Cousins

We all went up to see Jinnie, Marc and Bloom this week-end for lunch. Bloom got to hold her cousin Hadley. You may remember the video of Bloom counting for her in utero. So cute. They are three years four months apart. It's still crazy for me to think that I am an Aunt, and Hadley has a cousin. It is wonderful to have family so close.

Hadley Loves Her Grandpa

The previous evening, before bath time, I brought naked baby downstairs to parade her in front of her grandparents. When my Dad asked to hold her, I warned him that in her naked state she could possibly pee. Sure enough, as my Dad was playing with her and holding her over his head, she started to let him have it. Luckily, he didn't take it to the face, having learned from me when I was 4 months old above his head and peed on him. However, he promptly pushed her towards me, holding her over the rug. Being the practical mom, I covered her tush with my hand which started the sprinkler effect and pushed her back over my father. I mean seriously, I didn't want to get it on the rug or couch. Grandpas are good for that.

I Love Me Some Nana and Grandpa

A week ago, when a friend came over, Hadley got the giggles and laughed her head off for several minutes. It's like her funny bone took over and shook her whole body in fits of belly giggles. It is probably the cutest thing I have EVER seen.

For the whole week following, I did everything except stand on my head and sing showtunes to get her to laugh like that again. I blew raspberries on her belly, tickled her feet, danced around singing songs about butts. Nothing. I was her own personal cartoon character. Nothing. A caricature of myself. Nothing. "Am I not as funny as I think I am?" I asked myself? How could this beeee?

Then her grandparents came to town, and one day while her Nana was holding her, David said the word Bazooka to her, which got the giggle factory going. I then followed it up with every B word I could possible think of. Each word, worked her up more and more into an hysterical giggle fit. Bumble Bee, brassiere, Booby, Brown Bunny, Barbara, Bling, Banana...I tried to fit in a few P and D words too, but they did not elicit the same response. I'm hoping to get this on video some day because when you watch it, you won't be able to say you've had a bad day.

Nana and Poppa at last!

My dad was afraid that Hadley would lose that new baby smell before they arrived. But really sour milk and Dreft doesn't wash away easily.

The Tryptich Masterpiece

I thought that a craft project would be fun when Mom and Aunt Betty were out visiting. I got the idea for this tryptich when I was looking at Baby Art on Ebay. I saw some some lovely wall hangings that were hand painted with a child's initials and hung from the wall with ribbons. I went out and got some canvas and acrylic paint and proceeded to sketch out the 3 panels that I wanted. I decided that I didn't want to paint the baby's room and instead chose to give it color with accessories, including a green lamp shade, green curtains, pink and green bedding and pink and green wall art.

As shown here, sometimes you need to open your mouth to really concentrate on creating a masterpiece.
Templates are also a good use of making the process faster.

And voila, the final pieces. Ok, maybe it will never see the walls of the Louvre, but I am tickled pink with how it turned out.

The Baby Shower

The Baby Shower could not have been more perfect. Cynthia, Lora, and Holly did an amazing job of organizing a brunch at a local French Restaurant, Le Central. It was like going to breakfast with all of your favorite girlfriends.

We had our own private room where mimosas, coffee and juice were served as people arrived. After sitting down, they brought large plates of fruit to the table along with plates of warm brie, baked garlic, and toasted bread. The special brunch menu consisted of four entrees. Let me induce the mouth watering by listing them here:

Pain Perdu - French toast made with cinnamon-battered brioche served with pure maple syrup and fresh fruit

Crepes de Poulet - Shredded chicken with carrots, sauteed spinach, and onions, finished with a light curry cream sauce, wrapped in house-made crepes, gratineed with swiss cheese

Omelette aux Champignons - Three-egg omelette filled with portobello and button mushrooms, garlic and swiss cheese

Oeufs Sardou - Two poached eggs served on a mound of sauteed artichoke hearts, spinach, topped with Bearnaise sauce and served over toasted brioche


And if that is not enough to tempt your taste buds, for dessert the Gateau au Chocolat was a rich decadent chocolate cake topped with dark chocolate ganache served over raspberry coulis. As seen above, it was decorated with green and pink and topped with gold dust.

During brunch, there were several games that we played. Each person wore a diaper pin, and no one was allowed to say the word Baby. If you said the word Baby, the person that caught you got to take your pin. In the end, the game tied at 5 to 5 as my mother lost her stash of pins to Erin. In another game, the ladies had to cut out a ribbon that they thought would fit perfectly around my middle. I modeled the middle for all to see, including my belly button which looks like a cat butt, but as always, objects may appear bigger than what is seen. All of the ribbons could have been tied around my waist 2 or 3 times. Erin was the closest with a mere 3 inches extra.



