The McGann Family

Father's Day 2011

2011-06-19T21:37:00.005-04:00

On our way to the Annual Father's day Diner trip!

Waiting for her pancakes!

Love this scrappy kid and his milk!

He was taking my picture!!!

Happy Father's day Brian. We love you and apprecaite what an amazing father you are!

Smiles or Freckles...

2011-06-11T20:33:00.002-04:00

Can't be sure what I like more. xoxo Stella!

Stella is a flower!

2011-06-08T11:12:00.002-04:00

She has always been my sunshine but now she is a flower too!!!! I love this kid. Click on pic to see larger.

Saturday in the snow

2011-01-15T18:11:00.007-05:00

This has been the snowiest and coldest winter that we have experienced in NJ. Cabin fever is kicking in for all of us. Especially after the holidays and the down that comes with that sometimes. So after this most recent 'storm' I bundled the kids up and we went to our favorite park, Sayen Gardens. We were the only ones there and were greeted with the sweet quiet that only a blanket of snow can provide. It was broken up with the familiar sound of snow crunching under our feet, instantly bringing back the memories of each winter before. Remember wearing breadbags in your boots to keep your feet dry? Anyway, Brian pulled the kids on our cheap sled and they couldn't have been happier. Well, they actually did get a little happier after we left and went to a hill near our house for some real sledding! They loved it and I was just bummed my camera battery had died before I got pics of them flying down the hill. Here are a few shots I did get though. It was a nice day.

The Best Part of Making Brownies.....

2011-01-07T20:59:00.001-05:00

I love the teamwork approach they have here!

Clean up is my personal favorite....there was brownie on the doors, walls, floors, behind the ears! You name it there was browing on it....but it was fun!

Stella goes to the Dentist!

2011-01-06T20:48:00.004-05:00

Stella had her first trip to the dentist today! I was so stinking proud of this kid as she bopped through the office and hopped into the chair telling the dr and hygenist all about her friend Chino (the little dog I let her bring along) and answer questions about school and her teeth. I was totally the beaming mom as I saw the other staffers smiling at her and saying how cute she was and what a good girl she was....as if she was the only good girl on the planet. So silly I know but I couldn't help it. Aunt Debbie would be proud that her teeth looked great and she giggled while they cleaned them.

Here are a few pics I got with my cell phone....I love how big the bib looks on her.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T19:47:00.002-05:00

We were so happy to get to see Mike, Rosana, Declan and Jim over the holidays. We didn't think it would happen after the snow storm but on New Year's eve day we went out to Jim's new home in Atlantic Highlands and had a wonderful time. Mike, Rosana and Declan had taken the train from the city along with Rosana's mom so we could all connect. I love seeing our little ones together and hope they will be good friends in the years to come. Jim's house is amazing and it was just a great day and time together. Thanks to all of them for making it happen and giving Stella one more chocolate cake....I think she had 4 mini parties to celebrate turning 4. TeeHee.

The Mini McGann Men catching up.

Declan warming up to the camera or me or both.

I love that Jim is happy to get on the floor and play with the kids...or let them climb on his furniture! Thanks Uncle Jim.

My new favorite shot of Stella. She is so pretty!

Declan making tracks!

The ADORABLE cake Jim and Jose got for Stella B!

Jacob is trying to be patient while Jim cuts the cake.

Declan eating....

Jacob inhaling.....

Stella LOVING her last piece of Chocolate cake for 2010

The Mini McGanns are ready to party!

Declan and Jose

The boys, Jacob, Brian, Jim, Mike, Declan and Jose

The Girls, Stella, Mommy, Rosana and her mom Phyllis

Stella's Christmas Show Pics

2010-12-15T21:26:00.001-05:00

Right in front in black just left of center.

Pretty girl!

Stella's friend Riley.

Almost smiling.....her playgroup friend Jack is right behind her in the green, grinning for me.

This was after the presentation when they let the parents come up and take pictures. Total insanity. I caught this shot from the balcony before throwing myself into the photo mosh pit and I love how Stella is totally looking and smiling.

Stella, Jacob and Riley enjoying some post show cookies.

Jacob's TWO year pictures.

2010-11-28T21:12:00.004-05:00

I had these taken at the Kiddie Kandids and was sure we would have to abandon the idea when we first arrived and he wanted NOTHING to do with it. But big sister Stella came to the rescue and helped lure him to the camera and we managed to grab these stinking adorable shots. We love you Jacob!

Hair Loss

2010-11-14T19:55:00.006-05:00

I could barely watch as Jacob got his hair cut yesterday. I made sure to take him for his 2 year portraits first but then had to admit.....it was time and he does look adorable.
Click on the picture to see it larger.
I managed to catch 2 shots of Stella and Jacob goofing around on the sofa tonight that I thought I would include. If you had told me a year ago that these two would be giggling and even hugging I wouldn't have believed it.

HUGGING!!!!!! They are actually HUGGING!!!!

It certainly isn't like this all of the time but it is wonderful to see more and more of these moments.

WhooHoo! Gimme Some Candy!!!

2010-10-30T14:30:00.001-04:00

This year was our third year going on the Brittain Family Halloween Hayride. Stella was Jessie from Toy Story and Jacob was a Dalmation Puppy. We had been trying for a few weeks to get him to try on the costume and he wouldn't even come close. So we were a bit shocked that he popped it on without much incident for the big day. Before we went to the hayride we went to Jon and Kat's to show off their costumes and give them a chance to practice trick or treating.

Jessie!!!!

Trick or Treat!

Click on this to see it big...Stella's eyes are just beautiful!

One cute puppy headed to the hayride!

Cully and Pearce....our hosts little one's as Spiderman and woman.

What up dawg?

Lets hit the hay.....I crack myself up!

It is almost silly how cute they are.

Full size candy bars?!?!?!?!?

Stella was starting to slow down a bit.

Cream Cheese and Chive crackers??!?!?!?

We had a great time as always and Stella already knows she wants to be a kitty cat next year.

Apple Picking

2010-09-29T20:40:00.003-04:00

I am embarrassed to say that I forgot my camera this past weekend when we went apple picking. Thankfully Jon and Kat have new fancy Iphone thingy's so Kat captured this great shot of Jacob! Holy Crow this kid is CUTE!!!

Triathlon pictures

2010-09-29T20:15:00.006-04:00

My mom was kind enough to buy the cd of pictures taken by the photogs at the triathlon. Thanks mom!!!! They aren't exactly pretty but they are proof. They seem sorta small. I seem to have a bit of a photo fight with blogger but click to see them larger.

Asbury Park is really great. I should find the shot I took of this building only a few years ago!

I would like to personally thank #86 for blocking most of me as we made our way to the starting line on the beach! That is Jen in the black bathing suit next to me. We are wearing the blue caps.

The first heat heading out....I'm not in this shot but I liked it.

WooHoo! The big finish!!!! YAY!!!

A Happy Birthday at Longwood Gardens

2010-09-18T13:51:00.000-04:00

My mom and dad came for a quick visit for her birthday weekend. They actually only stayed with us one night on their way to the Brandywine area which is really beautiful. Her favorite gift was getting to hug on these 2! Happy Birthday mom-we love you!

Stella helping Grammie blow out her candles. We actually had cake for breakfast, hence the pj's.

We met them for the day in Longwood Gardens. Really stunning and it was a wonderful day and way to celebrate her 29th yet again.

Daddy and his girl!

How cute is this one with his hands in his pockets!

Hanging on to Thomas. They had a very elaborate train set up that we all stared at for like 40 minutes.

The most incredible lilypads I have ever seen.

Stella and Jacob brushing this guys teeth in the children's part of the gardens.

Grandma Barbara McGann

2010-09-16T15:07:00.002-04:00

My sister in law Rosana remined me that today is Brian's moms birthday. I think I can speak for Rosana when I say we so wish we had been able to meet her. She sent me this photo/painting that I had never seen and I thought I would post it to say Happy Birthday Grandma Barbara!

Back to School!

2010-09-10T14:34:00.006-04:00

Stella B started her second year of preschool today! She was so excited to return to Little Tree and see her friends. It is a beautiful day here and actually felt more like fall when I went to pick her up and there was a chill in the air. Just glad I snuck in one more wearing of this adorable dress.

You can't really see that Jacob is behind her in this shot. After he saw her grab her backpack he wanted a bag too so he grabbed the bag I keep my grocery bags in and dragged them out with him. Very funny.

He is so ready for school, too bad her has to wait a year!

Hurry up mom....I wanna go in!!!!

She ran right over to start playing with 2 friends from last year. Notice the teacher in the upper left holding a screaming crying child who didn't want her mommy to leave. That would be brutal. Fortunately Stella is very happy to be there and barely looked up when I said goodbye. My big girl!

Triathlon....really!

2010-08-29T20:48:00.001-04:00

So.....a couple months ago my dear friend Jennifer Roach (Bridesmaid, made my wedding cake, friend since early 90's) came to visit and casually mentioned that she was doing a triathlon. Well, I joked with her that we could no longer be friends if she was gonna go all fitness on me. While I chase two kiddos and attend weight watchers meetings and lose .5 lbs I was feeling a tad discouraged. She joked that I could totally do this tri thingy. In fact it is a sprint triathlon, which essentially means the distances are shorter and the pressure/competitiveness is lower.....plus this would be all women.

After she left that day I couldn't get the notion of it out of my head. I was facing 40 and feeling fat and bit depressed. I know how important being home with my kids is right now but it isn't easy for me. I couldn't quite let go of her comment that I could do it. So, I looked it up online and thought....I can swim....swam on teams for years (didn't really win anything but I naver came in last)....I can ride a bike....I don't have a bike and haven't ridden one for years but geeesh I can still ride one and I did run a 5k about 6 years ago and 50 lbs lighter....sooooo ummm....I wonder if I can do this.

The first thing I did was to try swimming the quarter mile distance in the pool......after a couple tries was able to do so without any trouble....then I dragged Brian's bike from the storage side of the basement to the useful side and began biking....I could do the 12 miles. I didn't love it but I could do it. BUT, the running!!!! I couldn't do it and I HATED it!!!! My chest burned and I wanted to die. It made me feel old and all the jiggling of each part of my body made me know how much weight I had gained and how crappy that was.

All that being said.....with 40 approaching I knew I needed to do this so I signed up, paid the fee and confessed to Jen that I had done so. She was THRILLED. She happily switched to the buddy heat and vowed to stay with me each step of the way. That is a GOOD friend. I tried to swim, bike or run/walk each day.....not easy with two kids, one of which doesn't nap anymore! Thankfully Brian would hold them in the pool so I could do my laps and I rode the bike in the basement whenever I could. Running was the hardest part for me. The summer heat was unbearable. I was a wreck just getting the kids in the car for basic errunds forget about running. Then I got the idea to see if I could get a treadmill on Freecycle.org and had one the next day taking up valuable real estate in the bsement. No excuses now.

In Mid July Jennifer and I went to a Tri-clinic to learn about the transition process and do a mini tri. I was totally terrified when I arrived at 6pm. Rain, ROUGH water and a storm brewing were not ideal conditions. Even the 4 lifeguards and 4 mentor triathletes hired to attend weren't so sure the swim was a good idea. But I got out there and got pummelled by wave after wave and finally a took in a mouthful of saltwater that stayed with me the whole rest of the 'race'. I think I was coughing up saltwater 3 days later. ACK! I was drained after the 200 yard swim (usually an easy amount for me) and the biking was just annoying as the route wasn't marked and I wasn't used to riding with traffic....the 1 mile run dang near killed me.....but I did it. I was painfully discouraged and expressed this to Brian when I got home. What if this whole thing backfires and makes me feel worse about myself than better. He gently tried to encourage me and relay there was no shame in withdrawing but I knew I had to try. Really, what is worse...trying and failing or not trying?

