Happy 80th Birthday Grandpa Bobby

Justin's Grandfather turned 80 this week and the family celebrated in style.

Grandpa Bobby with all his grandkids (Justin and his cousins Christie and Angie) and great grandkids (Jake, Maia, Hudson, Cole, Ana, and Taylor)...PRICELESS

The WHOLE party...family and friends

What a family!

Me, Maia and Taylor. Maia continues to be GREAT with babies.

September 17th, 2006: Taylor's Baptism

St. Jerome's Catholic Church Oconomowoc, WI
God Parents- Christie and Tim (Justin's Cousins)
Baptized by Fr. Jack (Justin's Great Uncle who married us & baptized Ana)

Taylor did a great job. Slept through the entire thing, even the pouring of the water...AND most pictures.

Mommy: "Ana, Where did you go potty?"

Ana: "on the toilet!"

That's right. Ana went potty on the toilet for the 1st time and is SOOO proud of herself. I can't take the credit. Nana and Gaga get it all. We have not had a repeat, but she is saying, "potty" and "yes, okay, toilet" many times a day now....and (all you moms of toilet training years will understand) we have had our share of bodily fluids on the floor......somehow the connection between sit and release is getting confused with sit, stand, walk, release. HMMMMMMMMM.......

Is it time to get pull ups?

OK I"m back

As I was saying before child #2 called, parenthood takes form differently for each parent and with each child. I just looked back at some of my entries with Ana and even that short year ago I was responding to events so differently. What is it, the move, the pausing of a career, or the fact that now there are 2 instead of one. I'm sure it's a mixture of all and then some, but being home for these few weeks without Justin is giving me some good (with child of course) self reflection time. In the end I just so thankful for my little peanuts. Taylor is getting so fun and Ana is just amazing. Everyday brings so many new challenges and joys that I can't believe I felt fulfilled prior to there arrival in my life.

Ana contintues to develop so rapidly that Justin and I are having a harder and harder time keeping up with her. She now knows her alphabet, tells and responds to jokes, counts rote and objects to 10, .....on and on and on. SERIOUSLY what do you do with a 1 year old that speaks in paragraphs, plays independently for 30+ minutes with engrossed in her own imaginary world and understands concepts that I didn't even know she was exposed to. I wouldn't even think twice, but I want to make sure I'm channelling her energy correctly and finding a good balance between helping her develop as much as she can AND making sure to let her be a kid!

Taylor is just so happy now. She still remains to have found herself. Her and I talk and she is just in LOVE with her sister. Everytime Ana is near Taylor stares and squeals and smiles away. She is starting to really "play" with her hands and grabs blankets and toys repeatedly now. ANd MAN is she growing fast. OH...there she is again.

So that's that.

Some quick thoughts

One can never really know how parenthood is going to affect them until they dive in full speed ahead. Which is what I THOUGHT we did with Ana, but truth be told (sorry to all you parents of one kid out there) that is not 100% parenthood yet. The world changes exponentially when a second is added to the mix. Truly you ARE YOUR KIDS! For instance, right now, mid thought, I have to go b.c child #2 beckons. Can't even think quickly for yourself anymore.....welllll more later, but let me end with this. While I've had my moments of breakdown I finally feel as if my purpose in life has shown itself. My little girls. I can wait, for now I'm all for THEM!

Ahoy Mate

Gaga(my dad) was in heaven today as him and his buddy Dave took me and the girls sailing. They both did great..Taylor on her virgin sail and Ana finally able to really get into it. I think he found his crew at last!

Guess who's 3 months

and OH SO CUTE





3 months has gone by and brought us a world of joy. Taylor is growing so quickly and really starting to find herself. First comes the hands. She is having a ball with them. She will sit for 10 minutes just putting them in and out of her mouth. One can only hope the thumb comes next.

She also is playing for longer and longer stretches and I have to say proudly, "I am BY FAR her favorite" and I LOVE IT!!! She lights up when she hears my vioce, giving me adorably screeches and full face grins when she finds my face. That in and of itself has made our "not so easy" 3 months worth every second.

I am so excited for what is to come...and trust me- I'll share it all!!!!

So many friends, so much fun

This week we have been jampacked full of friends. Every morning is a new playdate and Ana is just having a ball. I swear she has developed 6 plus months verbally, cognitively and with her motor skills. What a difference peer influence has! Daddy isn't even going to recognize his baby girls!

Ana and all her back home buddies








Taylor's 1st and only love

Having Fun with Papa

"SO BIG"


Riding the Tractor just like Daddy did

Oh how we miss the Friday night WI Fish Fry

Just a Moment

That's all it takes to bring a bubbly, chatty and outrageously happy 1.5 year old to complete fear stricken panic, stiff body and silent screams...especially when a taco shell is invovled. Can I just say a public prayer of thanks for a mom that does not panic under pressure, for tonight she saved my child's life. Thank you mom, I KNOW I would not have handled tonight as quickly and calmly as you did...such carress. Ana is TRULY blessed.

Tonight, I had my first, and hopefully only, true heart break as I watched my little Ana bobana choke silently and stiffly on her taco shell dinner. Never again will I underestimate the doctor's recomendations for what is a choking hazard. I will never forget her body language. Oh constant chills. And thank God because I am happy to report that Ana is sleeping peacefully after a night ending with happy cheers while playing with Nana with what seems to be no memory of her tragic event.

A Whole New Taylor ("Taya")

Taylor has found her smiles. Is it the Mylanta we've added to her drug regimen? Is it is being home with family and friends? Is it a more relaxed mommy? Who knows, but we're happy to have her full of smiles and giggles. Too bad Daddy is missing this all!

Cat Woman

Ana: "one, two, three, four, five, six, seven" + laughter = her way of telling us there are just too many cats in this house!

MEAL TIME: One reason of many why being home is GREAT!

Notice...mommy is not running back and forth between the kids. Both are getting loving attention AND food is not beng used to practice overhand throwing.

Together with the 2nd cousins.

My cousin Lisa moved home and has 2 boys the exact same age and Taylor and Ana. We were sad to not be around for the kids to grow up together. Look how much fun they have together

Nina and Papa at last

Ana was a bit scared of Papa's beard at first, but as you can see she warmed up in no time (especially once he gave her some "money")