Pink and Blue and Doxie Dogs Two...

Rylee's Birthday Highlights

2011-04-04T09:19:00.002-04:00

As promised, here are more pictures from Rylee's birthday! If you are on facebook, then you already saw this. But for those of you not, just click on the link and enjoy! :)

Rylee's birthday slideshow

Happy Birthday Sweet 3 Year Old!!

2011-03-06T19:42:00.000-05:00

Hello blog world! did you forget about us?? I didn't forget about you (even though it may appear that way!). So much has happened since I last blogged (oh almost 6 months ago - yikes!!). all good stuff, and I can't wait to fill you. Stay tuned for an update soon. But in the meantime, I am sure you are sick of seeing Jake's first birthday slideshow, so let's give this little 3 year old, who had a birthday yesterday, some face time...

I love you my sweet Rylee! Thank you for the best three years of my life. More birthday pictures to come soon. Along with a full update of what we have been doing the past 6 months. I promise. Stay tuned.....

Jake's First Birthday!

2010-10-06T12:30:00.000-04:00

Here is a slideshow recap of my little buddy's special day....Enjoy!

Just Like My Big Sis...

2010-09-28T17:11:00.000-04:00

*Stay tuned for more on Jake's 1st Birthday shortly!

The Best Part of Waking Up...

2010-09-16T22:59:00.001-04:00

...beats Folgers in my cup.

One Year Ago Today...

2010-09-10T09:35:00.000-04:00

My world was changed. My heart doubled in size. I learned that two really is better than one. And that boys really ARE fun. I experienced the miraculous gift of life and became a mommy again. One year ago today, I met my baby boy. And he swept me off my feet and stole my heart.

You're my little buddy, Boo Bear and have blessed our lives in ways I never knew possible. I love you more than you will ever know. Happy First Birthday!

2010-09-08T13:51:00.000-04:00

CUTE???

or GROSS????

YOU be the Judge.

GO JAKEY GO!

2010-09-07T22:01:00.000-04:00

Heeeeeee's Walking!

2010-09-05T23:30:00.000-04:00

Just like that. Thursday morning he wasn't. Thursday night, he was. And now I officially have TWO "toddlers" on my hands!

I'm soooo proud of you Jakey!

And so is your big sister!

*Video to come shortly!

11 Months

2010-09-02T15:39:00.000-04:00

Oh I am SO ridiculously behind. Seriously, this kid is going to be ONE in a week and I still haven't blogged about 11 months. I'll be honest, no offense to the Buster, but I am lacking big time in the motivation for these monthly posts. Only one more to go and I am done. There are just other things I would rather blog about, and these always just end up hanging over my head. for pretty much the whole month. but I know one day I will be glad I did these, to have as a reference. so here ya go 11 months....

My little Jakester...at 11 months you are EVERYWHERE. Into EVERYTHING. Nothing but TROUBLE. Seriously, I can't take my eyes off of you for one second or I might find you up here...

or in here...

You imitate everything. Any sound or motion you see or hear, you try your best to do. You mimic everything...sneezes, burps, coughs, screams, giggles. You play patty cake, you "give me 5"....

You know various parts of your body...head, nose, ears. And you are getting the tiniest bit of curl action in the back of your head, especially when it is humid outside! LOVE it after dealing with your sister's poker straightness!

You are saying "uh oh" and "hi". You can take up to 3-4 steps by yourself, but as soon as you realize what you are doing you lower yourself to the ground. You can stand up on your own without using anything to pull yourself up and you can stand for up to 10 seconds at a time, but again, as soon as you realize what you are doing, you lower yourself to the ground. you still would rather crawl everywhere. or climb on everything. You are such a climber, which is something I never really dealt with, with your sister. You love to climb onto things, into things...like I said, you are nothing but trouble. but I LOVE you!

You have a temper. If you dont' get what you want, or if something is taken away from you, you throw a "throw-yourself-on-the-ground-arms-and-legs-flailing" fit. it is pretty dramatic.

You still absolutely adore your sister and are actually getting along great with her. The older you get, the more she can "play" with you and you two really are becoming the best of buddies. It is my favorite!

You are sleeping about 11 hours at night (down at 8pm and up between 6-7am) and still 2 naps around an hour each. but if you happen to miss your morning nap, you take a SUPER long 3-4 hour nap in the afternoon. heck ya! definitely won't mind if you continue that once you give up your morning nap! Your eating just about anything I put in front of you and still nursing about 2 times a day, but over the last week we have dropped those and started whole milk, which you are loving.

You also had your first taste of ice cream. Handel's, of course. You loved it so much you took a bath in it.

You are such a joy, my little boo man! I can't believe you have almost been in my life for a whole year! Here are some more pictures from this month...

Things that Make You Go AWWWWWW...

2010-07-29T10:11:00.000-04:00

10 Months!

2010-07-24T15:18:00.000-04:00

Well, only 2 weeks behind on this post. Slowly but surely I am catching up....

10 Month Stats:

Well, we don't have any 10 month stats to report since for the first time in 4 months we haven't had a weight check! wahoo! So no idea what he weighs or how tall he is. But I do know that he popped three more teeth (top front. brings the total count to five.)! Like, the day we got home from vacation. Might explain the major sleep regression issues we had in Florida.

10 Month Tricks:

Climbing the stairs. It is his new favorite game. He wriggles out of my arms anytime we get near the stairs because he wants to climb them himself. Just like his big sister.

Blowing kisses. He often forgets the actual hand motion part, but never the "MWWAAAAAHHH"!

Getting closer to walking. Can balance without holding onto anything and can walk with just holding one of our hands.

10 Month Sleeping and Eating Habits:

Not much new to report. He goes down around 8 and sleeps until about 6 or 7. still taking two naps, about an hour long each. definitely getting really ready for him to drop the morning one. Eating MUCH better. About 80% "real" food 20% baby food at this point. Has definitely gotten past the "gagging" phase and pretty much eats whatever I put in front of him. some of his favorites include pizza, strawberries, lasagna, meatloaf, and veggies (peas, carrots, corn, green beans!). Nursing still 3 times a day, but definitely losing interest. I am thinking it is not going to be hard to wean this boy. and weaning is right around the corner. crazy.

10 Month Favorite Things:

Hanging out with Big Sis

GRASS!!!

Peek-A-Boo!

Swimming

Swinging

Driving

And just being a little ham!

I love you Boo Bear!!

Big News!

2010-07-21T16:32:00.001-04:00

Can you guess what this is for??

I'll give you a hint....