So comes August 29th 2010. The big day. Jen...came the night before and we were up at 4:30am or something insane like that to get out to the race site in Asbury Park. Bikes, sneakers, gel packs, hydration and the lot in tow we got ready for the race. Even better we were giggling all the way. I wasn't trying to win.....just not need medical attention! Jen could have done the race 2 times over but she stayed with me each step of the way. That is a dear friend and a gesture I will never forget. As we stood on the beach I started to get excited and panicked at the same time. A riptide warning was in full effect thanks to Earl but the water was glass after the initial waves. The horn blew....in we went......past the waves around the first buoy, the second bouy......ummm...Jenn, is that seaweed? What am I touching? I gave up on trying to keep my head in the water since I hated the taste of the saltwater more than I hated not keeping my head down for the true 'freestyle' stroke I had been practicing. Thankfully I was pretty good with the breast stroke and muddled through the swim in only 16 or so minutes......not far off the same time as the winner!!! To bad I didn't pedal and run as fast as she did.

As we got out of the water and 'ran' to the transition area I thought....holy shit I did part one....if I can do part 2...I can walk part 3 if I have to!

Back at my bike I tried to pull on my pants and shirt and hydrate ate a 'shotblock' for some energy and wondered if I should take a minute to text Brian....but we were off on the bike trail before I could follow through. I won't lie, I got a little lazy on occasion. It look a mile or so to get my breath back and though I had borrowed a great hybrid bike from a friend......it was hardly the machine my friend had. I was pedalling and panting my ass off and she was coasting and chatting away. Thankfully the chatting helped me forget how much I was struggling and before I knew it we were giggling and having a nice bike ride and not a race. At one point we joked that the cops keeping the streets closed were thinking....less giggling more pedalling girls! Before I knew it we were done biking and back at the transition area and ready to run. Ummmm...but my legs felt like rubber and I LOATHE running so I knew this was gonna suck at best.

Jen was great and wouldn't let me walk more than 6o-ish seconds at a time. She would point to a lamppost or a building or some scantily clad chick and say....we can run to that and then you can walk for a little bit. She was awesome since she coulda blew by me and finished the race while I was still trying to find my bike!!!!! We even stopped for a laugh filled potty break! Next thing I knew the finish line was in sight and I was tearing up with amazement. I couldn't believe I had done it! I couldn't believe Jen was so willing to do it with me each step of the way and to share that with a friend who has known me for so long and all my struggles.....weight issues, back surgery etc was really a gift. We were both so excited and actually finished the race in under 2 hours which we did not expect AT ALL. We had told our husbands not to try and get there too early since we thought we would be taking at least another 1/2 hour or more. They were both shocked to hear from us that we were done and thankfully each only a few minutes away. In fact when I called Brian he thought for sure I was calling to tell him something had happened! I don't blame him for wondering that but was happy it wasn't the case. I haven't ordered my pics that the pros took that day but when I do I will post them. Here are a couple little shots taken via cell phone or just of the goods when I got home. Thanks to Brian and the kids for putting up with me and supporting me so much....also to Jon and Kat for coming out to cheer....ummm even though they too missed my crossing the finish line because they thought I was a good 40 minutes away from doing so. I am so happy I followed through on the challenge and it turned out to be so positive!

These converse were made for strutting!

2010-07-27T22:17:00.008-04:00

This kid just cracks me up!

The little McGann's!

2010-07-18T09:57:00.007-04:00

Mike, Rosana and Declan came to visit and we had such a fun time at Madison Square Park! We didn't know it but they had a little sprinkler part which was GREAT since it was 4,000 degrees!
It was so nice to see them all and see how much Declan is growing and changing!

He was a little unsure of us at first...who could blame him.

Jacob and Declan pointed at each other like it just hit them they were old friends or at least cousins!

Stella just ran and ran in the water. She couldn't have been happier.

Declan before he got really bold and the shirt came off!

My new favorite photo of Jacob and the cover of his first record album.

After a lunch of mostly french fries we stopped at Uncle Jim's apartment to change and cool off.

Declan getting the hugs from Stella that Jacob could only dream of.

The McGann men with the McGannettes.

I love the painting on the wall above them.

It says...I got no plan....I got one neither!

Beach tired!

2010-07-17T09:49:00.000-04:00

We went to Asbury Park today. Late in the day to avoid the heat. It was a lot of fun watching the kids collect shells and put their toes in the water. For some reason Jacob didn't really care for the feel of sand on his bare feet so he got to feel the water through his sandals. After only two hours they were SHOT! So much so that we sent daddy to get the car and come pick us up. I didn't bring the big boy camera but caught this stinking cute shot with my cell phone of them sitting on a bench have juice and waiting for Daddy.

New pics of bedrooms

2010-07-12T14:18:00.012-04:00

Here are some pics of the kids 'new' rooms. They aren't the best (and I charge money for this?!?!?!?) but you get the idea.

She may have an even bigger big girl bed but in her hands is the same beary she has had since she was born. So sweet.

Checking out the bouncibility!

If only he would stay in there...I hope to paint the bed black to match a little better and not look so girly. One of these days.

They better start getting along because these two rooms couldn't be closer!

Stella was amazingly happy to pass on her 1st big girl bed.

Holy crap he is so cute!

hmmm...I wonder why he can't sleep? I may need to let go of Stella's pm nap.

Ya think?!?!?!!?? Click on pics to see larger.

Big boy bed

2010-07-11T21:26:00.004-04:00

Jacob is officially in his big boy bed.

A few weeks ago it came out that Jacob's crib was on a mass crib recall list. That announcement coincided with his obvious discomfort and our concern that he was outgrowing the crib. The recall was because smaller babies had gotten their heads stuck in the fixed upper rail. Well...Jacob's head wouldn't remotely fit in there so we weren't all that concerned or in a rush to move him to a 'big boy bed'. The very next morning at like 5am he wakes up screaming and I run in to find his little chubby cute leg STUCK in the slats of the crib....so stuck I had to call for Brian to help me unstick him. So we knew it was time. We had hoped to use his crib as a toddler bed but that wouldn't eliminate the slat problem. Thankfully our friends Kat and Jon were trying to unload a double bed that would fit perfectly in Stella's room....which it does and she adores!

So we moved her twin into his room and decided to give it a go. Stella was almost a year older when she made this transition and not only was she excited she knew what we meant when we said.......stay in the bed!!!! Jacob on the other hand.......well, we were nervous! But, he did great! No real trouble. I have to go in usually one time at bedtime and put him back in and one or two times for the afternoon nap. So we really can't complain. The only problem has been that if I don't hear him wake up from his nap he ransacks his room like crazy before I can get to him. Sorta cute in a boyish kinda way. I'm getting better and knowing what the little scamp is up to!

Since things have gone so well we decided to take the crib apart and get it out of his room. Stella helped carry each screw and very excitedly reassured her little brother that it will all be ok. It is very sweet and a tad rare to see her so caring toward him. He sat on the bed with his binky in confused amazement as each piece was removed and his room officially became that of a big boy.

As happy as I am to purge each thing they outgrow and see them thriving and moving on to new stages in life I can't help but get more than a bit teary that the baby era is truly behind us....well, we still have diapers and he uses a binky at night but you know what I mean.

It hasn't been easy but it has been wonderful and I thank God each day that I was blessed with the chance to experience this. Well, that is what I tell myself while Jacob is pulling my hair and Stella masters whining. Stay tuned for a couple pics.

Marjorie Visits.....Sayen Gardens~

2010-06-26T20:22:00.000-04:00

We really need to find a new place to hang out but it is so pretty and so close and so free!~

Having a juice break as temps were in the mid 90's!

Madge and her little man. I love how he is looking up at her!

YAY for the fountain. It was so hot we all crawled in.

I can do it all by myself!

Seeeeee!

Down too!

Daddy and his kiddos looking at the ENORMOUS KOI!

An hour at the fair!

2010-06-25T08:36:00.006-04:00

No, really we lasted about an hour at the St. Gregs Annual Carnival. My friend Marjorie came to visit for a few days and so we thought we would check it out. As if she has never been to a fair?!??!!? Sorry Madge! Hopefully on your next visit it won't be 100 degrees and we won't have to wait till dark like vampires to be able to leave the house!
All trips to the carnival should start with Fried Dough! Frankly all trips anywhere should start with fried dough.

Gritty carny ferris wheel.....made grittier thanks to photoshop.

Jacob and Marjorie having a BLAST on the tea cups. :-O

Brian having a blast waiting in line to ride the gritty carny ferris wheel.

Stella having a blast waiting with Daddy to ride the gritty carny ferris wheel.

Madge and the little man!

Me, sweating (and gritty) hiding behind the little man!

Looks like they had fun on the gritty carny ferris wheel....sigh.

OH!!!!!! Wait!!!!!! A smile!!!! YAY!!!!!!!

I guess they had fun after all. TeeHee.

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T09:43:00.017-04:00

Today is Father's Day and Brian is truly to be celebrated today. He is a wonderful Father who adores his beautiful children and though he has been up since 6am with one blessing we call Jacob is still happily building a fort with the other one....Stella, as I type this.

I enjoyed looking at all the pics from my past mother's days so thought I would do the same for him today.

Technically I was only pregnant for this Father's day but I still consider it his first because he was so excited about becoming a daddy!

Now a Father's day tradition.....breakfast out....here he is when Stella was small enough to keep on the table. Now....we try to keep her off the table!

This Father's day was extra special, we spent it with my own Father and I was preg with Jacob AND Stella started walking a teeeney bit on her own that day as we waited for our table at breakfast.

Last year's Father's day was great because we knew our family was complete (phew) and even though Stella wouldn't go near Jacob and he squealed all through dinner at Red Robin we had a lot to celebrate.

Here are the McGann scamps today in their matching My dad Rocks t-shirts

We almost got Stella to get sorta close to Jacob. Love those smiles!

One of many reasons Stella is such a Daddy's girl! Again, she kept saying!

Here is Jacob saying my dad is mad dope. Tru Dat little man!

*************************************************************

Stella helped me come up with the top 20 reasons (in no particular order) to love and appreciate daddy!

1. Tubby time-Daddy comes up with the best tubby games....mommy is all about getting clean.

2. Trips to the pet store!

3. He handles LOTS of 5:30am Jacob-wake up calls! Thanks hon!

4. He lets me play with his cell phone even though I know it drives him bonkers.

5. You read me books, tell me stories and sing me songs at bedtime.....even songs you make up!

6. I want to go downstairs!

7. The swings and slides!

8. You wave bye bye to me in my window from goldie (our nickname for his car)in the morning when you leave for work.

9. Sometimes you let me 'help' you get ready for work in the morning.

10. You change Jacob's diapers when he stinks.

11. You endure Noggin!

12. You love me and mommy and even Jacob and tell us every day!

13. Pretzel picnics, Peddie Lake picnics, and surprise picnics!

14. Chutes and Ladders, Candy land, the Ladybug Game and Animal Scramble all in the same hour....or even half hour....or even 15 minutes!

15. You go to work every day so I can have a pretty room and Jacob and I can have cool clothes and Mommy can buy black shirts.

16. You pretend going to Barnes and Noble to watch me play with the train table is really fun.

17. Tag, lots of tag! Again!

18. You aren't ashamed to have tea parties with me.

19. You are patient and I have proof.....these 2 photos and the blog entry on the circus!

And Finally.....

