Motor City Babies and Birthdays

Before I forget (baby brain is in full effect lately), I must write a post about our February family trip to Michigan. While the Motor City may not be a dream destination in February, there is no place I would have rather been. I was able to celebrate two very special occasions with loved ones: my dear friend Sarah's baby shower and my grandma's 93rd birthday. Sarah threw my baby shower in Michigan when I was pregnant with Jack, and I was honored to help throw a shower for her when she was expecting her first precious bundle of joy.

Sarah, the girls, and I at my baby shower. I can't believe I forgot to take photos at Sarah's shower...we will nearly certainly never be pregnant together again!

My grandma has always been so very near to my heart, even though we're often separated by miles and miles. I was thrilled to be able to celebrate the big 9-3 with her, and to spend some one-on-one time with one of my most favorite people ever. I love when Jack gets to spend time with her, they really get a kick out of each other. Jack is quite the entertainer, and loves to make my grandma laugh.

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Great-Grandma.

All in all it was a great visit "home" for me, even more so that Marc and Jack were able to come along. We had such a good time visiting with friends and family, and I'm already looking forward to our next visit!

Jack's 1st snowman!

Brian lets Jack be the lieutenant for a day.

Making a new friend at Somerset.

It's a Boy!

This past Wednesday, Marc and Jack accompanied me to an ultrasound appointment where we got to see our youngest family member. The tiny person (currently the size of everyone's favorite root vegetable...a turnip) was very active throughout the entire ultrasound, and so freaking cute. First we saw the baby's tiny little feet kicking around and crossing and uncrossing at the ankles. Then we saw the outline of that sweet little baby face, and the baby made my heart melt when it took its little hand and put it up to its face. And then...the ultrasound tech showed us that we are most certainly expecting another boy!! I would have been equally thrilled if it were a girl, but now I get to look forward to life as a mother of two boys. After seeing my little fella, I really just can't wait to meet him (hopefully at a healthy 39 or 40 weeks in August). I love him so much already, and am so looking forward to introducing him to his big brother.

The sweetest footprint in the world.

January & February 2012

Contrary to what you may think, my family and I did not fall off the face of the earth in 2012. No, the Mayans didn't come down from outer space and snatch us up, or whatever nonsense people are predicting for this year. We've just had a really busy winter, and I've been exhausted thanks to the baby that I've been carrying around in my belly!! Now that I'm out of the first trimester, I'm slowly getting over the nausea and exhaustion, and wanted to share some recent photos of Jack.

Jack is such a joy these days (then again, he's always been a joy...). It's so fun to watch him gain his independence and learn new things. He resolutely will not allow us to feed him anymore, so mealtimes are pretty entertaining (and a bit messy). Each day he springs a new word or two on us - my current favorite is "Excuse Me" (sounds like scew-pee) when he burps. He's starting to use multiple-word sentences, which always blows my mind. He loves to dance, and love love loves Elmo. Where he found out about that little red monster, I have no clue. As far as I'm aware, he's never seen a minute of Sesame Street (I'm a stickler for no television before age 2), but he has somehow fallen deeply in love with ELMO! Every time we get in the car, he yells for Elmo and we have to pop in the Elmo's Greatest Hits CD. I can sing the whole thing by heart, and it's actually far less annoying than I would have imagined. Plus it's so worth it to see Jack bopping around in his carseat and to hear him singing along. There's one song where Snuffleupagus says "Staaaand Back!" and Jack loves to yell it out with him. So stinking cute. I can't wait to see Jack with a little brother or sister, he's going to be an awesome big brother!

Messy Spaghetti, aka "pasti"

Hiding under the dining room table.

Animal Crackers - yum!

Downing some Pedialyte after a night of the stomach flu, and he's still got a smile on his face!

Superbowl Sunday

An unseasonably warm January day.

Loving the snow and sled as much as he did the year before.

Now: A Hometown Christmas

2011 Christmas Card Photo

We spent Jack's second Christmas at home in Rhode Island. While of course I missed being "home" in Michigan, it was really nice not to have to travel during the holiday craziness. We had lots of quality time with Jack's Rhode Island family, with many celebrations. It was nearly as exhausting as travelling, but so much fun! We also had my parents in town for a bit, they arrived on the night of Christmas day and left a few days later. The exciting part? They actually bought a condo while they were in town, so we are  now looking forward to lots more visits from Grandma Carol and Grandpa Carl!

Jack loves his new truck from Auntie Kate!

Christmas Eve

Santa made an early pit stop at Grammy & Grandpa's!

Aww...Grammy kisses are the best.

Our little family

Jack and Michaela share a book.

Coming down the stairs on Christmas morning.

Santa brought a truck just like Daddy's!

Playing with his new keyboard.

These pots and pans have provided hours of entertainment for Jack. Thank you, Santa!

Train cars for the train set from Grandma and Grandpa.

Dinner with all of the grandparents...how lucky can you get?!

Then: A Very Merry Michigan Christmas

Our first family Christmas photo. I think we look a little shell-shocked.