We have a BIG GIRL in our house!! That's right...we have been one whole week without diapers! I am so proud of my little munchkin! It all started last Monday night when she FINALLY did the big "p-double-o-p" on the potty. She has been terrified, and I really haven't been pushing it much, but after she finally did and saw that it really wasn't so bad, I decided to run with it. I told her "tomorrow when you wake up, you are going to put on your big girl pants and go on the potty all day". And there has been no turning back. I'm not going to lie, the first 2 days may have been the most exhausting, challenging days I have experienced as a parent (and to add to it...Ryan was out of town all week - awesome timing!). But by day three, she really started to catch on and has been doing so great! We still do pull-ups for naps and bedtime (athough she has been waking up DRY!) and going potty in public restrooms is definitely an issue (we visited Target's potty three times in one trip, all of which resulted in a panic attack. If we are out and about, she just holds it until she gets home.), but I definitely think it is safe to say we are done with diapers for Rylee! I know we still have a ways to go, and I am sure at some point she will regress and there will be many, many more accidents to come, but I am so proud of the big girl she has become over the last week! It is so crazy to see this little tooshie NOT in a diaper...

So, needless to say we have consumed lots of M&M's (#1) and ice cream cones (#2) over the last week! And this week, I am trying to wean her off that habit (any suggestions?!). But it was definitely fun celebrating each night. She is soooo proud of herself!!

and in between licks, she shared in her "potty party" by pushing her baby brother on the swing...

And do you know what THIS is for?

ME. Because after last week, I think I deserve a special treat too. I'm just sayin.

Just Whistle While You Work...

2010-07-17T11:44:00.000-04:00

and hum a merry tune.

Dear Shamu,

2010-07-15T17:37:00.001-04:00

You had me at hello.

and when you kissed me I knew our love was true.

I watched your show in complete awe..

I blushed when you waved your fin at me.

I cheered for you.

I held you tight.

and smothered you in kisses.

I helped you do your tricks.

I rode on your back.

I ate you for a snack?!

I even shared you (for a brief moment) with my baby brother.

Who I would like to apolgize for. You see, he didn't find your park quite as amusing as I did.

But, by the end of the day, I was exhausted too.

And definitely did not want to leave.

but at least I got to take you home with me!

I still talk about you every day and long for when we can meet again face to face...

XOXO,

your biggest ~~fin~~ fan

Vacation All I Ever Wanted

2010-07-14T14:24:00.000-04:00

Well, we have been back from vacation for almost a month and I still haven't posted about it. Oh I am so so so behind!! But anyways, being the "mamarazzi" that I am, of course I took an obscene amount of pictures, but what better backdrop than the beach and what better subjects than beach babies, right? splashing in the water, frolicking in the sand, searching for sea shells, sandy toes, sun-kissed cheeks....I had way too much fun with my camera and have had a hard time narrowing the pictures down to a reasonable amount for viewing. many of you have already seen some of these on facebook, but for those of you that haven't, here is a slide show of the wonderful time we had vacationing in Sanibel Island, FL with Ryan's family. Enjoy!

The Fourth

2010-07-08T22:10:00.002-04:00

Our 4th of July weekend was pretty low key, which was a nice change considering all the traveling we have been doing lately. My parents came in, which you can imagine made two little people very happy.

And basically we just did your typical 4th of July things...

sported red, white and blue...

chillaxed...

ate cool treats...

lots of pool time....complete with pruned feet

and water-logged diapers.

parade watching

and flag waving

We also stuck in a trip to the aquarium, which we were sure that a certain 2 year old would love. Wrong.

She was terrified.

Understandably so. I mean, does this guy look friendly to you?

And we were also sure that a certain almost 10 month old would be too young to enjoy it. Wrong again.

He LOVED it.

By the end Rylee warmed up a little bit.

And by the end Jake was, well.....

And last but not least, we celebrated and sang Happy Birthday to our Country, ~~"Erica"~~ America.

Work in Progress

2010-07-07T23:07:00.002-04:00

This blog is currently undergoing a facelift. Please be patient as you await the results.

Thank You!

Happy Birthday America!!

2010-07-04T18:16:00.002-04:00

9 Months!

2010-06-28T21:10:00.003-04:00

As you can see, a certain someone turned 9 months old while we were vacationing in Sanibel Island, FL. More to come on that later. For now, here is the 9 month run down...

9 Month Stats:

17lbs 3oz 27 1/2 inches long. finally out of the less than 5th percentile at a whopping 8th! baby steps in the right direction. the pediatrician was happy with his progress and we can discontinue the monthly weight checks. hooray! which means the next time we will go to the dr's will be for his 1 year. i don't even know what to think about that. except that it is crazy.

9 Month Tricks:
Waving

single or double. walking with the push toy or other household items that can double as a push toy.

9 Month Firsts:

first airplane ride

first swim

second swim was much more successful

first trip to the beach

first time in the ocean

9 Month Sleeping Habits:

Ya, sleeping was a bit of an issue, especially on vacation. lets just say some nights I was wondering if I was dealing with a 9 DAY old instead of a 9 MONTH old. but since returning, he has gotten back into his routine of sleeping from 8ish until about 6ish. he's an early bird like his father. and as you can see, he is still pretty good about napping anywhere.

9 Month Eating Habits:

Still nursing 3-4 times a day with 3 solid meals. We are trying to go full force with the "real" food and offer less of the "baby" food, but we have a gagger on our hands. this little guy gags on EVERYTHING. it is scary and I hate it, but we have to keep "practicing" so that he gets over it. I about have a heart attack at every meal. but he is starting to get better. and has enjoyed some new meals of cheeseburger, yogurt, watermelon, frozen veggies, cheese, spaghetti....

and not to mention toes...

and his absolute favorite while on vacation...sand.

He is also now drinking from a sippy cup. Thanks to Rylee being a great big sister and sharing. if only she would share her toys as well as she shares her germy sippy.

9 Month Cuteness:

And for tradition's sake:

"I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean..."

2010-06-25T20:58:00.002-04:00

This One's for YOU

2010-06-08T22:42:00.018-04:00

So a certain someone, who shall remain nameless (*Grammy*) has made it very clear that I have not been blogging enough lately (I know, I know it has been a while). This person has also made it very clear that the blogs that I have blogged, have been lacking a little in the Rylee department. It's no offense to Rylee, it is just that my little Boo man is so much more fun to take pictures of. He poses, he smiles, he looks at the camera. Rylee runs. and says "no 'peture' mommy". She hates the camera. or she just knows how to push my buttons. But every once in a while, if I am sneaky enough, I capture a good one. usually bribing is involved. or I just get lucky. but anyways, your voice has been heard. here is a blog and a blog devoted solely to Rylee. Enjoy the random pictures from the last few months that never made it to the blog. and wow, some of these are old!

8 months!

2010-05-19T16:36:00.000-04:00

8 month Old Stats:

Still a peanut. Weighing in at 15 lbs and 9 oz, our little guy is still in the less than 5th percentile for weight. But he is staying on his curve, so the Dr. is not concerned. I just have come to accept the fact that my babies are teeny. I guess I produce skim milk, not whole. oh well. tiny they will be.

