. Have to go and de-vacation and then I'll be back with more stories!!!

4 months.

Looks like the summer is almost over :( Haley turned 4 months old on the 5th and had her 4 month check up. She's in the 25 percentile for height and weight and that's great considering she was 7 weeks early. She's 12.5 pounds and about 24 inches (2 Feet Tall). The doctor confirmed what we already knew. Developmentally, she is on target with a 4 month old. Meaning... she does what all 4 month olds do and she's not the "adjusted" age.

If you didn't know, when a baby is born early, you should subtract the 'earliness' to adjust the baby's age for development.... If Haley is 17 weeks old... but since she was 7 weeks earlier, you'd subtract that from her chronological age... 17-7=10 weeks.... but she has great. She follows me with her gaze and is extremely focused on her brother (and his panda) and baseball. She smiles whenever you smile at her and she smiles every morning when you go to get her! Haley can hold her head high. Her neck control is growing everyday and she doesn't 'flop' her neck too much.

And on Friday August 7Th, I caught Miss Haley sucking her thumb. I was busy doing the dishes and Haley was awakened by a noise. So she started to fuss and cry a little... but by the time I got to her, she was somewhat quiet.... all i heard when I got to her crib was her sucking her thumb. And I have to say having seen Haley sucking her thumb while wearing Evan's hand me downs gave me flashbacks.

Yikes...

Sleeping at night....yeah!!!

It has been a busy busy summer... festivals, fairs, beaches and pool, many birthdays and BBQs... there has been a lot going on in our lives this summer. And as a result, we suspect that Evan isn't getting enough sleep. Haley can sleep through a lot and has the daytime to catch up. Evan hasn't been able to catch up on lost sleep. And as a result, I believe it caused him to wake in the middle of the night. It may have happened because the thunder would shake the house around 2-3am. But it rapidly became a habit for Evan.

And how tiring it became... Evan wakes at 2am and wants to come into our bed. So I go in and lay down on the couch for about a minute... then he goes back to bed. And then Haley would wake about 4-5am to eat. It left me tired and irritable... A couple folks have told me that an overtired child has problems 'unwinding' even while sleeping and will wake at night.

But Sunday night was the first night in MANY nights that Evan slept through the night again. AND last night was the first full night that Haley slept through the night. We've had many nights where she'd wake but would be satisfied by her 'binky' more then food. So her late night feedings have been eliminated!!! I just hope it continues into night 2....

Haley's Christening

July 18th we had Haley's Christening. It was a nerve racking experience... why because my l have a wonderful family!! Considering the Christening was in the middle of the summer and a little last minute, we were blessed by the many friends and family members that came from near and far... we had people come from as close at Groton CT and other parts of CT. AND we also had family coming from Toronto and California!!! We had about 45 people and a beautiful day!!

The ceremony was held at Sacred Heart Church here in Groton. And of course, my dad performed the ceremony. It was such a blessing to have Haley christened by her grandfather. I stood there and looked around the church. The pews were filled with my cousins, aunts, uncles in-laws and friends... and then I saw Evan sitting in that front pew with Emma on one side and Emily on the other. My dad at the baptismal fountain and Dan by my side and Haley in my arms... and I felt such joy and felt very blessed!!

The ceremony itself was nice. Erin (my cousin's daughter) and my niece Abbey did the readings. And my cousin Sigrid is the godmother and my nephew Wes is the godfather. Haley slept through most of the event. However she did wake up during the 'water on the head'. But she didn't cry!! I think she enjoyed it :) I don't know but maybe the water was warm because she likes her baths when warm water is poured on her. And as the ceremony continued, we looked over at Evan.... and poor kid was so tired he fell asleep on his cousin's shoulder. It was very cute but not captured on film.

Afterwards, we all headed over to the homestead and had a reception at the house. AND it was such a beautiful day that we finally got to enjoy and utilize our "party deck". Unfortunately, we didn't have the umbrella up on the table ... therefore, we didn't have a lot of shade that afternoon. Most of the family did what they could to stay in the shade...The kids (ranging in age from 1-14 not including Haley) enjoyed time outside in the sand box, blowing bubbles, playing baseball, playing "golf", playing in the water table and just running around on the 'rock'. The adults enjoyed good food from Mirch Masala and some other foods.

All in all it was a great day. Haley enjoyed meeting more family. And I couldn't stop but glow when everyone commented on how good Haley was. She is a great baby.... she likes to sleep :) She's starting to smile and many got to enjoy and share in her smiles.

