Declan comes to visit!

We were so happy to get a visit from Uncle Jim, Uncle Mike and Aunt Rosana while they were in town for the holidays but (no offense) we were most excited to get to spend some time with little Declan! Just about 9 months old in these pics he is quite the traveler already having seen Chicago, NYC, Paris and now scenic Central NJ!

It was fun trying to get a shot of the 3 little cousins together before Jacob used his super stench powers to clear the room.

These were dream guests that came with full bags of food and Jim even made lasagna. Jim also never fails to find the cutest clothes for these kiddos and he didn't disappoint giving Stella her first Stella McCartney shirt! Thanks for coming to play and bringing such awesome gifts. It was so nice to catch up and we hope to see you again soon! Jim-how did you manage to avoid getting your picture taken again!?!?! I'll get you next time!

THREE

How Stella can be three years old is beyond me. It has gone so astoundingly fast that I am sure I haven't taken enough pictures to bring back all the moments I want to remember so badly. After spending each day of the past 3 years together, Stella and I have created lots of moments worth remembering. We are very lucky that way.

She was running around the house in her jammies the other day and I couldn't get over her long legs and how she holds her head high and now says words like 'actually' and 'Museum of Natural History'. She knows she loves to go to the big city but doesn't care for her music class. She loves preschool and playing with Daddy. She loves the idea of a party but not so much the actual event. She smiles when she thinks of fun things....all on her own. She asks me to come and play with her....on her own. She says please and thank you and I love you...on her own. She puts her coat in the closet...on her own. (ok, on the floor but still!) She likes certain clothes and colors and foods and well.....she is a person. I know it didn't happen overnight but it sure seems that way.

Watching Stella grow is both wonderful and scary. I want her to be confident and strong and independent and funny and kind and understanding and loving and well...all that good stuff. There are days I feel like I know just what to say and do to help all that happen and days I feel like I am making such a mess of things she should have a therapy fund not a college fund! She is very forgiving.

As the terrible two's move into the trying three's...also referred to as the terrible two's-with practice...I hope that Stella's fit pitching skills will not improve but her little brother coping skills will. I hope that she will more fully embrace the potty with the same fervor she has Jacob's new tractor and farm animals. I pray she will outgrow whining but not her afternoon nap. Mostly I plan to make lots of amazing memories and take tons of pictures.

Happy Birthday Stella B. You are my sunshine and I love you to bits and bits and bits.

Merry Christmas!

Off to Buffalo

We decided to head up to Buffalo a day earlier than planned because we hoped to attend some Christmas Eve festivities that we didn't think we would be able to if we drove up on the same day. It was a good drive....well, I thought so...Brian did all the driving. I did all the turning around to deal with our little blessings.
I decided to try a trick that worked well on our summer treck up to to Buffalo. I gift wrapped a bunch of odds and ends found at the local dollar store. Stickers, lollipops, little puzzles, a plastic horse and that sorta thing. Every 45 mins or hour or moment Stella would get punchy I would say oh...here is a little present because you are being so good on our drive. This was sooo effective on our summer trip so I had high hopes for this to work again. About 2 gifts in I happen to look back and see Stella sharing her snack or a toy or something with Jacob. She did this totally on her own and it was really quite sweet. So, I decide it is gift worthy and pass back another wrapped pack of crap from Dollar Tree. She is thrilled and acts like she doesn't own any other packs of stickers but these precious ones. A few minutes later I hear her say....I gave something to Jacob so I should get a gift coz I'm such a good girl. Well, that was that. She kept asking for presents and telling me why she should get them. She usually just says....coz I was such a good girl over and over. I guess that trick won't work anymore.
We made it to Binghamton before having to pull out the DVD player so that was good and all in all the trip went very well.
It was so nice to get there in time to really spend the holiday together. Denis was in town too so that was an extra special treat. Christmas eve service was nice and Stella liked wishing Jesus a happy birthday. She said he could borrow her birthday balloons which I thought was very generous of her! We had a lot of fun at Debbie and Dave's house but didn't stay too long. Jacob was losing his mind and Stella was dangerously close to the meltdown window. We much prefer that to open in private if at all possible. Home we went and got snug in our beds. We really can't wait till they get the whole Christmas thing. Though Stella is excited for gifts and likes spending time with Grammie and Grandpa we know that she doesnt quite get it yet so we are already looking forward to next year.
Christmas morning was lovely and it was so sweet to see the kids opening their gifts. My mom always does such a nice job and this year didn't dissapoint. From brunch to gifts to dinner it was a great day.
It was also nice to connect with my other friends Marjorie and Franklin while we were upstate. Frank had just bought a new home when we were there this summer and it was beautiful. Then we got ready for Stella's 3rd birthday part on Sunday. All in all a fun, busy time in Buffalo with family and friends! I will post pics soon.