8 Month Tricks:
Crawling!

He is crawling. Everywhere. Following his sister around like her little shadow. It is pretty cute, I think. However, if you ask Rylee she may have other thoughts. He absolutely adores her and with every push and kick and shove, he continues to go back for more. poor guy. I mean, what little brother wouldn't idolize this superstar??

And don't get me wrong, she definitely can be super cute with him and does like his company, at times. but more when it is on her terms and when she initiates it. Not when he is following her around, trying to climb all over her every move. which is pretty much all day long. It definitely gives me a whole new appreciation for my little brother and how I treated him when we were young. I'm so sorry, Dan! I digress....

Other tricks....Clapping!

And actually on command! He claps for Rylee all the time. Anytime she does anything, sings anything, says anything funny, her biggest fan is sitting there clapping. Did I mention he idolizes her??

How big is Jakey??

Sooooooo big!

Pulling himself up to standing and starting to cruise. Someone make him stop!!

Mini cyclone. This innocent little boy made this mess. All. By. Himself.

8 Month Eating Habits:

He is getting much better with the solid meals. He sits and clutches the tray of his highchair waiting for each bite like this:

He is eating 3 solid meals a day and 4 BF's (sometimes 5 if he has a mid-night wake up). He can feed himself finger foods, although we haven't gone too much past puffs, after he choked on a cheerio. I hate this phase of "teaching" them how to eat real food. Scares me to death.

8 Month Sleeping Habits:

He is giving me anywhere from 9-11 hours of sleep each night, but still every once in a while will have a random "3am wake up for a snack". He is definitely proving to be more of an early bird though, usually wanting to start his day at 6am. way too early for my standards. His naps are regular if we are home, but usually he is forced to take them in the car. And if need be, he can pretty much fall asleep anywhere...

or in any position.

8 Month Favorite Toys:

Although there are many toys that Jake can now "play" with....

His favorite are the table and chairs.

and bar stools.

chewing on them.

hanging on them.

pulling up on them.

or getting stuck in them.

def. his fav. place in the house when not chasing after his sister.

And the 8 Month Faces:

I love them. all of them.

With knees like these....

2010-05-02T19:48:00.004-04:00

You'd be tryin to crawl like this too.

Little Momma

2010-04-30T09:30:00.005-04:00

Na Na used to eat the same food as Rylee.Now Na Na eats the same "food" as Jake.

If you know what I mean...

She calls it "pumping". Because, clearly she has witnessed that pretty site as well. "I pumping Na Na" she says. and was telling the salesclerk at the mall the other day as she was pulling her shirt down to her belly button. She also saw a "bike pump" on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse one morning and shouted excitedly "just like Mommy's pump." um, ok? so observant she is.

Off He Goes..

2010-04-25T17:42:00.005-04:00

Well, Jake is officially crawling! And the little bugger waited until Ryan and I were gone to take his first "crawls" for Grammy and Papa! They were thrilled, but I was a little disappointed to miss it. That was Saturday. Exactly 2 weeks after turning 7 months. Which is EXACTLY the age Rylee was when she first crawled. 2 weeks after turning 7 months. to the day. kinda crazy, isn't it? so things have gotten a lot more interesting in our house. fun, but interesting. I forgot how "on your toes" you need to be with a crawling baby. he is already into everything he shouldn't be. and World War III breaks out with every toy he touches. I am constantly mediating, but I guess that is to be expected with two, right? Let the fun begin.....:)

So proud of you, Buster!

7 Months!

2010-04-20T21:13:00.001-04:00

7 months old! And I am only about a week and a half behind. go me! :) First of all...the stats. We had a weight check and I am happy to say that Jake is back on the charts at a whopping 5th percentile! hey, at least he is on the charts again. He gained one pound since 6 months, weighing 14 lbs 13 oz. The pediatrician was happy with the progress and said to continue doing what I am doing. you know, the 6-8 BF's a day and 2 solid meals. Try to introduce a third solid meal, but not if it means dropping a BF. First of all, we are lucky if we get 5 BF's in a day (who is she kidding 6-8?!?). and second, if I introduce a third solid meal, I KNOW he will drop another BF. So we are not doing a third meal just yet. It can wait. I mean, he may be a peanut, but do you think this belly looks like it is starving??

He is doing great with the solid foods. He loves sweet potatoes, avocados and mangos. He is not crazy about bananas, green beans and squash. but if I add pears to anything, we are golden. And since starting the 2 solid meals, he has been sleeping MUCH better. He goes down between 8-8:30 and sleeps all the way through until 6 or 7am. He is napping much more predictably as well. Although, I am not as much of the "nap nazi" with him that I was with Rylee. Most days his morning nap is taken in the car or else we would never get out of the house. But that is the great thing about this age...he can still pretty much fall asleep anywhere...

I know I can't continue to do this to him forever, but it works for now. and I guess I can see why everyone says that the second child gives up the morning nap alot earlier than the first child did! I remember being so sad when Rylee wanted to drop hers. With Jake, I am already looking forward to the day that we only have one long afternoon nap! But if we are home all day, he is great about putting himself to sleep in his crib for a morning and afternoon nap. Both of which are at least an hour to an hour and a half. Every once in a while he puts in 2-3 hour one, but, unfortunately, that is definitely not the norm.

Other things he is up to this month....although he isn't crawling yet, he is definitely mobile. Such a busy little boy...he is rolling all over the place, going from his belly to sitting, and is trying in the hardest way to pull himself up to stand. In fact, I sometimes think he is more interested in trying to stand than crawl! He definitely gets around. He is also babbling and saying "dadadada" and "mamamama", along with "lalalalala", "ayayayaya", and "bababababa". I LOVE it. This age really is I think one of the best. Enjoy my favorite pics from the month....

we all have our moments. my boys :)

First St. Patrick's Day...

my little irish man :)

what's that you say?

Stuck

2010-04-15T21:35:00.005-04:00

Rylee could care less about all her old "baby" toys. That is, until she sees her brother playing with them. Then all of a sudden she wants them. And she thinks nothing of swiping them right out from under him. Well, she couldn't really swipe this one. So she did the next most obvious thing....

and of course got herself stuck.

And of course, I had to grab the camera before helping her out ;)

I don't think she'll be trying that again anytime soon ;)

Here Came Peter Cotton Tail

2010-04-14T09:13:00.004-04:00

Well Easter has come and gone already. Along with all the chocolate covered pretzels and peanut butter eggs in my Easter basket. It always goes so fast. All of it. But it was fun while it lasted...with lots of Easter Bunny sitings, egg hunting and coloring, baskets full of goodies and gorgeous weather throughout. We spent the weekend with my parents this year, but not to worry, the Easter Bunny stops at their house too! Here are the pictures from our first Easter with little Buster.

