2009 in Photos

The Year in Pictures

January

Connor was snuggling with his big teddy bear - still getting in lots of tummy time at 3 mos old.

February

One of the many playdates Connor spent with the lovely Avery & Ethan P (Mommy P's Place )

March

Connor & I took a nice walk on the Rail Trail in our neighborhood.

April

Happy Easter from my adorable little Easter Bunny!!!

May

Connor & I sharing a huge laugh when he first meets his cousin's new puppy. What a great moment on our first Mother's Day.

June

Connor & Daddy are at the St. Augustine's Bazaar in Highland - Connor's first time watching fireworks.

July

A family shot -- notice Mommy's growing belly!!!

August

Connor is starting to become a trouble maker...climbing the gates meant to keep him out!

September

Mommy & Daddy took him Apple/Pumpkin Picking -- he found one he liked!

October

My little man turned 1 Year Old!!!!!! I can't believe how fast that year flew by!

November

Connor became a BIG BROTHER to his little sister Paige.

December

Too many great photos of the kids together, but I wanted to pick a holiday photo of them together for the end of the year -- Christmas/New Year Season.

Wish List Wednesday

My wish this Wednesday is simple... I do not want to go back to work on Monday and leave my baby.... my maternity leave (well, my 6 weeks) is over...and I am not ready to leave my little sweethearts behind again....

Great Grandpa

I must say, that my children are lucky enough to not only have double the amount of grandparents that most children have - but they have great-grandparents too. Connor was fortunate enough to have had 2 great-grandfathers and 1 great-grandmother for the first 8 mos. of his life. Unfortunately, back in June one of his great-grandpa's passed away.

Now, Paige & Connor have a paternal great-grandmother "Ma" and a maternal great-grandfather "Grampy".

Grampy is a fresh young age of 92 years old and couldn't be more thrilled to have great-grandchildren. We took the kids down to visit him this past weekend and he was just delighted to be entertained by Connor's antics and Paige's cute little faces.

I was sure to snap some photos to keep for memories as the kids get older, and I'd love to share some with you. \

Welcome to the toy store!

Welcome to the E Family Toy Store

What are you looking for?

Books??? We have shelves full!

Baby dolls? Take your pick, we've got a few Cabbage Patch dolls plus a few others if that's not your style.

Trucks? We have every truck ever manufactured.

Vacuums? We have 2. One is realistic, the other is musical and light up.

Blocks? We have some nice wooden ones!

Sporting Toys? We have a lovely basketball hoop game and a fun bowling game!

Musical Toys? How about an "electric guitar" that plays using push buttons?!

DVDs? We have Elmo movies, Baby Einstein movies and a collection of Disney Christmas movies.

Miscellaneous Baby/Child Items? We have a wonderful assortment of baby and toddler clothes. As well as diapers and wipes.

Still don't find what you're looking for??? How about GIFT CARDS?!!?

As you can tell, the kids had a fantastic Christmas and were spoiled rotten by Santa Claus as well as all of their Grandparents/Aunts/Uncles. And now...where to put it all.

Traditions Old and New

Growing up we always celebrated Christmas Eve. We had a nice family dinner, opened presents and enjoyed being together with family. No matter how young or old I was, every Christmas we did the same dinner, gift giving and family time. As a young girl we always had an extra time added in where we would snuggle up in one of our bedrooms and read some Christmas stories together while we were "hiding from Santa Claus" (he always came to our house in the early evening so we had to fake him out and pretend we were asleep... we'd open our gifts after he left that night).

Once Jason & I got married we agreed that when we had children of our own we would wait until Christmas morning to open Santa's gifts...(borrrrrring... ha ha ha) But we knew we wanted to start a special Christmas Eve tradition for our family. We decided a few months ago that every Christmas Eve we would sit together with the kids and read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas".

So, last night before putting Connor to bed we grabbed the book and everyone gathered around. (Everyone was Connor, Paige, Myself, Aunt Kelley, Uncle Steve, Grammy & Grandpa M). Daddy read us the book while we all listened to the first annual reading of the book.

Sure, Connor was up and about listening here and there, grabbing a toy and then occasionally stopping again to listen - but its the beginning of a tradition that he will hopefully remember and cherish as he grows older.

Merry Christmas Connor & Paige, Mommy Loves You!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas from Our family to yours!!!!

