Merry Christmas

It IS a magical morning. So magical, that you may feel compelled to finish Santa and Rudolph's leftovers. Go figure.

It's That Time Again

What can I say about this year's phone call to the North Pole? Maeve was basically terrified that Santa was going to address her with any sort of question and she pretty much refused to ask any questions of him on her own. She instead, preferred that I interpret for her. Michael seemed somewhat interested about who was ho-ho-ho-ing on the other end of the phone line and kept checking periodically on the conversation. Despite all of this, Santa did a wonderful job at fielding all of my very important questions and reassured us that he would NOT check on us while we were sleeping and that he really, REALLY would enjoy the eggnog we promised to leave him on Thursday night. Cheers Santa...and your little elf too!

Slowly but Surely

For all of you who are wondering how the new kitchen is progressing (and also those of you who have had to endure my complaints for the last couple of months) here are some random but recent photos which document the evolution...

One of Chris' earliest crusades was the ripping out of the old oven vent and covering up the hole on the outside of the house. The following picture (the best one I could find) shows the vent to the left of the window and the picture after that shows a lack thereof...

Construction of the "cut out" connecting the living room with the new kitchen...

The new french door is in (which we hope will let in more natural light from the breezeway and give the room more character). It was one of our most favorite finds from a really neat place out in Springfield, MA called the ReStore (a tip we received from Jen) which sells salvaged and surplus building materials at super low prices. Final price? $50.00. Nice.

Maeve helps Chris test drive construction on one of the new Ikea cabinets...

Has anyone seen my son?

The walls are dressed and the room begins to look more like a room instead of the absence of a room...

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 (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.

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...

"M" is for Michael, "M" is for Mischievous

Upon entering the kids' room the other day, this is what I discovered.  Note to self: must never leave my son's side...ever.

Belly Aches, Sniffles and Lullabies

On Wednesday night/Thursday morning, we weathered one of the toughest "storms" so far this season.  He was on day three of a pretty mean head cold so we gave Michael a little bedtime "tasting" of Motrin and tucked him in for the night. We knew we'd hear from him at least a few times - he typically needs an adjustment or two if he has rolled over and inadvertently spit out his binky.  But as it turns out, it wasn't Michael who gave us a shout out.

Chris heard it first - around 2:30 AM.  What we thought was initially just a cough, turned out to be coughing in the middle of throwing up.  Poor Maeve was sitting up in her bed staring at the floor and the mess she had made, crying for someone's help.  Chris rushed her into the bathroom and rubbed her back as he re-introduced her to the potty from a new perspective.

In all, Maeve must have visited the bathroom 10-12 times that night/morning with Chris and I taking turns on each shift.  Of course, 2 or 3 of those visits were "false alarms" and during one of them, I had the pleasure of sitting with her as she bent over the potty, utterly exhausted from the evening's events.  Once she realized nothing was happening, she turned to me and said, "Mom? I'll take care of this tomorrow."

It was painful to watch our little one endure her illness and it was difficult to try to explain to her what was happening in a way in which she would understand.  She looked up at me with tears rolling down her face and said "Mom, I don't want to do this anymore."  How do you explain to a 3 year old, that what her body was doing was actually a good thing?  Anyway, I'd say things were looking up for her at about 6:00 PM Thursday evening.

Thursday night, we were all in bed by 9:30 PM.  We were physically exhausted from the previous day's events and had our fingers crossed that everyone got a good night's sleep - especially Maeve.  Some time in the middle of the night, our little boy began whimpering. Probably a result of not being able to breathe out of his plugged up nostrils, but Chris and I will never know.  Because before either one of us could muster the energy to get out of bed to answer his call, we heard Maeve very softly singing from her bed, the one song that can instantly sooth Michael no matter what has upset him: Michael Row the Boat Ashore.  In the dark of night, she sang to her brother, from beginning to end and right on pitch.  And that was the last we heard from either one of them until day break.

Hallelujah.

SUPER fine...furnishings

And now we present to you, the 2009 end table and coffee table designed and created by our beloved, Chris.  A feast for the eyes and conveniently big enough to spread a feast on top of. Enjoy! 

 

The Big Apple

Couldn't imagine a better way to spend last Sunday afternoon than picking macintosh apples at The Big Apple in Wrentham.  Thanks to Erin and Chris for orchestrating the event and spoiling us with some warm doughnuts at the end of the pick-fest!  Fun was had by all, especially by Audrey and Maeve, or as I like to call them, Thelma and Louise.  

 

Tough Guy

As his shirt will tell you, he survived the blood draw at Sturdy Memorial Hospital for his annual lead test.  Took it like a champ and only a few hours later, was able to smile about it. 

Our Longing

I've looked at life from both sides now

From win and lose and still somehow

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all

I've looked at life from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all