A long overdue update.. one of several

Okay so my mom has been begging me to update the blog (probably just so she can see pics of the beebster) so here goes nothing. Last post was about the big 1st birthday. Actually not that big...  but you know. And the bibis is not much of a baby any more... : ( She is definitely a toddler which kinda makes me really really sad.

Life updates: E is walking all over the place. Fully fledged walker for sure. More importantly E is a super diva queen when it comes to accessorizing. She definitely did not get the idea of accessorizing from me because any one who knows me - knows that I do not accessorize. E loves to wear multiple bows even if they do not match and she is more likely to keep the  bows in if there are more than one.

 

Also, when Auntie Mary, Rhonda and Kelly came to visit E learned all about bracelets and she was thrilled when Kelly came home with bracelets just for her. Seriously E accessorizes herself and her horsey - and the arm wearing the bracelets is solely dedicated to the bracelets - she will not risk one of them falling off. 

Food updates: E will eat just about anything.  I forget if I posted anything about her eating olives and pickles. She definitely gets that from her Papa because I do not like either. The beebs is obsessed with bread/toast. If we are eating we have to hide it until she finishes all her good healthy food. She has also been enjoying a wide variety of summer fare - watermelon and corn for starters - thank goodness for those teeth-ies

E gets about 60-75% of the corn kernels off the cob and probably really could eat 25% of a large watermelon in one day... but we wouldn't actually let her do that : )

I just had to change the title of this blog because I don;t have time to tell of everything else because to do to work and I don't want to ignore E and Lee for the last hour I have at home. Working all the time and trying to be a diligent cross-stitcher is taking up much of my blog time - I'll be back soon.

Happy Birthday!!! Part 2

The Birthday GIRL!!!

 So E had a birthday in Raleigh-world and the Mount. Here are pics from the Mount birthday. We had some friends over for BBQ chicken - which was amazing! Followed by cake and presents - of course. Fortunately E did not actually eat any cake so she was not completely wired!!!

Pretty cake

Picking up the whole piece of cake

Dropping the whole piece of cake

Designing with the destroyed cake on the highchair

Who me???

Trying to open presents.

Happy about her new toys and clothes

Second attempt at present opening

Papi putting together my new horsey

Riding my new horsey

Thanks to everyone who helped make E's first birthday special!!! Whether you sent cards or saw her in person we really appreciate it! We could not have made it through this first year without everyone's love and support.

Happy Birthday!!! Part 1

 

Apologies for this post being almost a month late but chasing around a one-year-old is a ton of work! E was such a lucky one-year-old that she actually had two parties so these are pics from the first one. As you can see she was very excited about the cake - chocolate cake with raspberry-chocolate filling. It was amazing. E really only had maybe two bites - but it was still fun to watch!

Opening first present before cake because Uncle Kev had to pack for his summer adventure in NM.

Extremely intent on the cake!!!

Blowing out the candle!

The birthday beebster

E has learned how to empty bags - it is very happy about it.

Cameo of the 'woof' - E's favorite distraction

YAH CAKE!!!

It is worth mentioning that after the two bites of cake - E was wired from Grammy and Grandpa's Joe's all the way back to the Mount (she'll usually past out after about 15 minutes in the car) and did not go to sleep for about an hour or so once we got home - it was probably 9:30 when she finally gave in - three hours past her bedtime!!!

Present from Grammy and Grandpa Joe - the box was really fun to play on.

So it is crazy looking back thinking that little Miss E was born a year ago. I like listening to Lee tell me all about how it played out. If you asked me today how the birthing process went and compared it to what I would have told you at the hospital it would have been much different. Looking back at pics of E over the past year is kinda strange because I am already noticing how much she has grown and also that I really don't have a little baby anymore!

Pics of birthday numero dos to follow!

Happy Easter!!!

 

Okay so I know I am a bit late with this post but here are the highlights of our marathon Easter weekend! The Bibis was such a super trooper for Holy Week and Easter. 5 days with 1.5-plus long Church services are alot for a 11 month old to handle. After church Sunday morning we went to Grammy and Grandpa Joe's for dinner. My mom still hid Easter baskets for E and Kevin and even pulled off hiding Lee and mine gift - a plant. E slept through the basket finding process but maybe next year she will be more interested. Then Lee's mom came down from the Mount for dinner - Lamb! Maybe one day I'll get to be as good and daring of a cook as my mom.

Helping Mama set up our Pascha basket at church!

After church with Papi

Two Easter baskets!!!

Crab crawl to the baskets

Easter basket goodies

2011 Easter Family Picture courtesy of Uncle Kev

Baby Shower!!!

