And Introducing...Madeleine Sue

Here she is, as promised in all her splendor: Madeleine Sue born to Megan and Jonathan on the last day of April 2008. An absolute beauty to behold - just breathtaking. And a peanut I might add, weighing in at 6 lbs., 3 oz. Mom was a rockstar and Dad a rock of support and everyone is so relieved so know how healthy the new addition is! We are so thrilled to meet Madeleine who is another tangible piece of her maternal grandmother that we can kiss and hug and love to pieces. We can't wait to tell her and show her what a lucky girl she is and wish every good thing for both Megan and Jonathan. Welcome to the blog Madeleine Sue! We love you.

A Tribute

In true fashion, the McNamara family closed April with a bang. Our day began when Megan, Chris' younger sister and her boyfriend Jonathan welcomed into the world a beautiful baby girl, Madeleine Sue around 9 AM (post to follow) and 4 hours later, the family gathered at LaSalle Academy to pay tribute to Mom, keeping her memory alive and vibrant by the planting of a weeping beech tree on the school's campus where she taught for so many years and where Dad continues to teach. There was actually some news coverage of the event and I've posted the link below, hoping it works for you. You'll need to copy and paste it I think. The reporter was Dan Haggerty, a web video journalist for the station and a former LaSalle student:

http://www.wpri.com/Global/category.asp?C=105758&nav=menu20_3_2










There were some tears, but mostly lots of fond memories and stories shared about Mom and her courageous battle and what an inspiration she was to so many people. For me, I continue to struggle with her absence, at times, having more difficulty now than I did 6 months ago but it's moments like our time at LaSalle yesterday that provide an outlet for me to miss her and grieve for her in a different way that's not so sad and heavy. The tree is beautiful and should grow up to 75 feet or more if nurtured properly but it certainly isn't as beautiful as Mom and could never be.

I Pledge Allegiance...to Rocky Hill Day Care

So last Saturday, I'm driving down Route 44 in Seekonk with Maeve in the back seat. We've just scored a falafel sandwich and we're heading home to share it with Dada for lunch. The nice man at the Greek Pita Market has given Maeve a Tootsie pop for being such a good girl while waiting for the sandwich. Apparently, in the car, Maeve thinks the pop, on its stick, resembles a small flag. So, from out of nowhere (at least for me) she begins waving the "flag" and recites the entire Pledge of Allegiance from start to finish. Unbeknownst to me or Chris, the pledge is said every day at day care which is then followed by a patriotic song. I almost veered off Route 44 I was so taken aback and could not wait to get her home for a repeat performance for Chris. The following clip is actually from the following day and it's not the best footage for making out what she is saying but it's for real people! I think I'd better start taking notes. I could learn a thing or two from this kid...

A Play Date at the Park

A few weeks ago, on a beautiful Spring day, Colleen, Brian and Kate Ladino headed down Seekonk way to join Maeve and I for a stroll through the petting zoo, followed by a romp at the playground. I'd say the day was just about perfect and the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. While they weren't overly impressed with the petting zoo portion of the day, the massive playground at the top of the hill seemed to be just what they wanted and aside from a 15-minute snack break, they attacked the play structure head on. Here are some shots from our time together.

