A Snap Shot

Sometimes sneaking up on your kids reaps some sweet rewards (and sweet memories)...

The Dancer in All of Us

So Maeve wrapped up her first experience in a formal dance class through the YMCA. I'm still having some pangs of guilt for not having signed her up for the next session as soon as the previous session ended but I figured we'd take a short break and see if she's still receptive to it after holidays. My guess is, she will be. You'll see in the following clips she spent most of her time by the side of her dance class pal, Noelle (in the royal blue leotard). Although you can't hear any music because I'm filming from behind a window, you get the general sense that she's having a pretty bangin' time in there. Dance your buns off Maeve.

Maeve's Musing, H1N1 Style

Today I took the kiddos to the pediatrician's office for their somewhat controversial H1N1 vaccination. Because Maeve is 3 1/2, she is eligible for the nasal mist (lucky her) versus the good old injection. Unlike most trips to the doctor's office for vaccinations, I chose not to discuss today's visit with Maeve ahead of time. In fact, I didn't even tell her where we were going when we got in the car. As we pulled into the parking lot of Dr. Douglas' office, Maeve quickly inquired as to why we were there. I explained that we were there so that Michael could get a "flu" shot and perhaps she might get a special spray on her nose while we were hanging out. I immediately sensed skeptical silence emanating from the back seat, but we proceeded inside anyway. To summarize for you: Maeve endured the "misting" with flying colors and the nurse and I informed her that she did such a "big girl" job, we'd come back in a month for another round (yippee). Michael, staying true to himself based on previous inoculations, screamed bloody murder for about 30 seconds and gave anyone who looked his way, the nastiest glare I've ever seen. As we traipsed back to the car, I asked Maeve what did she think was better, the shot or the spray? She answered, "Mom, I think staying home is better."

Fasten Your Seat Belts...

The kitchen remodel has begun.  We're 36 hours into it as I write this post and already, I want out!  Trying to navigate our way around this already small house is posing a huge challenge for us, especially our 1-year-old.  I can only hope that things pick up speed soon.  Here are a few last shots of the semi-deconstructed "old" kitchen...

Our fabulous wrecking crew of Doug, Ted and Chris P.

The aftermath...




Wish us luck...

Cow-Belle...and the rare, Geisha-Cat

This year Maeve stretched the limits of creativity a bit and sported not one, but two different costumes for the 2009 Halloween "season."  Upon accepting an invitation to her friend, Patrick's Halloween party, I asked Maeve what she would like to wear for a costume.  Initially, she chose last year's Geisha costume, which was a relief for me because I knew I wouldn't have to spend any money.  On the day of the party however, with a 1/2 hour to go before departure, she decided that she'd also like to be a cat.  I deftly applied my best cat rendering to her face and out the door we flew!  

Fast forward to the 48-hour countdown to Halloween.  There I am with the kids at BJ's of all places convincing myself that not only do we need one more bag of candy, but we also need the Belle (of Disney's "Beauty & The Beast") costume that is strategically hanging right in my sight line upon entering the store.  Of course, Maeve was more than thrilled as a result of one of my weaker moments and instantly commanded me to call her Belle instead of Maeve.  The smile that stretched across her face, of course, convinced (tricked) me that my clutch decision was the right decision.  Michael on the other hand, was a more challenging subject to costume.  First we tried a monkey, then we tried Batman, followed by a lion.  We finally decided upon a cow costume probably because it was more like a cow outfit with a tail coming off his behind (that he couldn't see) and ears protruding from his hood.  He kept it on most of the night and enjoyed the sights and sounds and oddly balmy weather of the evening.  Here are a few shots from the spooky event...

Happy 1st Birthday Michael!

Somewhere amidst the illness that plagued our family for a little over a week, my little boy turned 1-year-old.  Although Maeve's first few years went by rather quickly for us,  Michael's first year was gone in a flash.  He has developed so much, even in the last few weeks or so and I wish I could cast some sort of a spell on him to slow down his progress - just for a little while. I'm almost certain that when he takes his first few steps, they'll be more like gallops.  

Unfortunately no one was feeling 100% when it came time to enjoy something sweet after dinner but this video was taken at 6 AM on his birthday and as you will observe, even at the crack of dawn, he seems quite pleased with himself.

I have compiled below a list of some of Michael's "firsts" and also some of the things that make him most happy in the life he has fervently lived thus far..

Dad: Da

Mom: Mah, mah, mah, mah...you get the idea
Maeve: Mae

Uh Oh: Ah-o
Banana: Na-na-na

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Next we have a couple of samplings of some of his responses to certain questions or cues:

What does the dog/bird/fish/kitty/elepant/horse/sheep/or just about any other animal roaming the planet say?  uh-uh
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Favorite foods (in no particular order): 

Goldfish crackers, tofu nuggets, shredded wheat cereal, pancakes, blueberries, dried cherries, prunes, banana, raisins, PB&J sandwiches, cheerios, yogurt, meatballs, avocado, cheese, peas, carrots (cooked of course), broccoli (well-done), applesauce, pears
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These are a few of his favorite things (again, in no special order):

Binky
Blanket

Books

Ball

Remote controls (it really IS a guy thing)

Phones

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Favorite activities:

Rocking back and forth from the moment you place him in his high chair until the moment he is released from his high chair

Reading books

Being outside 

Riding on his Dad's shoulders

Ripping his Mom's glasses off her face

Looking out the window

Swings

Going for rides in his red plastic sports car
Beating the you-know-what out of Chris' guitar while he's playing it (I like to call it "percussion")

Climbing stairs
Opening his Mom's night stand drawers (and then shutting his meaty fingers in them)
Throwing food on the floor 

Racing to the bathroom to begin unraveling the toilet paper roll before anyone else can get in there

Yanking his birdies out of their toy birdhouse and then stuffing them back inside 

Climbing...anything

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Sign language:

No (it figures...)

Stop 

More

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Michael, we love you like the dickens and are so proud of who you've become in such a short period of time.  You amaze us every day and command our love like no other.  Happy Birthday little one.  Love, Mom, Dad and Maeve

Ode to the Lumberjack

I'm a Lumberjack and I'm okay.

I sleep all night.  I work all day.

So Michael is a lumberjack.  I'm still not sure what Maeve's role is...