September 10, 2010

HIGH:  IT'S MY BIRTHDAY :)
LOW:  Oliver was up most of the night :( and Mark has to work all day :(

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!! OK I may be thirty but who cares, IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!  The day started VERY early.  Oliver has been sleeping through the night beautifully but for the past few weeks he will wake up (just once or twice a week) nurse really quick and go back to sleep.  This was no big deal and didn't bother me at all.  Not until last night when he UP ALL NIGHT!!!  It was rough.  Claire NEVER did that (she was a dream) so this was new and not so good.  So Mark and I decided he was ready for cereal (yes a month early, judge me if you will). Anyway, back to my special day ;)  

Jessica came over and brought me lunch, roses, and a some delicious cookies (and some help so that my sleep deprived self could function - I LOVE YOU JESSICA).

Claire and Giada loved getting my birthday cookie ready.

Then we sang happy birthday (check out my roses, aren't they beautiful).

The girls loved blowing out my candle.

Later on my parents come over and brought dinner (see why I love my birthday).  Mark had to work late so it was nice to have come company.

Claire took Papa on a walk around the yard and I am pretty sure she had a lot to say :)

Nana and Oliver practiced some tummy time.  He sure looks happy here doesn't he?  

CEREAL TIME!!!  

Of course Claire had to help, she is such a good big sister.  Oliver LOVED the cereal!  And it worked!  He slept from 11pm until 7am, nursed and then went back to sleep until 11!!!!!  Mark took Claire to a pancake breakfast and I went back to sleep!  It was heaven!!!!!

September 9, 2010 Lazy Day

HIGH: Today was a lazy fall day :)
LOW:  Claire was at school so she missed out on the relaxing :(

Today was chilly fall day.  I love it!!!!!  Oliver has been "working out his sleeping arrangements" to put it gently (I think the big Daddy is ready for some cereal - I will keep you posted on that) so today I was beat!  But the weather was perfect for a lazy day.  So I turned on the fireplace and put Oliver in here......

where he caught up some much needed sleep.  And I 

got cozy here.....

where I caught up on some much needed sleep.  And we napped for a solid 3 hours.  It was amazing!  I had the fireplace going, I could hear the wind outside, and I could smell the fall air.  It was a perfect lazy day :)

The Next Ansel Adams or Ron Galella?

HIGH: Playdate with Giada :)
LOW: Yucky weather so we didn't make it to the zoo :(

Today my girlfriend Jessica and I had every intention of taking the girls to the zoo.  Then we woke up and realized that today was just NOT  a zoo day.  It was cold, windy, and on the verge of rain all day long.  So we decided a jammie day playdate with some Louie's for lunch was a much better fit.

While we waited for Jessica and Giada to get here we snuggled on our favorite blanket and took some "kissy pictures" as Claire calls them.

Apparently Claire and I love to get pictures of us kissing Oliver.

Even Pete got in on the action.

You can't tell but, he really loves when Claire snuggles with him.

Claire and Giada has a blast playing today (as always).

Then Claire decided that she wanted to take some pictures.

Me and Giada.

Giada practiced her hand at photography as well.

But Claire was the one who really embraced the sport of capturing her subject.  Here is Giada's legs.

Her arm.

Her fanny.

Her nose.

Aunt Jessica's hair.

And me.  I think she really captures my true essence of searching for Max and Ruby.

 This was her stance as she took her pictures.  Notice she put the strap behind her head.  And her face is ALL business.

She is very focused and leans in to get that perfect shot.

And of course the ever popular "self portrait".

Photos compliments of Aunt Jessica's super awesome iPhone.

 

So I haven't decided if she has more of an Ansel Adams approach or if she really captures the beauty of human subjects like Ron Galella.  I will let you be the judge.

Big Plans

HIGH: Oliver and I went for a nice walk at the soccer park :)
LOW:  I didn't get half of the things done that I want to do today :(

Dear Oliver,

The next time that you want to take a 3 and 1/2 hour nap in the middle of the day, just give me a heads up so that I can plan around it.  Thanks buddy.

Love,

Your Mommy

I woke up this morning and I had a list of things that I wanted to get done.  I had planned on doing a bunch of running around while Claire was at school.  So the morning started off great.  I got up and got Claire ready for school without any problems (she now makes her own bed, it's adorable). A little while later Oliver  got up and ate his breakfast.  I got him all dressed and he played on his playmat while I ate my breakfast and sipped my coffee.  I finished my coffee just as Oliver was getting ready to take a nap (this is our usual morning routine).  So I put Oliver in his swing so that he could take his usual morning snooze and I got dressed, did some laundry, and packed up for the day ahead.  And then I waited.......and waited.....and waited........

 Here is Oliver while I waited.

Look at his little tootsies poking out the bottom of his blanket :)

Here is all my stuff packed up and ready to go while Oliver napped away.