20. You couldn't have been happier to make whatever this is.........

We love you Brian!!!!! Thanks for all you do to be an amazing daddy!

Father's Day gifts

2010-06-19T10:37:00.005-04:00

So I had this great idea that the kids would paint bird houses for Father's day gifts. I was smart enough to have Jacob be naked and Stella in a shirt that didn't really fit right so when paint ended up everywhere....which it did...it wouldn't matter. I also knew we had planned to replace that rather crappy looking deck box so it would make for the perfect spot to create a paint mess. I did it in 2 installments....there were 4 to be done total so we did 2 one day and 2 another. WOW! It was so much fun but geeesh what a mess. I think they came out great and hopefully will be appreciated.

Jacob was having the most fun of all and this shot will be a favorite of my forever I am sure!

The master at work.

Stella grew weary of the close contact with Jacob and opted for some time at the sand table.

A paint covered Jacob making his way to the sand table....little did he know I planned to hose him down and ended up having to take him direclty to the tub. What is cuter that a little guy in his diaper?

Here are the finished products! Brian got the deluxe one on the left, the two in the middle were for Grandpa Kitchen and Grandpa McGann and then the last one was for Jacob's Godfather Jon.

Happy Father's day!!!!!

Click on the pics to see them bigger.

Picking BLUEberries

2010-06-18T21:49:00.011-04:00

Last Wednesday I took the kids BLUEberry picking. I emphasize the word blue because it was quite a discussion....repeated many times that the goal was to obtain BLUE ones and not green or any other color for that matter. We had a great time though and managed to get it all in before a brief shower and crazy sun so I was happy for that. Terhune Orchards is a wonderful place to visit and do u-pick. Although I am glad we opted for blueberries instead of cherries as the bag I got was $3.75 and the same size bundle of cherries for the gent ahead of me was $17.00 and change!

Stella trying to decide what was too green for keeping.

Both Mcgann-ettes picking away!

Jacob mostly wanted to run free. Thankfully there was a netting around the entire crop so I knew he could only get so far before being totally tangled.

I ADORE this shot I snapped of one scamp being kind to the other totally on her own! Her secret is out......she loves that little brother of hers...she just can't admit it!!!

Jacob learning the hard way that dirt is not yummy!!!! Click on this to see large for full humor effect!

Donut time! I am proud to say.....I didn't have one! It wasn't easy but I held out!

Jacob squealing and giggling over these insanely docile pups.

He dove right in to petting them and pulling on their feet but Stella kept her distance!

Don't even think about it buddy! ;-)

What a great day with my bugs!

Memorial Day weekend.

2010-06-01T14:11:00.003-04:00

I missed a lot of photo ops this weekend. Not sure why I just wasn't feeling it to bring out the camera. I did snag these 2 shots of the kids with my cell phone. We were driving home from a picnic with our friends Jon and Kat and Melissa and Paul......they have a 2 year old and the kids moslty ran in circles and played with the sand/water table....hence a naked Jacob!

You know how much fun your kids had by how fast they fall asleep or by the sourpuss look on their face on the ride home. I think you can see we had a blast!

What a CIRCUS!

2010-05-21T09:56:00.002-04:00

I gave Brian tickets to the circus for our anniversary. How romantic, I know. Anyway, I was sort of excited to take the kids and to see the circus myself. I mean really, when is the last time you went to the circus? Anyway, I had gotten good seats and planned well with a booster for Jacob, snacks, juice, portable potty seat, camera-my bag weighed more than both children combined. We got there nice and early so we could settle in...ok, we got there a little too early but it was all good. The clowns came out and soon the show began......Jacob went from gripping me and crying out Momma, to giggling, squealing, crying, clapping, and back to gripping. I was trying to take pictures with this chaos....hence they aren't very good. Stella pretty much held onto daddy for dear life and though she seemed to enjoy it we couldn't quite be sure.

I think Brian and I were most impressed with the 7 motorcycles that were in this ball.

Jacob actually took this shot during one of his mommy gripping moments.

During intermission Brian took Stella out to buy some cotton candy. YUMMY!

After a healthy serving or 2 I told her to hold off a little bit on the rest to prevent a tummy ache and the show was about to restart. Within a minute Brian and I knew we had a full fit on our hands. Sure enough Brian had to carry our screaming flailing darling out of the circus.

Jacob and I sat watching the elephant for a few minutes when I had to decide that Brian and Stella weren't coming back anytime soon. Not quite knowing what to do..I picked up my 400lb bag and Jacob and made my way out. When I got to the landing a woman from the consession stand asked if she could help me......all I said was-tall man screaming child? She replied-OH! they left. By now I had Jacob in a football hold and had left the booster that I couldn't carry in the seat. I called Brian and I could hear Stella screaming and all he said was...we gotta go. So I left my bag with the consession girl and hoisted Jacob back into the circus for the booster and back out we went.....I think I hit about 10 people with the booster along the way. Sorry!

So, our first trip tot he circus wasn't quite what I had in mind but rather appropriate in some ways. We did enjoy what we saw and hopefully someday we will get to see the whole thing.

All that over cotton candy.....hmmmm...that reminds me....I think that might still be in the back of the car. ewww.

Gerber Babies!

2010-05-15T09:25:00.003-04:00

My friend and fellow Queens transplant, Patti Gerber from playgroup was such a Godsend to me when I had Jacob.....showing up with a huge box of everything from food to napkins, paper plates and all sorts of helpful things that I had never thought of....she would take Stella to play and once even took both kids and gave me a couple hours all to myself. The least I could do in return was take some pics of her brand new beautiful TWINS! After trying for 2 years she and her husband Steve were double blessed and here are a few pics of Harrison (Harry) and Mackenzie (Kenzie) Gerber. Congrats to them and big brother Stevie!

Stella's Preschool Pictures

2010-05-13T20:57:00.003-04:00

Stella's very first school pictures! So cute!

This is her little class. Click on the pick so you can really see the stinking adorable face she is making!

Mother's Days

2010-05-09T20:01:00.011-04:00

I really never thought I would be a mother. I'm so glad I was wrong on that but really I should try to remember that more on the days that are well....challenging! This is a good spot to thank Brian for his love and support, I wouldn't last a day without it. Having kids is such an amazing experience that really can't accurately described. The highs are sooooo high and the lows can be so low. Each day usually has a couple of both. At the end of the day I can't help but smile at how Stella now tells me that if I need her I should call for her and she will come and help me.....or how Jacob crawled up onto the dining room table to get a book last week as Brian and I watched totally stunned. It is so wonderful and so hard all at once and you wouldn't trade a second.....ok, that isn't true. I would trade the entire 40 minutes Stella threw a fit at Wegmans last Monday but you know what I mean. My children are so different....Jacob loves to draw, Stella loves to read, they both love to run and they both have the best laughs. I hope one day they will be as good of friends as they are enemies today and I pray each day that they will be happy and know they are loved beyond measure. They are my sunshine and I am so blessed to call them mine. Today was my 4th mother's day and I thought I would take a look back at the years past and the days that made me a mommy. I love how similar the shots of me giving them their first kisses are.

Stella's first kiss 12/28/06

Jacob's first Kiss 11/6/08

My First Mothers day

Second Mothers Day

Third Mothers Day

Fourth Mothers Day. I love the way Jacob is looking at me in this shot

My beautiful babies. My hands and heart are full.

I Love Preschool!

2010-05-05T20:55:00.007-04:00

I just adore Stella's preschool. This past week I attended a Mother's Day Tea Party. How stinking sweet is that!!!! I got all teary just reading the little invite. They really do so many cute things with the kids and this was a simple cake and lemonade...ummmm, no tea.....but still just the best. Only a 1/2 hour long but it let me take a minute to really appreciate the privilege being a mommy is. I was fortunate to be able to drop Jacob off at playgroup which meant some bonus mommy and Stella time. Something we both enjoy. When I arrived she ran out of her classroom saying Happy Mother's Day and wrapped her little arms around me and then handed me a wrapped gift-pictured at the bottom....what a wonderful feeling that was. As I see Stella move from being my baby to being my little girl I know how important each of these little special moments are and this was one I will really cherish. I love you Stella and I love preschool!

When can I eat my cake mommy?????

Stella's classmate and friend Riley with her mom Jennifer

Stella and mommy!

She loved the card she made me it was adorable!

Our playgroup friend Jack also attends little tree and here he is with his mommy Joy.

The little frame Stella made me with a picture from our pumpkin picking in the fall.

Extraordinary

2010-05-04T21:59:00.001-04:00

For our 5th Anniversary Brian shocked me by getting tickets to Peter Gabriel's latest show. Backed by only an orchestra and being held at Radio City I knew this would be extraordinary and it really was. The best part was Brian's willingness to come with me even though he isn't a Peter Gabriel fan. The show was sold out but he got us amazing tickets in the orchestra and it was just fantastic. Totally different than any of the other Peter shows I have seen and I almost think Brian might have become a fan of a couple songs. The only bummer is....I didn't bring my real camera, afraid security would be an issue. But I did snap a few pics with the cell that don't do it justice. You just forget how magnificent Radio city is and how beautiful an orchestra can sound. Thank you so much Brian for sharing such an extraordinary experience with me. I'm sure the gift I got you will also be extraordinary but in a very different way. Teehee. The circus!

The Kitchen men visit and our 5th anniversary!

2010-04-24T20:03:00.000-04:00

Denis and Matthew came to visit and took Brian to some concert with no seats. Forgetting entirely that they are now 40+ they thought it would be fine but soon found themselves groping for floor space. I told Brian I woudl no longer attend events that didn't have assigned seats. sigh. It seems a good time was had by all and the drummer impressed the most but I was just as happy home in my assigned seat.....bed....and was happy to hear all about it and not listen to it. Having Denis and Matthew here was fun and Stella now calls Denis Uncle Fuzzy Face. TeeHee.
We drageed them to Sayen gardens where I lost my phone so they got more than the usual tour and they hunted for it. Thankfully it was turned into the Sayen house. phew. We all got good work outs that day treking the park in search of it. It was a fun visit and hope they come again.

McGann Family 2010

Matthew and Jacob

Matthew Jacob and Stella

One of a bazillion turtles!!!!!

A walk in the park

2010-04-10T20:43:00.000-04:00

We go to Sayen Gardens A LOT! I mean you may have noticed that but we go A LOT. It is a mile from our house, has a pond with bullfrogs, fish and turtles galore, has a fountain perfect for splashing in, paths, rocks, flowers....it really is beautiful. What is doesn't have is playground equiptment that Jacob will fall off and Stella will lose her mind when I try to pry her off. So, I love it. It is also a great spot for taking pictures and I have gotten many of my favorites of my kids and from sessions there. So, on one of the fisrt nice days of spring we went for a walk in the park.

I love him toddling behind her! I pretend they get along when I look at this picture.

What is cuter than overalls!?

You would think they had never seen water before!

Stella B sitting on one of the many benches in the park

Does this remind you of anything?

Stella B July 2007. Hard to believe she was ever this small. She smiled when I sang you are my sunshine that day. So sweet.

Just Because

2010-03-25T20:35:00.000-04:00

That is just about the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Annual Peddie Picnic

2010-03-18T20:13:00.005-04:00

A few times a year we meet Daddy for lunch at Peddie lake in Hightstown near where he works. This tradition started before we had the kids and I would meet him for lunch on occasion. Actually now, that I think of it I think I used to meet him for lunch in the city when I had my summers off so I guess our little picnics go back quite a while.
They recently perked up the little area by the lake so the tables are nicer and it is always fun to see Daddy in the middle of the day....especially a nice sunny day like this one!

Brian and his girl!