The sad part of the day is that I was running around so much and getting the food out, cleaning up, getting the cake and tea and everything else... I really didn't get to talk to anyone. I didn't get to really talk with my cousin who flew in from CA. Or my cousins and their families who drove from Toronto nor my family from NJ (some it was the first time at my house) nor any other family from MA or even here in CT.... but I do think everyone had fun and I would do it again... but glad I don't have to do that much preparing again....

Haley and her godparents Sigrid and Wes

Check out more photos... click here...

3 Months already?!!!

Well, Little Miss Haley is 3 months old. Technically, she is entering 3 Months and 2 weeks (almost 3.5 months old). And what a princess she is. Being the "second" child, one can't help but "compare" her to Evan. And just like Evan, she's such a good baby. Haley is almost sleeping through the night. We haven't had consistency but she goes 5-6 hours at night in between feedings :) Now I have to train myself to feed her around 10-11pm and we'll all get a good night's sleep :)

Everyone asks "how much does she weigh" or "how big is she"? And I don't know :( We were so nervous with Evan and his rough start to life, that we weighed him every week. We haven't done that with Haley. Back on June 8, she weighed about 8lbs and 12oz. Now she is in her clothes marked 8-12lbs and she is rapidly growing out of those clothes. I am guessing she is about 10-11lbs. Haley likes to 'stretch' out like she did in the womb... and that makes some of her clothes small... her body is getting longer/taller and her feet are getting too big for those 'blanket sleepers'... she she has moved up in size in those.

Last week began another milestone for Haley. She had already started to follow us with her eyes (with much interest). She began giving smiles (to those who smiled first) a week or two ago. And if you catch her in the right mood, she'll be so happy that she smiles AND blows bubbles.

As Haley is beginning to blow bubbles, I have noticed another trend. She is beginning to drool more... what does this mean? Well, it's a sign of teething!!! Evan had his first painful teething experience around 4.5 months old. He experienced the pain b/f the tooth cut the skin. And Evan cut his first tooth 2 days after his 6 month birthday. So it wouldn't surprise me if Haley does it at the same time... or sooner. She is already tending to 'bite down' on her pacifier... I better go buy some teethers!!!

Going hand in hand with teething and blowing bubbles, Haley is beginning to "talk". OK... it is only cooing for now but what a great thing. She like to 'talk' to her brother. And he gets a kick out of the attention she shows him. And she loves to watch him and 'talk' with him. She must realize that he is different than mom and dad...

Now that Haley is 3 months old, she is no longer considered a "newborn" but just an infant. And she is now getting stronger in holding her head up and her neck steady. Sure she is still wobbly but for a baby born 7 weeks early, Haley is doing GREAT!!!

More to come on the weekend adventures...

4th of July Weekend

I hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July!! It was a busy and fun weekend in our house. As some of you know, the 4th is Dan's birthday. It's not a milestone this year, so he requested a small celebration if anything.

So on Saturday morning, we accidentally attended the 4th of July Parade. We were heading to the grocery store but found the parade. And we are glad we did... next year, we'll get there earlier and on purpose. This was the first parade for the kids and the first one for Dan and I since we were kids. The first sign that we knew Evan was going to enjoy the parade... CANDY... that's right. Candy is thrown from certain 'floats' and the kids race out into the street and grab the candy. Evan wasn't the quickest in this race but the cute twin girls next to us were nice enough to share when they got extras. Afterall, we are trying to teach Evan NOT to run out into the street and NOT to eat off the ground!! No wonder he was confused :) Dan took photos on his phone and we are trying to figure out the best way to get them off w/o emailing each photo.

To celebrate Dan's birthday, we had a small BBQ at our house with his parents and my dad and my uncle. And it was fun. Nothing fancy, just burgers and dogs and some yummy ribs... and of course corn on the cob :) Dan didn't want anything for his birthday except an ice cream cake... and it had to be a Dairy Queen cake... the great thing about ice cream cakes is that they are yummy... bad thing is they are usually frozen solid!! Luckily we had a wonderful day and the cake was perfect.... just took some doing in cutting it.