A super great friend of mine from UNC - Erin - is pregnant and due probably any day now. Another super great friend from UNC - Mary - and I (with some amazing help from my mom) had a Baby Shower for her a few weeks ago. Erin's friends and family from out of town came - including nephew L-man who was 4-ish months old. We had a great time and Erin got set up with some really great stuff. Its fun to get together and talk about baby stuff and baby names etc etc. Good friends, good food, good times...

So E made a new friend with Erin's nephew. E and L are 6 months apart in age but they were about the same size!!! Little L-man is not so little (he weighed 11-ish lbs when he was born I think : ) but he was super cute and a super trooper coming to the shower and being the only guy at the party!!!

Some great finds...

A few weeks ago I hit up a local consignment sale at a near by church. I went on the second (and final day of the sale) so I got an even better deal - 50% off the marked price. I was probably most satisfied with the Robeez. I got 6-12 months Robeez that we probably never worn because a couple hours after E wore them they were dirtier than when I got them - $1.50!!! Normally those baby shoes are at least $20.00!!! I got this cute Rare Editions dress and smocked dress for nothing close to the regular price.

Why pay regular price when you can get it loved (gently used) for FRACTIONS of the cost!!! (and its the green thing to do : )

Sometimes... and Always...

Dear Little Bibis -

Sometimes I wish I was a bettter mama
Sometimes I am not always there when you need me
Sometimes I get frustrated and don't know what to do
Sometimes I just want to pick you up and give you a squeeze while you are peacefully asleep

Always I will love you
Always I be there for you
Always I will try my best
Always I will be your mama

Baby on the Move!!!

It has been a while since a post has been dedicated specifically to E and all of her adventures. Here goes... She is crawling around the house like a mad woman. She gets into EVERYTHING... Little E loves to pull herself up even though she is not allowed to touch everything. I am having some issues with my home office aka our coffee table within her grasp but whatever. Lee and I have had to cover up the outlets!!! I freaked out when she got really close to sticking her finger in one and that was it. The covers are cheap enough at Wally-world.

In other news E is getting two more teeth-ies so she is in some pain. She has been a supertrooper at Church this week. Holy Week = Lots of church and late nights. I'll post some Easter pics sooner rather than later (hopefully).

Our Lady of Kibeho

If you are looking for an awesome quick read check this book out.

I heard the author speak a couple years back at Ignited By Truth. I'm working on another book now, but open to suggestions if you have any!!!

Missing You

My little bibis I left you for a short while.
Mama had to go and work, so you took a short vacation with Grammy and Grandpa Joe.
I thought of you when I could not squeeze you good bye - never ever wake a sleeping baby.
I thought of you sitting on the airplane.
I needed to hear you say "Ma-ma-ma-maaaaa"
I missed singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star before night-nights.
I needed to snuggle with you in the morning.
I told everyone all about you and even showed them a few pictures.
I talked to you on the phone even though you would have rather played with the receiver.
I was so excited to finally get home to see my little bibis.
I watched you count sheep and dream away.
I waited to give you a squeeze because mama got home late - never ever wake a sleeping baby.
Grammy brought you down the next morning
I couldn't wait to wrap you up in my arms!
I looked at you and said "Hi Hi Bibis"
You looked at me and then started looking for the doggie.



Excuse my poem. I just thought that was the best way to convey my feelings about missing my bibis and her reaction to seeing me for the first time in 3 days. I went to Dominican Republic for work. I was thrilled to go, but bummed about leaving E (and Lee too). My mom offered to watch her while I was gone because things are getting busy busy at Swimworld. By E's reaction I know that she had such a great time staying with Grammy and Grandpa Joe. They went to the park to swing, they went on walks, they got a new toy and took all the bowls, spoons, pots, pans and spatulas out to play with in the kitchen. So while I was disappointed E did not want to come up and give me a huge squeeze, I am glad she had a fun time and that she did not miss me half as much as I missed her.


Here is a pic from Sunday...

Monkeying around with Uncle Kev!!!

One Whirlwind of a Journey

Good times in NJ

Bagels!!!

I have been a bad family member for not posting this earlier, but here goes. Some time last fall I had this brilliant idea that Lee and I should tie in going to see my grandparents (E's great-grandparents) into a work trip. Why you may ask?

1. E is the first and so far only great-grandchild to my grandparents (that we know about... just kidding!!!)
2. Who wouldn't want to take a 7 month old on a 9-11 hour car ride depending on traffic?
3. I failed to mention the destination - New Jersey. Clearly, NJ is a great state to drive through in the middle of January and they don't have problems with snow/ice at all.

 I am going to try and hit the highlights of this trip and not dwell on some of the more frustrating details - because I never do that. Here goes...