After the gourmandizing, I opened gifts. I have to say that I have the most generous girlfriends and family a girl could dream of. The little outfits made me a bit verclempt and I'm going to be the hottest mama on the block with my new fancy diaper bag. But that alone deserves it's own post.

Mumsie in Town

Last Friday, my mom and Aunt came to town to go to my baby shower this week-end. We had a great time all week-end crafting, painting, knitting, cross stitching, having many great conversations, and enjoying each other's company.

I designed a tryptich for Baby Gs room and put everyone to work on painting one of the panels. We also found the perfect green material for curtains that I need to sew up this week as well. Perhaps I've watched to many DIY design shows on TLC. Pictures coming soon.

Next time mom comes to town, she will be a Nana.

A Note to my Brother

Photo circa 1982.

Here is a line from a recent email from my brother. "Take more pictures like those, they were great. You're looking really fat and that's a good thing."

Ok, maybe it's because you've been out of the country for too many years, or maybe it's a cultural difference, but you NEVER, EVER, gawd, EVER tell a pregnant woman that she looks fat. It's like #1 in the world wide book of rules of what NOT to say to a pregnant woman. It's the first RULE written in all CAPS, highlighted, underlined with ten exclamation points!!! Dude, not even to you sister. Bad! BAD brother!!!

Now as penitence, practice these ten times before you go to bed.
"No honey, you don't look fat at all. You have a big baby inside of you."
"You are so pretty, you are glowing."
"From your chest down, I can't even tell you are pregnant"
"It doesn't look like you've gained any weight at all except in your belly."

Love,
Your Sis

Campbell's Bakery

I thought that when I moved out of my parent's house years ago, that I had taken all of my belongings. In addition to my hopeless chest, and hand-me-down furniture, all of my memories were packed up in bins, and moved out to Colorado. However, every time my parents came to visit, they brought more of my things. Then, 2 years ago, when my parents were getting ready to move back to Connecticut, I was instructed to go through the attic one more time to see if there was anything that was mine. I found a closet of 80's clothes (score!) and my grandmother's china, which I had inherited. Again, I took this, thinking that it would be the last of it.

So as my dad was cleaning house this week-end, in addition to pulling out the stuffed animals, he also pulled out a vacuum packed bag of my old t-shirts. Totally random, but again very fun to look at. In particular, I enjoyed my Campbell's Bakery t-shirt from approximately 5th grade farm league baseball. I made a joke that after my pregnancy, I would lose weight and get to wear that t-shirt again. My parents scoffed at the idea. Of course I had to prove them wrong by showing them that the tshirt fit just fine now. It's my new materinity wear.

Good-Bye Old Friends

As you may have read on my dad's blog, over the past 35 years, through 6 moves, my mother had saved my childhood stuffed animals for me. They even made it through the last move, when my dad hired the dumpster that sat outside their home, and was filled and emptied frequently. The baking sheets didn't even make it through that move.

But through whatever threats were made, the stuffed animals were moved again. This week-end, as my dad pulled them out of their vacuum sealed packaging, he begged me to take them off of his hands.

Even though they wouldn't fit in my suit case, I decided that these toys needed to go. Though still fun to look at, they smelled like they were full of toxic mold. My skin itched from them being in the same vicinity as me. I don't even think our dogs would see fit to tear their little heads of. A funeral was definitely in order. We talked briefly about each animal and their original names, Bunny, Monkey, Turtle, Squirrel and Wormy. I'm pretty sure my mother named them all. After all, such the bright, talented, cute, genius of a kid that I was, I could surely have come up with something better than Bunny, like Ethel, Hoppy, or even Peter.

Now whenever I feel the need to be nostalgic, I can watch the funeral video, which will be available for the rest of our lives on this thing called the internet.

Life is Good

I just got back from spending an amazing week with my parents. I was not at all ready to leave. *sniff* In case you missed me while I was gone, you can check out my dad's blog here. He posted a picture and video of me saying good-bye to my childhood stuffed animals.

The Future is Bright

My dad has a saying that goes something to the effect of "Life is really good until it is not."

My mom had a serious heart attack this week and though she is in good spirits and expected to make a full recovery, life has been difficult. I'll be traveling back to the East Coast to spend time with my parents in a few days. Please keep our family in your thoughts.

Bloom is Three!

This week-end our niece turned three years old and we were priviledged to attend her pool party. When the birthday girl arrived at the party, she was toting her purse like any modern woman would, and would announce to anyone that asked that she was THWEEE and hold up her fingers. The morning zoomed by as I chit chatted with all the moms there. Then the cupcakes were eaten. I watched with interest as the energy level in the room exploded. As the frenzy of activity went up, I realized that this was my future. And then I realized that this was ok.