Finally Oliver woke up and we did end up getting a nice walk in and a visit to Nana.  If I had known that Oliver was going to take such a great nap, I would have been right there with him :)  Give me heads up next time so that I can join you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Nothin' Much

HIGH: We had absolutely nothing to do today :)


LOW: It is Daddy's last day home with us :(

Today was the first day in a looonnnngggg time that we had NOTHING else to do but lay around and relax.  It was wonderful!!!  I finally got all that laundry put away and spent the morning in our jammies.  It was kinda sad too because today is the last day that Mark is home with us.  He has to go back to school tomorrow.  I have been really spoiled having him home all summer.  We really had a great summer and having him here a lot was great with a newborn, we will miss you Mark!!!  We did end the summer by having a wonderful family dinner at the Chinese food buffet.

  As I sit here and type I can smell the fall air outside and I am excited.  I am really looking forward to fall but most of all I am looking forward to spending time with my kids before they get old and don't want me around anymore.  I can't believe that summer has already come and gone.  I can't believe that Oliver is almost 3 months old.  And I really cannot believe that my baby Claire is 3 years old (going on 27).  That being said I decided that I don't have enough pictures of me with my children.  Since I take all the pictures I am rarely in them (plus I am not a fan of most pictures of myself, I look much better in person ;) - that was a joke by the way) so today while Claire was napping Oliver and I took pictures of ourselves.

 Here was my first attempt.  It was harder than I thought it was going to be.  Plus I was afraid to drop Nikki (my camera) on the baby, she's a big girl.  Notice my wrinkles under my soon to be thirty year old eye?!?

Oliver loves me so much.

Much better.

Whoops.  I didn't even make it into this one.

Mmmm Oliver smells so good.

And what was Claire doing this whole time you ask.....

pretending to nap. Notice the little smirk on her face :)

A Little Family Time

HIGH:  Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's with the family :)


LOW: The weather is starting to get a little chilly :(


This morning we pretty much laid around in our jammies while I tried to take all my video clips and make them a movie, which did not go well.  Mackie (my computer) was not cooperating with me today.  But I think have since made up.  Anyway, after naptime we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's for a family dinner (where Great Grandma made me my favorite ice cream cake mmmmmm).

Claire and Mark this morning. Claire was working on "her blog"

and Mark was  working on Mackie.

Claire and Grandma taking Owen for a walk.

Owen taking Claire for a walk.

Claire's hair after her walk looked AWESOME!  Even a hood cannot contain those curls!

Claire and Owen were having a blast chasing each other and rolling around in the grass.

I am pretty sure that our nice relaxing family parties are going to get a little crazy with these two around :)

Oliver and I hanging out.

Oliver loves to snuggle with Aunt Erin. 

She put him right to sleep!!

The ladies :)

Happy Birthday Auntie Jenn

HIGH:  Today was Auntie Jenn's Surprise Birthday party :)


LOW: Mark had a game and had to leave the party early :(


Today we had yet another surprise party for my girlfriend Jenn.  This one was a little different because it was a family party and all the kids were there.  We had a great time!  The kids had a blast playing and we adults had fun visiting.

Happy Birthday Jenn!!

Claire had a blast playing with Giada.  They loved playing 

the piano :)

Oliver had fun playing with Aunt Jacqie.

He also had a blast being loved up by Mrs. Hunter!!

Claire had fun playing catch with Uncle Nick.

Bella and her Aunt Jacqie 

Charlie winkin' for the ladies.

When we got home Claire watched some TV while I nursed Oliver.  After he was done eating they hung out for a little while.  Claire is really a wonderful big sister.  She is totally a mother hen and always makes sure that Oliver is ok.  Tonight it was adorable they were "chatting" away.  

September 3, 2010 SURPRISE SHA SHA

HIGH: We had a great morning playing in the backyard with Violet :) AND We went to a great surprise party for Aunt Shannon.

LOW: Stayed out a little too late and I am BEAT today :(

Yesterday morning we ate our breakfast and then headed out to the patio to relax and play for a bit.  Claire had fun swinging on her new swing and Oliver just enjoyed the fresh air while he played in his bouncy seat (and fell asleep).  It was a great morning!  It was also nice that we took advantage of the nice weather because the afternoon was windy and rainy :(

Claire loved sharing her toys with Violet and showing her how to play baseball.

Check out that swing!  Papa would be proud!!!

After a nice day of relaxing and hanging out, Grandma and Grandpa came over so that we could go to Aunt Shannon's surprise party!!

Here's my man rockin' his pink shirt on the way to the party :)

Which I may start calling this his lucky shirt because he won 100 bucks playing Quick Draw!!

SURPRISE!!  Gotta love Shannon, she could not understand why she was having a surprise party for her 32nd birthday!  It was a good time.  It is always nice when we can all get together and hang out.  Also, it was the first night since Oliver has been born that Mark and I have gone out together for the evening.  We had a lot of fun, I forgot how much fun Mark can be ;)

Since I didn't get too  many pictures of Oliver today I decided to post this video of Oliver doing his tummy time.  He LOVES it.  

 DISCLAIMER:  I would tell you all to turn your sound off to eliminate my ear piercing voice but Oliver is squealing with delight and that far outweighs my obnoxious tone.  You have been warned!