Tree Frogs, Toddlers...and Tantrums

So last Wednesday Maeve participated in her first ever "class" at the Roger Williams Zoo. Just before 11 AM on April 9th, we arrived at the Zoo for "Toddler Trek" and the topic of the day was Frogs. I knew nothing about the Toddler Trek program in advance but it sure looked good on paper and I had been telling Maeve for a few days leading up to Zoo day, that soon we would go to the Zoo and learn about frogs. It sure sounded good to her. The weather was superb that day although the frog program was held inside in the Zoo Lab. We marched through the Birds of North America exhibit, stopping to talk to a couple of flamingos and then walked through the doors of the zoo lab. There were probably 10-15 toddlers in the room which was set up with little stations where the children could learn about frogs through reading, sounds, motions, textures, etc. We were promptly greeted by Mr. Chris, the moderator for the day and he explained to us that most of the 45 minutes would be unstructured, allowing us to roam around the room and interact with each other, and possibly some of the other kids as we learned together about different types of frogs. One look at Mr. Chris (who couldn't have been more toddler-friendly) and Maeve attached herself to my leg. After a struggle to peel her off, we sat down on a mat to read a book or two but Maeve was totally distracted by all of the other kids jumping around the room shouting "ribbit!" We slowly made our way over to the other stations, where again, Maeve couldn't be bothered with the learning tools in front of her and instead was watching the kids as if THEY were animal exhibits at the zoo. As I counted down the minutes to the "structured" portion of the class, Mr. Chris announced that everyone should begin to gather on the mats at the head of the room so we could do some "motion play" and then meet a real frog (something that I was hoping would have happened 30 minutes before it did). Mr. Chris got down on the floor and suggested that all of us (parents and toddlers) follow his lead and act out the life cycle of a frog in all its stages. As I watched him and the other children crouch down on the floor to resemble a frog egg, I began to assume the same position at which point Maeve had a complete melt down. Not only did she not want me to act like a frog, she wanted no part of it either. Mr. Chris wriggled around the floor like a tadpole and then squatted, then hopped as best he could, but all I could do was encourage Maeve not to cry and not to bury her face in my shoulder. The final push of toddler trek involved all the toddler participants receiving a certificate or "passport" for being a part of the class. Each kid lined up to receive their frog stamp and sticker from Mr. Chris, except my kid of course. So, at the end as Mr. Chris was doing a final check around the room to make sure he got everyone, I sheepishly raised my hand and said, "could we get our passport, Mr. Chris?" He welcomed us over to the mat and asked Maeve if she wanted a stamp. She said no at first, then changed her mind but didn't want Mr. Chris to do the stamping. He suggested that I should do it, so I willingly grabbed the stamp and moved toward her hand with it. She immediately, grabbed it from me and stamped the palm of her hand and I immediately grabbed it back from her which, of course, completely set her off. She began crying hysterically and wiped her eyes, of course with the stamped palm, leaving a green streak across her face. I told Mr. Chris that perhaps we'll just take a stamp on the certificate and be on our way. He very gently handed the passport over to you know who and welcomed us back any time. I responded by rolling my eyes and asking him, "do you realize what you're saying Mr. Chris?" But something tells me he has seen this sort of melt down more than a few times. We exited the zoo lab as quietly as possible, continued our meltdown outside for a few more minutes and headed home to await Dada's arrival so we could tell him all about our "adventure." I subsequently learned from a close and reliable source that many of the moms who attend toddler trek are "repeat offenders" if you will, or shall I say, Mr. Chris enthusiasts? Me however? I've got my own Mr. Chris and the poor guy's got me!

Promise

On Love

Thomas a Kempis (1379-1471)

Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good.
Love alone lightens every burden, and makes rough places smooth.
It bears every hardship as though it were nothing, and renders all bitterness sweet
and acceptable.

Nothing is sweeter than love,
Nothing stronger,
Nothing higher,
Nothing wider,
Nothing more pleasant,
Nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God.

Love flies, runs and leaps for joy.
It is free and unrestrained.
Love knows no limits, but ardently transcends all bounds.
Love feels no burden, takes no account of toil,
attempts things beyond its strength.

Love sees nothing as impossible,
for it feels able to achieve all things.
It is strange and effective,
while those who lack love faint and fail.

Love is not fickle and sentimental,
nor is it intent on vanities.
Like a living flame and a burning torch,
it surges upward and surely surmounts every obstacle.

March 15, 2008 proved to be so much more than most would expect. As a matter of fact, it exceeded all of my expectations. It marks the day that Eileen and Scott made "official" the lifelong promise they made to each other long ago. There will be a wedding next year and we could not be happier for the two of them than we are this day. What started out as an annual St. Patrick's Day celebration transformed into an opportunity to celebrate love in its truest and most honest form. With both the Moores and McNamaras present, we toasted Eileen and Scott and wished upon them every good thing in the coming year and beyond. Scott has been with our family through some of our most tested and trying times and has handled himself as you would expect anyone in his situation to do - like a brother, a son and a soulmate. We have no doubt in our minds that we have grown stronger with him by Eileen's side and cannot wait to publicly validate what we have already known for so long - that he belongs in our family circle and makes it more complete. Eileen is a treasure in my life - at one time you might say an undiscovered treasure during my very obnoxious "older sister" years - and I care for her and love her as anyone would a treasure and would stop at nothing to be sure every good thing comes her way. So, to say that I am overjoyed for both her and Scott doesn't seem adequate but it will have to do. I am looking forward to watching them solidify and make sacred what they have worked so hard at creating for each other and feel blessed to be a part of it. Many blessings and best wishes to you both.

A Banner Day

Where do I begin? I arrived home from work tonight to find Chris and Maeve at the kitchen table preparing to fill me in on Maeve's accomplishments for the day. Here they are, both big and small, in no particular order:

1. Maeve walked up the concrete stairs at our back door without any help and without holding on to the side of the house. She just sized them up and started climbing.

2. Maeve recited the days of the week for Chris on the ride home from day care tonight. We had no idea she knew ANY of the days of the week let alone all of them! I must give props to Pat, our awesome day care provider for this one...

3. Maeve can catch a ball now. Seems like it's not a big deal, but it is...

4. And if all of that wasn't enough for one day, as I was in between diapers before putting on Maeve's pajamas, we headed into the bathroom to do "tinkles" on the potty (for which she receives a sticker and has 6 so far), I suggested to her that she also try doing poops (or "poots" as we like to call them). She immediately did her tinkles with a satisfactory grin on her face and then, within 15 seconds of my suggesting she give "poots" a try, there was a small thump in the potty and lo and behold, there it was in all its glory. Her first official "potty poot!" Another sticker for Maeve.

Does it get any better than this? I'm one proud Momma.