And a lesson learned... we introduced Sparklers to Evan this year. He's very aware of the danger of fire and "hot"... but wanted to try the sparkler on his own... as the disapproving grandparents looked on, the novice parents let their first born learn about the dangers first hand... DON'T worry, no one was hurt!! except my tablecloth!! But he learned and didn't want to hold them again... but he wanted his daddy to "do it again"... do Daddy may have enjoyed the next couple ones lit up :)

So after our adventurous Saturday and day full of firsts, we spent some time at the Annual SubFest ... yes, held at the SubBase. We got to truly use our new stroller for the first time. It's a great stroller I found and bought off Craigslist... and it's a great way to keep your toddler happy and confined :) Sure we could've used the 'monkey' leash but thought we needed something for those time Evan gets tired. So we bought a 'Sit n Stand' Stroller.

It was just an OK Sub Fest... but then again, I'm not into rides (and apparently neither is Evan) and I don't like the games b/c I think it's overpriced and the prizes are 'cheap'... and I've always thought it was 'rigged' to loose. BUT that's the fun part, right? If you've been reading my blog, you may have learned that Evan is not a fan of eating ice cream. He loves the idea but can't seem to stand the cold. But at the Sub Fest, we taught Evan to 'bite the ice cream with his lips' and not use his teeth. And the result was this....

Dan and I lost our ice cream cones to our son.... he wanted BOTH. But we did determine he likes soft serve ice cream and prefers vanilla over chocolate... and the sprinkles are a must.... as is the waffled sugar cones.

All in all it was a great weekend.... I love spending time together as a family!!!

Beach Day

So far so good... the summer has started and we made it to the beach today. As this is Dan's Birthday weekend, I wanted to allow him some 'fun' time without the kids... actually golfing time. So while Joel took him out for a day of golfing, my friend Jen and I took the kids to the beach. And I have to say I am happy with the results.

The day was slightly cloudy but a nice breeze and temps in the high 70's made for a good time at the beach. Jen held Evan's hand as we found our place in the sand. And Evan loves the pretty girls, so he did pretty much whatever Jen wanted :)

I brought a little hut for Haley like this one Evan used years ago. But since she was sleeping so soundly when we arrived, I opted to lug the car seat over. This posed the issue of having to use the beach umbrella. This was my second time using it and I really need to build some upper body strength. Because this was the second time it's flown and fallen. I bought this anchoring thing but you have to be REALLY strong to screw it into the sand... apparently I am NOT strong enough.

Evan enjoyed almost all aspects of Eastern Point Beach. He played in the sand using his golf balls. He would toss his balls into a sand hole that remained from the previous visitor and he'd jump for joy... like a hole in one. He's walk down to the water's edge to fill his bucket but only get about 1/3 full (he didn't want to step into the water b/c it was too cold). And he even got to play on the play scape. Enough to tire a toddler out!!!

Then when the rumbling of the thunder began, we decided to return home. After all, it had been 2 hrs since we arrived and we had no desire to get soaked with Haley there.... and it was slowly becoming obvious that we had a tired toddler on our hands. In fact, has we walked back to the car, Evan pushed Haley in the stroller with much pride on his face. THEN, he realized that we were going back to the car and "LEAVING " the beach. Evan didn't like that concept at all. It's a good thing I had Jen with me and to stay with Haley as I chased Evan down the path back towards the beach! And it took much talking and a promise of an ice cream cone when we get home.

Lucky for me, Evan was much delighted with Jen's presence and her attention, that he forgot about the ice cream cone. Instead, he took Jen around back to show her his new water table... and to teach her to shoot baskets in his hoop!

The kids are sleeping now and recharging for the the events of the evening. My goal for the summer was to make sure I utilize my surroundings and enjoy the fun things close to home. And with the 4th of July weekend upon us, we have many things to choose from. This weekend is the annual Subfest held at the sub base. Dan got free tickets from work, so we'll be going either tonight or Sunday. We opted NOT to attend the night of the fireworks to avoid the large anticipated crowd. AND we are also going to TRY to attend the 4th of July parade. That should be interesting. I mean to see Evan's reaction to the bands, the floats, the sights and the sounds!!

So I sure hope you are all enjoying your long holiday weekend.

First Weekend of the Summer

So the first weekend of the summer... have you had fun? It's proved to be a hot day and a day of fun for us. But it is hard to enjoy the full summer feeling with an energetic and active toddler and a delicate and demanding newborn. But we did our best.

