Adventures in Babymaking

Tis the Season For Christmas Greetings!

2010-11-30T09:30:00.001-05:00

Oh yes, it is that time of year again...the time of year when I actually don't mind checking my mailbox. Why? Well, because instead of having a mailbox filled with only bills (or junk!) it is usually filled with holiday cards from family and friends.

I love Christmas cards! And don't tell my husband, but I have been keeping our Christmas cards for a few years now. Well, at least all the ones with photos on them! I can't help it- I just love seeing how kids and families grow and change from year to year.

This week I am working on our family's Christmas cards. That is always a challenge with two boys who DO NOT like to sit still for the camera. Or if I get them both sitting then one isn't looking at the camera, or one isn't smiling, or there is SOMETHING going on! I usually take around 100 pictures and then just try to pick the one that isn't TOO terrible! However, once I have that perfect picture I can then find the perfect card.

Where to find that perfect card? Well, that part is easy- Shutterfly, of course! If you have not checked out Shutterfly before then GO NOW! Run, don't walk! Shutterfly not only has some fantastic holiday card designs, but they have other products that make great gifts- not just for the holidays, but for birthdays, Mothers & Fathers Day, or you can even use Shutterfly to make birth announcements or party invitations! Shutterfly has SO many great designs for holiday cards that you will definitely find one that is perfect for you! I love to be able to put a great picture (or two or three) on my cards- and Shutterfly has the most options out there!

I've been using Shutterfly for several years now. I like that I can upload my pictures to one location and then share with my family and friends AND I can make fun products. Calendars are a great gift, especially this time of year! Who wouldn't love a personalized calendar with new pictures to view every month!

Are you planning a holiday party or cookie swap this year? If so, definitely check out the invitations that Shutterfly has to offer- what a way to make a great first impression for your guests!

Now I need to work on getting that great picture so I can upload and use one of Shutterfly's awesome designs for this year's Christmas card. And while I'm at it I think I'm going to order up some holiday gifts. The grandparents never complain that they have too many pictures of their grandkids!

Missing In Action

2010-11-29T14:05:00.002-05:00

Wow! I guess I disappeared off the face of the earth! That is what happens when life gets in the way, I suppose!

So, summer was wonderful. We spent a lot of time at Sesame Place, various playgrounds, the shore, and just having fun! September came, and Nicholas started his last year of preschool. He loves it, and I'm sure he'd be there every day if he could! We're fortunate to have a great program through the Rec Department and it makes it quite affordable as well. The kids learn a lot, have lots of fun field trips, and have a ton of in class activities.

In October Mr. Erik turned two! He had a Thomas the Tank celebration and we now own about a bazillion trains and tracks. Hey- it keeps two little boys happy and busy! Erik at his 2 year WCV was about 29 pounds and 36 inches...so a little above average, but a lot smaller than Nicholas was. Erik is now wearing clothes that Nicholas wore around 18 months of age.

November...well, we're still in November! Thanksgiving was wonderful. I love me some turkey! We put up our Christmas tree this past weekend as well and decorated outside. I should probably work on buying the kids some presents to put under that tree. Normally I've started at this point, but I think I only have 2 things so far! I'm slacking!

Well, hopefully I can keep up a little better. No promises, but I will try!

Disney Trip: Wednesday- Animal Kingdom

2010-07-07T11:19:00.003-04:00

Our start on Wednesday was an early one- we had an 8:00am reservation at Tusker House for the Donald Safari Breakfast. Out of all of our character meals, I think this one was my favorite! I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the food was better than most of the other buffets (especially for breakfast), and they had the kids get up for a parade around the restaurant, which Nicholas had a blast doing! I definitely plan on eating here again!

The first stop after breakfast was It's Tough to Be a Bug. Erik really didn't care for the show (or the 3D glasses) but of course Nicholas got a big kick out of it! Our group then split up and the little kids (with their parents) all headed over to DinoLand USA where we rode Triceratop Spin (a hit for all the kids) and then let the boys run out some energy in the Boneyard.

I then checked the map and saw that Nicholas was tall enough for the ride Dinosaur. So, while Ken hung out with Erik, I took Nicholas over. We immediately were approached by a Cast Member who asked if we had a Fast Pass. I let her know we didn't, and she then said we were being picked as a "Magical Family" and we got instant access to the ride- even bypassed the Fast Pass line! Unfortunately, the ride really scared Nicholas! It was completely in the dark and he clung to me for dear life! I have to admit, it was a bumpy ride and had I been on it before I would not have taken him!

However, his fear did not stop Nicholas from riding Expedition Everest! I was SHOCKED, especially because Nicholas does not like riding Vapor Trail at Sesame Place, which is a tame roller coaster in comparison! And after Expedition Everest he went on Kali River Rapids. We then had a quick break for lunch before going to see Festival of the Lion King. Both of my boys LOVED the show! (On a side note- our last trip we took Nicholas, then age 2, to see Finding Nemo- The Musical, and he loved it! So I recommend both shows!)

To finish up our trip to Animal Kingdom we went on the Kilimanjaro Safari. Erik was SUPER excited about this, and everyone enjoyed spotting the various animals. It was a great way to end our day before heading back to the pool for some relaxation.

Disney Trip: Tuesday- Magic Kingdom

2010-07-07T10:38:00.003-04:00

On Tuesday we headed to Magic Kingdom in the early afternoon after relaxing at the pool in the morning. When we arrived it was shortly before the afternoon parade, so we quickly grabbed a good seat to watch. The boys sat in the shade of the stroller, but were right at the curb, so several of the characters came right up to them!

After the parade we headed to Tomorrowland where we got in line for Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor- we needed the air conditioning! Nicholas enjoyed the show and Erik was all smilesas well. Next up was Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, which I would say became Nicholas' favorite ride. I think he rode this 3 or 4 times while we were there! Upon exiting the ride I spied Buzz Lightyear himself. I got in line with the boys and both of them were VERY excited! Erik doesn't know many Disney characters, but he knows "Buzz Buzz!" And I had just taken Nicholas to see Toy Story 3 the day before our trip, so he was pumped!

We then spent a few more hours riding a few more rides before our dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table. Yes, all the young children in our party are boys, but my sister-in-law Megan and I decided we wanted the princess dinner! And in my opinion- TOTALLY worth it! Upon entering the castle we were greeted by Cinderella and our entire group had our picture taken with her. Then throughout our meal we had visits to our table from Belle (Beauty & the Beast), Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Ariel (Little Mermaid), and Snow White.

And the meal itself- absolutely delicious! I had a BLT salad followed by prime rib (which was cooked perfectly), grilled asparagus, and roasted potatoes. Despite this being one of the more expensive meals, I do feel that the quality and quantity of food was worth it. I would dine there again, and hopefully one day I will have a little girl to enjoy the princesses with!

Unfortunately, after dinner and a few more rides the boys were too exhausted to stay for the fireworks. So we headed back to the condo and called it a night!

Disney Trip: Monday- EPCOT

2010-06-30T11:22:00.010-04:00

Monday morning was our first day in the park and we headed to EPCOT! Of course Nicholas immediately wanted to ride Spaceship Earth. We also rode The Seas with Nemo and Friends and then checked out the aqarium. It was VERY hot out, so the boys decided to relax in the stroller while we took a leisurely walk to lunch. We walked through the 'countries' and took some pictures, met Marie from the Aristocats along with Jasmine and Aladdin.

Lunch was at Biergarten in Germany. We had eaten there on our trip in 2008 and Ken requested we go there again. Poor Nicholas was super tired and ended up falling asleep on Ken's lap. Erik was enjoying the German cuisine- often with a sausage in each hand!

Here is a picture of me and my boys in front of the Biergarten. Their German Mickey shirts were made by my friend Faith of Sassy Kat Creations. In fact, she made several shirts for the boys for our trip!

After lunch we decided to head back to the condo so the kids could nap. However, Nicholas' nap after lunch and Erik's nap as we walked to the car were apparantly enough for them, so we just played in the pool and had dinner before heading back to EPCOT for the Illuminations fireworks show.

As we pulled into our parking space it decided to start raining. Nothing heavy, but a bit more than a drizzle. Once back inside the park we rode Spaceship Earth again (Nicholas really like that ride!) and then found spots to watch the fireworks. Erik was a bit freaked out by the noise, but still enjoyed the show. We decided to walk around before heading out so we could avoid traffic. Our first day at Disney was a bit laid back, but we still had a TON of fun!

Our Disney Vacation (Part One)

2010-06-30T10:12:00.011-04:00

We waited so long for our family trip to Walt Disney World and now it is all over! We had a GREAT trip and Nicholas is already asking when we are going back!

Our trip started on Sunday, June 20. Twelve of us heading from Philadelphia to sunny Orlando. My in-laws generously took the whole family to Disney as part of our Christmas present. They left earlier in the day on a different airline, so that left the rest of us...7 adults and 3 kids. Surprisingly we all got through airport security smoothly and had an easy flight to Orlando. I sat with Erik (who slept for part of the flight) and Ken sat with Nicholas (who thinks sleep is for the weak!) Also part of our group were Ken's brother Mike, his wife Melissa, and their son Michael, Ken's sister Megan and her boyfriend James, and Ken's sister Joann. So, we arrived in Orlando and were greeted by rain. Go figure- Central Florida is notorious for the afternoon showers in the summer! My mother-in-law and father-in-law came to pick us up from the airport and headed to the condo. We stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Villages, and we quickly unpacked and headed to TGIFridays for dinner. It had been a LONG day, so after dinner we headed back and the guys stayed with the little boys, while the girls went to do some grocery shopping for the week. And then off to bed for us to start our busy, fun-filled week!

Check out my other posts to see how our week turned out!

Monday- EPCOT

Tuesday- Magic Kingdom

Wednesday- Animal Kingdom

Thursday- Disney Hollywood Studio

Friday- Lazy Day

Saturday- Magic Kingdom

Book #14- Shutter Island

2010-06-04T17:15:00.005-04:00

Yes, I'm a bit behind on my book reviews! I'm going to try to catch up on a few this weekend!

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane was an excellent read. It is a psychological thriller that tells the story of a mental institution on- you guessed it- Shutter Island. This book has great characters that pulled me in quickly. With these types of stories I often try to "figure it out" and was pleasantly surprised with the ending! I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'm curious to see how closely it follows the book.

FREE (or Cheap) Summer Fun- Movies, Summer 2010

2010-06-03T11:32:00.004-04:00

Last year I posted this blog about discounted summer movies. Well, it is that time again! Last year I never made it to any of the movies- I had an infant and the movies showing weren't exactly up Nicholas' alley. THIS year is a different story. There are a LOT of movies that Nicholas enjoys already, so I am hoping to take advantage.

The first theater in my area is AMC and their Summer Movie Camp. On Tuesday mornings throughout the summer (starting June 15 through August 10) for $1 (which is donated to charity) you can take your kids to see some great movies. Check the link for the complete list, but I know I want to take Nicholas to see Shrek the 3rd, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda. And for $4 you can purchase a KidsPack concession combo. With or without the snacks this is still a bargain! If you have one child you could go to all 9 movies this summer for under $20.

The next theater in my area is the Regal Entertainment Group. Their summer movie program is the Free Family Film Fest. As you probably guessed by the title- it is FREE! Regal has theaters in 37 states, so I hope there is one near you! The movies for the Free Family Film Fest vary by theater, so check yours to see what is available. These movies show on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, and I know at the theaters near me they are showing some older, classic kids films- movies from MY childhood. Some of those are Muppets Take Manhattan and ET. The Free Family Film Fest starts this Tuesday, June 8!

Now, in my area there is not a participating Cinemark theater, but they offer the Summer Movie Clubhouse. Again, the movies vary by theater, but I saw titles such as Monsters Vs. Aliens, Surf's Up, and Madagascar 2. There are 10 weeks worth of movies and if you buy all ten shows in advance it is $5 (that's $0.50 a movie!) or they are $1 each at the door.

These movie options are a great way to spend a rainy day (or a SUPER HOT day) inside (with air-conditioning) on a budget! So, what movie do YOU want to see?

I'm Alive

2010-06-03T11:28:00.003-04:00

I've been slacking, I know! I can't believe it has been almost a month since I've blogged. SLACKER...I admit! We've been keeping busy, so I am going to try to get some posts together to update!