Daddy....don't sit on me!!!!

Me trying to make Jacob giggle!

Hopefully lots more picnics to come!

Happy St Patty's Day

2010-03-16T19:48:00.001-04:00

I was so excited when I found these adorable shirts last year!!!

What a beautiful day to go out and bang on whatever these things are!!!

And look at dead flowers!?

Jacob is just happy to be out walking walking walking walking!

Best PJ's Ever!

2010-03-07T10:46:00.000-05:00

It isn't that easy to get happy pics of these two together so after getting them in my favorite pj's I begged them to sit and smile and they actually did! This is a favorite shot of mine!

Making cake....sorta.

2010-03-03T09:53:00.004-05:00

Stella helped me make a cake for one of her classmates. His mom had twin baby girls! I figured she deserved my amazing chocolate cake. Although Stella did help pour everything in, as you can see her favorite part was cleaning the bowl all by herself!!! We had a lot of fun and the floor covered in chocolate to prove it.

Into the hair it goes......

There has to be more in here.

Peek a boo potty goer!

Whadda month.....and a gentle soul

2010-03-02T15:08:00.006-05:00

Ok so right after Brian and I were married we had a whirlwind time that was horrible, adorable, romantic and brought us closer together. From July to August we had a bed bug incident that we still can't really speak about, I had spinal surgery and wore the sexiest back brace ever for 4 months, we moved to the great garden state......wait, I mean corrupt state of NJ filled with insane drivers, and I started a new job. FUN times! But each night we curled up on my beloved ROWE couch that I bought with my 2000 tax return and loved way more than a person should love a couch and all was right with the world. We lived lived in a place called Avalon and there was a HUGE beautiful tree right outside our balcony. One glass of wine of did the trick and we were happy and excited. While living at Avalon we had wood burning fires that smelled and looked great and I was able to keep order and even kept things clean. I cooked cute healthy meals for us and we cuddled and smiled a whole lot.

Sooooo, a few things have changed. The smiles are a tad more forced the drama level is astounding (have you met Stella) and the clean is gone. I sweep, I vacuum, I dust and I wipe.....it still doesn't look clean. No clue how to make that change. I think our elders were right when they used things like baking soda, salt, spit and a bit of cow dung to really get something clean. I'm totally kidding on the cow dung but who knows. Jacob's diapers render things that I firmly believe could eat through whatever is at the bottom of our tub! SORRRY!!!! I digress.

Soooooo that brings me to this past month.....or 30 days since it is only March 3rd or some such thing.
I just looked.....it was more than a month....so shoot me.
On January 30th Brian went in for a routine lithotrypsy to have a HUGE kidney stone blasted into a million passable pieces. After a night of vomiting, not being able hold down water and otherwise being a mess we were back in the ER. He lost 10lbs in one day (I should be so lucky) Brian spent that night in the hospital. (My Lord what he will do for time away from the kids is shocking! ) Thankfully no additional procedures were needed and he was able to come home the next day. Since then it seems all the stones have passed and he is doing well. I encouraged him to write his own blog entry on the matter but just in case he doesn't I didn't want to leave it out. I will be selfish and say I never heard him screaming in pain so I am not sure I can agree with this whole-it is as bad as childbirth thing!

Then comes Stella's parent teacher conferences. How friggin adorable!!!! She is 3 and we are going to talk to her teachers! I had Brian come too. We had our concerns since Stella was such a late walker and talker that they may have identified other issues with Stella that needed to be addressed. I selfishly asked him since I didn't want to be left bawling in the chair by myself~ WELL!!!!!! No need for tears~ We were both shocked, proud, blessed, touched and just plain happy by what they said. They first described her as a gentle soul. (umm, ask Jacob about that!) They went on to say that although they love all the kids in class they have a special place in their hearts for Stella (even if they say that to every mom I don't care). They said she never raises her voice, always follows directions, does what is told of her, shares-even to the point that if someone takes her toy she just goes and finds another toy. They said she was one of only 3 of the 20 kids tested that did as well on the testing. (where is your elbow?)
Not exactly intensive testing but certainly encouraging to hear.
When we told them she'd had Early Intervention services for being such a late walker and talker they seemed so shocked. They said they understood her speech clearly and saw no signs AT ALL that that we should even remotely be concerned about.
I worry a bit being a dyslexic lefty that Stella will struggle much like I did but she leans to right for now and LOVES books so those are great things.!

OH MY GAWD ALL THIS and I haven't even gotten to the leaking roof!!!!
Last Tuesday I was doing my routine binky round up in Jacob's room when I noticed a funny dark color on the trim work in the corner. Well, I knew right away what it was. ROT! I moved his crib to find two puddles of water at the indent marks. Many Many calls to anyone willing to listen...minus 900 numbers of course...... led me to to a contractor that figured out the problem is coming from our neighbors roof and ultimately landing in Jacob's room as opposed to the usual porch spot that we were already nervous about.

The best part was hearing that home owners insurance wouldn't cover a penny of it because of the word ROT and then knowing that we really can't expect a change until our neighbor (whom we adore) gets her roof fixed. So of course she had a death in the family and we haven't seen or heard from her since mid last week. Umm.....that would be prior to a rain filled day and a big storm that hit. ugh. We spent $1200 to dry out that portion of Jacob's room, have the carpet and mold removed and part of the wall cut away and ummm.....it is worse and wetter today than before.
BUT! We don't live in Haiti or Chile and sometimes that is all you need to think of to get a grip on reality!
We feel horrible that our neighbor Debbie has had a death in her family and are trying to be grateful that we have a roof....leaky as it is, over our heads. It is more than some can say.

In lighter news.....Jacob has 2 new teeth and Stella wants to know if poop is black or brown? Anyone, Anyone?

I used that title already.....

2010-02-28T15:31:00.001-05:00

Quick romp in the snow...very quick!

2010-02-26T10:04:00.003-05:00

We had a pretty good snow last night and Brian stayed home from work as the promise of more was on the way. This first photo was taken at 11:02am.....they had just gotten outside to play after 45mins of getting bundled up.

I sense trouble as the gloves stay up in the air......

Meanwhile, Jon....who hadn't checked the news actually WENT to work in the city even though all the schools were closed. When he finally got back to mj he stopped to play for a bit. This was Jacob's version sledding.

Sure enough by 11:07am Stella had had enough and was ready to come back inside. She wouldn't last a week in Buffalo! TeeHee!

Get me some hot cocoa woman!

Underwear is fun to wear!

2010-02-15T22:00:00.006-05:00

Does anyone remember the Underoos commercials? I think that was the little jingle or slogan. ANYWAY, we are thrilled to say that Stella has been wearing underwear for almost 2 weeks now. Not the same pair of course....she has an appaling number of adorable undies that range from Dora to peace signs and her new favorites are at least 2 sizes too big but she loves the stripes. "I love stripes mommy". Well, ok then. She still wears a diaper at night and have had one or 2 accidents but other than that she is doing great and we are so proud and excited! Public potty trips are always a challenge because Jacob is along for the ride but I love the safe sitter they had at Babies R Us and had to snap this cell phone shot. TeeHee.

You can see he wasn't a big fan.

Here she is sporting her Yo Gabba Gabba's and showing off her new valentine's shirt from Grammie.

I just loves this shot of Jacob chillin in his new outfit too. He is handsome!

Moses

2010-02-13T22:24:00.000-05:00

Stella makes and brings home countless amazing and adorable school art projects each week and I save some but this is my favorite by far. Moses in his little basket in the water. It is a piece of packing material wrapped in a cloth bandaid and placed in a painted egg carton....with google eyes of course. So stinking cute!!!!

This is a random shot of Stella and schoolmate Averie at a playdate playing dress up. They are almost as cute as Moses but not quite.

Aunt Laila

2010-02-01T15:41:00.007-05:00

On her 90th Birthday in 2003

In 2007 meeting Stella Barbara

Today I found out that my great Aunt Laila died. She actually passed away yesterday but when my mother called I was having a Pampered Chef party so I didn't pick up and couldn't call back till today. I'm sorta glad I didn't find out with a group of people sitting there.

We used to visit her fairly often in Canadaigua Lake where she lived. What an adorable town and pretty lake it is. I vividly recall the day in my much younger years that she told me burping was just fine and makes you feel better. She had a fabulously candid way about her that was rather refreshing. I dare say I will never forget the look she had on her face as I walked down the isle on my wedding day...she was so happy for me and especially on the behalf of one special person who couldn't be there that day....my grandmother Ellen Cole. They had been neighbors and dear friends growing up and Ellen had married her brother Max who turned out to be a bit of a cad.....by Laila's own admission. But the bond and love and family that was shared between the Cole's and Ellen transcended Max the Husband and Father and cad and lives on flourishing to this day as my mother visits her Cole cousins around the country and certainly shares grief with them at this loss.

The last time I saw Laila she was frail...never a bulky woman to say the least but frail....she loved Burger King and had a fabulous sense of humor and laugh to go with it. I am so happy I was able to place my beautiful Stella in her arms even for a moment and sorry Jacob didn't know that love and joy. I am quite sure Laila and my wonderful Grandmother, whom Jacob is named after, are giggling away in heaven and talking about the fine catch Brian was for me. Hopefully they have sought out his mom and are all enjoying a good sit and chat. I feel like heaven is filled with wonderful porches with big fans overhead and big pitchers of pink lemonade.......along with streets of gold and all that good stuff. I love you Aunt Laila, thank you for blessing my life and touching my heart. You are missed.

Gone

2010-01-24T17:08:00.005-05:00

They are gone.....the bottles are gone....so is the horrible bottle drying rack that I have hated with a passion since it took up residence next to my sink over 3 years ago. When we had Stella she had reflux and we must have bought and purchased 10 different brands of bottles that all promised relief. Not only didn't they offer relief they drove me batty cleaning all the little parts! When Jacob was born I bought the ones with the disposable liners thinking I would be free from the task of bottle cleaning but they were just as annoying. We finally settled in with the cheap Soothie's that had a little cup on the bottom to hold formula. They had a cloudy finish so I never knew if the were truly clean but toward the end....I became ok with that.

Jacob hasn't had a bottle in well over a week. I had planned to have one last bottle/cuddle special moment but frankly circumstance had him in bed without one and it worked out so I just went with it. He doesn't seem to miss it at all. I am grateful he is a hugger and likes to come over at different points in the day and put his head on you. Insanely adorable! So though I will miss our little bottle cuddles I was thrilled to toss the bottles and bottle drying rack from hell into the garbage today. There was a moment where I debated pulling them out to take some dramatic poignent photo to docment the end of the era but I was just too happy seeing them all in the trash to do so. Here is a recent shot of my little guy enjoying his big boy cup!

Just as happy to see them go!

Covered in PB&J!

Are we there yet?

2010-01-17T14:36:00.009-05:00

This past week I had an appointment in NY and decided to take Stella with me for a fun day in the big city! We took the NJ Transit in and the entire way there she kept asking if we were in the big city yet. It was adorable. I thought I had years before I would hear cliche phrases like, are we there yet and he's looking at me mom. I am sure the other passengers were grateful it was an express train. Actually, she did great and it was so sweet to see her excitement grow as we stopped at each station on the way. When we finally arrived and made our way up to 7th avenue She was totally awestruck and just loved riding in the stroller watching it all go by. We took the subway to Union Square and met my good friend Jennifer. She sat with Stella during my appointment and Stella was such a good girl I had a couple of surprises for her..... so off to midtown we went.

Here is Stella with Jennifer in Times Square. It was very chilly!