Palm Sunday

Easter Egg Hunts..

Easter Egg Coloring

more Easter Egg hunting...

Kraynak's Bunnyland! A first for Buster..
Preparing for a visit from a certain bunny at Grammy and Papa's house by filling Easter baskets with grass and leaving carrots out...

Jake's favorite part of Easter was definitely the grass in his basket.

And Rylee's was this blow up bunny that she thought was the real Easter Bunny.

Her face when she discovered that the carrots were actually eaten Easter morning was priceless!

the Easter Bunny really was here!

bunny feet... bunny tails...

Family pics

Miss Sassy pants

Mr. Cool

and looks like the Easter Bunny also made a stop at our house while we were gone! and did I mention that Jake loved the grass??

Happy Easter!

Jake's Personal Trainer

2010-04-07T15:09:00.008-04:00

So this morning I left the kids in Rylee's room while I ran to the linen closet to get more diapers. During the 7 seconds I was gone, I heard Rylee cheering "Yay Baby Yay! Crawl! Go Baby! Crawl!" (Yes, she still calls him "baby". I know, we are working on it.) I eagerly ran back into Rylee's room, thinking I was going to find Jake crawling, but instead I found this....

She was on all fours demonstrating for him as he rocked back in forth on his hands and knees :) And speaking of rocking, little does she know how her world is about to be rocked once he starts crawling. But bless her little heart for encouraging him :) It made my day, melted my heart and reconfirmed how much I love having two!

Stay tuned for Easter pics....

Happy Easter!

2010-04-03T23:41:00.004-04:00

From my little bunny...

and my "good egg".

6 Months!

2010-03-31T15:33:00.002-04:00

Disclaimer: the below was written about 3 weeks ago. you know, when Jake actually turned 6 months. I have just been a little slow in finishing it. So it is a little outdated now, but the pictures and the facts are age appropriate for 6 months. and don't worry, hopefully (if I can stay on top of things) you will get a more up to date update next week...when he turns 7 months!

Happy Half Birthday Buster! Are you really 6 months old already? I can't even believe it. Time is just going way too fast! But even though you are getting big, you are still a tiny little guy...weighing only 13lbs and 13oz. You have dropped on the growth curve from 25th percentile to -3 (YIKES! Off the charts in the wrong direction!) You little peanut...you only gained a pound since your 4 month! The dr. isn't too concerned, considering your sister was always small too, but falling below the charts is never a good thing, so we do need to fatten you up a bit. solid foods...here we come! We did introduce rice cereal at 5 1/2 months and you are doing well with it. now we get to move onto more tasty things like pureed fruits and veggies. YUM. You are 26 1/4 inches long, which is 50th percentile and your little nugget of a head is still in the 10th percentile. other than the weight, the dr. was very pleased with your development at 6 months. You have two teeth (bottom). that are pretty darn sharp. If you know what I mean (ouch!). you are sitting all by yourself for minutes at a time. you are rolling all over the place and moving in every direction, but forward. you can stand supported against your music table and you can get up on all 4's in the crawling position. You still love your jumperoo and you have a new favorite in the music table and musical mirror. You are still hit or miss with your sleeping habits. infact, the first 3 nights we gave you cereal, you were up every 2 hours (what?! isn't cereal supposed to HELP you sleep?!). but now you are back to just your standard once a night wake up anywhere between 3-5am. ONE night you went 12 hours. but unfortunately, it was just a one time occurrence. we have managed to break the swaddle though. congratulations! you have moved on to sleepsacks! it wasn't too bad. I think you were ready. And that is about all that is new with you. You are the happiest little man and you bring such joy to my day. Thank you for coming into my life and making my heart double in size. I love you boo bear! Happy half birthday to you! Enjoy the MANY pictures I have from this month....

First bite of cereal...

by the end he was enjoying it...

and so was Big Sister!

Peek-a-jacoboo!

working on standing....

and crawling??

new favorite toy of the month...

new faces of the month...

loves to stick out his tongue....

and that smile...oh that smile... with that dimple!

my sweet jacoboo.

A Minnie Mouse Birthday Party!

2010-03-30T21:15:00.002-04:00

In case you couldn't tell from the pictures...in honor of Rylee's most recent obsession, the theme of this 2 year old birthday party was Minnie Mouse! We just had a small family gathering, and although the birthday girl didn't quite understand what the whole "birthday party" thing really meant, she definitely realized it was a special day just for her and she loved all the attention. Wearing her "pretty Minnie dress", opening presents, everyone singing to her, eating cake and playing with her cousin Kasey...she had a ball. Enjoy the pictures...

my little minnie...

the fam..my how we have grown in 2 years!

Jake and Kasey...dressed for the occasion!Rylee loves her cousin Kasey.
and Kasey loves Baby Jake.
but does Rylee love Baby Jake? um, depends on her mood at the moment. apparently not today.

but she sure loved opening her presents.
And playing with them.
or in them. And definitely loved her Birthday Cake (this year).

You may remember this reaction last year...

Things have changed.

and did I mention she loves playing with Kasey?

Thanks to everyone for making Rylee's 2nd Birthday so special!

A Day in the Life of the Birthday Girl

2010-03-28T20:46:00.005-04:00

(Uh, over three weeks later!)

Have you ever felt so far behind in something that you just can't seem to find the motivation to go back to it? Well that is how I have felt lately about the blog. I am very disappointed in myself. Rylee's birthday was over three weeks ago and you haven't seen one picture yet. Jake will be 7 months next week and I never blogged about 6 months. I am over my head in pictures and subjects to blog about and I just haven't felt like diving into it. Don't ask me why? I really don't have a good excuse. Maybe it is because we have finally been experiencing some spring weather and spending time outside of the house for once? or maybe it is because my husband is finally finished with his busy season and is actually around to keep me company in the evenings again(ok, maybe those are good excuses)? or maybe it is just because I have been lazy? or enjoying night time tv a little too much? or all of the above? but whatever the reason, the fact of the matter is, I am behind. Very behind. So bare with me while I play a little catch up. First up...the birthday girl's special day....

Good Morning Two Year Old!! We have a special day planned!

time to open your FIRST present...

and get dressed in your pretty birthday outfit...

and off we go...

to Kindermusik!and McDonald's for lunch! Rylee style. Burger first.

Bun second.

Birthday's are exhausting...time for a nap!

Then Daddy's home!! Now we can really celebrate!

And give you your BIG gift. Happy Birthday Rylee!

Then your favorite for dinner...pancakes!

And don't forget the cake...not afraid to dig in this year!
Happy Second Birthday my sweet Rylee. I hope you enjoyed your special day!

stay tuned for pictures from the birthday party...

Picture Day!