On a good note, last night I finished book number 20 for the year! My goal is 40 books this year, and I'm halfway through my books and not quite halfway through the year, so I am right on target!

The warm weather is upon us here in Philly, and the boys and I have been keeping busy. In the past month we've been to the zoo and countless trips to the playground and Sesame Place. And keep an eye out for a future blog about some more summer fun I have in store!

AWESOME Mother's Day Giveaway!

2010-05-06T10:39:00.002-04:00

Ok, you need to ACT FAST! As in, you have a little over 4 hours from now to enter, BUT...if you go check out my friend Hope's blog- Treasures of Hope, she is giving away your choice of a Kitchen Aid Mixer OR an Amazon Kindle for Mother's Day. How awesome is that! So, quickly run over there and check her out!

Maureen Makes It Giveaway WINNER!!!

2010-04-26T16:17:00.005-04:00

I did not forget...I just needed a minute to post!

DRUMROLL PLEASE.................

And the winner, decided by random.org is #14- PAULETTE!

pblarr Says:
April 19, 2010 9:51 AM

LOVE the "wine o'clock" towel ~ it MUST be time for a glass somewhere, right? awesome!

Congrats, Paulette! I will get you in touch with Maureen so you can work out the details of your towel! I hope you enjoy yours as much as I LOVE mine! And thank you again, Maureen for making one of these GORGEOUS towels!

Book #13- Midwives

2010-04-21T21:27:00.005-04:00

It has been brought to my attention (thanks, Mom) that I have no updated my most recent books I've read. I apologize!

Book number thirteen was Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. This story is about a midwife who is put on trial after a patient of hers dies during childbirth. The midwife, wanting to save the life of the baby, performs an emergency cesarean section on the mother. The question is raised- was the mother actually dead, or did she die as a result of the surgery.

While I enjoyed the book and thought it was interesting, I also felt it moved very slowly and dragged on a bit long. I did enjoy that the story was told through the point of view of the midwife's daughter, as well as having excepts from the midwife's journal.

Maureen Makes It Giveaway!

2010-04-14T11:00:00.001-04:00

WHEW...it was been a LONG week. Two sick children + an out-of-town husband= One tired and stressed out Mommy! We all survived though, and both of the boys are feeling MUCH better!

Now, as promised- the details on this AWESOME, personalized towel I first introduced to you on Wordless Wednesday. This ROCKIN' towel was a gift from my wonderfully talented friend, Maureen from Maureen Makes It. She knows how much I LOVE coffee (I mean, who doesn't, really?) and surprised me with this towel for my kitchen. Little did she know I'm in the process of looking for new coffee decor for my kitchen...which means, I'll probably just pay her to make me some really cool stuff!

Anyway, Maureen is SUPER talented, as I've already mentioned. She not only sews, but she has gorgeous hand-painted glasses, personalized wristlets, nap mats for toddlers, toddler backpacks, aprons- seriously, she can create something personalized for anyone! In fact, she has agreed to make a towel for one of my readers, so I am hosting my first giveaway! The winner will get to choose their coffee cup color and thread color for their name. This giveaway will end on Sunday, April 25 @ 6:00p Eastern.

Here is how to win!

*Check out Maureen's Etsy shop (Maureen Makes It) and in a comment tell me what your favorite item is. This must be done first for any additional entries to count!

For additional entries (please add new comment for each entry)

*Follow my blog AND become a follower of Maureen's blog

*Follow me on Twitter

*Tweet about the giveaway (you can Tweet once per day)

*Blog about the giveaway- be sure to send me the link

Good luck! I know you will love Maureen's work as much as I do!

Easter Recap

2010-04-06T23:14:00.000-04:00

We had a busy, fun-filled Easter weekend here!

The fun started on Friday afternoon when we had a few friends over to help dye Easter eggs. It was a gorgeous day (highs close to 80!) and so we set up the egg dying station out in the backyard. We actually had bets as to how quickly it was going to turn disasterous and when the dye would start being spilled, knocked over, or drank. Much to our surprise all nine cups of dye remained upright and all five kids had a BLAST coloring eggs! They were upset that I hadn't hard boiled more! (Note to self: hard boil at least three dozen eggs next year, as this kept the children well occupied!)

And apparently after coloring eggs it makes five hungry children devour a five pound bowl of fruit in minutes!

Saturday morning Ken and I loaded the boys up in the car and headed to Ocean City for the day.

Sunday morning we woke up and the boys hunted for eggs around the house (no pictures...Mommy was still half asleep!) and checked out the loot in their baskets. Erik loved his Buzz Lightyear basket, while Nicholas was thrilled with his Star Wars basket. We quickly got ready and headed to church and then to Ken's parents for brunch and another egg hunt with their cousin. All the boys had fun and ended up with more loot! It was definitely a fun-filled weekend!

Oh, and the boys cute Peeps shirts are courtesy of my friend Faith of Sassy Kat Creations. You can find her on Facebook or Etsy!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-31T17:23:00.002-04:00

More about this to come!

Book #12- Back to Life

2010-03-22T16:13:00.004-04:00

I chose my latest read because it was the sequel to my book #10- The Trophy Wives Club. I have to say, I did not enjoy this book as much as the first in the series. This book did not focus on the same main character as the original. Instead, Back to Life was told by two characters- Lindsey and Jane, both who had been married to the same man, Ron. Lindsey is Ron's widow, however, after his death his ex-wife Jane appears because she is in charge of his will. The story goes back and forth between Lindsey and Jane, their relationship with Ron, and the similaries and differences between the women.

To be honest, I was really a bit bored with the story overall. The book did have a stronger ending than the first in the series, but Back to Life moved slowly and was just lacking in excitement for me.

Call Me Klutzy

2010-03-19T10:15:00.001-04:00

So, as I mentioned in my previous post I have broken a bone. To be more accurate, I've broken several. Each arm twice and a stress fracture on my hip. The first three arm breaks were within a four month period. Yes, three breaks in four months- first was my left arm (I fell down roller skating), then my right arm (fell from a pile of logs), and then the week after I got that cast off I broke it again (fell off my bike). I was five years old and in kindergarten. I wondered if DYFS was ever called, but my mom says that school just asked me a bunch of questions. Apparently I was able to explain that I'm just klutzy!

The next break was a few years later when I was eight. Once again, I was roller skating. Same skating rink. Broke the same arm. I think my orthopedic doctor really liked me. I'm sure my parents wanted to put me in a bubble! The stress fracture on my hip was when I was in high school. NOT pleasant at all, and that hip still irritates me at times. I joke that I'll need a hip replacement by the time I'm forty.

I have had plenty of other klutzy moments. I tripped over a curb and busted my chin open...had to get a few stitches. I've slipped on a patch of black ice and sprained my arm- although had to get X-Rays for that, because it was swollen and hurt like heck. When I took gym in ninth grade I managed to get hurt playing every sport...hit in the face with a basketball (yes, I was a basketball player, too), had a lacrosse stick hit me across the nose (lovely black eye), and heck, I even managed to cut my thumb open on a badminton racquet. Seriously, WHO gets hurt playing badminton? Yours truly!

I do klutzy things on a fairly regular basis, and most don't involve serious physical injury. I walk into walls, fall down AND up stairs, trip over my own feet. I'm a mess sometimes! I sure do hope my kids do NOT inherit my klutziness. And I sure hope they don't have nearly as many broken bones as I have had! Personally, I could do without any!

99 Random Things About Me

2010-03-18T12:48:00.001-04:00

I saw this posted on another blog, and I thought it might be interesting. In completing this I think I have gathered some ideas for some future posts. But feel free to ask questions about any of these. And when all is said and done, you may find some interesting things out about me.

Instructions: The post is a list of 99 random things. Bold the ones that you yourself have done (I highlighted mine in red). And for some I added my own little commentary.

1. Started your own blog (I suppose you already knew this if you're here though)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (I played the clarinet in middle school)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disney World (going again in June, CAN'T WAIT!)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise (ok...nowhere exotic, but I've been on the Spirit of Baltimore and Spirit of Philadelphia!)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (visited Germany in 1995 and I cannot wait until I have the opportunity to go back)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Learned a new language (I learned Spanish and forgot most of it. When my 3 year old son asked me how to say 'goodbye' in Spanish I had to Google it. No lie.)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (Cozumel, Mexico- absolutely amazing!)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (I took Tae Kwon Do as a kid.)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (I've actually broken several bones. Including 3 broken arms in a period of 4 months. Yes, I am quite klutzy!)
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (And we still have that car! I no longer drive it on a regular basis, but I love it!)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fishing counts, right?)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo (when I was 19, about a month before I met my husband. He doesn't like tattoos though, so no more for me.)
94. Had a baby (Two of them actually!)
95. Seen the Alamo in person (I'd love to go back to San Antonio...I love Texas!)
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (Yes, including in the corner of my eye and inside my mouth. Fortunately I am not allergic, and bees really don't bother me. Don't tell, but my husband is terrified of them!)

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-17T11:09:00.002-04:00

My little Irish boys (they get their Irish from their daddy...not me!) sporting their green!

Book #11- Lady Killer

2010-03-15T15:21:00.003-04:00

My latest read was Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline. This was a chick-lit, mystery/thriller type story...in other words, right up my alley! In this story the main character, Mary, is trying to find her high school rival, Trish, who has gone missing after coming to Mary (a lawyer) for help because she fears her Mob boyfriend is going to kill her. The story takes place in Philly, and I later found out Scottoline is a Philadelphia native- WOOHOO! While the book wasn't super believable, it was still an enjoyable read. I look forward to checking out more of Scottoline's books.

Book #10- The Trophy Wives Club

2010-03-10T09:07:00.008-05:00

One Saturday night as I was walking through Barnes & Noble, sipping my Cinnamon Dolce Latte, I was looking for some new books and stumbled upon The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck. I had never heard of Billerbeck, but after reading the back of the book (and being happy with the discounted price tag on the cover) I decided to bring the book home. I'm definitely glad I made that decision!

Billerbeck writes Christian Chick Lit. I did not even know that Christian Chick Lit was a genre! The story is about a woman living in Los Angeles who is suddenly kicked out of her home by her producer husband, who now wants a divorce. She eventually meets a support group at church (The Trophy Wives Club) who help her move on and start her new life. The book moved at a great pace and was an enjoyable read! In fact, I've already ordered the next book in the series!

Wonderful Weekend!

2010-03-08T13:09:00.003-05:00

What a WONDERFUL weekend! Has spring actually arrived?!?! If this weekend was any indication, then it certainly has! Abundant sunshine brought our family outdoors! On Saturday afternoon we all hung out in the backyard getting some fresh air and exercise. Throwing, kicking, and hitting balls, playing hockey, riding bikes and cars- you name it and we did it!

Saturday night was a night out for Ken and I. A LONG overdue night out! We went downtown and had dinner at Butcher and Singer with his cousin and her husband. The food was outstanding and we really liked the atmosphere. It had a very "old Hollywood" feel to it. I discovered a new (old) drink- Sidecar. And I also enjoyed possibly the best steak I've ever eaten. I definitely recommend the place!

On Sunday morning after church and breakfast the whole family decided to take advantage of the nice weather and headed to the zoo! Erik actually walked most of the time- he certainly is Mr. Independent! Nicholas loved checking all the animals out and could not tell us enough what a great time he had. I'm glad that he appreciated it! Of course I did forget my camera at home, so the few pictures I have are from my cell phone!

Book #9- The Gospel According to Lost

2010-03-04T13:01:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago I was wandering through blogs and various book review sites, where I stumbled upon The Gospel According to Lost, by Chris Seay. I immediately knew I would be buying this book. I am a Lost junkie. It is one of the few things on television that my husband and I watch together. (The only other things we watch together are sporting events- baseball games, hockey games, and football games.) ANYWAY, I bought this book on Saturday night. I finished the book on Sunday morning.

My thoughts on the book- it was good, but I have to say I didn't LOVE it. The author looks into the character conflicts and relationships on the show and how faith and religion play a role in the show. This book was written after last season, and personally I wish the author would have waited until after this final season. The book was a quick read, and if you are a Lost junkie and have a chance to read it I'd definitely say to pick it up, but don't have high expectations.