Birthday Girl!

A very excited Stella B!

On Friday a few of Stella's friends came over to celebrate her birthday since we will actually be driving home from Buffalo on her birthday. Thankfully our friend Kat (in background) was in town and able to come by and help. I originally invited her to attend but I ended up making her work work work since I found myself a little overwhelmed. Even with her there I set off the fire alarm about 6 times and had a food timing snafu (never good with toddlers) BUT Stella had a blast and overall it was a fun time!


Jacob and Cully hanging out.

I had the kids decorate huge heart cookies while wearing little aprons I had made them. So cute!

Stella had a fabulous sprinkle accident that turned her mouth and hands green and she couldn't have been happier. TeeHee.

Her giant birthday cupcake.


Blowing out her candles

Yummy! I couldn't believe she napped after all that sugar.

Opening her gifts with a little help from her friends. She got a great easel that I can't wait to see her put to use! Happy Birthday Stella B! Her friend Ryan gave her the leap frod tag reading system and it is so cool! Stella LOVES it! Thanks to everyone for coming over to play and celebrate!

Busy Festive Thursday

This past thursday was a busy day for celebrating. Stella's school had a pagent and playgroup was having their holiday party. Fortunately the party was a stone's throw from SB's school so I was able to hit both even though they overlapped.

Jacob was more interested in eating my camera lens cap than celebrating

His friend Cully is exactly one month older and she was a walking machine!

Still not a fan of Santa. TeeHee!

Then we dashed over to the school for the show. SOOOOO adorable and yes, I totally cried. Brian was able to come too and that was an extra special treat for his girl. She is pretty much dead center holding her star.

LOVE this shot below as this was her reaction to seeing me in the audience!

After the show they let all the moms rush the stage to take pics.

Brian and I now know how these little shows work and plan to get much better pics and video next year. TeeHee. We did pretty well considering a wriggling Jacob was with us and we didn't do any pushing shoving or rude use of elbows. It was darling and made me 1000000% more sure that we made the right choice to put her in this preschool at this time. Oh and no, I have no clue why the little girl has her hands down her pants. ;-)

odds and ends

Brian took last friday off and we went to the Museum of Natural History in NYC to show Stella the whale and the dinosaur......two featured players in her nighttime bedtime stories.....she wasn't as nearly excited about them as she was the random guy dressed as Elmo handing out flyers on the corner but a good time was had by all.....well, actually Brian wasn't feeling very well to say the least but considering that fact he handled it well. We also went to see the Rockefeller Christmas tree and that was the usual festive sight. There is nothing like the holidays in NY and I was glad we made it in.

Jacob just wishing he could get out of his stroller!

Stella almost napping dino-side


That is Stella under the dino tummy in the red sweater


Stella was more siked about her lollipop for being a good girl than the tree.

other odds and ends....

When Stella wants the water slower...she says it is too loud.

After Brian told her he had a kidney stone she asked him if he had a kitty cat.

Today my daughter Stella picked up a stack of granola bars that she knocked over at the store......without being told to. I almost cried. I wish she should would pee in the potty all of the time but I will settle for cleans up after herself in public places without being told to!

Tomorrow is her first ever school concert/pagent and if I think about it too much I cry so Lord only knows how much I will be bawling tomorrow!

Oh Christmas Tree

We got our Christmas tree on Saturday. Here are the kiddos looking very excited about the whole thing. We bought a huge baby gate thing to go around it assuming that Jacob would essentially be hanging from it or pulling it over and he hasn't. Knock on wood. He points and goes over ot it but seems to be ok with just looking. Both he and Stella loved it when we turned the lights on.




I gotta get a better pic but just in case I don't.

On Friday night we went to a local park that was having a winter wonderland. It was a little more like a cluster wonderland as it was painfully crowded and we didn't last too long. Here is a shot of Brian holding Stella up to see the lights and one of Jacob pretty much expressing how we all felt. TeeHee.

Jacob took his fist steps last week which was very exciting! He takes a couple steps here and there and does a little more standing on his own too.

Jacob's first steps!

Jacob has just started walking, slowly but surely. We were lucky enough to get one of his first steps on video. Here it is. He seems to be pretty content crawling but hopefully those days are almost over.

Go Jacob!