Mommy and Stella with her new West Side Story souvenir program. I have mentioned a few times that she LOVES West Side Story so her first surprise was to go to the theater and buy a program. She loved seeing the huge pics of the cast outside the theater but I don't think she quite understood it all. Here we are braving the wind in Times Square with the new program.

After that we went to Toys R Us and rode the ferris wheel. She had never ridden a ferris weheel and pretty much just stared in amazement. I have a cute pic but I need to scan it. She loved her surprises and after a nice lunch we headed back to the train to go home.

Here is my pretty girl on the train excited to tell Daddy and Jacob about her fun day.

There is almost nothing I enjoy more than seeing Stella's imagination at work. She spent the whole train ride home telling stories about the Jets and the Sharks and Maria and Tony and a ferris wheel and then she would stop and gaze out the window.

Making every part of the train part of her story...

She brought a little friend with her....

My amazing little Stella.

Thanks for a wonderful time Stella B. I am sure I will remember this special day forever.

Cell phone stuff

2010-01-11T21:32:00.005-05:00

I took a couple pics today of Stella and Jacob watching West Side Story for the 1,000th time. It is the ONLY thing that they will sit and watch for more than 5 minutes. They LOVE it. Stella asks for specific scenes and then runs aorund the room dancing during the big dance numbers. She also tells her many stuffed friends stories about Tony and Maria and the Jets and the Sharks while she should be napping. It is so adorable. So here they were totally engrossed today and all I could find was my cell phone.

Yes, the coffee table is pushed up there to keep Jacob from pushing all the buttons!

Then I stumbled on this shot in my cell phone.

Last week I took the kids to the dr and Stella noticed this sign and said...

Why is the P riding the bike mommy...that's silly.

This is another cell phone shot of Jacob's favorite way to use Stella's new Easel. He seems to love to crawl into and under things...even some things he doesn't fit in or can't really get out of...see below....

Perfectly happy about this spot till he tried to get out of it.

I'm sure I have lots more little cell phone moments but thought these were worth sharing.

The Last Bottle

2010-01-11T15:28:00.002-05:00

Jacob is now just over 14 months old....he should no longer be using a bottle....but I can't quite let it go! I know the longer I wait to stop the harder it will be for him to give up but I just can't do it! He only has one bottle a day...his night bottle. He doesn't need to eat before bed anymore and he doesn't need to use a bottle. He is fully capable of going all night without food and he uses a cup just fine all day so....the problem is me. Jacob also doesn't seem to need to cuddle the way he used to either...or sit for that matter....or stop moving at all! BUT, for a few minutes every night he will....stop wiggling and sit....and even cuddle and have that bottle and stare up at me and sometimes touch my nose and smile and I am just not ready to let that go.

Declan comes to visit!

2009-12-30T22:07:00.005-05:00

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

2009-12-28T14:58:00.004-05:00

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!

2009-12-25T09:00:00.002-05:00

Off to Buffalo

2009-12-23T14:50:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-12-19T20:31:00.004-05:00

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

2009-12-19T20:12:00.004-05:00

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

2009-12-16T21:33:00.011-05:00

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

2009-12-07T21:53:00.005-05:00

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!

2009-12-06T22:14:00.002-05:00

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!

Pictureless Turkey Day!

2009-11-26T21:35:00.005-05:00

I'm not sure how or why but I didn't really take any pictures today! How I could have the nerve to go through a MAJOR holiday and not have a bazillion pics to prove it is beyond me. We had a very nice day. Warm enough for the windows to be open and Stella to do some chalk on the sidewalk. It was just us and Brian and I actually ate dinner while the kids were napping. It was very quiet to say the least. We talked about all the Thanksgivings we have shared and how thankful we are for the family we have created. We have really amazing kids. I'm not just saying that either!!! No, really they are amazing. ;-) Stella is getting the potty together...sort of...not, well...we are trying and Jacob is taking an occasional step here and there. They both have smiles that melt our hearts and that is exaclty how is should be. I thought I would post a few pics from last weekend. We decided to go to the Princeton Battlefield to enjoy a beautiful day. Both kids have been sick. Jacob even had double ear infections and a climbing fever that had us pretty nervous. A few doses of Tamiflu did the trick but we were glad to get outside and get some air! I love the beautiful light that comes in November and got some very sweet pics.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving the preschool way

2009-11-25T20:41:00.004-05:00

Stella's preschool had a little Thanksgiving meal that the parents were invited to have dessert for . This is Jacob just as we arrived. sigh. He is so cute!

Stella B in her little hat not eating her turkey but enjoying her 4th roll.

Stella and one of her little pals.

I was shocked she tried the pumpkin pie but have this shot of it on her face to prove that she did!

Jacob looking stinking cute after lunch that day at home.

Birthday Pictures Part II

2009-11-22T14:15:00.004-05:00

I am at my wits end with Blogger. I keep trying to upload pics but get errors. Here are a few and hopefully I will get more added soon.

The Birthday boy...relaxing!

Peek a Boo with Uncle Jim

We got A LOT of great pictures that day!

Luvin his cake!

Daddy and Stella having a sweet moment!

Eating Veggie Booty with Grandpa McGann

Jacob is 1

2009-11-16T21:29:00.006-05:00

Jacob was such a lucky boy he got to have TWO parties to celebrate his big day. One for our playgroup on the 5th and one for family on the 7th. The fun really began when my mom arrived on Tuesday night to help me out. Thank GOD she did....just the constant sweeping was enough to require an additional person. TeeHee. She had fun helping to get ready and even made this adorable little special cake for the playgorup party and matching cupcakes for the kids. Since we don't go to playgroup as much anymore it was great to see everyone and I know Stella loved seeing her good friends.

Jacob's personal b'day cake from Grammie

Playgroup fun in the basement

The birthday boy gets his cake! He really didn't know where to begin!

There really were so many pictures I didn't know where to begin. Everyone was so generous and we really had fun. It is still hard for me to believe my little man is ONE. I love you Jacob! Pics from party#2 coming soon!

Halloween...was sooo last week..

2009-11-08T20:25:00.005-05:00

Sorry I tookt so long getting these up. Here are a few pics from our Halloween night at the Brittain Family Trick or Treating Hayride! Last year we did this for the first time and it was so fun...even though I was insanely pregnant! Stella had so much fun running up to the houses and even more fun running in the leaves. The Brittain Family owns a nursery so they load hay on a tractor and take the kids from house to house. So fun for all of us.
Stella saw her costume on the rack at Home Goods of all places a few months ago and wanted to put it on right then and there....she was such a cute dalmation puppy and had her little bark down perfect. It was oddly warm so halfway through the evening I had to take the top part off to cool her down. Jacob was a cow....a stinking adorable cow at that! I love the shot of him eating hay! Goof.

Daddy with his little puppy and cow.

Jacob trying to move in on Stella's bucket of candy.

So silly how cute she was...at least to us.

Cooling off. Uncle Jonny and Aunt Kat came too

What a smiley cow.

It is almost like he know his birthday is coming up!

Haircuts!!!!

2009-10-21T15:59:00.005-04:00

One last shot of the shaggy haired baby!

He didn't cry at all! A little wiggling here and there but he did great!

This may shock some of you but this was Stella's first haircut too! I would only let them trim it a little.

The McGann kids getting their first haircuts!

Jacob relaxing in his little car chair.

Now he really looks like a little man

Stella sat on a bunny for her haircut.

We went out for lunch afterwards and couldn't stop staring at Jacob.

Boo Hoo! Where is my baby!?

See prior post regarding my feelings on that and the post before that to see Stella on a fun hayride!

Jacob

2009-10-21T15:33:00.004-04:00

I took these pictures of Jacob last Friday...the day before he had his first haircut. I LOVE Jacob's hair. It is soft and just looks so cool to me. Sadly though a mullet was forming in back and as amusing as that was I knew it was time. To me though it is the end of his true baby look. Although he is still very much my baby and I love the feeling of his sticky fingers on my face when I give him a bottle and how he pats my shoulder when I carry him and how he grabs my arm when he is in his high chair and how he smiles when I open his door and how he still very faintly smells baby.....he will now do all of these things looking more boy. Much like his hair these things will fade away soon as he moves from bottle to sippy and highchair to booster and will walk on his own. UGH! So hard to see this little guy turning one and I wish I could go back...just a teeney bit and savor the moments a little more than I did. Not too far back of course, I do enjoy my sleep! A little early for resolutions but I am really going to try and enjoy more and not settle for feeling like I am just trying to endure. Time goes to fast to waste it on that.

Jacob got a fat lip that morning in music class. Rugged little dude.

Me and my little man

Love his chubby fingers and the shaggy hair!

Hayride

2009-10-21T15:02:00.004-04:00

Stella had her first fieldtrip last week to Windsor Farm. It is a great farm not far from our house that we have been to for the past 2 years with Stella. They do a fun hayride and drop you off in a pump-nig patch. Brian worked from home while Jacob napped so that Stella and I could go alone. Even though they welcome siblings....Stella doesn't exactly welcome Jacob and I thought it would be more fun for her if he wasn't tagging along. We had a fun time and here are a few pics. She was all excited to show Daddy her pump-nig and hopefully we will get to go back soon with him and Jacob.

Stella with her teachers Miss.Kim and Miss.Cindy

Stella and her friend Avery giggling away on the hayride

I love this shot of her running....when she would crawl...which she did very fast she would sometimes look down just like this. So sweet.

Stella trying to help Avery carry her pump-nigs.

Ok, I need to stop with the pump-nigs but it is so cute to me! A couple other little things Stella says right now. If you ask her a question and she doesn't know the answer she will ask you-Can you think of it? Her favorite answer to almost any request is...maybe later. Finally she loves to say I love you and I love you too.....two phrases no mommy will ever tire of hearing.

ELEVEN months!

2009-10-09T13:41:00.008-04:00

Jacob turned 11 months old on...what is today? Well, the 6th....so that day. I think it was Tuesday. No really, what is today? My mother asked if I had seen some story on the news lately and umm...I can't honestly recall the last time I saw the news. I did catch a few mins of the Today show for some reason this week and heard that Kate is broke. Not sure that really counts as news though. I'm not really complaining about being so out of touch at times that I don't know the date or the latest news it is just weird and sometimes it hits me just how in my bubble I am.

None of this has ANYTHING to do with the fact that Jacob is now 11 months old....other than he is a big part of the bubbleness. To say the year went fast is just silly...to say it was a blurr is obvious.....to say I am sad he will be a year old in mere weeks seems odd but I will be. BUT, to say that I adore the stink out him is spot on. He is just about the sweetest little guy ever. He does this thing when I pick him up sometimes where he burrows he head into my neck and shoulder-almost like he is coy or shy or something. It makes me melt. Also he can stare at you with NO expression whatsoever and then ease into this astoundling smile that just makes you giggle. No matter where we take him people comment on how adorable he is and usually his hair, which is sandy blonde and soft as feathers and well, getting a tad long. I am dreading cutting it but it is getting a little mulletesque in the back. He thrives on the slightest bit of attention and will chew on anything...including the large rubber mats they use at music class. He does this by essentially shoving his face on the floor since it is too large to pick up. Cute but awkward. He still gets screamed at many times a day by his big sister who will also make an effort now and again to chase him up the stairs or even almost play with him...sort of. He is strong though and a recent tug of war over a hula hoop was a tie! She had better watch out. He has really made our family complete and each day we feel so blessed that he is the amazing little man that he is. We will like him even more when he stops biting and pulling that dang card out of the cable box.

I have taken 100's...many 100's of photos of him to try and get one for his b'day invite and here are a few that didn't make the cut but are worth sharing.

His blank but cute stare

Super smiles!