Book #8- Mary Mary

2010-03-03T11:37:00.003-05:00

Yes, as I mentioned previously...I'm a big James Patterson fan. I don't know what it is about his books, but they suck me in! For those unfamiliar with his books, let me try to explain.

His chapters are SHORT. I'm talking they are two to four pages. This, in my opinion, is a blessing and a curse. A blessing, because if I quickly need to stop and put my book down I can easily do that and not be stuck in the middle of a chapter. (I HATE when that happens!) The curse- well...I like to read at night in bed. And I find myself reading Patterson's books and saying to myself, "Just one more chapter. Ok, just one more. Well, just another quick one." Next thing I know I've read another 100 pages and it is 2:00 in the morning. And remember, I have two young, EARLY RISING, boys. Reading until 2:00 is just NOT a good idea! Well, ok...I do complain about my lack of sleep, but I really do love reading alone at night. It is MY quiet time!

Enough of my rambling here. I thoroughly enjoyed Mary Mary. This is one of the Alex Cross novels, and this one takes place in Los Angeles where there is a serial killer on the loose killing famous stars...specifically mothers. I always try to figure out who the killer is in Patterson's crime novels, but I never seem to! There is always a wrench thrown in! I LOVE IT! It keeps me coming back for more!

Mini Makeover

2010-02-28T00:18:00.003-05:00

Decided to give my blog a mini makeover. Eventually I want to get a personalized design, but for now this will do! I love the coffee theme. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my coffee! I'm still working on all the minor details, but so far I'm liking the new look!

Did Someone Say Snow?

2010-02-26T13:39:00.005-05:00

Apparently the Philadelphia area has NOT had enough snow this winter. I mean, it is already the snowiest winter on record, but it appears Mother Nature wants to make sure this record isn't topped. Schools were cancelled both yesterday and today, but I'm questioning why. You see, yesterday we got MAYBE a total of two inches. Today we've gotten maybe two more, and it is pretty windy, but I really think the kid could have been in school. At this rate they will be going until July!

My husband tells me that according to the Farmer's Almanac we're supposed to get another big storm on March 7. I told him I'm moving. To the Bahamas. I like snow...really, I do. But enough is enough! My kids are sick and tired of being cooped up in the house. Nicholas doesn't care to play in the snow any more and Erik doesn't want to walk in it- he has trouble keeping his balance it seems!

So, if anyone has a spare ticket to the Bahamas...send it my way! Heck, I'll take any tropical locale at this point!

Book #7- Bringing Down the House

2010-02-25T08:59:00.006-05:00

Again, for my latest read, I reached into my box of books that had been abandoned. I had borrowed this book from my sister-in-law several years ago. Before I had kids even! I'm glad I picked it up...it was a very interesting read. The book is labeled as non-fiction, but there is a disclaimer in the book saying names and certain details were changed. That leads me to believe that this is more of a dramatization of actual events.

The story is about a group of MIT students who were skilled in card counting and won large amounts of money from Las Vegas (and other) casinos. The book was a fast read- it only took me a few hours, and whether or not all the stories were true...well, it was still pretty interesting. Now I'd like to see the movie 21, which is based on this book.

Book #6- The Pact

2010-02-22T16:13:00.005-05:00

A friend of mine let me borrow The Pact by Jodi Picoult and said it was a good read. A few months ago I had read My Sisters Keeper (also by Picoult) which I really enjoyed, so I was looking forward to reading this. I do have to say, the story started out slow. After some of the books I had recently read I was hesitant in continuing, but the story did quickly pick up. The book was good, but I didn't love it. I can't really explain why without giving too much away, but I'll just say I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Book #5- By the Time You Read This

2010-02-19T10:52:00.004-05:00

I'm a bit behind on my book reviews, but I have the stomach bug to blame for that! I actually wasn't even able to pick up a book for two days, which is VERY unlike me!

I picked up the book By the Time You Read This by Lola Jaye one day as I was walking through Target. The story is about a girl whose father dies of cancer when she is just five years old. Knowing he won't be around, the father writes a journal for his daughter for each year of her life as a way to guide her. The book was enjoyable, although a bit slow at some points. I would recommend it!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-17T08:57:00.001-05:00

Erik's First Hair Cut

2010-02-16T15:58:00.006-05:00

I guess it was time. While at the mall yesterday someone called Erik a girl. It was then I decided I was going to cut his hair. Chop those pretty curls. Granted, it has been so dry lately that his hair hasn't been curling as much, but I could see them after his bath. And now they are gone and I know I probably won't ever see them again. Nicholas had curls, but after his first hair cut they were gone forever.

Anyway, Erik did VERY well. Sat and let the lady cut his hair. I need to figure out how to style it. I don't like how it is just laying there. After his nap I fixed it into a faux hawk. I'm liking it. He looks super cute. Ken will probably hate it.

Here are the After & Before pictures. Yes...I know it should be before & after. I decided to be a rebel. ;)

Blogiversary

2010-02-12T08:22:00.004-05:00

Happy Blogiversary to me!

WOW...it has been two years since I started my blog. Two years ago I wrote this post, the day I found out I was going to be a mom of two. Today I am the proud mom of two CRAZY boys! An almost four year old (seriously...he can't be turning four this year!) and a 15 month old. No...there is no new babymaking adventure at the moment! In fact, I'm contemplating on changing the name of my blog. However, the creative part of my brain is not coming up with anything!

So, who knows what this year might bring. I'm hoping to make some changes to my blog soon. A makeover for sure...perhaps with a new name. And who knows, maybe in the next year there will be a new babymaking adventure- we'll see where life takes us!

Let It Snow!

2010-02-08T16:28:00.004-05:00

Living in Philadelphia we usually see snow on an annual basis. Most years it is nothing major. In fact, it is what I consider worthless. See, I don't care for the cold weather. Unless there is snow. And by snow, I mean SNOW. At least a good 6-8", preferably a foot of that white stuff.

This year we are certainly getting some REAL snow. Back in December we got hit with a storm that brought us about 20 inches. Nicholas had a blast playing in it. Then on New Years Eve when we were in Maryland we got a few inches...enough for Nicholas to go sledding down my parent's "mountain" with his cousins. (My parents don't live on a mountain, but their backyard has a great hill for sledding on!) Last weekend we had a small amount of snow...nothing worthy of breaking out snow boots or pants for.

Then Snowpocalypse/Snowmageddon 2010 hit. Philadelphia recorded 28.5" of snow. Where I live...closer to 20" I'd say, but that is still A LOT! And Nicholas is loving it. He has gone out to shovel, play, sled, and have fun. He comes in to drink hot chocolate (with smarshmellows) and it results in him sleeping quite well! And did I mention...the snow is not over! We're due to get another storm tomorrow and Wednesday. The snow amounts keep increasing every time I look. The latest reports are estimating 10-18". Fortunately, I have NO where to go, and we have plenty of food. Ok, I think we'll go get more eggs, but we have plenty of other food!

I'm enjoying this snow now. It won't last forever, and I know there will be more years when I complain about the cold weather and lack of snow!

Book #4- Sundays at Tiffany's

2010-02-04T11:52:00.003-05:00

I will preface this by stating- James Patterson is one of my favorite authors, and rarely am I disappointed by his books!

A friend lent me this book about a year ago and it ended up in my "to be read" box of books. (By the way, that box I believe is now empty!) So earlier this week I pulled it out and started reading. The first night I read 60 pages. Last night I finished the last 250 pages in a matter of two hours. A quick read that sucked me in! I think a lot of it has to do with Patterson's style of writing, but it makes it easy for me to read and enjoy! I'm sure you will see me reading several more of his books before the year is over!

Book #3- To the Power of Three

2010-02-01T20:48:00.003-05:00

My latest book was To the Power of Three by Laura Lippman. Unfortunately, this was one of the worst books I have read in awhile. I felt it was lacking character development and the story jumped around a lot. At first I kept reading to see if it would get any better, and then I just decided to finish it because I had already invested so much time into it. This is my first time reading anything by this author, and I don't think I'll be picking anything up of hers anytime soon!

Another Giveaway

2010-01-26T09:30:00.004-05:00

Let me just tell you, I've got some ROCKIN' friends. I invite you to check out Mary Jo's blog...she is giving away a copy of The Pioneer Woman's Cookbook. While you're at it check out her blog...she's got herself a little cutie pie guy who has two beautiful big sisters. And Mary Jo takes some great pics of them. So RUN and check out Miracles Thru My Lens and enter to win and meet my girl Mary Jo!

Book #2- The Lovely Bones

2010-01-22T11:29:00.003-05:00

A few days ago I finished reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. The book for me was an easy read and a good story. Not great, not terrible, but a decent read. For those unfamiliar with the book (or the movie that was just released last weekend) it is about a girl who is killed and watches her family from heaven as they try to cope with her death. I plan on seeing the movie (once released on DVD...not too anxious to pay $10 to see it in the theater) although I am sure I'll be disappointed, as most movies don't compare to their literary counterparts.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-20T21:39:00.002-05:00

From Nicholas' field trip today to the Please Touch Museum.

Book #1- The Shack

2010-01-16T10:58:00.003-05:00

My first book I read for 2010 was The Shack by William P. Young. I really can't talk much about this book without giving away the main plot (although, on the website you can read a bit about it)- I just encourage you to read it for yourself. This book was simply amazing. The writing itself wasn't great, in my opinion, but the story itself made up for it! So, if you're looking for a book to read, go out and buy (or borrow) The Shack! I don't think you'll regret it!

Random

2010-01-14T13:57:00.006-05:00

Yes, this is just a random post. Nothing of extreme importance. Just me rambling! Still trying to find a blog design I like. I wish I was artsy and creative like that. But I'm not. I have seen a few custom designers that I like what they've done. We'll have to see...

Today Nicholas had Pajama Day at school. He got to wear his (new) Supersaurus Rex jammies and his Lightning McQueen slippers. He thought that was the coolest thing.

Tomorrow I get my new front loader washer and dryer. I'm VERY excited. Sad that I'm excited about new appliances. Am I showing my age? Anyway, our dryer died on me last week in the middle of a load, and since we had a stacked washer/dryer combo we had to replace both. Timing was not ideal (we were hoping to do it after we received our income tax refund) but I guess we did not get to make that decision! So this weekend I will be washing about 20 million loads of laundry. Ok, not that many, but there is A LOT to be washed.

Let's see...I'm also working on getting clothes listed on ebay. I sell the boys old clothing on ebay to help buy them new stuff. I have a lot of spring and summer stuff to sell. First, I need to see what still may fit them (Erik has some hand me downs from Nicholas) and then see what needs to go. It is a time consuming task, but it will be worth it.

Oh...and I'm TOTALLY stealing this idea from my friend Dana's blog. She's keeping track of all the books she's read in 2010 in her sidebar on her blog. She's up to 5 or something already...and I'm still on my first book of the year. But I'm going to keep track of what I've read as well. I'm going to set a goal of reading 50 books this year. That's about an average of one a week. I think it is doable. Maybe I'll even give some commentary on the books. And I'm ALWAYS looking for suggestions on books to read!

And to end this...some pictures to share. I got a new fancy phone for Christmas that takes pictures...so I like to annoy my kids by taking pictures of them 500 times a day!

Erik patting Nicholas on the head while he was sleeping

Erik climbing on his toybox to play with his toys

And Erik again sitting on the other toybox (aka-his office) playing with the toy laptop

COLD, COLD, COLD

2010-01-13T10:38:00.009-05:00

I can't remember the last time it was this COLD! I mean, I live in the northeast so I am aware that winter brings cold temperatures, but it has been BITTER! We've already had some good snow- that has made Nicholas a HAPPY camper! And I wouldn't mind more snow. In my mind it is a way to rationalize the cold temperatures. After all, you can't have snow when it is warm. But if it is going to be this cold, I want snow!

With the cold temperatures we've spent most of our times inside. Which means the boys get cabin fever! Nicholas does have his preschool two days a week (although, he asks EVERY day if he is going to school- he loves it!), but I am longing for warmer temperatures where I can send the boys to run out back...even if it is just for 15-20 minutes! However, we haven't seen temps higher than freezing lately. I guess I'm just counting down the days until spring!

Here are some pictures of our first big snowfall (over a foot!) that we got back in December!

AWESOME GIVEAWAY!!!

