Happy Birthday Julia!

Julia turned two this past Thursday. She got to go out for lunch with Mommy and Grammy and she decided that she wanted ice cream...so we took a trip to Friendly's. She opened one present from Mommy and Daddy (a digital camera) and one from Uncle Tim and Aunt Tab ( A Dora interactive learning globe). The rest had to wait until her party on Saturday. Here is a recap of the party. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Look at 'em grow!

My oh my they are growing quickly. Julia turns 2 this week - I'll follow up with another blog and more pictures. The kids also have to go in for checkups later this week - Julia's 2 year and Keira's 6 month. I can't believe they are that old already. So here are the updates...

Julia is using full sentences regularly and refining her word choices. Instead of just "some" and a point at whatever she wants, she now says it like this - "I want some coffee....please." And yes, she does actually say that. She is still as adventurous as ever. Her grandfather showed her how to climb a ladder this week and since he could do it, she would be darned if she couldn't. Can I tell you how fast my pulse was watching my 2 year old climb up and over a 6 ft ladder. Yikes! And she is so loving with her sister. She brings her toys, "check her" when she's crying, and even let her borrow her favorite blanket (pink nah-nah) for a nap.

Keira is growing so quickly now. She is sitting up on her own for short stretches, eating well (or she was before her teething hit full force), babbling oohs and aahs, and has cut her first tooth. The second tooth is right behind it and should be through the gums in the next day or so. When Keira smiles her whole face lights up and it is just the sweetest thing to see. And she loves her family...she gets so excited to see the dogs, and when Julia comes into the room she can't keep her eyes off her. Mommy and Daddy are pretty ok too in her eyes.

Finally some pictures of them together.


Chewing her fingers instead of her teether.

Playing Peek-a-Boo with her "Doggy's House"


Just fooling around

Holding her own bottle now.


Sitting up on her own.

Best Friends.

O Christmas Tree

This year we decided the time was right for Julia to start helping decorate the Christmas Tree. We don't have any fun adventures of going to pick it out and cut it down because quite simply, it lives in a box in the basement. First because of my allergies, and also because we are doing our part to "go green" when we can. Anyway, it went like this...I would take the ornaments out of their storage boxes and make sure there were hooks on them. Then I would give the non-breakables to Julia and she would pass them off to Daddy. Without instruction, she started telling him where to put them. As she got better at her job, she got faster. So fast that at one point I think Jason had an ornament hanging off each finger and couldn't get them on the tree fast enough. Now, she comes into the family room and points to the tree and shouts

"Kiss-miss Tee !" Then she immediately follows up with "I help Daddy!"

The first ornament this year.

Giving another ornament to Daddy.


"It goes right there!"


"Right here?"

Julia tells me to "turn it, Ba" when she wants it turned on.



Keira spent the afternoon teething. =(

Ok, I'm tired of this.


Checking out her work the next day.


Playing with a snowman.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...How lovely are thy branches.

Holidays are Here

We had a nice Thanksgiving at Mom's this year with plenty to eat and good times shared by all. The kids did very well, too. Hope that you all had a nice day as well. Now that the holiday season has arrived, it is time to decorate. We knew this year was going to be fun when Julia started getting very excited seeing lights on other homes. We started our decorating and she was so excited to see the deer in the front yard that she cried when she had to come in. I can't wait to see her reaction to the Christmas tree! Keira has made some big leaps in the past few weeks. She is now sitting on her own for longer stretches of time each day. She is also starting to understand the concept of eating solids. She opens her mouth now when the spoon approaches and even swallows whole mouthfuls at a time. Much improved from the clamped shut mouth and spitting! She is even starting to fall into her own routine...if only we could move up her bedtime! It's hard when the kids share a room to let one cry and risk waking the other up. Oh well, it will come in time.

If you look VERY closely, you can see some of the first snowflakes of the year.


Julia outside playing in the "snow".

Keira and Grammy playing.


Julia helped Daddy decorate!

These are bases to the small light up trees, but all I can think of .... Julia Scissorhands

Getting ready to come inside from the cold.

After a long day of being cranky, she finally gave in and fell asleep.

Two is Terrible!

Ok, so we are now a mere month from Julia's second birthday. And let me tell you ,the "Terrible Twos" have arrived! My sweet little girl has been replaced by a bratty, 'tudey little snot in her times of rage. It seems the simple instructions or slightest reprimand send her into a frenzy of hitting, kicking, throwing, screaming and crying. But then two minutes later she is back to normal. I'm exhausted by her moods alone. All in all, Julia is still a very good kid, but good grief I hope this stage doesn't last an entire year...and man am I scared of when she becomes a teenager.

As for Keira, she is such a happy little thing. She does not like to eat, however. We are working on feeding her solids now, but she is not so interested. The funniest part is when she starts sticking her thumb in her mouth so you can't get the spoon in. She is also rolling over very well now and we often find her on her belly in her crib in the morning. And mostly, Keira simply adores her sister. She watches her like a hawk, and if Julia so much as looks in her direction...huge smiles! It's so cute.

Angry that the camera was out.



Eating prunes...and none too happy about it.


Not eating anything except her thumb.

More tantrums.

Two minutes later...happily playing drums with the Christmas boxes.

False teething...note the drool spot on Jason's shoulder.

Sitting up (while supported)


Attempting to take pictures for the Christmas card


We'll try one more time, but you might see this one on the card.

Keira's Baptism

On Sunday, Keira was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith. The ceremony includes baptism with water and anointing with oils. Her Aunt Tabitha and my good friend Angie are her godmothers. She is a very loved and blessed little girl, and we are all blessed to have her with us.

Here is the priest making the sign of the cross on her head.

The water was cold and she didn't even cry.

Draped in her baptismal "gown"

The light of the candle symbolizes life.

Keira with her Godmothers

Uncle Tim, Aunt Tab, Keira, Angie (and baby Marshall) and Marshall

Parents and Godparents

Keira with her Godmothers and Great-Grandparents

The Family

A Visit from Uncle Tim and Aunt Tab

My brother and sister-in-law came up this weekend for Halloween and Keira's baptism. Julia has had a difficult time accepting these people into her home. She is "scared". And I guess we can understand since it's been almost a year since she'd seen them. But we are doing our best to get over the fear and enjoy our time together. Keira on the other hand, has finally figured out that someone other than mommy or daddy can hold her and she will be fine.

playing with the baby

Julia avoiding her aunt and uncle

Uncle Tim playing with Keira

Uncle Tim holds the baby while Aunt Tab builds block towers for Julia to knock down.

Shiny, happy people holding hands!