He isn't a huge fan of pictures right now so kept climbing up on me to get the camera.

Finally gave up and crawled away~ I love his bum!

My handsome little man!

I didn't want to leave Stella out! I got this adorable shot of her at a birthday party we went to last weekend. She wore the hosts old t-shirt as a smock for the pumkin painting and I just thought it was so dang cute! She seems to really like fall and all the "Boo's" hanging up and the scarecrows and her absolute favorite...the punknigs! Brian keeps correcting her to say pumpkin and I know it is the right thing to do but I just love hearing her say it. TeeHee.

It's the little things...

2009-10-02T20:50:00.003-04:00

I am going to TRY to blog more about the silly little things that happen from day to day that are fleeting and will mean little to anyone but us....but will mean a lot to us! As Jacob approaches 11 months I am filled with a variety of emotions from YAY to tears and wish I had taken the time to document more...remember more...savor more....live more. Some days it is hard to do much more than get through it but that isn't the right approach....I need to enjoy the days for the CHAOS that they are and relish each cuddle and question and whine. It shocking to me that Stella will be THREE soon, Jacob will be ONE (didn't we just have him) and I will be 40 this year! Having my baby making days behind me brings both relief and a sadness. I can't wait to get rid of all the damn bottles but I can't tell you how it feels to hold the newborn! Plus we have the greatest two kids EVER (sorry to everyone else) and can't help but wonder who else we would come up with. I feel deeply that more babies are a risk and not in the best interest of our family....but there are moments I wish little Ezra or Sadie could come and join us.
ANYWAY....getting back to the silly little things....
Today Stella and I were pushing Jacob in his stroller. We both had something in our hands...coffee in my left, pumpkin bread in her right....so we each took a side of his stroller and made our way to music class.......along the way she looked at me and said .......we work together!
OMG, I friggin love this kid and can't tell her that enough.
Another HUGE moment of PRIDE for me is that Stella LOVES West Side Story! Brian gave me the new b'way soundtrack for my b'day and Stella loved every bit of it...from the overture to the sappy songs! I finally got the idea to play the DVD for her. A dvd that Brian had bought me years ago and we watched just before our move to NJ. Well....holy crow....she LOVES it! When I got her up from her nap the Jets were in her bed! I loved it when she couldn't take her eyes off The Sound of Music but this is over the top and all she watched all day! I won't deny it....I got a little choked up at one point.
Oh that reminds me....I told Stella the other night that I loved her and she replied 'I love you too'....I totally welled up with tears and she asked me if I was sad and I said NO! Sometimes I am happy when I cry and she almost made me cry! Well, now every time I tell her I love her she replies 'I love you too' and after a pause she says....'.you almost cry?'
Anyway...I know some of this will be a tad boring to you who read this blog but I really want to try and be better about documenting some of these little things.

Great Weekend!

2009-09-21T21:39:00.008-04:00

My parents came to visit us this past weekend for my mom's birthday-Happy Birthday! We decided to go to Point Pleasant Beach on Saturday. We have always had great times at the beach in Septemeber and this was no different! Perfect weather, no crowds and beautiful light in the afternoon!
This was Jacob's first visit to the beach ever and Stella's first and only of the season. We aren't really beach people. I worked a lot of summer weekends and we had so much rain that there wasn't a lot of opportunity. Hopefully next summer will be different because Stella LOVED the sand and the water. Jacob seemed to like the sand until he put a handful in his mouth.
There are a gazillion pics and created a slideshow so folks who want to can see them all but here are a few that I liked.

Grammie and Jacob

Jacob with his Grandpa Kitchen!

A rare shot of the four of us.

One of my all time favorite shots of Brian! TeeHee!

I bet he never thought he would be doing anything like this 6 years ago!

Grammie, Grandpa and Stella on the carousel.

She LOVED riding the rides and would get so excited when she saw us! So stinking cute.

I am pretty sure I can speak for all of us that it was a really wonderful day filled with sweet moments and we created memories we will hold in our hearts forever. Ok, that might be a bit much but it was a pretty good day!

I actually got some really beautiful shots of Stella and Brian and thought this was pretty cool...be sure to click on it to see it bigger.

Stella in Daddy's arms at 16 days and then again at 2years 8 months.

Stella and Brian in Ocean City, MD September 2008 and Point Pleasant September 2009

A Special Day!

2009-09-16T20:44:00.007-04:00

Stella started preschool yesterday and she did GREAT! She was so excited and even let me braid her hair a few times to get it right. Jacob had gotten up at 5:30am so was back down napping while I got her ready and we took some pics with Brian before he left for work. When I told her it was time to go get Jake she ran up the stairs and bounced into his room saying "Get up little man, it's a special day!"

Although she wouldn't put it on it was so cute!

The kids were asked to bring a teddy bear with them the first day of class. Here is Stella making sure Brannen was in her bag. Brian bought her that bear while I was pregnant with her. So sweet!

Looking so grown up! I know I have been saying that a lot lately. sniff sniff.

I asked her to stand by the sign and she kept saying....No mommy, school is this way!

She went right in and got to playing with the other kids.

Never even looked back at me! I knew she would be fine but geesh!
After I left Jacob and I got in the car and he stared at me while I cried.

She was sooo excited when I came to pick her up and couldn't stop smiling!

This is one of the cutest sights ever....plus she was thrilled to wear that backpack!

All in all she did amazing and she was even really nice to Jacob the rest of the day so that was a treat. She also shocked Brian and I later when she drew an almost perfect S in chalk in front of the house. She had never done that before! We are quite sure it wasn't anything that happened at school but still pretty cool. It was a wonderful feeling to see Stella so confident and excited and I hope tomorrow goes just as well!

Today is Brian's mom's birthday and I love knowing that she is smiling down on her little namesake Stella Barbara and keeping an eye on her!

Birthday boy!

2009-09-14T20:30:00.007-04:00

Yesterday was Brian's birthday! We had planned to head to the shore for the day but he got a special gift on Friday when a cat scan revealed a kidney stone! The Dr suggested he stay in town so we spent the day hanging out as a family and telling daddy happy birthday as often as possible. The stone hasn't passed yet and more xrays are in the future to determine the next step. Hopefully he enjoyed his low key b'day and might get a few sick days to put those new Wii games to use!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Stella being 'sad' that the slide was too hot to slide down. She looks so grown up!
She is in this phase of telling us when she is sad or happy! Either one is usually painfully cute and it is so cool to see her understanding her emotions and being able to articulate them just a little better. We are like a broken record telling her to use her words and not tears and it just might be working!

She used to squeal and go bonkers laughing when she was Jacob's age now after about 3 pushes she is "all done".

Thankfully Jacob is all squeals and giggles.

I included this rare exchange where Stella was pushing Jacob in the swing and they were both loving it! She has her moments with him that are a sign of improvement!

She was being extra fun as a gift to Daddy for his birthday!

Little Tree Preschool!

This should really be another post but it is a miracle I am on here now so we are double billing!

Last Friday Stella met her teachers at preschool. Brian and I had attended our first of what will be MANY Back to School Nights! We are so excited we found this program and hope it is the perfect fit for Stella that we think it will be. She really seemed to enjoy meeting the teachers and other 8 kids in her class and when we got in the car she was all smiles saying "I made new friends".

Showing me her first assignment-bring in a teddy bear!

Her first class is tomorrow and I know she won't even look back as she throws me a wave goodbye but I am sure I will be bawling like a baby! TeeHee.

I don't have too many cute shot of Stella and I together but I got this with my cell phone and I thought it was kinda cute!

Grounds for Sculpture

2009-09-06T14:02:00.007-04:00

Yesterday we went to the Grounds for Sculpture which is in Hamilton NJ. Essentially the town next to ours. It is a fabulous place that we enjoy each time we visit. We dragged Jon with us-have I mentioned he recently moved to Robbinsville? So fun to have him along and it was a beautiful day. This place is really neat and should be seen if ever find yourself in the area!

Stella and Jonny!

Stella and Daddy checking out the art!

Anyone who visits here must take this picture-teehee.

A number of the exhibits recreate various expressionist paintings

Jacob-as usual-was just wishing her could get out of the dang stroller!

Taking a rest

Look how grown up my bird is!

Click on this to see it large-Stella is in the foreground trying to pick a piece of fruit. She was so confused!

One of my all time favorite shots of Stella. She is such a pretty girl!

Jacob looking a little orange for some reason

playing in the fountian/art with Jonny

What is better than big sticks and stuff that makes a loung noise when you bang on it?

Superman rides are actually better....

And piggy back rides are even better than that!

Labor Day Weekend

2009-09-06T09:26:00.005-04:00

This weekend got off to a great start on Friday when Stella, Jacob and I met up with Lauren, Danny and Ryan for a 'stroll' around Princeton. Strolls have a whole new meaning now that Jacob is 22+lbs and Stella is about 31lbs. Add that to the 50lb stroller and I get a nice little work out! Thankfully Lauren and I go back far enough now that I could be all sweaty and worn out and she didn't hold it against me. Thanks Lauren! It was a beautiful day and it had been too long since we saw them so it was was good to catch up. Stella and Ryan couldn't be cuter together and here are a few pics to prove it! I can't believe I didn't get a single shot of adorable Danny. He is doing so great and I can't believe he is already 7 weeks old!! Then again I can't believe Jacob is 10 months. The time goes too fast. Just look how grown up Stella is!

Ryan tries to give his girl a kiss bye bye!

I may have crossed a line this time....

2009-08-26T15:58:00.004-04:00

So I took Jacob to have his 9month pics taken. I had this cute outfit for him to wear and though he wasn't as smiley as usual he pulled it together and we got this cutie. I then decided I wanted to put him in this rather silly one piece outfit that I like more than I should...it looks like a little tux.....so odd but I just get a kick out of him in it. So I thought it would be goofy but cute and in 20 years I would be glad I have it. After I put him down the girl taking the pics says to me-oh I have the perfect thing for this.......as she pulled out the top hat I cringed and then the roses and I was pretty much unable to move....it was so bad and so cheesy I couldn't stop her and I am glad I didn't.

Please click on this to see it big.

I love you Jacob, please forgive me for this. TeeHee. It has been an amazing 9 months and your smile makes us swoon even at 5:30am! You really make our little family complete and we love you so much....Stella just doesn't know how to show it.

Where to begin....

2009-08-22T07:21:00.008-04:00

Even though we should be posting about our trip to Buffalo I haven't had a chance to look at the pics so that will have to wait a little longer. I figured if I waited to do the posts in order, like so many things, it might never happen. Case and point-I opened Jacob's baby book last week and haven't filled in a thing since he was 4 months old. Sigh.

So here is a little bit about what we have been up to....

Both kids were sick the day before we left for Buffalo and pretty much stayed that way the entire time we were there....some days less running and coughing but it was hanging on till the following Saturday when we came home. We decided to spend Sunday trying to secure good naps and making panini's with the cool panini maker Brian got me for my birthday. So much for low carb diets with this thing around! LOVE it and we had some form of Panini EVERY single night this week. I know, that is weird.

Thankfully, Jacob was due for his 9 month well visit on Monday so I ambushed them and brought Stella along. So glad I did as she has not one but 2 ear infections. Her very first ones! The Dr. asked me if she was allergic to any antibiotic and when I told him she had never had any he was shocked! She has been a very healthy kiddo and we hope that continues despite this blip. I asked him if this would help with the tantrums and he got a kick out of that. ;-)

As for Jacob, he is doing AMAZING! He weighs 21lbs 14 oz and grew a whopping 2 1/2 inches! He is in the 99th% for his height and Brian has high hopes that court side seats at Madison Square Garden will be in his future. He is in the 75th% for his weight so slimming down a bit. Must be with all the crawling into the fridge and such.