2010-01-06T13:30:00.002-05:00

So...my FANTASTIC friend, Hope is having this great giveaway on her blog. For what, you ask? Oh, just a $50 gift card to one of my most favorite stores to shop at for my kids- JANIE AND JACK!

So...head over and check out Hope's blog (and check out her ADORABLE boys) and see how you could win the gift card, too!

A New Year

2010-01-04T11:31:00.002-05:00

A new year is upon us. Time for new beginnings. A fresh start.

My first goal here...time to revamp my blog. It is so BLAH!!! So I'll be looking for a new layout. And I hope to post more frequently...ideally once a week!

As for an update here- our Christmas was great. The boys were blessed with lots of new toys, and my house seems to have gotten smaller. My personal goal for 2010 it to become better organized. Yes, I try every year, but this year I'm going gung ho...in fact I started last week! I've been clearing stuff out and throwing things away that I DO NOT NEED. Yes, I like to collect stuff. I'm not one of those crazy horders, but I do hold on to things I really don't need to. Like clothes from 2002 when I was student teaching and I will NEVER wear again. Off to Goodwill they go! Someone else can use them!

Anyway, Happy New Year to All!

Loopiepalooza 2009

2009-11-18T10:17:00.000-05:00

Loopie-pa- WHAT, you ask? Loopiepalooza. 2009, to be exact. Or 2nd annual.

Let me explain. Back in 2006, after I had Nicholas I joined some internet forums and 'loops' that were dedicated to boys clothing...specifically Gymboree and Janie and Jack brands. These loops were used to buy and sell our used clothing and talk about our kids. Soon some of us decided to just start a little group where we could discuss our lives outside of our kids. I mean, we were all people with lives BEFORE we became mommies! So, that started sometime in 2007. Anyway, last spring (March 2008, to be specific) a group of 10 of us got together and met up in Houston, Texas for a long weekend. We ate, shopped, ate, talked, and in case I didn't mention it- we ate some more! That was the first Loopiepalooza.

Well, this year, we did it again. However, we had 18 ladies this time. Again, we met in Houston from a Thursday until Sunday. Ladies drove and flew in from all corners of the country! Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Washington, California, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, and of course, Pennsylvania. A great time was had by all. Again...we spent our time eating, shopping, eating, talking, and eating some more! This group of ladies are AMAZING. We have a wide age group, come from various backgrounds, but our bond of friendship is one I am blessed to have.

House of Ill

2009-11-05T23:34:00.003-05:00

Who sent the germs to my house?!?! Well, please take them back- we've had enough!!!

Last Monday night I arrived home from my vacation to Texas. (I promise to post about that next week!) Tuesday was Erik's birthday, Wednesday was a day to just kinda catch up on everything, Thursday I had to take Nicholas to preschool and run Erik to the doctor for his 12 month WBV, and then Friday was Nicholas' Halloween party at school. Then since Halloween was on Saturday I took the boys to Sesame Place for some trick-or-treating and some special quality time with mommy. On the ride home both boys fell asleep, which wasn't too odd, but then Nicholas continued to lay on the couch once we were home. He said he was tired and didn't feel well. After a trip to get more Motrin and a new thermometer I come home and discover he's got a fever close to 103. After a nap he felt better and his temperature went back to normal, so he did get dressed for trick-or-treating. He only hit half the block before he was ready to come home. UH OH...you KNOW if a three year old tells you he doesn't want to ToT that something is up. Fast forward to Monday morning...a trip to the doctor revealed strep throat. After about 48 hours on the antibiotics he was feeling much better.

And then comes hit number two. Today right before lunch I was changing Erik's diaper and he felt warm. Slight fever and a rash all over his abdomen, chest, and back. He's had some loose stools for a few days, which didn't bother me, but now the fever and rash had be calling the doctor. No strep for him, just a virus. However tonight he woke up after about 2 hours sleep and was just crying. He layed down with Ken and then he vomited. I felt bad for Ken, but in a way I was glad it wasn't me...I don't deal well with puke!

So, in the past week I've been to the pediatrician three times. I think I've met my quota for the season. Tomorrow I will be investing in some more Lysol and disinfecting this house!!!

Twelve Months aka- ONE YEAR!

2009-10-27T17:10:00.000-04:00

A year has come and gone, and how fast it has passed! A year ago today, at 5:10 PM I gave birth to Erik Joseph, via emergency cesarean section. At first look it seemed that Erik was a clone of his big brother, but today we see he has developed his own look, and personality!

Erik has been a great sleeper since day one. He slept through the night (seven hours) at one month old. Today he sleeps eleven or twelve hours at night and naps two or three times a day. He really enjoys his sleep!

Erik now has eight teeth- four on top, four on bottom. He uses those teeth to feed his growing appetite. While he is not a picky eater he certainly prefers meats over vegetables.

While pregnant with Erik his nickname was 'Pumpkin,' but now Chatterbox might be more appropriate. He has quite the impressive vocabulary- around 15 words. He even has 2, two-word phrases- "Hi, Dad!" and "Touch that." He babbles plenty still, and I love to listen to it!

Erik not only walks, but he runs and climbs! I have a feeling that he will be my escape artist! I guess it is because he has his big brother to catch up with! I really enjoy watching the two of them interact. You can already see the bond between them, and that they are the best of friends!

It has been an amazing year watching Erik grow and learn. I look forward to all the years ahead! Happy birthday, Erik! Mommy loves you!

Erik's Party and More!

2009-10-19T17:50:00.002-04:00

We celebrated Erik's first birthday party this past Saturday with family and friends! Despite some yucky weather (cold, rainy, & windy) we all had a good time! Erik was loving having everyone over (Nicholas was a bit overwhelmed at his first birthday party) and spent most of the day walking around and playing with the other kids. He did not make much a mess of his cake...mommy was a bit sad about that! He got some great gifts and has been enjoying his new toys quite a bit! Hopefully I can post pictures soon!

In other news, I'm headed to Texas on Wednesday! A much needed mommy vacation! I can't wait to hang out with friends, eat lots of good food, and maybe catch up on some sleep!

Eleven Months

2009-09-27T15:11:00.002-04:00

I can't believe how quickly the past eleven months have flown by. This past month Erik has just grown by leaps and bounds! He is now walking. Not 100% of the time, but he can easily walk across the room without assistance. He has six teeth now- three on top, three on bottom. His vocabulary is pretty impressive (to me at least)- he says mama, dada, cat, dog, glasses (as in sunglasses), up, yes, what, and 'lis' which is in reference to Nicholas. He definitely has a sense of humor and a devilish streak in his personality. Oh, and he has a head full of hair that is starting to curl at the end. Nicholas' did the same thing, but as soon as we cut it the curls never came back. Oh, Erik is also still an excellent sleeper. Twelve to thirteen hours at night and 2-3 naps a day! Some days he sleeps as much as a newborn!

Now we are preparing for his big birthday celebration in a few weeks. It has been an amazing eleven months so far!

Summer is Coming to an End

2009-09-02T11:12:00.003-04:00

I can't believe it is September already? It seems the older I get, the faster time flies by! This weekend is Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end to summer. We will be going to a BBQ on Saturday and a crab feast on Sunday, so we'll be wrapping up this summer season with some good food and good friends.

We did not take any vacation this summer. Ken and I only made it down the shore for one weekend, but the boys did get to go a few times with Opa and Nana. We've just had lots going on! And this fall is looking busy as well- birthday parties (including Erik's FIRST birthday), bridal showers, weddings, and of course trips to the pumpkin patch. I love fall- it is by far my most favorite season. I love waking up to cool, crisp weather- throwing on a pair of jeans, a warm sweater, and comfy boots. I love the apples that are in season...eating warm, homemade apple pie (made by my husband, NOT me), delicious pumpkin pie (this one *I* make), and all the other delicious treats.

So, although summer is coming to an end I am looking forward to the changing colors and cooler weather that fall will bring. This week Mother Nature seems to have realized that September is here- we already have cooler temps that have allowed me to turn off the air conditioning and open my windows. It is WONDERFUL!

Ten Months

2009-08-27T13:55:00.004-04:00

Well, ten months have come and passed! Erik is growing bigger every day! And I'm falling more and more in love with him every day!

As of his doctor's appointment last week he is 22 pounds 11 ounces and 30.25"- a BIG boy! In this past month he has gotten a new tooth (on Sunday the 23rd, his bottom right lateral incisor), he waves, he claps, will do SO BIG, and has a few times taken 1-2 steps. Despite these few steps he much rather crawl!

Erik is starting to enjoy more table foods and especially likes chicken and mixed vegetables. Oh, and courtesy of his older brother he has also sampled (and loved) french fries! He really likes almost every thing he's tried though, which is good...there are no picky eaters in this house!

Since I haven't shared any new pictures in awhile, here are a few of my cutie pie!

Erik's 9 Month Well Baby Visit & Other Ramblings

2009-08-20T09:13:00.005-04:00

I know...I'm SUCH a slacker! I'm trying NOT to give up on my 365 blog, but it is getting harder and harder to maintain. I'm hoping that I can get a few hours of time to catch up on the past 6 weeks. I don't know if I've even taken pictures every day, but if not...I will figure something out!

Today was Erik's 9 month well baby visit. He's now 22 pounds 11 ounces and 30 1/4" long. BIG BOY INDEED! His 9 months stats are bigger than Nicholas', but Nicholas didn't grow much from 6 months to 9 months, and then from 9 months to a year he gained 4 pounds! So who knows how Erik will grow. He seems to be just steady, although he is 95 percentile for height and 85 percentile for weight.

This weekend is a busy weekend for us. Tomorrow my nephew Michael turns ONE! I can't believe it has been a year already! Saturday is our annual block party. They're calling for rain and flooding (ACK...no FUN!) but I hope it holds off. And then Sunday is Michael's first birthday party. And next week we have friends coming into town from Wisconsin so it will be a busy weekend next weekend as well!

Hopefully once summer is done I can dedicate more time to updating everything!

So Busy!

2009-08-08T08:51:00.004-04:00

I'm here! I have not fallen off the face of the planet, I promise! Summer is just a busy time around here, and I have not updated my blog. (Even worse, I'm about a month behind updating my 365 blog! Maybe I'll work on that, too!) This summer has been full of birthday parties, bridal showers, baptisms, and a million other day-to-day activities!

Around here we have been SO busy that we've only made one trip down to the Jersey Shore as a family. This weekend Nicholas is down there with Opa & Nana, but the rest of us are here at home. Ken is taking our pool down, while I work on ebay listings, and Erik...well, he will hang out and do his Erik thing. Which lately, because he is teething, is not much more that eating and sleeping. He's not a terrible teether- he just wants to eat and sleep. So he's taking about three naps a day and sleeping 12 hours at night. I can't really complain!

So, as I mentioned, Ken is taking our pool down. You may ask...taking a pool down, in the middle of summer? Are you crazy? Well, yes, I am crazy- but for many other reasons! Anyway, we're taking our pool down because it takes up the entire backyard. Our yard is about the size of a postage stamp, or an above ground pool! Since we live in the city, and on a fairly busy street, it isn't safe for the boys to play out front. Not to mention our front yard is pretty much non-existant. The kids in the neighborhood play in the driveways and on the sidewalk, but there is no place for a swingset or play structure. So we are taking the pool down so we have a yard for the boys to play in. It is entirely fenced in, so it will be a safe place for them to play. I cannot wait!

Well, that is just a bit of what is going on here. We have a wedding next week, followed by a bridal shower, and the following weekend brings two block parties and a birthday party. I think our weekend calendar is booked through January!

Nine Months

2009-07-27T08:45:00.005-04:00

Can I PLEASE stop time? We are creeping FAR too close to the one year mark, and I don't want my little man to turn one!

Ok, I suppose it won't be THAT horrible, but it does make me a tad bit sad!

So, this month has been full of new adventures. I have myself a climber. Erik climbs on E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! Really, he is TOO smart. He moves boxes and books and anything else he can find so he can climb to where he shouldn't be. And on several occasions he has given mommy quite a scare! Of course, he just smiles and laughs as if it is no big deal!

He is not walking yet, but crawls faster than the speed of light (ok, maybe not THAT fast, but he is quick) and cruises all along the furniture with ease. He will stand alone and it looks as if he is contemplating taking a step, but at this point we have nothing.