2010-03-15T14:41:00.006-04:00

For my sweet 6 month old!

And my "terrible two" year old!

Who can also be sweet.

Sometimes.

Especially when bribery is involved.
I'm just sayin...we may or may not have held a visit to a certain bunny over her head in exchange for some smiles. And some M&M's in exchange for some snuggles with her brother. And it may just have worked.

And speaking of 6 months and 2 years, I know I am extremely behind on my blogging. But stay tuned for some birthday recaps after I sort through the (this may surprise you) hundreds of pictures that were taken to document the occasion.

Happy Birthday My Sweet Baby Girl!

2010-03-05T09:22:00.001-05:00

I can't believe you are TWO! Where has the time gone?! Thank you for the BEST two years of my life. Now can you stop growing up so fast, please? I love you to the moon and back...

XOXO,

Mommy

She's Almost TWO

2010-02-24T14:27:00.010-05:00

And she's definitely TERRIBLE. But we still LOVE her!!!

Here are some thing's Miss Rylee has been up to...

Vocabulary: consists mainly of three words:

1) NO

2) Nope

3) No way

Usually followed by a tantrum.

Time Out: where she ends up a couple times a day. But I will say, it does work! And sometimes just the threat of it is enough to make her stop. Sometimes.

Shoplifting:

I wondered why the alarm was going off as we were exiting Kroger. I looked in my cart and everything seemed bagged up and paid for. Except for THESE in my daughters hands:

Disclaimer: when I take both kids to Kroger, I have to use one of those shopping carts that looks like this:

Rylee goes up front in the car and Jake goes in his infant carrier in top. Groceries in the middle. It's fun times steering this thing around, let me tell you. but whatever works. So, with Rylee up front, she has perfect access to reach out and grab anything on her level. thus explains how she managed to get her fingers on some candy from the check out, without me noticing until I was removing her from her "Kroger car" and putting her into the real car to go home. my little thief.

Appetite For Destruction:

Yup! She ate her crib. Not to mention all the books she has ripped, and all the noncoloring book surfaces she has colored on. what were we thinking when we bought her a WHITE table? thank goodness for washable crayons :)

Speaking of coloring....

She is quite obsessed and very particular about this activity. Nothing else can be on her table except for her coloring book and crayons. If there is anything else on her table, she will move it to the floor. And her crayons have to be lined up neatly in a row, side by side. If one is broken, it goes on the floor. and don't even think about scattering them about the table, or heaven forbid, take one from her. But, that doesn't mean she can't remove them from the table and use them for things other than coloring, like shoving them down her baby brother's throat while he is minding his own business playing on the floor. true story. I tell myself she was just trying to share her crayon with him, instead of trying to choke him. Poor Jake. His tongue was stained red. At least they are nontoxic. right?

Potty talk:

She has learned a new word. it isn't a word that is commonly (I mean, EVER) used in our household, so i am not sure where she heard it. Let's just say it rhymes with truck. She was chanting it the other day. I think she thinks she is saying something else, I am just not sure what yet. I am choosing to ignore it and hoping it goes away.

In other potty news...we have been introducing the idea of the potty for some time now. She sits on the potty multiple times a day and asks to go "poo poo on the potty" multiple times a day, but rarely does she actually go when she is sitting on that potty, multiple times a day. She sits there and says "it's coming, it's coming". but it never comes. until her diaper is back on her little bottom. I am thinking she is not ready? but I humor her and put her on the potty (almost) every time she says she has to go. in due time, in due time.

But she sure does want to wear her Dora big girl pants. Even over her clothes.

So there you have it. She's really not that terrible, I am just finding this age to be very difficult. I know it is just a phase and behind all the tantrums, and the "no's" and the hitting and the acting out, at heart she really is still that same sweet little Rylee that came into my life almost 2 years ago. And I love her more and more with each passing (though it may be frustrating) day.

I love you, my baby girl!!

Jump Around

2010-02-24T09:55:00.004-05:00

He just keeps jumping...

and jumping...

and jumping...
and jumping...

and jumping....

till he can't jump no more.

God Bless Baby Jake

2010-02-21T21:54:00.019-05:00

Last weekend our little man was baptized into the Catholic Church. It was a beautiful weekend (except for the snow storm!) with all of our families traveling in for the occasion. Despite hardly napping all day, Jake was a perfect little angel. He didn't even shed a tear when the water was poured on his head. Thanks to everyone for traveling in and making Jake's day so special! he is so blessed to have you in his life. Enjoy the pictures....

The baptismal gown (ya, ya, I know it looks like a dress) is 97 years old. It was my grandfather's, so Jake's great grandfather's, and it has been worn by just about every descendant for four generations. My mother and her siblings, my siblings and I all wore it, along with most my cousins and their children (27 babies to be exact). Rylee wore it and now Jake. So yes, my little boy may have worn a "dress", but it was a very special dress :) Thank goodness for coloring books to keep all the little girls occupied at the church.

they take their coloring very seriously.

the God Parents Grandma and Grandpa J with all the cousins...

my brave little boy...

Rylee was very concerned about the water being poured on Jake's head and kept saying over and over and over again "baby all wet. baby all wet." we asked her if she wanted to be "all wet" too and she called our bluff and said "yes". what a stinker.

Afterwards everyone came back to our house, where of course there was more coloring.
And some tired babies.

Then a slumber party with the Toledo clan!

Complete with a late night showing of "Harold and the Purple Crayon".

Thanks again to everyone, for making the weekend so special!!

5 Months!

2010-02-18T21:13:00.012-05:00

Such a big boy!!! At 5 months my Jakey Boo is.....

Sitting all by himself. He's mastered the tripod, but is also getting better and better at balancing without the use of his hands. He got his first tooth! Bottom left. Same as his sister, but 4 months earlier. He is finally sleeping in his crib at night time and nap time. which has been a hard adjustment (for both of us), but i think we are finally falling into a routine. He will sleep up to an hour in the morning (2 hours after waking up), about an hour in the afternoon (2 hours after waking up from morning nap) and then usually a little catnap (30 mins) in the evening. then bedtime is 7:30 and your guess is as good as mine how long he will sleep. He is only waking up once, but the time of that wake up varies every night. sometimes 2am, sometimes 4am, sometimes 5am. I will give him a little snack and then he will usually go back to sleep until around 7 or 8. could be better, could be worse. but he does seem to like his crib now (definitely didn't at first) and is able to soothe himself to sleep, which is nice. We are still going strong with the swaddle. We tried to break it when we transitioned to the crib and that was awful, so we went back to it. but this time with one arm out. He seems happy with it and hasn't tried to break out of it yet, so we'll see how much longer we can go with it. The kid doesn't move when he sleeps. Rylee, swaddled and all, was all over the crib. Jake, on the other hand, wakes up in the exact same spot we laid him down in. We haven't started rice cereal yet, but probably in the next week or so. maybe that will help with the sleeping through the night? we'll see. And that's about it. He is just my happy little Buster! Such a sweet, sweet little boy....I am so blessed! Enjoy the pics...