Now on to a couple cute things....

It has been very very hot here this week...each morning I open the front door and then open the minivan doors (remote doors are the BEST) to get some air in the car before I but the kids in. On Monday Stella ran over and closed the door saying....too bright momma! I laughed and explained our goal was to leave the house and she looked up and said....I need a hat and sunglasses! I couldn't stop giggling. She has fought me like crazy with hats this summer but every morning this week she needed one to leave the house. Sorry I don't have a pic but I will try for one today. Seeing her saunter to the car in this wide brim hat is so stinking cute.

Although Stella has made some mini breakthroughs with Jacob we continue to struggle in this area. Sigh. I certainly doesn't help that he crawls everywhere she is and pulls on her and everything around her constantly. He is not doing anything wrong but that sure isn't how she sees it. Our days are filled with screeching that he's coming, he's coming or No Jakey looking at me (thought this one didn't happen for years) or just NOOOOOoooooooo! What is very funny is when she will use one of the nicknames we have for Jacob....little man, buddy, budz.

I was getting her dressed yesterday and he crawled into her room....Noooo, he's coming! No, Budz, Buuuuddddzzzz! He proceeds to crawl to her stool and I hear....Little Man......NOOOOO, My Stoooooool!!!!

With this constant possibility of hysteria I have come to really enjoy certain times of the day that may have been overlooked or under appreciated in the past. Lunch has become one of those times. Jacob and Stella are both strapped in their chairs FAR away from each other and we often chat about our morning and she will make Jacob laugh or ignore him altogether...either one is rather nice. This week we started playing a new game-eye spy. There is really nothing cuter than hearing Stella try to say...I spy with my little eye....and then she looks all around the room. I will try to get that on video to bore you with ASAP! Here are a couple cute pics that I got of them during lunch one day this week. We have some more fun stuff to post about so hopefully this weekend we can get caught up. Be sure to click on the pics if you want to see them big.

I love how she is grabbing for the berries without looking.

OH and you can see that Jacob has 5 and a half teeth! 4 bottom and 1.5 up top. I love his wifebeater onsie somewhat toothy grin....he is like a little hockey player!

Quick one

2009-08-18T13:53:00.002-04:00

We're long overdue to update this, and we have a lot to add about our recent trip up to Buffalo, but for now here's just a quick photo of Jacob being Jacob. Yes, my 9 month old climbed into the refridgerator. And no, we had nothing to do with this--it was all his idea and he did it all by himself. To say he is more active than Stella at this age is the understatement of the century. Last night he tried to climb into the dishwasher. He can already climb stairs, something Stella couldn't do until her first birthday. I expect he'll be walking in the next month or two, at the most.

Anyway, of all the pictures of our kids that Jen has taken this one may be my favorite. I love the look on his face...

Jacob crawls!

2009-08-02T06:44:00.002-04:00

Jacob is officially crawling! He's been going for a week or two now but I'm just getting around to uploading this video. He officially started crawling at at little past 8 months old...

Back to the Big City

2009-07-26T21:26:00.006-04:00

I have to confess it makes me smile that Stella loves to go to the "Big City". I can remember wanting to move to NY when I was about 10 and the first time I ever went there I just knew it was home. I wouldn't even think of moving back there but I miss it a lot sometimes for all sorts
of odd reasons. Anyway, I digress. Yesterday we made our way back to the city for our nephew Declan's baptism at St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was a very nice service followed by a lovely lunch. Declan really couldn't be cuter and I was bummed I didn't get more pics of him. Stella held out till the bitter end to lose her mind so that was great and Jacob did lots of smiling and wiggling.
It was great to see Brian's family again and no offense to any other Uncles but Stella has declared Uncle Jim as her favorite. Here are a few cute pics from the special day.

Mike, Rosana and 'Baby Declan" as Stella says.

Uncle Jim and Jacob!

Stella with her favorite Uncle!

Ouch!

2009-07-19T19:53:00.005-04:00

We belong to St. Paul Lutheran church of East Windsor and the pastor recently asked that we all go and have our picture taken for the new church directory. They came in the mail the other day. Brian and I got a big giggle out of how silly we looked. It is impressive how they can just really make you look like a total tool in these shots. I adore the one of the kids though. Stella acted like being that close to Jacob might kill her. TeeHee.

Waterfalls, Fountains and Dragonflies

2009-07-17T20:46:00.006-04:00

Last week Stella, Jacob and I went over to Sayen Gardens. This beautiful park is not five minutes from our house and is just a nice place to 'run fast' as Stella loves to say and do. I told her we were going to look for waterfalls....which is pretty much any sort of flowing water from lawn sprinklers, and drains to dripping of any kind. We strolled and ran and I tried to explain the difference between fountains and waterfalls and then decided it really didn't matter. We had a really nice time and as usual I took lots of pics.
Click on the photo if you want to see it big!

My pretty girl.

TeeHee...Jacob is so happy!

I love this shot with just his hair sticking up!

Stella showing me a rock that she must have and yes, she still does.

Jacob giving me his get me outta this thing look.

This was a close as Stella would get to Jacob. Sigh.

She loves him though.

In this one she is actually telling me 'all done' and she ran away...fast.

I got her to come back but this was all she would give me.

Sweet Boy

Jacob being Jacob

Stella looking for the dragonfly

Here it is!

I can never choose between color and bw so you get both.

New Jersey Animal Kingdom!

2009-07-15T20:51:00.006-04:00

This past weekend, we paid a visit to one of our favorite weird New Jersey spots, the New Jersey Animal Kingdom. Actually, I think it's just one of my favorites but everyone else humors me and comes along. How and why this place is essentially allowed to have a full zoo alongside a major highway in the middle of New Jersey is beyond me. They also sell puppies & kittens, but they were the sickliest looking animals I've ever seen. Last year we went with Stella and she didn't seem all that interested in seeing giraffes, baboons, llamas, lemurs and the like. She was a bit more into it this time but mostly just liked chasing birds around.

Here are some photos from our day...(I realized I don't have any pictures of Jacob here...oops...uh...he was there too!).

8 Months old!

2009-07-06T21:11:00.006-04:00

Jacob is 8 Months old today. We are LOVING this age!

He is so fun! Loves to giggle and smile and chew!

He gets so excited about everything and flaps his hands just like Stella did!

He makes the best faces and even better sounds...from sighs and growls to squeals and laughter!

He loves to show off his TWO new teeth! (click on pic to see big)

He is in that amazing stage where he can sit up but isn't crawling yet!

This past week he has started moving a bit more on his belly and he is determined so we fear crawling is coming soon. Watch out Stella!!! Jacob also loves to stand up and will reach out and grab your hands and pull himself up and then he just smiles and is so proud of himself. He goes to bed by 7 and sleeps through till almost 6! We miss the 7am of a few months ago but really can't complain and he is so sweet in the morning. He loves to watch Stella play and run around and well he always has his eye on her. Sadly she still isn't a big fan of Jacob's but we hope time will help that. Hang in there Jacob, you will win her over for sure!

Anyway, happy birthday Jacob! We love you so much!!!

I just found this pic of Stella at 8 months making almost the same face as Jacob so I thought I would put it in. The time goes too fast! He will be a big boy soon!

Big City!

2009-06-28T20:45:00.005-04:00

Yesterday we went to the 'big city' as Stella likes to call it. Brian's sister Denise had gotten married in April and was having a party to celebrate. Stella was so excited she couldn't possibly nap which had Brian and I in a virtual panic since we know how that can go. With the exception of one nice long scream that rang out as I carried her outside for air and a change of scene, she did pretty well. Especially when you figure she hadn't napped and she is.....ummm...2! Thankfully Denise had some fantastic cupcakes that helped keep her quiet and happy. It was really nice to see all of Brian's family. Even Mike and Rosana made it from Miami with little Declan..who is just so sweet! Too bad we didn't get to chat more and take more pics but here is what we got!

All the grandkids.......Conner, Declan, Tyler, Jacob and Stella....and Brian too. A rather handsome lot!!!! Hard to believe Declan and Jacob just got here and Conner is off to college!

The whole McGann Family-click on pic to see large.

The bride and groom Denise and Dave! Congrats to you!

Apparently the guy taking the pics thought Jim and I looked pretty good together! TeeHee!

When Brian saw this shot he asked if Jim would be coming to do the 5am feedings!

Stella was a little mellow at first on the way home....I love how she looks at Jacob even though she pretends not to like him.

Brian was loving the tunnel traffic!

Stella was singing and making Jacob laugh so hard it was adorable!

You can sorta see Jacob here. Good job McGann Kiddo's!!!
All the best to Denise and Dave and congrats to Conner too!

Father's Day!

2009-06-21T20:37:00.007-04:00

Today is a day to celebrate Father's! I happen to have a husband who is the Father of 2 amazing children and he should be celebrated to the fullest extent...

You can't really tell but both kids are wearing shirts that say Daddy Rocks the house!

Stella...being two and all....wasn't feeling the whole photo moment!

So We focused on Jacob! AND We Went to Red Robin for dinner...yummy!

I love this shot of Brian lookin at Stella...it totally captures the joy and love he has for his little girl! Jacob, below, is essentially just licking his new tooth. TeeHee!

And smiling.....

and grunting.....

and squealing and clapping.....

When we got home we checked out Stella's new little house....a great deal at $0 since a friend of a friend of is moving and didn't want to drag said house with them....YAY for us!!

How Stella got Daddy in there is beyond me! She loves the doorbell!

It is hard for me to believe this is Brian's THIRD Father's day! How could time go so slow and fast all at the same time!? Actually it is his 4th because I made a celebration out of it when I was pregnant!

I made Brian pankakes while I was preg with Stella!

He liked them very much and that was the last day our house was clean!

Love you Brian!

Big Girl Bed!

2009-06-15T21:19:00.003-04:00

Stella loves her big girl bed!!!!

She can climb down 'byself" as she likes to say!!!

Jacob's milestones!

2009-06-11T21:55:00.005-04:00

Last Saturday Jacob turned 7 months old. I had planned to write him a letter of sorts but like so many things concerning Jacob, time didn't allow it. I thought having a second child I would be able to enjoy each phase and moment in a way I couldn't as a first time mom with Stella. The first time around you are just so nervous about every little thing!!! The fact is I have missed far more of Jacob's moments just trying to manage these two scamps! But Jacob is amazingly sweet and quick to smile loves any bit of love and attention he gets from us. He has had a few milestones in the past week or so and I managed to get these great shots of him to show off his most impressive new trick...sitting up! I LOVE LOVE LOVE being able to plop him down on the floor and see him sitting up with his hair sitting up even higher than he does. He loves it too and looks all around and loves smacking the floor and another trick....clapping!!! And of course...banging things together! So neat to see him progressing and bittersweet too as I see him leaving other stages behind never to be seen again. Yesterday he started a funny growl type thing that we can't quite figure out.

The last couple of weeks have been rather challenging to down right brutal at times as our good sleeper decided not to be a good sleeper any more. Many nights we were (actually Brian was) up feeding, comforting and the like as he was sick with a viral infection. To add to the fun Stella was sick too and I have had a lot of photo jobs and work...although good it is also stressful. One night Stella had us up till 2am and Jacob started fussing around 4am! Thankfully, he seems to be a bit more on track going to bed around 7 and up at the painful hour of 5-5:30am. We plead with him for another 45 mins and he claps and grins. We can't help but smile and I think can speak for Brian when I say these early morning moments have yielded some very special times with our little guy that he doesn't get during the distracting hours of Stella to Stella.