Erik has a few words- Mama, Dada, and something that sounds like a cross between Baba and Bop. Often you just hear him babbling or squealing with delight. He is still very much a happy, laid-back guy.

Erik is also enjoying some new foods. He loves eating bits of fruit and veggies and also small ditalini pasta. I still laugh every time he takes a first bite of food though, because he makes a face as if it is the most disgusting thing ever, and then he proceeds to gobble it all up!

Not Me! Monday (with a twist!)

2009-07-20T08:16:00.003-04:00

For this week's NMM the focus is on the kids, and all they crazy things they have not done!

So (after you read all about my kids) head on over to MckMama's blog and check out what her MSC aren't up to, along with everyone elses kids!

On Friday, while eating dinner, Nicholas was NOT caught trying to blow raspberries/spit at the table, and in response to that he definitely did NOT try to explain it by saying, "But Daddy tells me if I have words stuck in my mouth to just spit it out!" Yes, I definitely did NOT get outwitted (yet, again) by my three year old.

And my darling eight month old Erik definitely did NOT pull out a box of books to climb upon in order to bang on my TV. That is something a much older TODDLER would do, not my LITTLE guy! And a few days later he most certainly did not push another box next to his toybox in order to use it to climb up on the toybox to get to Nicholas' toys on the windowsill that he isn't allowed to have! Nope, NOT Erik!

Such is my life as the mom of boys!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-08T10:19:00.002-04:00

Blog Hopping

2009-07-07T10:30:00.003-04:00

This picture (albiet a poor quality due to being scanned) is from October 30, 2004- the day Ken & I were married!

"A blue eyed boy meets a brown eyed girl, Oh the sweetest thing!"

Not Me! Monday

2009-07-06T21:15:00.004-04:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday, the blog carnival created by McKMama where we can share all of the embarrasing things we have done! Head over to her blog where you can read about what everyone else has NOT done!

First, I most certainly DID NOT turn thirty yesterday. Nope, I simply celebrated the first anniversary of my twenty-ninth birthday. Yup, my mom and I are the same age!

I also did NOT let my eight month old eat half the sand on the beach when we went down the shore last weekend, which definitely did NOT result in me changing sandcastle filled diapers. I mean, what kind of mother would allow their child to eat fistfuls of sand? Not me!

And because I was heading to my parents' house in MD for the holiday weekend, I assure you I did NOT wait until 9:00 Friday morning to start packing, when in fact we were supposed to be leaving the house at 9:00. Nope, not me! I am far more prepared than that and would have had the bags packed the night before in preparation for the trip.

My Next Thirty Years

2009-07-05T22:01:00.002-04:00

The day has arrived. I am officially- THIRTY!

Honestly, I know some of my friends we dreading the big 3-0. I wasn't. In fact, I was actually kinda looking forward to it. I survived another year, and I am grateful.

Today was a relaxing day. Hung out at my parents house with Mom & Dad, Ken, Nicholas, and Erik, and my cousin Jonathan who I haven't seen in six years. I got to take a nice nap, we played some dominoes, ate some good grub, and just had a good time. On Friday night I had gone out with some friends...had a REALLY good time, and we'll just leave it at that!

On Saturday is the big birthday extravaganza. My best friend and I will be having a girls only party to celebrate our birthdays. For the record...she's older than me by 4 days. I don't let her forget it! The party should be a great time!

Anyway- here's to my next thirty years! May they be even better than the first thirty!

Eight Months

2009-06-27T12:43:00.004-04:00

Wow, I guess I should have seen it coming, but Erik is ALL over the place now! Not only is he crawling (at top speeds, mind you) but he's also pulling up on furniture, cruising along furniture, and *gasp* STANDING ALONE! Yes, just last week his brother was holding him up, and in typical three year old fashion- LET GO, and voila...Erik was standing there. By himself. For about 5 seconds. It seemed like an eternity to me, since I was across the room and was certain he was going to face plant into the floor. Alas, he did not. I, however got rugburn on my knees trying to reach him, as he gracefully lowered himself to his knees, and then hands, and quietly crawled away. People tell me he will be walking by 9 months. I pretend that I don't hear them. He's my LITTLE GUY...he is not allowed to walk yet. I won't let him!

Two more teeth have also appeared. One last Saturday, and another yesterday. Both his top front teeth, so the total is at four. These top teeth were a bit rough on him. He was cranky and woke up in the middle of the night a few times. Hopefully the rest will come in smoothly.

Well, we will see if next month I have a walker on my hands. Doesn't he know that there is NO rush to grow up?!?!

It's Been a Year...

2009-06-09T12:36:00.003-04:00

A year?

Yes...a year!

For what you ask?

Well, it has been a year since Nicholas gave up his Nuk. (Pacifier, Binky, or whatever other term you may use.)

Nicholas was HOOKED on his Nuk. It was his comfort item, without a doubt. Towards the end he was mainly using it at naptime, bedtime, or in the car. However, if he found one he'd often just pop it in his mouth. Ken and I decided once Nicholas turned two we'd get rid of the Nuk. However, two weeks after Nicholas' 2nd birthday we were headed to Walt Disney World, and the thought of traveling (by train and plane) and being in an unfamiliar place would be a bit stressful without his comfort item.

Well, he proved us wrong!

We were leaving for Florida on a Saturday, and the Monday before Nicholas gave up his beloved Nuk- cold turkey. Ok, so the truth is it fell out while he was playing and he couldn't find it, and I told him I wasn't looking for it for him. Mean mommy (hey- I *was* pregnant at the time), but he really didn't protest much! The next day he found it (hidden behind the couch) and I simply took it, and we never turned back!

I did hate that so many pictures I tried to take of Nicholas were 'tainted' by him having his Nuk in his mouth, but I knew it wouldn't be forever. This is the last picture I have of him with his Nuk-

Wordless Wednesday

2009-05-27T11:00:00.002-04:00

Nicholas' birthday pictures-

Seven Months

2009-05-27T10:51:00.001-04:00

This has been a busy month for Erik! He is now MOBILE! At the beginning of the month he was just rolling all over the room, and that got him where he needed to be. Then about two weeks ago he started the army crawl. Now he is doing a combination of army crawl, inchworm, and then a little bit of regular crawling. And of course he is in to EVERYTHING! When we're in the basement he loves to crawl under my desk to try to get at the computer cords. He's bumped his head on the chair MANY times, and yet he still attacks! And now that he is on the move he does not want to sit in his Jumperoo or Exersaucer for long!

Now that Erik can move more I think Nicholas is enjoying having a little brother. The two of them will sit and play with toys, and I've been able to bring a few new toys out that have been in storage. I don't know that our house is big enough for all of this stuff! I do enjoy watching my boys play, and I can already see that they are going to be the best of friends!

Not Me! Monday

2009-05-25T08:21:00.003-04:00

Have you ever done (or not done) something, and think...wow, that couldn't have really happened? Believe me, you're not alone! That's what Not Me! Monday is all about! It's a blog carnival started by MckMama, and you can head over to her blog to read what she (and others) are NOT doing!

Well, let's just say that I did NOT have a crazy day yesterday. I mean, Sundays are meant to rest, spend time with family, and do some cleaning around here. So when I went to go put a Christmas decoration away (that I most certainly DID NOT leave out until 5 months after Christmas) in our storage room I was NOT greeted by water leaking from one of the pipes- mere inches away from all of Nicholas' birthday party supplies! Nope, NOT ME! And while Ken was getting ready to walk out the door to get the part needed to repair the leak the power on our block DID NOT go out. And it certainly was NOT almost 90 degrees and quite humid! And later that evening we certainly DID NOT discover that the fan and light fixture in our bedroom was broken. Nope! All of those crazy things could NOT possibly happen to us in a mere six hours!

Also, throughout the week I certainly did NOT do anything that would be worthy of posting here on NMM, and then I forgot to write it down to remember. I mean, I have an impeccable memory and would certainly remember everything I'd want to write, right?

But on a final note- I definitely, can NOT be the mother of a THREE YEAR OLD! It can NOT possibly be Nicholas' third birthday today. It certainly can NOT be three years since I became a mother. No, I will NOT believe it! And I definitely do NOT get all teary eyed thinking about the day he was born. Nope, NOT ME!

Happy Third Birthday, Nicholas!

2009-05-25T08:00:00.004-04:00

Three years ago today I became a mother. Just two days before my due date I went into labor, and at 3:46pm I gave birth to my first son, Nicholas Kenneth. In the past three years I've watched you go from a smiling, giggly baby to the goofy little boy you are today. You are definitely a comedian- you are always trying (and are usually successful) to make us laugh. This past year you also became a big brother- and you are a wonderful, caring, and loving big brother. And of course, you can always get Erik to laugh!

You definitely love your sports. You love watching the games on TV, and in the fall you know that Sundays are football days. (And you sing along with the commercial- "Feelin' kinda Sunday...") You enjoyed watching AND going to the Phillies games, and I love hearing you scream HOME RUN! And this year Daddy brought you the Wings games to watch lacrosse. He tells me you sit there with your box of popcorn (your latest favorite snack) and would watch and cheer. And of course you love playing your sports, too. You love to play baseball most of all lately- whether you're just playing catch or hitting the ball. And you're already doing a great job of hitting a ball pitched to you.

There are so many other things you enjoy- you've learned how to ride your tricycle, you love putting puzzles together, and of course you love to play! In the summer you love going on the water slide at Grandmother and Grandfather's house, you love to bounce on the moon bounce at Nana and Opa's, and you will take any opportunity to go to the playground or play outside.

It has been such a wonderful three years watching you grow, learn, and discover. I can't wait to see what this year brings! Mommy loves you, Nicholas. Happy third birthday!

FREE (or Cheap) Summer Fun- Movies, Summer 2009

2009-05-23T09:15:00.001-04:00

Well, this weekend is Memorial Day weekend- the unofficial start of summer. I know in the summer I am often trying to find things to do to keep us occupied. Especially on those super HOT days when being outside for long is not an option.

Last year I discovered that several of our local movie theatres had FREE or CHEAP kids movies. Yes, I said FREE! Can you really beat that price? Yes, the movies are not new releases, but most kids don't realize (or care) and they will watch the same movie over and over AND OVER again, right? (No, this is NOT coming from someone who has seen Cars more times than she can count!) Anyway, in my area the two main theatre companies that offer these movie programs are AMC and Regal.

AMC has the Summer Movie Camp, which has $1 movies on Wednesday mornings at 10 AM. They also have $3 Kids Packs which have a kid-sized drink, popcorn, and snack. All admission and concession proceeds go to charity- so you get cheap entertainment and contribute to a good cause!

Regal Entertainment Group has the Free Family Film Festival, which as the title says, is FREE, on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, also at 10 AM. Can't beat that price tag!

I've searched and found a few other theatre companies that are also offering various summer movie programs, including Cinemark and Rave Motion Pictures. Hopefully you can find a theatre near you and can enjoy a FREE (or cheap) movie with your kids this summer!

Erik's 6 Month WBV

2009-05-19T14:01:00.003-04:00

So, Erik actually turned 6 months about three weeks ago, but we took him this morning for his 6 month WBV. Growing big and strong! He's 19 pounds 11 ounces and is 27 1/2" long. In the 90th percentile for height and weight, but not quite as big as his older brother was.

It was a pretty uneventful visit- in and out in under 30 minutes! He doesn't go back until August for his 9 month appointment.

Crazy Busy!

2009-05-14T12:04:00.004-04:00

I promise...I have not abandoned my blog! However, it is a crazy, busy time of year here! Nicholas turns three at the end of the month...birthday party planning is in FULL SWING! He's asked to have a 'Super Hero' party- aka, Spiderman, Wolverine, the Hulk, and all the other Marvel superheroes. So, invitations have been sent and we're working on the menu.

At the end of the month my aunt & uncle are coming out to visit from MN. They're flying into BWI to visit with my parents and I know at some point will come up to see us here. They haven't seen Nicholas since he was 14 months old and they will get to meet Erik for the first time. It will be nice to have them here for Nicholas' party and to celebrate Ken's birthday as well.

Erik is also on the move now. He's been rolling all over the place for a few weeks now and this morning he started to Army crawl. I'm sure within a few weeks he'll be all over the place and crawling on all hands and knees.