As Dan found the time this morning to mow the lawn (all this rain is making our nuclear grass grow above our ankles), Evan and I played lawn jarts. The classic dangerous game of lawn darts has been "recreated" into lawn jarts. Instead of the pointy needle, it's a Nerf like tip that is nicely weigthed. And I have to say, my 2 and half year old is pretty good. OK.. I didn't set up the circles for Evan to aim at but we did good. He was able to toss them at a controlled distance and straight!!! And it was fun!!

Then after the nap, we ventured out to Cows & Cones for a little farm action and ice cream. There wasn't much for "farm" but there are chickens, pigs and cows and sheep (but I didn't see them, only the boys did). And the ice cream was yummy. And it ended up being our dinner b/c the portions are so large!! Although Evan doesn't love ice cream. He WANTS it but it's too cold for him. And then when it melts, it's too soupy for him. But we discovered he's be happy with just a sugar cone.

So far my plans for the summer are on track... I plan to take advantage of the local surroundings.... farms, state parks (Bluff Point and Harkness), beaches and other attractions like the aquarium, seaport, dinosaur place (with a splash pad and a new maze), and the pool at Joel's condo...

Have a good weekend!!!

Potty Day 2

So yesterday marked the first day Evan ASKED to wear pull ups and sit on the potty. And I guess it was a success?? At daycare, he exhibited much 'control' or stubbornness!! He sat on the potty once or twice during the morning hours and no success... but no accidents either. He held everything!!! Then he wore a diaper for nap and his body knew it was used for "release"... and he was happy to put his pull up on again. If this keeps up, maybe we will never have an "accident" once he's wearing underwear... one can only wish!!

Again, I'd like to thank my aunt Brenda and family for giving us the book: Zack's Potty... Now I am not saying that this book will work for everyone or anyone else but it certainly lays a great foundation. Evan can seem to relate to Zack and what he's experiencing. The book was given to Evan for his birthday back in November and it's taken over 6 months for him to get an interest and it took Evan seeing his friends his age (who are boys) using the potty.

Let's hope this trend continues.... but I hear stories that it may take MONTHS and others tell me that if the child is ready, it can be done in a month :) I'll definitely keep you all updated on the progress (or regression if its the case :)

Milestones

So the first thing I'd like to say... and it's prematurely I know... but Evan requested to use the potty this morning. Now if you don't know, most boys potty train around 2.5-3yrs and it can take a long time. Evan has had NO interest in potty training.... except when boys at daycare were trying. Then the only boy Evan's age moved away and took Evan's interest in potty training.

For Evan's birthday, he received a book from my aunt and uncle about 'Zack's Potty'. And for the past 2 weeks, it's become a daily routine to read the book (per Evan's request). And Evan gets excited when Zack is successful in using his potty. So this morning, as I was half asleep, when Evan asked me to use the potty because "poop is coming".... I jumped out of bed as fast I could and we raced to the bathroom. Nothing happened except the idea that Evan may be too big for his Diego potty. And the other amazing tidbit of the morning is that Evan requested a pull-up to wear today.

This is amazing b/c Evan would scream, run away and cry at the idea of the potty or a pull up... I'd like to thank his friend Chris. Chris uses the potty and yesterday's adventures at the Children's museum reinforced the idea that Chris is a big boy and Evan wants to be a big boy!! Another milestones in my eyes is Haley's alertness. She is 9 weeks old now and sleeping 4-5 hrs at night. AND she's starting to coo and "talk". It's very cute and amazing to know that's she's healthy and getting big. Monday's doctor appointment had Haley at 8lbs 12oz and 21inches in length. She's only in 10th percentile for her age, but since she was 5lbs 9 weeks ago, we are all very happy!!

Today's adventures will take us to Dan's work and Haley can be introduced to the 'City of Groton'... although I think she already met the mayor when he came to our house to campaign... and we'll also pick up a beach pass... YEAH... the grill opens this weekend and then our summer can begin...cheap yummy food with a beautiful atmosphere to eat at the beach. Great place to take Evan for dinner on nights Dan isn't around...

There are some new photos so click HERE to check them out...

New Photos... busy summer :) Click HERE to see the latest photos.

Memorial Day Weekend

So it was day one of the long weekend and what to do to kick off the summer... we went to the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence RI. Ever been? Me neither... and Dan has been wanting to take Evan for years (yes, Evan is only two and half years old). But we've been wanting to take in more local attractions and it's only about 45 min away. So we packed up the kids and took a drive Saturday morning.