Got teeth?

2010-02-07T11:30:00.009-05:00

While this little one is working on her LAST set of teeth (two year molars).

This little one is working on his FIRST (bottom front). It's fun times in our household. Lots of drooly mouths, runny noses, chapped cheeks, slobbery fingers, low grade fevers, and sleep deprived, cranky babies. Why can't they just be born with teeth?

Some air time for the little guy...

2010-01-30T09:31:00.007-05:00

Although I could sit and watch him for hours, at 4 1/2 months, there really isn't much my little Buster is doing that others might find overly entertaining. He's not mobile (although he wants to be). He can't talk (at least in our language). But he is sweet. And his smiles and giggles brighten my day. So I just wanted to share some of that sweetness with you...

Ahh...the jumperoo. Rylee loved it. Jake loves it. Rylee and I love watching Jake love it.

And going no where fast.

It's Raining It's Pouring...

2010-01-27T16:21:00.001-05:00

And Lucky Rylee has "KIDORABLE" rain gear!! Kidorable sent Rylee this ADORABLE rain coat, boots and umbrella set. I mean, we love to dress for occasions but could she be any cuter for her date with the rain?

So have you heard of Kidorable? Let me introduce you. The company was started in the 90's with a mission to mix every day functional items with fun. What a perfect way to enrich your child's imagination by bringing excitement to their apparel and accessories! And the best part is, it's so affordable!! Never again will I have to put up a fight to get Rylee into her coat and boots (well, at least if it is raining). The only fight we will be having is to get her to take them off. She wants to wear her "bugs" all the time. Even over her pajamas...

or snow boots.The adorable rain coat is PVC with a comfortable polyester lining. It also comes on a matching ladybug wooden hanger, which is a cute added touch, as Rylee loves having her very own "bug" hanger to hang her coat on.

The boots are made of natural rubber and are perfect for splashing around in puddles while keeping little toes clean and dry.

And the 100% nylon umbrella is "mini" sized for those little hands to hold.

And that's not all! Kidorable has a whole line of products to match, including knit mittens, hat, towel and backpack. And various other styles. A few of my other favs include the Butterfly, Bee, and I think Mr. Jake just might need the frog someday. or the fireman? decisions, decisions :)

Thank you Kidorable for showing us some sunshine even when it is raining :)

Now go check it out!!
http://www.kidorable.com/

I Wish I was a Little Bit Taller...

2010-01-23T21:27:00.002-05:00

I wish I was a baller.

4 Months

2010-01-20T18:02:00.003-05:00

I love this age. I know I love every age, but this age I especially like because I feel like it is such a good mix of finally "waking up" and really starting to notice and interact with the world, but at the same time, still very much being a "baby". I know from experience that it just continues to get more fun, as they grow older (well, maybe with the exception of the terrible twos.) but I also know that with that "fun" you lose that "baby". And that makes me sad. So at 4 months, I am still holding onto and enjoying that little bit of dependent, helpless "baby" that is left...that still loves to be held, that can nap anywhere and everywhere (although we are working on the crib), that is still solely surviving on breastmilk, that isn't mobile or that can't tell me "no" yet. But I am also enjoying the "fun" that comes along with him growing up and becoming more aware of his world....the smiles when he sees my face, the turning of his head to find my voice, the giggles when we play peekaboo or when I tickle his belly, and the fascination he gets out of playing with his feet or the joy he gets from bouncing in the jumperoo. I know all too well how fast these months fly by and I am trying my hardest to savor every stage and every moment while it lasts. And I'm for sure loving every moment with this 4 month old....

Mr. Jacobadoo, at 4 months old you weigh 12 lbs 14 oz. You are in the 25th percentile, which means you are starting to slide down the curve and become more and more like your teeny sister. You are average height at 24 3/4ths inches, and you have a teeny tiny head that is measuring in the 10th percentile. but don't worry, we know you have big brains in there :) You are such a happy little guy. it doesn't take much to make you smile or giggle. You have discovered your feet and they can entertain you for hours. now your sister isn't the only one pulling your socks off anymore ;) You are always kicking your little legs and flailing your little arms, whether on your back or your belly. your new favorite toy is the jumperoo. You seem to have forgotten how to roll over. And how to sleep through the night, apparently (thanks alot). You had your first Christmas. along with bronchialitis and your first trip to the ER. You have discovered your thumb and have managed to wiggle your little arm out of the swaddle to get to it. But I wouldn't quite consider you a "thumb sucker" yet. You only do it on certain occasions to soothe yourself. And you aren't fooled by the pacifier. You are balancing yourself in a "tripod"...getting ready to sit all on your own. you are ticklish on your belly and under your neck and you love to play peek-a-boo. especially with your sister. you absolutely adore her and will watch her every move. We love you my little boo bear...I can't believe you are already 4 months old! Enjoy the pics...

Snow Day

2010-01-17T21:11:00.008-05:00

Fun in the snow with Dada and Papa...

sledding...

making snow angels...

building a snowman.. loving Mr. Snowman...

and looking like a little snow bunny, all bundled up...

Leftover Holiday Cheer

2010-01-12T16:28:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share some pictures from our holiday season that I never got around to posting.

Tis the season....

to be naughty

or nice (she really is kissing him, I promise).

to decorate the tree.

or your baby brother.

to do tummy time on wrapping paper.

to be surprised!

to have visions of sugar plums dancing in your head.

to admire the first snow.

to be extremely uncooperative during Mommy's attempts at a picture for this year's Christmas card.

God forbid she actually hold her little brother.

no, she'd rather kick him instead.

to eat Christmas goodies.

or black crayons?

to be a Scrooge.

to watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with Daddy (a first for all three).

to wear Santa hats...

all the time.

just because.

or Rudolph ears.

and to be extra Christmas-y cute. Fa la la la la, la la la LA.

Christmas According to Rylee

2010-01-10T23:20:00.001-05:00

Well my mom has been a little lazy on the blog lately. We were pretty much snowed in all last week at Grammy and Papa's house and instead of catching up on the blog (like she had intended to do) she has had her nose stuck in a book about Vampires (Twilight, anyone?). She NEVER reads, so this must really be a good book! Anyways...I know Christmas is long gone and forgotten by now, but I still have to tell you about mine! Unfortunately, as you already heard, I was sick through the whole holiday. We celebrated three times and unfortunately, I wasn't myself for any of it. But that's ok, I really didn't know what I was missing. I got tons and tons of toys, but all I really wanted to do was color. Good thing Santa brought me my very own table and crayons. And good thing my grandmas were prepared with lots of coloring books! We started Christmas off in Toledo. I was healthy when we arrived and had a ball the first day...

coloring.

and playing with cousin "Cici" (Kasey)... we went to see a "Winter Wonderland"...
and rode on our first choo choo train.