Our schedule is getting filled ever so quickly. Birthday parties, bridal showers, baptisms, weddings, concerts... We haven't even picked a week for vacation yet!

So, that's what's going on around here. I hope to keep this updated (as well as my 365 blog, which needs to be updated in a BIG way!)

Not Me! Monday

2009-05-04T08:47:00.005-04:00

It's back!!!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week. We're glad Stellan is home from the hospital, and MckMama is starting up NMM again!

Well, I must say I DEFINITELY did not send my lovely husband on a trip to Wisconsin (to visit friends) and play the role of a single mother for five days. Nope! And because I am quite capable of handling both boys alone I certainly DID NOT drop Ken off at the airport and immediately drive two hours south to my parents' house! NOT ME!

While at my parents we decided to take the boys to the National Zoo. Started with a 45 minute car ride to the Metro in which Nicholas was excited about riding on the train, but once we got there Nicholas was ADAMANT that he was not riding. So, I certainly DID NOT convince him that we weren't riding the train, but instead we were just going on a subway car, in order to get him to calm down. Nope, NOT ME!

A few days pass, Ken comes home, and things get back to normal. By normal, I mean our regular laid back days. And by laid back I mean I really did not drag both boys to the Philadelphia Zoo at 11:00 in the morning to meet up with some online friends, walk around the zoo for four hours, take the long and scenic route home (during rush hour) so both would get a good nap, only to arrive home to pick up Ken so we could head out to the Phillies game. I mean, our days are laid back, so NOT ME!

Oh, and once we arrived at the Phillies game I guarantee you that I DID NOT leave the tickets in the car and only realize it once we got to the stadium...several blocks away. NOT ME!

So, that's what has NOT been going on here in a nutshell. I hope you share what you have NOT been up to as well!

Erik's First Phillies Game

2009-04-30T20:12:00.003-04:00

Last night was Erik's first Phillies game! Yes, we start the kids out early with sports in this family. Nicholas was 6 months when he went to his first Flyers game and 14 months when he went to his first Phillies game. Erik was just shy of 4 months for his first Flyers game and now 6 months for the Phillies. They both love to go to the games, so it is enjoyable for the whole family!

The day was pretty busy. The boys and I had spent the early afternoon at the zoo, and I got them to nap in the car while I took the scenic route home. (Ok, not so scenic...but I drove through the city where there are traffic lights every 5 feet!) We picked up Ken and then his Mom Mom and headed down to the stadium. Ken made the mistake of giving me the tickets to hold- I was busy loading the stroller up with everything we needed. Of course once we walked the few blocks to the stadium I remembered that I put the tickets down in the back of the truck. OOPS!

We love Citizens Bank Park. Everyone working there is genuinely so nice. The man outside the gates gave each of the boys a Phanatic figurine. Kids also get certificates for their first game. How cool is that?!?

One of the best family friendly features of the park is the Phanatic Phun Zone. It is a big play area for the kids to enjoy before the game. It is actually open until the 7th inning (I believe) but shhh, don't let Nicholas know. He wanted to go back and play and we told him it was closed! He was able to run out a good bit of energy before the game though!

We ended leaving around the 7th inning. Nicholas was tired, and well- the Phils weren't playing all that great. They ended losing to the Nationals 4-1. We had a good time though. Here are some pictures from our evening!

R.I.P. Harry Kalas

Six Months

2009-04-27T21:20:00.003-04:00

I know I say it every month, but I can't believe it has been HALF a year since my little guy was born. I still remember it as if it were yesterday.

Erik has had quite an eventful month. He's got not ONE, but TWO teeth now! The first (his lower right) came through on Easter. I had NO idea he was even teething! On Good Friday he was a bit cranky and I felt that the tooth was close, and BAM...Sunday it was through! I can deal with that. And his second tooth broke through this past Friday, the 24th. No more gummy bear!

The day after his first tooth broke though *I* finally witnessed him roll from his back to his belly. He had been trying, and I think he had done it before, but I never saw it myself (so it doesn't count) until then. And the day after he rolled over, he said MAMA! Busy boy, I tell you!

We've also started experimenting with some foods. I wasn't planning on starting until 6 months, but when he grabbed the banana in my hand that I was peeling for his brother, I figured he was interested! So far he has enjoyed bananas, applesauce, pears, sweet potatoes, and he's sampled squash...but we need to try that one again because he wasn't too fond of it the first go round.

And I know last month I mentioned Erik had found his piggy toes and started playing with them. Well, this month they found their way to his mouth! He always is chewing on his toes right before he gets in the bath and right when he gets out. It is too cute!

Erik goes sometime in May for his six month well baby visit, so I will update with his latest stats at that point. I'm sure he's around 19 pounds or so, and he's definitely getting long!

Here is a picture of Erik taken today at exactly 5:10 PM, 6 months to the minute of the moment he was born. I can't wait to see how much he grows in the next six months!

Wearing Orange and Praying for Stellan

2009-04-21T08:39:00.005-04:00

The boys and I are all wearing orange today in support of Stellan. Please join us as we pray for him and the doctors who are performing his surgery, and for MckMama and the rest of the family.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-15T15:43:00.002-04:00

Easter

2009-04-13T13:39:00.002-04:00

We went to Ocean City, NJ again for Easter this year. We were excited because we wanted to take Nicholas to the Easter Egg Hunt on the beach on Saturday. Well, Saturday brought rain, wind, and cold weather! So they just handed out some eggs on the music pier. Luckily the weather was nice on Sunday and they were able to hold it then. They put 50,000 eggs on the beach, and the kids are divided into ages. Nicholas was in the 1-2 group, although he will be three next month, and does NOT look 2. He had fun- filled his buckets and got candy, little trinkets, and a few cool prizes- a free game of Miniature Golf, tickets for rides at the amusement pier, and a stuffed bunny that had a prize for Mommy & Daddy- a $100 gift certificate to a Bed and Breakfast! WOOHOO! Good job, Nicholas!

Ready for the Hunt-

Checking out the loot with Daddy-

Sunday morning Nicholas did have a hunt for eggs in the house. Here are a few pictures of him seeing his Easter Basket and hunting.

And some family shots-

Another Shoe Giveaway- Jack and Lily

2009-04-07T09:53:00.003-04:00

Yes...more shoes! I love shoes, so of course I'm jumping at the opportunity to win another pair of shoes from Jack and Lily. The baseball ones are simply adorable, and would be perfect for Erik for this summer! To be able to win a pair yourself head on over to Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House and enter to win! If you win though and feel very generous you could always give them to Erik (baseball style, size 6-12 month)!

Birthdays

2009-04-06T08:55:00.005-04:00

It was certainly a busy weekend around here! On Friday night we went to my in-laws for my mother-in-law's birthday. Lately Nicholas has started to understand the concept of birthdays. By that, he knows you get cake! So at the beginning of last week I had told him I bought his Nana's birthday present he asked if she would share her cake with him. And then he decided he wanted to make her cupcakes. Pirate cupcakes. Don't know where that came from, but we made pirate cupcakes. Ok, so they were really Funfetti cupcakes with pirate stickers attached to toothpicks, but that was acceptable to Nicholas!

Here are a few pictures from Friday night's celebration.

Nana & her grandsons (it is QUITE difficult to get everyone looking!)

The Pirate Cupcakes-

Then yesterday we headed back to my in-law's for my husband's grandmother's birthday. (I guess that would make her my grandmother-in-law, but that seems to be a mouthful!) Anyway, this was more of a surprise party. She thought she was just going out to dinner with her two kids and their spouses, but instead all of her grandchildren, their significant others, and her great grandsons were all there. As we were walking out the door to leave Nicholas got a bit upset that we hadn't made G- MomMom any cupcakes, but I assured him that Nana had bought her a cake.

It was a beautiful day- mid 60s and LOTS of sunshine! We were outside the entire afternoon, and some of the boys (Nicholas included) hopped in the hot tub. We really could not have planned for a more beautiful day!

These are a few shots from yesterday's celebration.

Frustration!

2009-03-31T10:56:00.006-04:00

Last night after dinner I had to run over to Target to pick up a few items- cat food, diapers, and some cards. Well, I looked through my coupons to see what was expiring today (I knew I had a lot expiring on 3/31) and decided to grab a few more things that I knew I'd need in the next few weeks. So, after spending about 30 minutes or so casually gathering my items I walked into the clothing section. Since I've been losing weight I don't have much that fits me (properly, at least) so I decided to try some things on. I left my shopping cart right outside the dressing room, and one of the ladies manning the dressing room told me she was just going to move it so it wasn't blocking the entrance. I tried my stuff on (didn't really like anything) and when I came out my cart was gone!

I was so angry! Well, at first I was relieved that I took my coupon folder with me, but mad that I had a shopping cart FULL of stuff and it was gone! The lady who was there was NOT the one who took my cart, and said that I probably forgot where I put my cart and was just mistaken. Um...no, it was an employee who moved it, and of course she was no where to be found! I had to do all my shopping over again! And then of course I ended up waiting for 15 minutes in line to check out. Finally additional cashiers were called to help out, and the poor guy checking me out looked like he had NO idea what he was doing, and then of course was having trouble with my $30 in coupons.

Who knew a simple trip to Target could be so stressful?!?!

Win a Pair of See Kai Run!

2009-03-30T11:20:00.003-04:00

If you've met me you know I love to dress my boys nice...right down to their shoes! One of my favorite brands of shoes are See Kai Run. They're great when your little ones are learning to walk...they're super flexible. And SUPER cute! And you have a chance to win a pair for your little one. (Or, you know... you could get a pair for my little guy!) Head on over to A Kindred Spirit and check out the giveaway over there. Contest ends tomorrow, so don't delay!

Bike Riding

2009-03-28T09:41:00.004-04:00

Yesterday afternoon we all headed to Nana & Opa's to hang out for a bit. Nicholas had a surprise waiting for him- a Harley Davidson Big Wheel. He was very excited to ride it. He had to get used to pedaling with his legs straight out (he has the Fisher Price Smart Cycle at home, so he knows how to pedal in a more upright position) and is still working on steering, but had a lot of fun!

Five Months

2009-03-27T21:56:00.004-04:00

And another month gone by! Erik is five months old now, and I find myself falling in love with him more and more as each day passes! In this past month Erik has discovered his piggy toes and he loves to grab and play with them. I can't wait until he can get them to his mouth- it always cracks me up to see babies chewing on their toes.

Erik is still just rolling from his belly to his back. He tries to go from his back to his belly (and he has twice, but only when he was propped on a pillow) but hasn't quite got it yet. I'm sure he will soon, and then he'll be rolling all over the place! He is able to sit up pretty well for a few seconds, but he sits in the 'tri-pod' position a lot. I'm sure in the next month he'll be sitting all on his own!

Let's see, Erik loves to give kisses, and if you're just out of reach he'll lean and grab your face to pull you in to lay a wet one on your cheek. He's definitely a smily, happy baby, and you can see that he adores his brother! We've also given him the nickname of Thumper. When he wakes up in his crib you rarely hear him cry, but you'll hear him coo, giggle, and THUMP! He raises both legs up above him and slams them down and makes this loud thumping noise that can be heard throughout the house.

So, that's one more month down. We're excited to see what the next month brings us!

Pray for Stellan

2009-03-25T09:17:00.005-04:00

If you don't know already, MckMama's sweet little boy Stellan is currently in the hospital with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), the same condition he was diagnosed with in utero. Miraculously he was born healthy, but it has returned. Stellan was born just two days after Erik, and it breaks my heart to think of such a young baby being so sick. Please pray for Stellan, and for the rest of his family as well.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-25T08:44:00.004-04:00

Not Me! Monday

2009-03-23T09:29:00.006-04:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Well, this past week was full of things that I certainly would never do or things that would never happen to me.

First, I can guarantee that I did NOT let my almost three year old eat chocolate cupcakes in the living room just two days after my husband steam cleaned the carpets. There were not crumbs everywhere, including all over his train table, building blocks, and of course his face. Nope, NOT ME!

Then on Tuesday I certainly did NOT get not one, but TWO separate phone calls from two different companies looking for "Erik," and I definitely did NOT joke with the person on the other line that my four month old was napping and couldn't come to the phone. Nope, NOT ME!