Weighing In

Today Paige had one of her check up appointments with the doctor.
My little reindeer weighed in at 8 1/2 lbs and measured 20 inches long!
She's still an excellent sleeper - sleeps all.day.long. and only wakes up 1x a night, sometimes 2x depending on when her last bottle was given.
We did have to change her formula just yesterday to a "Sensitive" one, because she is way too gassy and its causing her discomfort. Just giving her the sensitive should help her body break down the lactose proteins better.
But, overall, our little girl is growing and growing nice and healthy!

Christmas Lights

Yesterday's weather threatened us with a huge snowstorm. We waited with anticipation (and dread) all day for this storm to hit, knowing that once it did we were snowed in for at least the remainder of the weekend. Around 5pm yesterday Jason & I decided we were already feeling antsy and since it hadn't even flurried yet we wanted to get out of the house.

Well, what do you do with 2 small children at 5 pm on a freezing cold night for little to no money?? LOOK AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!!!

We piled into the car and drove around surrounding neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights. (This way we were close to home if the snow started.)

In the beginning we couldn't tell if Connor really was enjoying the light-seeing but halfway through our tour if we went too long without passing a house that had lights we'd hear him 'ehhhhhhhh' from the background as if to say "Mom, Dad I want more lights!".

He really enjoyed it! He started pointing out the window to show us what he saw! He also started to get really excited at certain houses and rocking back and forth smiling as he saw more light up houses coming in to view.

What a nice little pre-holiday outing with the family!

The Kindness of Others

Throughout the holiday season the emphasis of our daily routines should be helping others in need, and being kind to others. I have mentioned before that I frequent a message board website thenest.com (for married women) and a spinoff called thebump.com (for mothers/pregnant women).

There have been many occasions where I have seen "Nesties" (as we affectionately call one another) band together to help others in need. Keeping in mind that this is a national message board many of these women are helping out strangers. I have seen Nesties band together and make donations for gifts to send to fellow Nesties that have experienced some type of loss and/or tragedy, I've seen them band together to honor one another in many, many ways.
Sure, lots of these very same women have "e-arguments" and disagree with one another in posts but in the face of hardship or tragedy that all fades away.

My reason for bringing light to these women are that recently I had a few things I needed to get off my chest. Sometimes its easier to let out your worries to strangers than to people who really know you. As a result, I received some extremely supportive e-mails from these women offering help if I needed and/or desired it. I truly appreciated the kindness from others that was directed my way and it was nice to know that sometimes true strangers will offer you support just like your best friend or your family would.

Keep up the good work Nesties... I am thankful for all of you this holiday season and am proud of some of the great things I've seen done by you.

The Peanut is 1 Month Old!

I just can't believe that this little peanut is already one month old!! Don't forget -- she was only DUE to be born 6 days ago -- but, of course, she had to come early - a full 4 weeks!

Her next check up isn't until the 23rd so I'm not sure what her 1 month stats are yet - but I know she's def. up over a pound from the measly 5 lbs 15 oz at birth!

Enjoy some pics of her!!! and below are pics of her and her big brother!

Brother & Sister...



*** FYI - Connor's arm around Paige was NOT staged...he did that 100% on his own...it was a great moment.

Things Are "Imaginary"

The list of things that are "imaginary" yet many people believe in, or did at one point in their lives:

• Santa Claus
• The Easter Bunny
• The Tooth Fairy
• Leprechauns (hiding gold for St. Patricks Day)
• Cupid
• The Boogie Man
• Big Foot

and

• SLEEP
  

A family Santa Photo

Last weekend we went to a "Breakfast with Santa" -- at our local church.
It was a really nice event - Pancakes, sausage, coffee, OJ to eat. Facepainting, a clown making balloon animals, and Santa!
You could get as many photos with Santa for $2 each. Not bad - so I figured one w/ Santa and Connor, one w/Santa and Paige and then one with Santa and both kids.

Well, Connor did NOT want to leave the comfort of his dad's arms for this weirdo in red who doesn't know how to shave -- so the first picture taken was of Jason, Connor and Santa...

Upon realizing that my plan for the photo shoot needed to be refigured - I just jumped in there with Paige and we had a family photo shoot!!!

WOooooooo HOoooooooo!!!

I won! I won! I won! I won! I won! I won! I won! I won!