Its bagel time

The trips starts off with a bang. E and I went to check out a Mother's Morning Out (MMO) program before we got on the road. And of course, when we get home to pack up and head out lo and behold, she pee-ed through her diaper and clothes and her car seat is wet!!! Awesome-ness. So, first text/call is to my sister-in-law (of course) because she is the Queen of all thing Britax. After that minor mishap is dealt with, E and I get on the road with a super great friend of my mother-in-law (she knitted E this amazing blanket - I'll have to do a post on that. She is also helping me with the stocking). Me, E and V are headed up to DE - or Delaware - not to be confused with Dela-what and Dela-who. The trip in somewhat uneventful. E is a trooper in the car and when Mommy remembers that the horn does in fact wake her up, she is an excellent car sleeper. I have this really good habit of honking at bad drivers because I think it is a public service to tell people that they are being morons on the road and not only endangering their lives but mine too.

We make it to DE in record time (given we have the Beebster). No problems with roads, weather or traffic. It is frigid there though. Probably in the 'teens in terms of the temp and there are massive piles of snow. Lee and my mother-in-law are already at my mother-in-law's cousin's house. We have a nice time that night and everyone loves watching E and loving her up!

The next morning is is about and literally 10 degrees outside - I could feel my nose hairs freezing when I breathed in (TMI?). We packed up and headed out for NJ. Gotta love that Turnpike. No, seriously there are only 16 exits or something like that and the rest areas are in the middle of the highway so there is no question or any possible way to get lost. We make it up to the Wood with our trusting GPS and head to my grandparents house. Lee and I were talking and I think it had been 8 or 9 years since I had been up there last.

My grandparents were super happy to see us and had tea and snacks ready. My grandma had one of my baby toys stashed away. I'll have to post a pic of it because I don't think I took a pictures of it while we were there. After snacks we headed over to my uncle's house who graciously hosted us for two night. Special thanks to my cousin who gave up his room - he slept in the basement which is strikingly similar to what my brother does when he is home.

Katie and E playing during the Jets game

Sunday we went hunting around for a Ukrainian church - only about fifteen minutes away (I wish our church was 15 minutes from our house). Temp when we left was about 5 degrees. I love it when older ladies come up to me and start speaking in Ukrainian - nod and smile, nod and smile. We also were treated to a trip to the Deli and got some Product (otherwise known as the best potato salad in the world). Dinner that night was AMAZING. My mom and all of her siblings are very talented in the kitchen. There was a small gathering to watch the Jets game - they lost but it was a good run for them. Also, my cousin who is my age made the trek in from NYC to see us. That was awesome and we got to meet her BF. We said our goodbyes before bed because between work and school everyone was gone when we left.

Me, E and Megan!!!

Only regret was not taking more pics. My grandparents were not in the picture taking mood so I did not get a pic with them and E - well not a good one.

On to Atlantic City for the Pool and Spa Show. Another 2.5 hour car ride which was a sleeper for E - and we made it. It was the first time I had been to AC and I don't think anything can really prepare you for it. We got situated our rooms without too many problems. There was a welcome party that night we we loaded E up in the Beco Baby carrier (lifesaver!!!). We get there and after the ridiculously long line the security guy says "No one under the age of 21 is allowed in." So I give him my ID but he was not talking about me - he was talking about the beebster. Really, really??? Clearly she is not going anywhere in the Beco, but I was not in the mood to argue so whatever. We had a horrible time finding a place to eat with a baby so we just ordered room service.

Next day we walked around the show with the bibis in her stroller which was great. It was interesting and E got to look at everything!!! Well as it turns out there was an impending snow storm the next morning - when I was planning on heading out so change of plans. Call up a super great friend of mine Mary in DC and see if E and I could crash at her place. Of course she said yes! E and I headed out mid afternoon for the 5 hour trek to DC --- in the hopes we would miss DC rush hour traffic.

Now GPSs are funny things! Whenever there is new construction this presents a huge problem for the driver and the GPS. Well GPS is not the most updated one and it took me on country roads for the first 90 minutes which was horribly frustrating. 4.5 hours later E and I make it to DC without a problem. She slept for some of the way. We get to Mary and Luighi's and E eats dinner and unwinds s bit and I put her in the pack and play for bed. No problem right? Yeah right!!! An hour later she is still howling. This was a problem for several reasons:

1. I have no idea how long she is going to do this.
2. I know Mary, Luighi and I will not sleep in there basement apartment with the noise
3. I don't want the upstairs guys to get annoyed with a screaming baby at 10:30

So what is the solution... pack everything back up and head home. This is the four place that E has been in 6 nights and she probably was not thrilled about it. I fuel up the car and get a Mountain Dew and Peanut Butter M&Ms for me and make the 4 hour ride home. We roll in at 2:30 AM and we crash... until about 7 when E decided it is time to wake up. That next day was a blur. It was a whirlwind of a trip but would definitely do it again!!!