And on Wednesday evening, while Ken and I were both in the kitchen, we did NOT overlook the fact that Nicholas opened the door to let BeBop outside to play- AGAIN! Nope, NOT ME!

I also must mention that I am a mature adult, who would NEVER get sucked into the Twlight phenomenon. And because of that, my almost three year old would not loudly announce in the middle of Target while standing in front of the Twilight display, "Look mommy, you have those books at home- they're your FAVORITE!" Nope, NOT ME!

And while at the zoo this weekend I did NOT get to see the Phillies World Series trophy that my husband did not want to wait in line to see. Of course I would NOT have told my almost three year old that the cool Phillies baseball trophy was in the big, white tent and get him all pumped and tell daddy that he wanted to see it. Nope, NOT ME!

So, that's just a peek into the things I did NOT do this week. I'd love to hear about all the things you did NOT do!

Family Fun Day at the Zoo!

2009-03-21T17:11:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I was thinking that it had been awhile since we had done an outing as a family, and Erik has never been to the zoo...so off we went!

I must say, I love the Philadelphia Zoo. Did you know that it was America's First Zoo? I'm pretty sure it was the first zoo I went to, at least the first one I remember going to! Growing up in grade school we took many field trips there. And as an adult I still enjoy going and seeing all the animals. We have an annual membership (it pays for itself in two visits and is valid for a full year- TOTALLY worth it!) and since it is so close we get good use out of it.

So, in the morning Ken made us a picnic lunch (yup...gotta love when you can bring in your own food & drink...saves some money) and we stopped at WaWa for some drinks and chips and we were on our way. A gorgeous day...cool, but lots of sunshine which made it feel a lot warmer. On our way in I was asking Nicholas if he wanted to see monkeys, bears, lions, etc... He kept telling me, no- that they scared him. I have NO idea where that came from, because he's always loved animals. The only animals he said he wanted to see were hippos (my favorite!) and giraffes. Well, in the end he ended up wanting to see everything, and loved every minute of it. This was the first big outing where he walked pretty much the entire time and didn't ride in the stroller. Which, by the way, I had the HUGE double stroller and Nicholas was walking and I was wearing Erik in my Sleepy Wrap! I was pushing a stroller full of STUFF! I had one lady walk up to look in the stroller and said, "Oh, twin babies!" and then was shocked to see that there was just a coat, blanket, and some other random items. I had a nice laugh.

One special moment was getting to see the Wrold Series trophy that was on display. Ken did not want to wait in line, because he thought Nicholas would grow impatient and be miserable. Turns out Nicholas saw the white tent it was in, asked me what was in there (I told him the Phillies baseball trophy) and he told me he wanted to go see it! YEAH! So we waited in line (only 15-20 minutes) and got our picture taken. I was very excited! I will definitely be putting that picture in Erik's baby book since he was born the day of the last game (Part One!) when the Phillies won the World Series.

Here are a few pictures from our special day!

Moby Wrap Giveaway!

2009-03-20T13:42:00.004-04:00

Moby what, you say? Moby Wrap- it is a WONDERFUL baby carrier, and it could be yours, FREE! Although, I'd prefer it be mine- so if you win and would like to donate it to me (and Erik) I certainly would NOT complain!

Head over to Our Life Upstate to check out the details on how you could win! (But really, I'm hoping it is me...I definitely do NOT have enough baby carriers! lol)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-18T11:22:00.002-04:00

House of Ill

2009-03-17T21:34:00.003-04:00

Illness has made its round at our house. First it was Nicholas last week. He's about 95% better- just a slight cough every so often. Erik got hit next. Today he seems to be lots better, but still sounds congested. You'd never guess he was sick though- he's still one happy little guy!

And then the illness hit Mommy. During the day on Saturday I had a tickle in my throat, which is often how I know I'm getting sick. I went to bed early Saturday night, but still woke up feeling pretty miserable on Sunday. And then on Monday I was feeling even MORE run down, and today it has been even worse. My head is pounding, I've used about 3 boxes of tissues, and you might as well call me Rudolph- my nose is so red.

I guess the good news is that we've got some warm weather coming this way, so I can open the windows and air the house out. Get rid of all these germs! I definitely need to be better by Saturday- Twilight is being released on DVD and my girlfriends and I are having a Twilight viewing party.

Not Me! Monday

2009-03-15T09:44:00.004-04:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Well, this week was fairly uneventful. First, I did NOT spend most of the day Wednesday washing loads of puke covered laundry. Nope, NOT ME! I mean, it wouldn't be my luck that on Tuesday morning my 4 month old ate too quickly and then covered me and half of our king sized bed with his breakfast. And then of course later that night once a new set of sheets were on the bed my almost 3 year old didn't come into my room with a raging fever and get sick, covering not just the sheets, but also my duvet cover and down comforter. Of course when he then moved to the couch to spend the rest of the night there with Daddy he didn't get sick on yet ANOTHER set of sheets (and a few towels) so I would have some more laundry to do. NOPE, NOT ME!!!

Then Saturday night came and I took Erik with me to the grocery store while Daddy & Nicholas spent some quality time together. Erik ended up falling asleep, so I most certainly DID NOT walk slowly and leisurely through the store taking my good ol' time! And then after loading Erik into the car, driving home, nursing Erik, and unloading the groceries from the car I DID NOT break into a sweat because I could not locate my coupon file folder. And of course I definitely DID NOT pack up my half-asleep child and drag him back out to the store to find that my coupon folder was still in the shopping cart in the cart corral where I had left it. Nope, NOT ME!!!

And on Sunday, I assure you I DID NOT spend the entire day in bed with the laptop because my kids got me sick. I mean, I am Super Mom, so I would have definitely gone about my normal day-to-day routine despite being under the weather!

Erik's 4 Month WBV

2009-03-12T18:10:00.004-04:00

Today Erik had his 4 month well baby visit. Ken and I were trying to make some guesses as to how big he would be this month. Ken said 18 pounds, I said 17.

Well, Mommy wins! I was closest...Erik is my peanut at just 16 pounds 8 ounces! Ok, so he's really not a peanut- that's the 75th percentile, but Nicholas at 4 months was 18 pounds 12 ounces AND he weighed a pound and a half LESS than Erik at birth. Erik was also 26" long, which is 90th percentile for height. He's hitting all the appropriate milestones -he can roll from belly to back, and is this close to rolling from back to belly, he smiles the biggest smiles (as my pictures have shown!), he laughs big belly laughs, sleeps great (generally from 8:30p- 6:30/7:00a), and in general is one happy guy! We're not yet starting on solids...he's not ready, and I'm in no rush. He did get his next round of vaccinations- he cried when the needle went in, but as soon as I picked him up he was fine. Such a trooper!

We don't go back until the middle of May for his 6 month visit. I also scheduled Nicholas' 3 YEAR well child visit. Is it possible that Nicholas is going to be THREE?!?!

Sisterhood

2009-03-11T21:16:00.005-04:00

Wow...Today I got my first award! I didn't even know such things existed! My friend, Dani, from Never a Dull Moment, passed on to me, the Sisterhood award.

This award represents blogs that show great attitude and/or gratitude. Thanks Dani! I will be passing the award on to 3 other bloggers.

Thank you to all my blogging friends- without you I'd be lost and wouldn't know what to do while online. Reading blogs has become my way to unwind, and you all are insightful women who brighten my day!

1- Mindy from Mindysue365. I've known Mindy for...well, forever. Or just about. I think we were 6 months old when we 'met' as babies. She grew up living next door to my grandparents, and it was great when I'd go to visit, because I always had a great friend to hang out with. Back in the day we'd keep in touch via snail mail, but thank goodness we've got the internet now! She's such a sweetie, and has two adorable kids.

2- I have known Chris for several years now. She's an Army wife, who is also mom to two cutie patootie boys. Our oldest boys were born days apart, and our youngest boys birthdays are also days apart- just separated by a year.

3- Jodi from Never Pay Retail Again. I remember when Jodi was talking about starting a blog on how to be more frugal- I thought it was a great idea to have it all in one place. And with all the great deals she posts I've been saving lots of money! Heck, I got diapers practically for FREE this week thanks to her!
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Now here's what you do when you receive this.

1. Display this award on your blog.
2. Leave a comment to those you gave it to, letting them know they have it.
3. Link back to the person who gave it to you.
4. Pass it on to 10 or fewer bloggers who you think demonstrate great attitude and/or gratitude.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-11T08:51:00.003-04:00

Well, near wordless Wednesday! ;)

The cousins (Michael, Nicholas, Erik)

The little guys playing

Nicholas building a snowman. In Ocean City. In 65+ degree weather. Yes, a snowstorm and spring-like weather all in one week!

Blowing Bubbles

Grey Hair

2009-03-10T10:34:00.002-04:00

Grey hair.

That's what Nicholas is going to give me. Lots of grey hair.

Nicholas is a great kid. He does a pretty good job of playing by himself while I nurse or tend to Erik. Generally he'll play with his cars or trains, read a book, or watch something on TV. So this morning I was sitting in the basement (our family room area) nursing Erik, and Nicholas went upstairs to the main floor to play with his train table.

Or so I thought.

After about 5-10 minutes I hear Nicholas come to the top of the stairs, and in a frantic voice say, "Mommy, my kitty cat!" I practically drop Erik on the floor, which he wasn't too happy about, especially since he was almost asleep, and race up the stairs.

The first thing I notice is Nicholas had put on his Flyers fleece jacket (backwards, mind you) and then I see the sliding glass door in the kitchen is open. I asked Nicholas where the kitty was (already knowing the answer) and he told me they were playing outside. Sneaky kid...I didn't even hear the door open! I go outside, and sure enough- BeBop is outside ON THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S DECK! Our decks are connected, but they're separated by a fence. So, I try to call to BeBop and beg him to come back. He looked at me as if to say, "Crazy lady, this is the first sign of freedom I've had in years...I'm not coming anywhere near you!" Or maybe he was thinking he had freedom from Nicholas.

So I go inside and grab the cat treats. Now, had it been Rocky (MY fat cat) he would have come running at the mere mention of a treat. Then again, he's such a scaredy cat he wouldn't have set one paw outside the door! I retrieve the cat treats, shut the screen door to try to keep Nicholas and Rocky from coming out, and attempt to entice BeBop to return to our side of the deck with these cat treats. A few minutes pass, and he finally gave in, jumped over the fence and I snatched him up and returned inside.

I'm thinking a new door lock is in order. And maybe a video monitor attached to Nicholas so I can see what kind of mischief he is getting into.

Not Me! Monday

2009-03-09T10:24:00.005-04:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Well, I DID NOT start the week by finding an old purse hidden in the back of my hall closet while looking for my snow boots that haven't been worn in two years. And upon finding this purse I certainly DID NOT find a $50 Babies R Us gift card in there, from Nicholas' baby shower- that was THREE YEARS AGO! Nope, NOT ME! (Still has the full $50 value, by the way!)

So after finding this gift card (and the snow boots) I DID NOT wrap my four month old up as if we were headed into the Arctic, just so his 2.5 year old older brother could go out and play with his friends. And I DID NOT put him in his stroller and cover it with blankets, yet keep a little window open so he could see me. NOT ME!

And because I am a very attentive mother, I certainly DID NOT just blow off the fact that my 2.5 year old came down into the basement, while I was nursing his brother, eating handfuls of salami. And I DID NOT discover nearly an hour later that my refrigerator door and lunchmeat drawer were still open from Nicholas getting the salami. Nope, NOT ME!

Of course with the BEAUTIFUL weather we had this weekend, I definitely DID NOT forget to put sunscreen on Nicholas and allow my poor guy to obtain pink cheeks and arms while we were down the shore. Because as a mother I would know that you can get sunburn even when it is only 65 degrees out and wouldn't let that happen. NOT ME!

So, those are just some of the things I DID NOT do this past week. Hope you'll join in and share some of the things that you DID NOT do as well!

Not Me! Monday

2009-03-02T07:44:00.005-05:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Well, it is Monday again, so let me tell you all the things I DID NOT do this past week!

As you may have read, I certainly DID NOT lose my mind and host a playdate with 19 people in my house. No, because it would be silly to have that many people just occupying my small main floor, so certainly NOT ME! I also DID NOT forget that it was Ash Wednesday and make a lunch of pasta with meat sauce for my mainly Catholic guests. Nope, NOT ME! And during this same playdate I DID NOT laugh at my son when he poured a bowl of popcorn on his head. NOT ME!

