A Day (Or Two) In The Park

Lately we have been blessed with some great family time at the park.  We have a great park near us that we go to whenever we get the opportunity.  Newton Lake Park offers a huge playground with great baby swings and a nice loooooong paved path around a lake.  We all (including and maybe especially Zoe) really love our park time.   If you haven't gotten the picture already of how much we have recently enjoyed the park here are some pictures to even further show how much we love the park! :) 

Hi Daddy!

Zoe ~ Our Happy Lab

A large crane that I just happened to capture taking off

Tristan's first time on the swing 

We will be going back very soon!!!!

Help! A Monster Ate My Baby!

Bath time! The time of day Jack loves most.  He gets so excited when we start running the water, that getting him undressed is a production.  He squirms and shimmies until he is free and then takes off in a mad crawling dash to the bathroom!  Ahhhhh good old reliable bath time!  We splash and play and get all tired out, because what comes next is a small slice of Mommy's heaven!  Bedtime!

 

Happy Ten Months to the Bub

Just an update (for my own benefit)

4 1/2 months - first tooth (bottom right)
10 months - 6 teeth (three top and three bottom ...one more top one coming soon)

8 months - started crawling
8 months and 1 week - started pulling himself up
8 months and 2 weeks - cruising and walking with push walker
10 months - WATCH OUT!  Mr. Independent Superspeedcrawler has emerged.  He is also piking out one leg as he crawls around trying to stand up......

9 months - said "Da Da'
10 months - said "Ma Ma"--The most beautiful sound in the world :)

There are so MANY things that Jack is learning and doing on a daily basis and we are amazed by them!

My favorite thing as of late....his love of reading.  He get so excited when I pick him on and put him on my lap to read a book, then he cuddles up with me and follows along as I read and he turns the pages.  One of my very favorite moments with him so far!

I know I am his Mother, but I really think I do have a pretty amazing kid!

Happy Ten Months Bub!  I love you!

The Tale Of A Winter's Break

Winter Break.  To relax, or to visit all friends in relatives with in desired (or not so desired) driving distance?  That is the question.  Us?  We definitely did a little of both.  I thoroughly enjoyed the luxury of waking up every morning (even though there was very little sleeping in for me) and not having to RUSH!  Enjoying the first cup of coffee, while giving Jackson breakfast, listening to some of our favorite CDs, reading lots of books, playing with new toys....it was so nice just to be at home.  I feel like in just the one week  after Christmas, Jackson has made leaps and bounds.  He is not only "Superspeedcrawler" but also is becoming much more comfortable walking with his push toy and cruising around the furniture.  He is also babbling up a storm and he said "Ma Ma" for the first time!  It was "Da Da" for weeks and hearing that first "Ma Ma" was magical!

We also had the opportunity to visit lots of friends and family over the break and enjoyed every minute catching up!  This break was the perfect reminder of how blessed we are to go in to the new year with so many wonderful people surrounding our family.  And, speaking of the new year, I look forward to many new beginnings and many more 'firsts' and reflect back on 2009 and am in complete awe of what it has left us with.  To think back to this time last year, Frank and I were anxiously and excitedly waiting for the birth of our (unknown) baby to be born.  Planning and preparing for the year ahead.  Fast forward to now, we are graced with the presence of this little person who is almost walking and talking.  Truely miraculous.  I can not wait to see what 2010 has in store for us!

playing with my Cuz

 

 Enjoying a foamy cup of java

 

Yum

 

 Becca & Jake playing Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head

 

Hangin' around the Howley's 'house'

Lovin' the big kids!

Uncle Dennis

 

Our Happy Family (now the Eagles just need to win)

 

Uncle A.J. & Aunt Maggie

 

Enjoying a cookie

 

 Washing off the cookie

My favorite toy

 

Supporting my Uncle Dennis (#1)

Happy New Year 2010

Christmas Time Is Here

Merry Christmas to everyone!  We celebrated a wonderful Christmas with our family and friends.  Jackson experienced his first array of presents to open, which resulted in many fun new toys.  He didn't seem to care much about the toys at first though...and as many of you have said, was much more interested in the boxes, ribbons and wrapping paper.  Will any parents every learn? Out of all of his fabulous new loot (a really neat ball popper, little people farm, Legos, various trucks -- fire truck with a really great LOUD siren...thanks Aunt Betty---etc...) his favorite seems to be a toss up between the $5 plastic nesting barrels and a free 2007 hollow ornament that comes apart (thank God Grammy did not fill it with pennies).  Again, will any parents ever learn??  Of course it was magical to see Jack crawling around under the tree on Christmas morning and loving him some Babci and Grammy! 

We might be the only family in New Jersey to actually sit around the piano and sing Christmas carols (just a reminder Grammy, after 12 drummers drumming comes 11 pipers piping...you have 360 days to practice).  Our favorite?  Probably Rudolf!  Later we feasted on much yummy food thanks to Aunt Lauren, Aunt Maggie, Babci and of course Grammy for keeping the kitchen under control.  I don't think I would have had nearly as much fun without you!  Now some pictures...the part you have been waiting for!!!

Snow Day

Just one question.....why do snow days always seem to happen on the weekend and NEVER on a school day?  Aside from that slight annoyance, we thoroughly enjoyed our snow day today.  It gave us a reason to stay inside and relax rather than hustle and bustle to get everything done before Christmas. Since this was Jack's first big snow storm, I, of course, had to capture the moment.  As much as I tried, I only got a few shots.  It was just too darn cold out there!  For the 15 minutes it took us to get bundled up, we were outside for 5 minutes tops!  My sentiments are with Bing today, hopefully some of this snow will stick around and we can have a magical, quintessential "White Christmas". 

The Real Santa A. Claus...and Mrs. A. Claus Too!

The real Santa Claus does not reside at the North Pole like legend and folklore say.  He actually resides (or at least used to for many years) with his wife on Christmas Tree Lane in New Milford, PA.  This is a fact.  Here is his website:  http://www.santa-a-claus.com/  How do I know this you ask?  New Milford is actually my hometown where I grew up.  I am not just sharing this information in spirit of the holiday season either, here is our first Santa story!

Every year thousands of parents take thier children to see Santa.  The parents anxiously wait in line with their little ones anticipating the perfect picture of thier beautiful child sitting on Santa's lap.  The perfect holiday scenerio.  I was not any different on Saturday.  Aunt Lauren and I waited in line on Saturday at the Concord Mall in Wilminton, Delaware with Jackson and Tristan ready to sit on Santa's Lap.  Babci waited outside of Santa Land with the camera aimed and ready to get the perfect shot.  After waiting for awhile, Babci came over to tell us that she thought she recognized Santa.....from church....her church in New Milford, PA.    Aunt Lauren and I were in disbelief that there in Delaware, 250 miles from New Milford, (where our parents live), that we would be seeing the Santa from our own hometown.  What are the odds?  Well I'm not sure the percentage, but I am guess very small.  Call it ironic (there is actully controvery as well but I don't want to ruin the spirit of this post), or coincidince or whatever you like.  I call it a reminder of the truely magical holiday season.  We will always remember Jackson's (and Tristan's) first Christmas for yet another reason.