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Friday, September 24, 2010

Welcome Baby Isabella Grace

So happy to announce the birth of the most beautiful baby girl, Isabella Grace Santamaria.  Mommy and Daddy are home with baby and are doing great and all are in love!  (Me too) I am so exicted to have a "neice" to spoil!  I was lucky enough to get to take a few pics the day after her "birthday". 











Congratulations to Gail and Joe on the birth of their perfect little girl!  You are already amazing parents!

18 Month Update And So Mulch More

 On Tuesday I took Jackson to the doctor for his 18 month well visit.  Some stats to share:

25.4 lbs (50th %)        
38 in  (75th %)
10 teeth (mouth full of molars bulging)

The doctor visit is always a bit of  a conundrum for me.  I am always excited to go and find out how Jackson has grown and progressed since our last visit but I always find myself asking the same question (to myself) after it is over....does this doctor have ANY clue who we are?  I swear since day one he has used the same "script" during our visit....complete with the same "beep beep" to Bert's nose at the end (Bert is an overused and seemingly incredibly germy finger puppet that each baby and toddler has chewed on ad nauseum...Jack lovingly refers to Bert as "berteeeernie"). Thorough?  Yes.   Convenient and close to home?  Double yes.  Condescending?  Sadly I have to say yes.  I completely understand that he is just trying to do his job but is it really necessary to tell me four or five times during the visit that I must make sure that I am stimulating my exceptionally bright child while only to then actually give examples of what I might like to do with him, ie: sing the ABC's...um....duh.  Oh yeah and also I am not allowed to give him treats before dinner. 

Anywho, Jackson is doing just great and that is all that really matters I suppose! 


Here are some pictures from the tail end of summer, enjoying the good life.







And, Jackson has now officially graduated from sticks to mulch.  Loves, loves, loves his mulch.

See how happy it makes him?

Here Mom.  Want some?



Who me?

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

What's Old Becomes New Again And What Is New Keeps Growing Up

Where did the summer go.......

It was jam packed full of lazy mornings, day trips and vacation trips, play dates and visits, family time, play time, some more family time and lots of love......  This has been the best summer of my life.

Where did it go?

We played, and we learned...from each other..... Jackson learned to talk (is still learning...I need a full post on this one), run, jump into the pool, jump in general, use sign language and use it correctly to ask for or explain what he wants, repeat his entire alphabet letter by letter after me, and so, so, so much more. ....and me?  I marvel in his curiosity, and speedy quest to master everything so quickly and perfectly.  I learned to be exceedingly patient, even when I feel like I wanted to pull my hair out.  I laughed and loved and learned from my beautiful child (who in case you are wondering adjusted to returning to the babysitter today so much better than I did).

Back to School for Mommy.  What is old becomes new.  New colleagues, new students, new schedule, new opportunities, new neighbor (Hooray for Karma), new school year....in the same comfortable environment.

What is new grows older (and much much smarter by the day). 

 He will always be my baby

Trippin' (the fun kind where you don't get hurt)

This summer we was blessed with the good fortune to be presented with many opportunites for FUN!  Of course I took advantage of everything that I could and thoroughly enjoyed just about every minute of this summer.

In order of occurrence:  

Please Touch Museum with Melissa, Shea, & Babci.   
SO MUCH FUN!  Jackson and Shea had a blast (alright...I'll admit it....I think the Mommies and Babcis had just as much or more fun) driving the Bus, exploring the jungle, grocery shopping at Shoprite, planting in the garden, making music......the list goes on and on.  Thank you Melissa & Shea for an awesome time at Please Touch!










Visit from Tristan and Aunt Lauren
Ok, Ok so this really wasn't a trip for us....but Aunt Lauren and cousin Tristan traveled all the way the Kentucky to come and visit!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE spending time with them.  I don't think there is anyone in the world that I laugh with as much as my "sista", and that nephew of mine....I just want to eat him up for breakfast, lunch and dinner and even still he would make the sweetest desert!  I wish I could say Jackson felt the same way but it was pure cousin competition at first....well ok, the whole time....but you can tell they really love each other....hopefully.








FLORIDA
Ahhhh!  Sunshine, girlfriends (this would be for both Jackson and I), lots of playtime and snack time....we had the BEST TIME!  Jack and I took a trip, sans Daddy (we wanted to give him time to recover after his surgery...so really we were doing him a favor...right?) to visit the Matthis family in sunny and hot Stuart, Florida.  This trip was in the planning since they moved permanently last year, and I am so glad that we finally got the chance to go.  We had such a great, relaxing (well as relaxing as it can be with a 17 month old and a 20 month old running around) time with some of our very favorite people.  So to you Matthis's, we love you and we miss you and we WILL be back!











Ring Bearer x2
Jackson got the opportunity to be a ring bearer for the second time this summer for Frank's cousin Jill's wedding....He is certainly a pro now!






Visit from Grammy
Yes, Grammy did travel to us, that's right...but once she was here we also did some traveling too!  Those of you who know my mom know that she (and brace yourself, these are her words) can get all jacked up pretty easily.  Just a couple of cups of coffee and a little icing will do the trick nicely.  In other words my mom can go, go, go and then go some more.  She is an energetic force that brings joy and fun and love (and inevitably ends in a long nap for me).  We had such a great time spending the day at Hershey Park and my little dare-devil, thrill-seeker of a son couldn't get enough of the rides.  I am not talking about the rides that 18 month olds usually go on...NO.  I am talking about big people rides like the scrambler and log flume.  Spinning, twisting, turning, dropping, shaking, speeding, flying....this kid loves it all and cried every time we had to get off of the ride.  I was amazed that he was allowed on a lot of the big rides...but alas, he is no longer a "hand held infant".  We also spent a day at the zoo as Jackson really loves to see the animals now.  However, any time a monkey would come up to the glass he would grab on to me and say "nonononononononono".  Where is my little thrill seeker now huh?







One Gorilla he wasn't afraid of




Aunt Gail's Baby Shower
True, we didn't travel very far for this one, but it is well worth noting and sending our love to Gail, Joe and Baby S.  Plus, I am very proud of my poopy diaper mystery game and I thought "all 9" of my readers might like to see!




Yummy


Such a wonderful, wonderful summer.....I am really sad that it had to end.......