On Friday, in the midst of a bad day I DID NOT make a batch of Rice Krispies Treats and eat the hot mix before it even got in the pan. NOT ME!

And over the weekend while out shopping I definitely DID NOT buy myself a pair of jeans while I was supposed to be buying khakis for my kids. Nope, again- NOT ME! I would definitely make sure my kids were properly clothed before spending money on myself.

Also, I really DID NOT have trouble sleeping last night because of the excitement of the snow storm hitting our area. And I definitely DID NOT wake up in the middle of the night to check how much we got, and absolutely DID NOT run to the window first thing this morning to see how much snow we got. NOT ME!

Four Months

2009-02-27T18:57:00.004-05:00

I can't believe my little man is four months old today! The time is passing by far too quickly! In the past month Erik is starting to be able to support himself more. He can now hold his head up 100% so he is able to enjoy his Jumperoo. Some days he just sits in there and watches his brother play. Other days he jumps and bounces his little heart out!

Erik also enjoys sitting in his Bumbo. Before we'd put him in the bouncy seat on the kitchen table while we ate dinner. Well, he was trying to sit up on his own (it looks like he's doing little baby crunches) so we broke out the Bumbo and now he's part of the family. One of these days I'll actually order his high chair. We're not planning on starting solids any time soon, so I'm really not in a rush.

Here is my handsome guy- Happy Four Months, Erik!

Wednesday's Playdate

2009-02-26T09:35:00.004-05:00

So yesterday was the big playdate. And I have to say it was a success. The kids had fun, there was minimal crying (from the kids, not the moms), and my house is still in one piece!

There were seven moms, 4 toddler boys, 1 preschool aged girl, 1 crawling girlie, and 6 babies. Yes, there was a baby boom, and it seems many of my friends and family were pregnant when I was.

Nicholas woke up yesterday morning asking when his friends would be over. He thought they would be there immediately when he woke up. Waiting the four hours until 11:00 was PURE TORTURE for him. Alas, he managed to keep himself occupied while I cooked lunch. How did he keep himself occupied, do you ask? Oh, by sneaking up to my bedroom, opening the tub of diaper rash cream, and painting me a lovely picture on my closet mirror. He came into the kitchen with white hands, and white around his face. I originally thought it was shaving cream. (He likes to "shave" with Daddy using a spoon, so this is what first came to mind.) Then as I was wiping it off I realized it was thicker, so I was a bit confused. Nicholas then asked for a paper towel to clean my mirror- so I went to investigate. I wish I took a picture. It was quite a mess. I managed to get the mirror clean- still working on my carpet.

Anyway...the playdate went well. I brought Nicholas' train table and cars to the living room on the main floor. They had fun playing with those, along with the LeapFrog letter magnets on my refrigerator. Oh, and they thought it would be amusing to spill popcorn on the floor. No big deal- they're kids. So as I was cleaning that, Nicholas decided that the remaining popcorn in the bowl would best be placed on his head. Yes, my son poured a bowl of popcorn on his head. He gets his strangeness from his father, not me! lol

Erik enjoyed watching all the action. He definitely is an abservant one, and was for the most part content just to sit and watch the older kids play. Although I think the excitement got to him at one point, and he fell asleep in his Bumbo! Poor guy! I put him upstairs for a nap, but it didn't last long- he wanted to be part of the action!

So, it was a fun time. I didn't take a before picture, but here is a picture of the aftermath. Not too bad. The hosue is still in one piece, nothing was broken, and the kids got to run out some energy. Heck, Nicholas didn't even fight me on naptime! That doesn't happen too often!

Today's Post Is Brought to You By the Letter "H"

2009-02-25T21:35:00.006-05:00

So, as I was reading through the numerous blogs I follow, I came across a post by my friend, Dani, and a little game she was playing. I decided to play along, and she gave me the letter H.

Just so you know, here is how you play. A blogger friend (that would be moi, or someone else if you choose, but in the words of Donkey from Shrek- PICK ME, PICK ME!) gives you a letter and then you have to come up with 10 things that you like with that letter. So, I have H...here goes!

1- HEALTH. In fact, I love it. Before having Erik I took my health for granted. I've never really been one to watch much of what I eat, exercise, etc. And then when I had Erik and all the complications that arose I realized I had a lot to be grateful for. So since then I've been consciously taking better care of my health, and NOT taking it for granted.

2- HOME. Anyone can have a house, but IMO that is just the physical structure. I love the home that my husband and I have created. It is full of love and laughter. It may not always be clean, but we are happy, and that is what matters. (And, I do have to say the location of our home/house is pretty good, as we are blessed with some awesome neighbors!)

3- HOCKEY. If you know me, you know I LOVE hockey. Specifically the Philadelphia Flyers. LOVE THEM. (In fact, I just finished watching the Flyers kick the LA Kings butt!) Anyway, Ken and I bought ourselves season tickets to the Flyers as our 1st anniversary present. Forget jewelry...this girl wants hockey! We no longer have a full season, but we do have partial season tickets, and it makes for great date nights. Last week we actually took Erik to his first Flyers game- gotta start 'em early!

4- HAIR. Not just any hair, but my hair. I really like my hair. I'd say it is my best feature. It is a great color (auburn naturally, and no grey so far!) and it is fairly easy to style. For the longest time I wore it long. Super long. Like to my butt long. It was almost a security blanket. And in the past few years I started cutting it a bit shorter, and then back in December I went and cut it above my shoulders. And I love it!

5- HAMBURGERS. Yes, hamburgers. With cheese. You may call them cheeseburgers, but then they wouldn't start with an H. So I'm calling it a hamburger with cheese. I love a good burger. Nice and juicy. Preferably with cheddar cheese and bacon. Did I mention that I was a vegetarian for about 7 years? Looking back I don't know HOW I did it. I like meat way too much now!

6- HISTORY. Call me a dork now. I'm a history nerd. It was my major in college. Well, for a second it was. And then I said, "What am I going to do with a history degree?" So I became an education major. Secondary Education and Social Studies. AKA- History teacher. I love learning about different people and cultures and how things came to be. I've been known to sit and just read a history book for fun. Yes, BIG DORK! I accept it.

7- HIPPOS. As in hippopotamus. Yes, they are my favorite animal in the zoo. I've loved them since I was a kid. So much that I used to tell my mom that they were my cousins. Don't know why I thought that, but to me the hippos were my cousins. Since then I've loved them. When I heard the song "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" I thought it was perfect for me. Now you all are realizing just how strange and crazy I am. But I'm being honest, what can I say.

8- HONESTY. Speaking of being honest...yes, honesty is something I like. It is admirable. I'd rather someone be honest and straightforward with me instead of lying to me in order to spare my feelings or try to protect me. That never works. Give it to me straight- I'm a big girl, I can handle it.

9- HOT CHOCOLATE. One of my favorite things in winter. Nothing like having a big mug of hot chocolate after coming in from playing in the snow. Or, since we never seem to get any decent snow, I'll just have a big mug whenever! I really enjoy Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate with whipped cream (but NOT the white chocolate kind...ew!) but Swiss Miss Marshmallow Lovers is pretty darn good, too! And I've got Nicholas drinking it as well. Funny how I like hot chocolate, but hate chocolate milk. Again, I know- I'm weird!

10- HUSBAND. I don't just like him, I LOVE him! Ken is an awesome husband. He is kind, respectful, loving, playful, a great hands-on father, and my best friend. I could go on and on bragging about him, but I'll just sum it up by saying he is the best!

So, there you have it. Ten "H" things that I like. If you want to play leave me a message and I'll give you a letter! C'mon, it's fun!

Am I Crazy?

2009-02-24T13:46:00.005-05:00

Well the obvious answer is yes, I'm crazy. It's a given. Nicholas tells me all the time! But tomorrow I decided to host a playgroup at my house. My house is not large. Quite small in fact. Especially because I'm trying to keep this shindig confined to the main floor of my house. About 700 square feet, give or take. And in that 700 square feet I'll have (as of this moment) 6 mommies, 4 BOY toddlers (between the ages of 2y 9m and 3y), 1 girlie newly turned 1 year old (who is not YET walking), and 5 babies. That's 16 people. And I'm still waiting to hear back from a few people, and that could add another 10 people. I think it will be pure chaos. Hopefully a lot of fun. I'll be sure to take before and after pictures. That is if I'm still in one piece when all is said and done! I've never done this before!

Not Me! Monday

2009-02-23T08:44:00.002-05:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Well, I will start by saying I DID NOT start a Not Me Monday post last week and then totally forget about it and abandon it. I mean, I am a faithful blogger so I certainly would not have done something like that!

Last week I also DID NOT ask my husband to watch the kids one evening so I could relax and instead cleaned the house for three hours.

I also certainly DID NOT bribe Nicholas with the promise of buying him popcorn in order to get him to come with me to the grocery store without a struggle. And then I DID NOT also buy him lollipops because he saw that we passed the bank in the parking lot and he knows they always give him lollipops. No, NOT ME!

I also DID NOT lose 6 pounds last week and celebrate by indulging in cheesecake over the weekend. Of course not, that would defeat the purpose of losing the weight, right? Definitely, NOT ME!

Now I'm sure there are plenty more things I DID NOT do last week, but I certainly DID NOT get only a few hours sleep last night making my brain a total pile of mush this morning. But head on over to MckMama's blog to check out what everyone else has not been doing this past week!

The Gift of Sleep...

2009-02-20T13:29:00.006-05:00

Anyone who has a child knows how important sleep is. Nicholas was a terrible sleeper as a baby. I don't think he slept through the night (and by that I mean at least 4-5 hours straight...not the 9 I'd like!) until he was 8 or 9 months. And even then- it wasn't a regular thing. I was a walking zombie. He was born in May, and it was 97 degrees the day we brought him home from the hospital...he did NOT want to be swaddled in that blanket. And later whenever we tried to swaddled he'd fight and wiggle his way out. I figured he just was one of those babies who didn't like to be swaddled.

Fast forward to sometime in 2007. On one of the forums I participate in I heard of the Miracle Blanket. I check out the link, and thought to myself that it couldn't possibly be that great, especially for that price. Then I had enough people tell me that, no- it is a great blanket and worth it, that I HAD to try it. Ok, I bookmarked the site for when the next baby came along. And when I got pregnant with Erik I did in fact remember, and received one as a gift.

So, along comes Erik, and the first night we brought him home from the hospital I used it. Not difficult to use, and kept him nice and snug. Pretty cool, I thought. He still woke to nurse every 3 hours or so, but I figured at less than a week old it was normal. I continued to use it though, and by the time he was 5 weeks old he was sleeping through the night. To the tune of 6-8 hours a night! Yes, six to eight hours of STRAIGHT SLEEP from a FIVE WEEK old baby. I completely credit this blanket. It really is a MIRACLE! Ken agrees! He talks this blanket up to everyone, and must be a good salesman, because at a party at his parents' house I had someone come up to me asking for the website information to order one. I actually ended up placing the order since I was ordering one as a baby shower gift! Which, by the way, this is now going to be my staple baby shower gift. The mom-to-be that I gave it to is excited to use it, and thanked me for the gift of sleep.

Erik is 16 weeks old and I still am using our Miracle Blanket. He still fits in it, but I don't think it will be for much longer- he's a big baby! Here he is, all wrapped up for the night a few weeks ago!

One Year Later...

2009-02-12T08:01:00.006-05:00

It was a year ago today that I started this blog. A year ago that I learned that I'd be welcoming a new love into my life. How quickly a year passes!

I am so blessed to have Erik as a son. He is such a sweetheart. I've told Ken that if I could get a guarantee that every one of our future children would be like him then I would have a million. Seriously, he is THAT good of a baby. He only really cries when he's super gassy, and fortunately that is becoming more infrequent. He is always super content, loves to smile, and already adores his big brother.

This past year has been amazing. I loved my pregnancy, and although I did not have the ideal birth experience I was hoping for- I have a healthy baby boy, and I am healing. I look forward to what the next year will bring, and what I will blog about. Who knows...maybe there will be a new babymaking adventure!

A Year Ago-

Today!