Unfortunately, it was much warmer in CT at 9am than RI at 10am... and it was cloudy in RI but it was sunny when we left CT. So we were VERY cold... except for Haley. Although she wasn't dressed for the dreary weather, she had plenty of blankets and accessories to keep her warm.

The first exhibit we went to see were the Zebras... we were all excited to see these black and white striped animals... but our excitement fizzled when we saw the sign that they weren't out today. Guess there was a new zebra and everyone was in a bonding session. So then we were off to see the "Wildebeest". Not a pretty animal with it's horns... and apparently a scary animal to Evan. And then for the rest of the day, Evan would call every animal with horns a wildebeest... even the ox and goats.

But nothing scared Evan as much as the giraffe. Giraffes were a draw for young Evan and his family... but no one expected this... after the disappointment of no zebras for the day and the elephants were outside... the giraffes were next our our 'must see list'. And to our luck, there was once eating near the fence... to Evan's dismay, he was "too close to his face". Dan took Evan to the fence and they watched the giraffe eat. Then apparently, the giraffe turned and faced Evan and Dan and just stared at them dead straight and I heard... "MOMMY".... and my little boy had fear in his big brown eyes. I was standing back from the crowd with Haley and her travel system stroller (big and bulky). But once Evan stepped away from the giraffe, he was fine... and 24 hrs later, Evan still mentions how the giraffe was "too close to my face".

The zoo is a small zoo but perfect for ages 2-10 and parents. There are enough exhibits and animals and things to do to make any child happy. AND on this particular day, I had known it was Teddy Bear Rally at the zoo. What does this mean??? It means you bring your teddy bear and there are vets on site to exam and 'repair' your bear!!! This was an amazing coincidence b/c Evan's poor Panda had a rough week. and his neck had a hole it in and his nose (which was already bitten off once before-- and repaired by grandma) had developed an another hole and was leaking stuffing all over my house. So at the end of our zoo day and well into nap time... we went to get Panda a check up... and what a blessing...and afterwards, Evan got to make sure she did a good job...and he listened to her heart and helped in the examination.

So our day at the zoo ended slightly before 3 and the kids were spent and ready to nap...and mom and dad were looking for ice cream. And as a coincidence, I remembered that Haley wasn't tightly strapped into her car seat... so we pulled over and happened to stop at a McDonald's... and I got an old fashioned plain jane soft serve hot fudge sundae.... and Dan got an ice cream cone and ate it while driving. I just can't eat that fast!! But I enjoyed that sundae and it truly reminded me of years past... but we were pleasantly surprised to see these items on the dollar menu... nice $1 for a little bit of summer.

There are photos for our day at the zoo. Just click here: zoo photos....

Then on day two of our long weekend... we all got to sleep in until 8:30am... nice! You'd truly appreciate it if you have kids. Then it was off to a nice BBQ at Dan's parents' house. Dan's brother and his family came down from MA for the day and it was a nice HOT pleasant day. The weather was definitely a summer day. Glad I had the sunscreen for Evan b/c it was hot. There was the usual BBQ fun of hot dogs and hamburgers and nice cold pasta salad and a greens salad with fresh spinach, lettuce and red peppers from the garden... ALREADY!!! Yep, guess so...

So it's 2 days down and only 1 more day of this holiday weekend...what is in store? nothing much. Dan plans to go golfing, so I'll find something creative, low key and fun for Evan to do... and something outside to be sure to tire him out and to also get his that fresh air.

AND as the weekend will wrap up soon.... so will my leave. I'm still on maternity leave as today marks Haley being 7 weeks old (although her due date was May 24). But my body is almost 100% and there are MANY things I want and need to get done while I am home. And besides tending to and creating my own garden, there are things in the house too... so I will have my weekly "to do" list and make sure I cross out at least 1 thing a day and make sure there is also something fun on that list too... after all, I am on leave from work!!! To give you an example of things to get done this coming month: patch holes and prep walls for painting in Haley's room; order and install new light blocking curtains in Evan's room; sort Haley's clothes into proper sizes (as she' outgrowing her newborn clothes fast); figure out EBAY to put my wedding dress out there (as is); plant flowers in flower garden and weed and tend to veggie garden (and add a couple more things if there is still time); clean outside of windows of house (never done); and downsize my wardrobe as I downsize my waistline..... looking forward to getting rid of all my maternity clothes.

Well, it's approaching dawn and I'm tired (yes, I was up feeding the baby), so I'll go.... but hopefully you had a nice and relaxing and fun memorial day weekend too.