And it was all down hill after that. I woke up in the middle of the night hysterical. I was barking like a baby seal and was wheezing with very labored breathing. It was pretty darn scary and resulted in a trip to the ER. 5 hours, a breathing treatment and a steroid later and we were back home and doing much better. But I still had a horrible sounding cough, fever and runny nose. that lasted for the next 2 1/2 weeks. Oh yeah, and I gave it to baby Jake too. My germs are about the only thing I like to share with him. So anyways, I was a little under the weather (and sleep deprived) when the rest of my cousins came over to celebrate Christmas in Toledo. I pretty much didn't want to do anything.

except color.
I wouldn't open gifts.

I wouldn't take pictures with my cousins.I just wanted to color.

We ended our Toledo trip a little early so that we could get me home to see my pediatrician. They reconfirmed that I had croup and pretty much said that it just had to take its (long) course. But sick or not, that still didn't stop me from wanting to steal the treats we left out for Santa on Christmas Eve at my house.

I don't know why he deserves the cookies?

I'm the one that has been so good.

He must have really enjoyed the treats though, because he left me lots of toys!

but of course my favorite was my own little table and chairs where I can (you guessed it!) color my little heart out.

Then it was on to Grammy and Papa's house for Christmas #3. Don't my shoes look so "pretty pretty?"
still sick Christmas morning :(
but still coloring... And that pretty much sums up my holiday. Thanks everyone (Santa, that means you too!) for a wonderful Christmas. Sorry I wasn't myself for most of it, but now that I am feeling better, I am thoroughly enjoying all my new toys (and Baby Jake's too!). Merry Christmas!

The past 10 years....

2010-01-01T11:16:00.008-05:00

i said hello and goodbye to my 20's. i spent alot of time in the classroom. i graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Masters degree in Accounting. i bartended. and love, love, loved every minute of it. i thought it was the best job ever. until i became a mom. i was single. i partied alot. i missed 4 weeks of my senior year with a severe case of mono.
i lived in urban downtown Chicago. i was a tax consultant. but i entertained the idea of becoming a dogwalker. i met new friends that i consider my best. i reconnected with old ones that i also consider my best. i had my gall bladder removed. i lived in 4 different states. and 13 different dorm rooms/apartments/houses. i loved alot. laughed alot. and cried alot. i had my heart broken. i caught a 150 lbs marlin. all by myself. true story. i lost three of the only grandparents i ever knew within 14 months. in those same 14 months i found the love of my life. i traveled to 46 of the 50 US states. 40 of them were for work. but that doesn't mean that it was all work. i witnessed a Steelers Super Bowl victory. twice. i witnessed a Notre Dame....well, nevermind. i got engaged. married. pregnant. had a baby girl and thought life could not get any better. and then i got pregnant again. i had a baby boy and realized that love really does multiply and life really does get better. i got not one, but two dogs. i became an aunt. and a godmother. i lived in Connecticut. i played craps at the same table as Tom Hanks. i put my career on hold to be a stay at home mom with my kids. and it was the hardest but best decision i ever made. i took ballroom dancing lessons. i learned to knit. but never got further than a few scarves. i was an extra in a movie with Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. but my scene never made the cut to the big screen. i've pulled many all nighters. for a wide range of different reasons. studying. partying. mothering. obviously, the past decade brought alot of changes in my life. most of which were for the best. as i look back and reflect over all that has happened, i feel very blessed in the path my life has taken. it is crazy to think that at the start of 2000, my husband, my kids and my life that i know today was all just a dream. a dream, that has now come true. goodbye 20's and hello 30's. i can't wait to see what you have in store for us in the next 10 years to come. Happy New Year Everyone!

Baby Jake's First Christmas

2009-12-29T22:23:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately, poor Jakey's first Christmas was also accompanied by poor Jakey's first sickness :( Rylee came down with croup when we were celebrating Christmas in Toledo the weekend before Christmas (more on that scariness later, but lets just say it involved a 1am trip to the ER) and sure enough, by Christmas Eve, my poor little Buster had a runny nose and that "none other than croup" cough that I have become way too familiar with. So we had two sick kids for Christmas, and to be honest, neither are still back at 100%. Rylee is almost there, but Jake, who up until now has had milder symptoms, seems to be getting worse :( And we are miles away from our pediatrician. awesome. but anyways, we still made the best of our Christmas, even though our children were not themselves. At least we still got to be with all our families, because afterall, that is what Christmas is really about. So without further ado, I would like to turn things over to the little man, himself...

Merry Christmas to me...I got to celebrate my first Christmas three times! The first stop on my Christmas tour of homes was in Toledo to celebrate with Grandma and Grandpa J and all my cousins.

Aren't Rylee, Kasey and I cute in our matching PJ's??

Cousin Kasey kept trying to pick me up...I guess I was a little too heavy for her.

My favorite was being snuggled in Grandpa J's arms. He's so comfy.

puts me right to sleep every time.

Second stop on my Christmas tour of homes was my very own home! Daddy read us "The Night Before Christmas" and that night Santa came to my house. not really sure what that means exactly, but I do know that he brought me lots of toys that I really can't use yet. But don't worry, my big sister is breaking them in for me :)

Final stop on my Christmas Tour of homes...Youngstown. By this point my nose was getting a little snuffly...but don't worry, I was still my good old smiley, happy little self.

and sleepy little self.

Besides it being my first Christmas, this trip was also exciting because I finally got to meet my Uncle Dan and Aunt Mimi. Aunt Mimi was great at making me smile and laugh. I heart them.

Sissy and I didn't even get to go to mass on Christmas Eve with everyone because of our croupy cough. I know I don't look very sick here, but check out Big Sis below...

You know she is really sick when she actually holds me and let's mommy document it.
but apparently not too sick to steal my slipper!

My first real Christmas morning....waiting to rush downstairs to see what that Santa guy left under the tree for me (again.).

I loved watching everyone open presents...
My mommy said I was her BEST gift this year. But unlike all the others, I didn't come all wrapped up with a bow. Or did I?My favorite gift was my thumb, which I just recently discovered.
or was it grammy's arms? don't even think of stealing me away!
After opening presents we gathered around the fireplace for some photos... and then the rest of the day was spent watching football with the guys...
and snoozing.

did I ever mention that I love napping in people's arms??

And that's not all folks....more to come from my sister later....

Name that Christmas Carol

2009-12-27T17:41:00.007-05:00

Stay tuned for a recap of all our Christmas fun, but in the meantime I leave you with this holiday sweetness...