A Girl and Her Daddy

My dad came to visit this week-end to see the baby bump, celebrate his future grand-baby, try out the new guest suite, and install a ceiling fan. We went to a great baseball game (10th row behind 3rd base), had a stupendous brunch while listening to a jazz band, walked around a festival, saw Judge Roughneck play, took a tour of DG's office, and all in all had a great time.

By the way, my dad does NOT want his picture broadcast on the blog so that is not a picture of my dad, it's just some wierd guy I met at game.

Dad's Advice Continued

This was too good to leave in the comments section and it deserves it's own entry.

Age 13: I think I said bumping and grinding. (i.e. Come and let me know so that I can lock YOU up.) This was “THE TALK” at the kitchen table after dinner. I would not let you leave until I was done. To get me off your back you finally told me you wanted to be a virgin when you got married. (How did that work out anyway?)

Age 16: On how to kiss a boy: I think I said don’t suck on anything lower than their lower lip.

Age 19: I think I said Boys only want one thing, EVEN IF they are gay.

Age 24: Happiness is a state of mind. You should not dwell on the negative.
I said exactly that. It was out of selfishness because I did not want you to leave even though you were a pain in the ass.

Age mid-20's: Surround yourself with positive people and you will live a happier life. I did say that and you followed my advice very well.

Age mid-20's: Regarding marriage: When you are ready to spend the rest of your life with someone you will know. The funny part is that I also knew that this was the right time and person for you.

Age 26: Only use your power for good and never evil. Yes I said this and I believe you have only used your power for good. Accept that one time when you tried to beat up your 24 year old brother and he literally wiped the kitchen floor with you.

Age 28: Practice practice practice. To be a rock star you have to practice. I did say this and it is true for anything you want to do.

I have some advice for you now. It may not make since but when you get older and have time for reflection you will understand.

When you go into a crowded public place there are 2 things you want to know. Where is the fire exit and where is the bathroom.

Don’t drink a lot of liquid before a long trip.

Whole grain food makes you gassy.

My Daddy

I was born on the same day as my father, on his 22nd birthday. I got his teeth and need to be right all the time. We are very similar and even though in his recent comment he eluded to the fact that I couldn't stand to be seen with him as a teenager, I have a different story. Though I went through my "don't touch me" phase, I was also very aware growing up that my parents were young, liberal, and very cool. Recently while going through old emails, I found a list I had created of my Dad's witicisms and I could not wait for father's day to post them. In 1999, my mother agreed to speak at a father/daughter luncheon and she asked me for a list of advice that my dad has given me over the years. Unfortunately, the pearls of wisdom I have learned may not be the most pulpit appropriate advice, though I think that they may explain a lot about who I am. I also believe they have spanned the test of time, and are universally great advice for all children young and old.

Age 13: Your hormones will be humping and bumping soon and I want you to know you can always talk to me. (ie. Come and let me know when boys want to touch you so I can cut their hands off.)

Age 16: On how to kiss a boy: Just suck on their lower lip. "Gawd gross dad, stop, I don't want to hear any more."

Age 19: Boys only want one thing, unless they are gay, and then you still have to be careful. (ie. I think you are too young to have good gaydar, or I think you are dating a lot of bisexuals.)

Age 24: Happiness is a state of mind. You should not dwell on the negative. You have to be happy with who you are. (This is when I was moving from Indiana to Colorado because I was unhappy. He thought that moving out of Indiana wouldn't make me happy if I was trying to escape something.) Though the advice was true, it ended up being a great decision for me. Dad: 5, Daughter: 1.

Age mid-20's: Surround yourself with positive people and you will live a happier life. Cut out the negativity in your life.

Age mid-20's: Regarding marriage: When you are ready to spend the rest of your life with someone you will know. You can't force a relationship to happen. If it is not meant to be, it is not meant to be, but that doesn't mean it won't hurt.

Age 26: Only use your power for good and never evil. (When he refered to me as Kickboxing Zena Warrior Wench.)

Age 28: Practice practice practice. To be a rock star you have to practice. (This can go for many things in life.)

I love you dad and I am sure that even though I am a full on adult now, that there is still a lot of advice forthcoming. This is where my dad chimes in and explains what he was really trying to say, which will end up being much funnier than my actual post.

Honey, we are going to need some more butter!

It is like attack of the Killer Lobsta! I got these great pics from my dad the other day of an 8lb. 6oz. lobster he bought at a seafood market. When I asked if a lobster this large was even edible the response I got was "I never met a lobster that I didn't like." Apparently it was very sweet. It was so big they could barely fit it into their pot and they only ate the meat in one claw. The rest was saved for lobster bisque and lobster rolls. Yum.