I noticed that he was doing a funny pucker with his mouth and wondered if that meant teething. The drool and the need to chew on anything from my shirt to his own toes gave it away. It started about 2 weeks ago sure enough....Jacob cut his first tooth today. I love his gummy smile and will be sad to see it go but am hopeful that this cutting will give us all that extra 45 mins we so badly need.

So here are some pics of Jacob that I adore and think totally capture his personality!

Can't decide which one I love more....above or below...

ahhhhh....getting a tad tired....he is actually looking at Stella...who he ADORES but she still doesn't care so much for him. sigh.

In other exciting news....I got Stella this adorable Kitchenette on Craigslist for super cheap and she loves it! We are also excited that she will be getting her big girl bed this weekend!!!! Not sure when the actual move will occur but at least it is a start!

I shoot another wedding this sunday and then a couple more weeks of jobs and hopefully a bit of time off to relax! So happy to be getting so much work but looking forward to a little break!

Trip to the Big Apple

2009-05-31T21:27:00.002-04:00

We took our first trip to NYC today with Jake. Jen had to go in for a photo job so we figured we'd bring the kids in as well. All in all, things went really well, despite the kids both being a bit sick-ish. Jake was not doing well at all the night before, with a fever of 102.5. I was getting him ready for bed and could not believe how hot he was! It was a rough night, and he was up 3 or 4 times, and up for the day at 6 AM. But he seemed much cooler and in better spirits overall, and Stella was doing well so we decided to join mom on the trip in.

We told Stella we were going to the Big Apple, which apparently had quite an impact on her. As we made it through the Lincoln Tunnel, we told Stella we were now in New York City, and she asked "Where's the apple?". After dropping mom off, me, Stella and Jake strolled over to Union Square and played in a really pathetic playground for a little bit. Stella loved it though and it took a while to get her to agree to go look at the dogs in the dog run. I wasn't sure where to go from there so I decided to show Stella the apartment building I lived in when I first moved to NY in 1991. She was unimpressed and didn't seem to grasp the concept that the world existed before she was born.

As we were headed back to meet up with Jen, we passed an Apple Bank on 14th Street. They had posters in the windows with large apples on them. Stella saw one and said "The Big Apple!". Just when I think this kid can't get cuter!

Anyway, it was a fun trip and although the weekend was challenging at times, it seems the kids are feeling better so that is good.

Gerber Park

2009-05-18T16:25:00.007-04:00

Last week my friend Patti got a new swingset for her son and promptly went on vacation. So being the good friends that we are we offered to go and check on it a couple times while they were away. It is really amazing! Combined with their trampoline and various little tikes structures and cars in the beautiful setting of their enormous backyard we couldn't help but rename it Gerber Park!

If you look closely you can see Jacob in the back in his car seat.

Jon and Brian squeeze into the little house. There was enough room for Stella too but she wouldn't go in. TeeHee.

Serious Jacob!

You would never know this adorable little guy pooped so bad earlier in the week that I actually threw the clothes he had on in the garbage. It was by far the most horrific diaper I have ever had to change for either child and of course.....we were in public! sigh!

My pretty girl...all worn out and rosey cheeked after jumping on the trampoline.
This week she started asking me "what are you up to Mommy?" but she combined it with her previous favorite..."What are you doing Mommy?" So we ended up with "What are you doing up to Mommy?" so cute!

Picture thursday....

2009-05-14T22:07:00.003-04:00

Well, I didn't take these but they are pictures and it is Thursday! We took Jacob for his 6 month pictures this week. Yes, it is INSANE that I take my children to those horrible studios to have their pictures taken when other people are paying me to capture the same milestones for their children. But I can't help it.

Jacob makes the best face when he first starts crying...she almost got it but the lip isn't curled down enough. I will have to work on that.

Hopefully next Thursday I will have something a little more original but he is stinking cute, no?

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T20:27:00.008-04:00

So today was my wife's third mother's day, and I think probably the most important and significant for us. Having Jacob in our lives has been wonderful but also quite challenging for Jen, and I've really come to appreciate all that she does as a mom now more than ever. I remember before we had kids, joking with Jen that she was going to have it made once we did start having kids because she would get to stay home and be a mom and it was going to be like being on summer vacation everyday. I honestly think that we both thought that was what it was going to be like. But we now know that is so far from the truth. I feel pretty confident in saying it is the hardest job in the world and I know I couldn't do it. I remember Jen asking me once, before Jacob came along, if I thought I could do what she does. And I remember saying that yes, I did think I'd be able to. Well, I can now say without a shadow of a doubt that no, there's no way I could do it. Jen has the patience and understanding and giving nature that I and almost everyone else I know lacks.

I am very proud of our kids, well, mostly Stella because Jake is a bit too young to do anything significant yet. Stella is a wonderful little girl. She always stops before she steps into the street and puts up her hand and waits for one of us to take it. She says thank you and please (most of the time anyway). She sings songs. She loves to pick out her own clothes. She loves to giggle and laugh and she has recently discovered the joy of making others laugh. She has quite a vivid imagination (we'll save the story about her new imaginary friend, "Toe", for another day). All of that is because of Jen. Since I'm at work most of the day I only get to spend 2 hours/day with her at most, so Jen is the one who gets the credit for helping our amazing little girl grow up as wonderful as she has. She is destined for great things, and when she gets there, I hope she'll realize that her mom is the one who helped her become the person she is.

We had a nice Mother's Day weekend, although it was a bit challenging at times as Jacob has entered the grunting/growling phase (is this a boy thing? I don't remember this with Stella). Anyway, here are some pictures from today. Happy Mother's Day honey, we love you and we're so lucky to have you! Thank you for everything that you do!!!

Excuse the drool on this one, dude can be a bit messy!

A break from the rain

2009-05-07T22:27:00.004-04:00

It has been raining for DAYS and DAYS and DAYS here. It stopped just long enough this evening to sneak out for a bit. We actually went to the post office to send a mother's day box to my mom. Hopefully it will get there on time as we don't have the best luck with that. This time should be interesting because the post office ws closed and I used the machine and got the box stuck in the drop box. sigh. Sorry mom. One of these days I will get it together. Then we decided to go for ice cream! YAY! We don't really pop out in the evenings too much but it was a nice break from our routine and it felt good to be outside for the first time in days! I snapped a few pics for picture thursday!

All smiles for Ice Cream and no rain!

Daddy approves!

Stella and Mommy....BTW don't bother with the low fat ice cream at Maggie Moo's. ick.

So Maggie the Moo comes out and Stella gets a bit freaked and just pretends she isn't there at all! Other kids were running up to her but Stella held strong staring in the other direction!

Jacob smiling away as he does. He rubs his face when he gets sleepy and even though I trim his nails he is all scratched up! Poor little guy.

Jacob is almost busting outta that car seat!

Still all smiles. What a sweet girl!

Another late picture Thursday

2009-05-01T22:19:00.008-04:00

This week Stella started potty training! WOW! I actually think she is doing pretty good and was grateful for the nice temps Monday and Tuesday so I could keep her in a sundress and thus get to the potty pretty quick! She is stinking cute in her big girl underwear and loves to sing Go Potty Go! We had some accidents and I was happy for hardwood floors but overall I think we are on our way. YAY! I am really enjoying this age with Stella and we have a lot of fun just chatting and having tea parties and I can't give her enough hugs in a day. One cute thing she likes to do now is have Jacob come sit in her crib for a bit in the morning and she shows him all her crib friends and he smiles so big. I should try to get a few pics of that.

Anyway, I actually took these on Tuesday not on Thursday but they are so sweet I didn't think anyone would mind me breaking my own rules.

He looks like an angry irishman here

I love this shot because he was actually looking at me. I had the camera on my lap.

My bird.

What a sweet moment.

Jacob's Baptism weekend!

2009-04-29T07:56:00.014-04:00

Jacob was baptized this Sunday and we had a great weekend for such a special event.

Friday my parents arrived from Buffalo and Brian and I went out for our anniversery. What a treat that was! My parents claimed the kids were good for them and after seeing the pics it does seem they were indeed.

Stella and Grammie on the swings

Grandpa 'spotting' Stella on the ladder

Saturday morning we went swimming at the hotel Jon and Kat were staying at and it was Jacob's first swim!

That evening we celebrated my father's birthday. I haven't had the chance to share a b'day with him in a long long while so that was nice for me. Hopefully he enjoyed having the littles to celebrate with him as well.

My dad, the birthday boy, with his grandkiddies. I like how he is imitating Jacob's face. He described that look as the look you have just before you call 911. TeeHee!

Brian's dad and his wife Nancy.

Jacob's godparents Jon and Kat

They gave us a very special gift for Jacob...a song they had written him put to animation and then in a book. What an amazing thing and we were overwhelmed by how thoughtful and sweet it was. Jacob is very blessed to have them as his Godparents and we are blessed to have them as friends. This is the link to the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQVe6pIwMhE

Kat lives in NC right now so I was glad she got extra cuddles from Jake.

Stella helping Grandpa blow out his b'day candles

Stella with Uncle Jonny....she LOVES him!!!! Like her first crush sorta thing.

Sunday was a beautiful although WARM day and Jake was a tad fussy but did great overall.

Jake and Uncle Jim!

Brian and his brother Jim

I love how Jake is looking right at Pastor Egan in this shot.

Jacob and Pastor Egan

There are a bazillion more pics but I think that will have to do!

We will look back fondly on a great weekend with family and friends. Thanks to everyone who came and helped make it a special time.

Late picture thursday

2009-04-26T19:25:00.005-04:00

This past Thursday was our 4th Wedding anniversary! We celebrated by watching our wedding video and then on Friday we went to Ruth's Chris for the best dinner ever! We take a pic on our anniversery every year and I thought I would show all 4 so far!

ummmm, Easter pics. Only a week late. Sorry!

2009-04-19T21:47:00.007-04:00

We had a really nice Easter weekend. It Started on Saturday evening with coloring Easter eggs. Which was really fun even though Stella just wanted to put her fingers in the dye. Cliche as it sounds having children really makes you appreciate holidays and all the little things that will become your family traditions. We are hoping to have the energy for even more tradition development when things are a little less chaotic. It was amazing to think that last year at this time Stella wasn't walking.
ANYWAY, here are a couple shots Brian got of the egg coloring.

Easter morning was a bit chilly in the backyard but I put Stella's coat on over her pj's and she was sooo confused! Putting a bucket in her hand and plopping her in the back yard didn't really clear things up but she had a blast once she figured out there were eggs for her to find. Especially the ones that looked like Elmo. Our neighbor commented to me this week that she heard the giggling and had to peek out the window at how cute she was. It was really fun to see her so excited.

So...we got the kids all dolled up and Jacob looked beyond silly cute in his too big suit and I had Talking Heads songs in my head all day looking at him. I couldn't help putting him in this get up and even Brian had to admit it was too funny not to love. Stella and Jake looked stinking cute together. Speaking of stinking we had to leave church early after Stella was asked/begged to vacate the nursery. Reason number 456,000 to start potty training!

Dinner was yummy though I can't seem to get it all cooked at the same time and all on the table with sippys and bottles and rice and PB&J so we had a real basic version. As the years go by we will try to get a little better at some of this stuff. It did make me wish more of our holidays we spent near or with family so hopefully that will change too as the kids get older and naps and feedings and diapers and tantrums aren't ruling the days.

That being said we are very excited for Jacob's baptism next week and Stella is happy that all her Grandparents are coming to town to see her. They may feel differently after experiencing the above paragraph first hand but it should be a memorable time for sure!