Oh my gosh, Christmas then…it seems so long ago now! Jack was just shy of 4-months for his first Christmas, which was spent in Michigan. The night before Jack and I left for Detroit, we were able to celebrate Christmas with his Rhode Island family. Sadly, I don't have any photos of him from that night...I think I was preoccupied with making sure that we were prepared for our flight. That following morning, the two of us embarked on Jack’s first flight (Marc joined us on Christmas Eve). It was a challenging day, being the only adult in an airport with an infant. I didn’t bring a stroller since my mom had a couple waiting for us back at her house. I had planned on just carrying Jack around in a sling that day, but of course when we got to the airport, he wanted nothing to do with it. This meant that I didn’t get to do the following all day: eat, drink, pee, relax. We had a layover in Baltimore that kept getting extended. Luckily there was a vacant rocking chair where I could sit with Jack, with enough space on the ground (a rarity during holiday travel) to put a blanket for Jack to stretch out. It wasn’t a horrible day, but it was definitely a challenge.

Taking a siesta on the airport floor, and giving mommy's arms a rest.

Once we arrived in Detroit, though, we had a great visit! Jack got to meet his Uncle Alan, Great-Grandma Lenore, and all of mama’s family for the first time. We had a wonderful trip, and were grateful that Daddy made it safely to us on Christmas Eve morning. We spent Christmas Eve with my extended family, and it was so nice to have everyone in one place. Jack seemed to enjoy Christmas morning, although he really didn't seem to care too much about the presents. That's okay, though, he enjoyed being with his loved ones, and that's what Christmas is really about!

Meeting Great-Grandma for the 1st time!

Meeting Uncle Alan!

My little elf!

Christmas Eve with Great-Grandma and cousin Laurie.

Jack tests out his new car from Santa.

Enjoying his Christmas gifts, back home in RI.

Turtle Cookies & Firehouse Santa

One of my favorite childhood memories is baking Christmas cookies with my mom and my brother. I'd been wanting to carry on that tradition with Jack, and Marc was pestering me to bake some cookies, so I bit the bullet and did it. Holy cow, it was so much more difficult than my mom made it seem! The dough didn't cooperate, the cookie cutter shapes did not look like they should and the frosting that I made from scratch was totally gross. After much perseverance (and a can of store-bought frosting), we finally had cookies to decorate. I am pleased to say that Jack really seemed to enjoy the cookie decorating, so it was well worth it. And I can say with certainty that Jack LOVES eating the cookies...the star-shaped cookies turned out a little lumpy, and Jack thinks that they are turtles. Every morning when he wakes up, he starts yelling TURTLE, TURTLE, TURTLE!! We're totally screwed once these cookies run out. Maybe someday I'll be like my Grandma, and bake a million varieties of homemade Christmas cookies for the little ones, but for now, I'm retiring the apron until 2012.

Mommy holds Jack, who holds a "turtle".

Frosting the cookies.

Frosting himself!

Cookie baking wasn't the only thing keeping us busy last week. In addition to a few holiday parties, Jack got to meet Santa Claus AGAIN, this time at the Westerly Fire Station. Marc's "Nanutz" has been a member of the Westerly Fire Department for fifty years, and he invited his three great-grandsons to this charming event. Family members of the volunteer firefighters went to the fire station where they waited for Santa to arrive by fire engine. He then called them up by name and gave each child a special gift, as well as a stocking full of treats. Jack was much more comfortable with this Santa, who looked like he just stepped off his sleigh from the North Pole! Thank you, Nutz, for the lovely day!

Nutz, Kasey, Marc & Jack check out the 1950s fire engine.

Playing with their new toys from Santa!

How did Santa know just what to bring this little guy??

Then & Now: Santa Claus Comes to Town!

Growing up, I never would have imagined myself in a small town. But as with most things in life, that’s not how things turned out. It’s okay, though, I think it’s a good thing that I never ended up married to Michael Jackson. It’s also a good thing that I now reside in a small town (village, actually…we’re too little to be a town).  We have great neighbors, family nearby and a ton of really cool (and free!) events for families. Each December, the village really steps it up. One Saturday in December, the entire day is devoted to Christmas celebrations, beginning with breakfast with Santa at the Fire Station.

Then: Relaxing at the Fire Station with Sophie

Then: A Super Jolly Santa and an Equally Jolly Baby!

Then: His Shirt Said it All: Bah Humbug.

Jack has attended this breakfast with his cousins each year, with mixed reactions to Santa each time. Last year, he was just 3 ½ months old, and while he wasn’t necessarily crazy about Santa, he didn’t fear him either. His cousin Kasey didn’t like him, though, so Kody had to tell Santa what each of the boys wanted for Christmas: a 4-wheeler for Kody, balloons for Kasey and a car for Jack. They must have been really good boys, because they all got what they wanted! This year, Jack was more apprehensive toward Santa, and didn’t sit on his lap. Kasey wasn’t crazy about him once again, although he did muster up the courage to ask him for a candy cane. Only time will tell if the boys were good again this year!

Now: The Future Generation of Ashaway Firefighters.

Now: Making Sure Santa Knows What to Bring!

Now: Awkward Family Photo, Anyone?

After breakfast with Santa, the activities continue with cookie decorating at the community house, which is located in a beautifully maintained old home in town. There is also a home tour, where several of the gorgeous historic homes in the village allow the public in for a small donation to the local food pantry. We missed out on that part this year (but for a good reason: a tea party at Jack’s great-aunt Patti’s!), but did make it home in time for the luminaria and fireworks! It was a gorgeous night, and Marc’s entire family met at our house to walk to the field to see the show. It was simply lovely…walking through the luminaria-lit village to view fireworks set against a full moon on a clear night. Heavenly.

Fireworks in December? Set Against a Full Moon? Yes, Please!