Oh I am so in love with that little smile :)

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T11:33:00.002-05:00

Santa Jakey

2009-12-22T15:48:00.003-05:00

Christmas Fun with Little Rylee Lou Who ....

2009-12-21T20:43:00.008-05:00

Who was no more than two.

THE...THE...

THE...

THE GRINCH!

What to my wondering eyes should appear?

2009-12-18T16:40:00.004-05:00

Not a single tear from my kids this year!!

I know, I couldn't believe it either.

Pat-a-Cake

2009-12-13T16:18:00.008-05:00

Pat-a-cake, Pat-a-cake, Gingerbread Man.

Make me a cookie as fast as you can. Roll it and pat it

and mark it with the cutter.

and put it in the oven for....

Rylee and...

her brother!

3 Months!

2009-12-10T21:44:00.017-05:00

Is a "3 month old" still considered a "newborn'? I still think of my little Jakey as a newborn, but let the truth be told... he is out of his "newborn" clothes, he is sleeping through the night, and he has officially lost his "newborn" smell (tear). I feel like right around 3 months is when babies really start to wake up and lose all that "newborn-ness"and it makes me soooo sad. My little boy is growing up too fast! But what a happy little man he is becoming...he smiles at just about anything and loves when we talk to him. Infact, if I am holding him and talking on the phone he smiles his face off because he thinks I am talking to him. It is so cute. He has discovered his tongue and loves to imitate us. He is starting to "play" by batting and grabbing at things and he loves to flirt with the butterflies in his rainforest and smile and talk to the fish in his aquarium bouncer (his favorite). He is rolling over in both directions from belly to back and twice has gone from back to belly. He plays with his hands and kicks his feet all the time with excitement. He is still sleeping pretty well, but instead of giving me 7-9 hours at night like he was doing for a while, he now gives me around 6-7, but then takes a 4-5 hour nap in the afternoon (in his infant carrier - he sleeps like a CHAMP in that thing!). fair trade, right? oh and the highlight of this month...hearing the first sounds of the sweetest little giggle :) It's so amazing to me that even the tiniest of milestones are still just as exciting to us the second time around. We love you Buster! Enjoy the pics from this month...

talking to his friends, the fish...

we brought out the bumbo this month and he loves to sit and watch everything going on around him...

and apparently he isn't the only one enjoying the bumbo.

Silly sister time...

"Baby Jakey Call" (as Rylee would say)

ba humbug!

Out with November, In with December...

2009-12-09T10:36:00.000-05:00

Is it really December already? Not really sure where November went, but here we are submerged in the crazy hustle and bustle of Christmas season and I haven't even blogged about Thanksgiving yet! Of course it was filled with lots of travel, but thankfully this year, it was all within the state of Ohio. For the first time since I graduated from high school I did not have to cross state borders to "go home" for the holidays! And that is definitely something to be thankful for...after 10 plus years (really?! yikes!) we have finally found our way back to Ohio. And although we still had to travel, at least it was all within the same state :) Anyways! Here is our Thanksgiving recap....

First stop on our Thanksgiving tour...Great Aunt Susan and Great Uncle Jerry's new house...

Where Rylee fell in love with Bullseye the cat and had fun pretending she was a dog.

Next up: Cousin Kasey's house!

Rylee and Kasey had a ball playing together...

just like two peas in a pod...

even down to their outfits! note the matching leggings... Next stop: Aunt Joy's for Buster's First Thanksgiving with Ryan's family!

Then onwards to Youngstown to celebrate Buster's First Thanksgiving with my family...

He was clearly pooped from all the thanksgiving excitement.

Fat baby in a little coat?

And then the rest of the weekend was just spent at Grammy and Papa's house gearing up for December with Christmas pj's and Papa's train display...

do you think Rylee liked the trains??

Jake with the master and his masterpiece....my dad never seizes to amaze us each year with his Christmas village/train display...

Little Turkey's

2009-11-26T00:00:00.002-05:00

Remember this little turkey last year on her first Thanksgiving? She was almost 9 months old.

Now check out this little turkey on his first Thanksgiving. Wearing the same onesie. He is almost 3 months old. I don't think it is so much that he is that big, but more that she was that small. Great news for me in the holiday attire hand-me-down department! It's just too bad he can't wear pink. or dresses.

I think it is obvious what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving....Not just one, but two little Turkey's to gobble up! :) Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Last Weekend...

2009-11-23T08:47:00.002-05:00

We loaded up the car and road-tripped it to one of my favorite cities for a very special event. Here's the recap, all "spelled" out for ya...

"C" is for...Congrats!

To Mark and Susie on their beautiful wedding. Susie is Ryan's first cousin and Mark just so happens to be one of my friends from Notre Dame! Small world? yes, it is. afterall. The two could not have been happier and the wedding could not have been more beautiful. congrats to the both of you...we were so excited to share in your beautiful day!

"H" is for....Helping Hands.

Thank God for Grandparents! Who lovingly held this little guy ( who was a perfect angel, btw) all weekend...

And who helped control this little girl (who was not-so-much the perfect angel, btw) all weekend....

"I" is for...In the wedding....

Rylee and her three cousins had the honor of being flower girls in the wedding. And oh were they cute, if I don't say so myself...

All smiles, hammin' it up down the aisle at the rehearsal.... And all "wiping-my-nose-off-my-face-because-I-just-had-a-major-meltdown-right-before-this" at the ceremony (more to come on that later). Yes, this is the only picture I have of her making her way down the aisle as a flower girl (but at least she made it down the aisle!). Real dainty and lady like, Rylee.

"C" is for....COUSINS!

Rylee so enjoyed getting to spend time with her cousins. And we so enjoyed watching them all have so much fun together!

"A" is for...Around the City
Before the ceremony on Saturday we all took advantage of the gorgeous, not-so-typical November weather, and did some exploring around the city...

"G" is for....Group Photos!

It's a wedding...of course there were lots of family photo opportunities!

And remember that meltdown I mentioned earlier...here it is. Leave it to my child to ruin this great photo of Mom and Dad J with all their grandkids. And speaking of ruin...I can't wait to see the professional shots of the whole family that the photographer took right after this.

"O" is for....One tired Rylee!

Who only made a 5 minute appearance at the reception and cried "party all done, party all done" the whole time. I guess that is what happens when you pretty much skip your nap two days in a row and go to bed 4 hours past your bed time the night before.

But what a great weekend! Even though it was exhausting, it was great to be back in my favorite city of C-H-I-C-A-G-O and to spend quality time with our family. Thank you everyone for making it so special and again, a big congrats to the beautiful bride and groom!

Ps. And guess who had her first taste of McDonald's on the way home?!

Can I just say...she was "lovin it" :)

Walk Like A....

2009-11-19T09:10:00.004-05:00

Duck?!

Such a Silly Goose!!