I won a contest!!!! What did I win??? Well, I won a Family Four-Pack of Tickets to go see ELMO GROWS UP at Madison Square Garden in February!!!

Yeahhhhhhhhh!! So being obsessed with contests paid off!!!

I won through a local organization "MomsLikeMe.com - Hudson Valley

Check it out to see my prize...

I'm so excited!

Sharing Paige

Just feel like I haven't really properly introduced her to the blog (via photos) so... here's some more of my baby girl.



.

Vote for Connor!

Do your civic duty and vote!

Vote for me in this contest!

Contest details

3 weeks.

3 weeks can be a long time.
When you know Christmas is 3 weeks away - it seems like forever!
A big vacation is coming up, but not for 3 more weeks - an eternity!
Someone special is coming to visit in 3 weeks - a lifetime!!!

But....

I go back to work in 3 weeks -- that's practically tomorrow! Ugh.

Holiday Photos = Poop

So, I thought it would be a VERY cute idea to take some "holiday" themed photos of Connor & Paige together. I put them in holiday jammies and set the 'stage' (my home made backdrop) for the session.

Right off the bat doing a photo shoot with a 14 month old and a newborn is NOT an easy task. At all. In their own special ways they are both extremely uncooperative - although one just lays there and slumps over while the other jumps off the chair, over the arm of the chair, rocks the glider, tries to stick his finger in his sisters eye/nose/mouth....

Anyway - minutes into the photo shoot I notice that Connor had a dirty ( and stinky!!!!) diaper so we took a break to change it.

Back to the photo shoot!

Then, little miss Paige started fussing and crying...why?? Because SHE had a dirty diaper.

So, either holiday photos make my children poop or they were pulling out all the stops to get out of the photo shoot!

Some "outtakes"

Case in Point (GIVEAWAY!!!)

A fellow blogger Babyrabies.com is giving away a Dyson D25 vacuum -- they are amazing pieces of machinery (click here to see the giveaway page).

I want one.
I need one.
CAN NOT AFFORD ONE.

Did I mention they're super expensive and getting one for free would be awesome!?!?!

Hope I win!!!!!!

obsession

I have a new obsession.
Sweepstakes, giveaways, contests -- you get the idea.
I don't know if it is because I'm home all the time now, or if it is because I'm home all the time now DURING the holiday season but I never realized how many online contests there are!
I am trying to win them all. Seriously.
Nothing I have to give money to, and nothing that even seems remotely suspicious - but I am entering whatever I can to win prizes and/or trips!

What am I entering you wonder? Well, I will tell you!

- The Regis & Kelly show gives away a chance to win a trip on a daily basis. I am now actively trying to win a trip. I have to submit a photo (done!) and if I get a phone call from them I must be able to correctly answer a question about the previous day's show. So...in order to help me out - I started DVRing the show in case I miss some I can watch real quickly in the morning before the new show starts. (yes, I'm nuts!)

-Since I am a blogger I follow a lot of blogs... there are quite a few bloggers that participate in giveaways and I enter many of them!! (oh they giveaway things like giftcards to target, amazon, online baby boutiques etc...) (edit to add: many times conditions of blog contests state entrants MUST blog about the giveaway to gain an extra "chance" of winning)

- Also, there are numerous other websites I frequent or get newsletters from that offer the occasional sweepstakes - and I'm entering them!!

Maybe one day I'll win.

Right after I win the lotto.

Wish List Wednesday

My little buddy Ethan down in South Carolina had a pretty rough night - Mommy (my good friend and blogger Mommy P) had to take him to the hospital last night due to a high fever and breathing troubles.

So, my wish this week is simple --

Ethan --

We love you!

Surprise for Daddy

Tomorrow is Jason's birthday...
What gift is the best gift to get for a father from his two little ones?? A home made one!

So...with the help of Connor & Paige - we made our handprints for Daddy!!!!
We used a recipe for cinnamon & applesauce Christmas Ornaments (click here for website) but instead of using cookie cutters to create them, we just rounded out the dough and tried to imprint their hands in them.
Of course, they are a little "rough" looking -but...the gifts are straight from Connor and Paige!
Can't wait to give them to Daddy tomorrow!!

Connor & Paige ready to help!
Pouring the Cinnamon into the applesauce.
Using the rolling pin!
Keep rolling that dough, Connor!
Now we make the circles...
Paige's handprint.
and Connor's handprint.