Halloween

Mike took my Picasa space from 99.9% to a mere 90%, so I bring to you Halloween pictures. Our plan was a Wizard of Oz quintet (Mike as Scarecrow, my brother as Tin Man), but we ran out of time, and Tay didn't end up coming until we were about ready to go to All Saints Mass. We were going to dress Jack as a simple Toto, since he screamed the last time we tried to dress him in Cookie. I suppose it would be strange to be stuffed inside of the friend he has been carrying around for more than a month. But his father told him he would get candy if he cooperated.

Jack, Gail, Tay and I are leaving at the kids' bedtime tonight to drive to Maryland, where we'll be visiting with Honey and my aunt Weegie (up from North Carolina) and my family for several days.

What it's doing outside...

I was going to post a photo of our covered-in-white deck, but apparently, my maxed-out-quota of photo upload extends to Blogger. Shucks.

here and there... our afternoon

My vote counted!
I made it to the Allegheny County Division of Elections office this afternoon with thirteen minutes to spare, after having toted two tired babies from the distant parking garage (today was the last day to turn in absentee ballot applications). I recently found out that I would be out-of-state in Maryland next Tuesday, so I had to fill out an absentee ballot. And then I found out I could just go ahead and vote right then and there.

After our voting spree downtown, we got to see what puts the meat on our table at Intel's Open House. Jack was frightened of the robotic arm that was moving things around a simulated kitchen. But we almost have our dad back.

And... I updated almost all of our fall and pumpkin carving photos, but if you'll look at our new photo link to the right, you will see that our glowing pumpkins didn't quite fit into our busting-at-the-seems web albums. No. We finally maxed out our storage space. We will forge on. We will find a new frontier to harvest with the sweet little faces of our much-photographed children.

Seven on Sunday- Fall edition

1. Today was one of the gorgeous (and fragrant) fall days that I love. After mass, we walked into Brookline for lunch. We carved our pumpkins this evening- another smell that makes autumn official.

2. Mike has his Intel Open House this upcoming week, so he has been working long hours and extra days to prepare with everyone else in his office. I'll take the kids on Tuesday to see Dad's workplace and the cool projects on which he's been working. We're looking forward to Wednesday evening, when it's all over.

3. Since Mike had to work yesterday (Saturday), Jack, Gail and I went to the charming little town of Sewickley to meet my long-time friend, Megan for lunch at Cafe Des Amis, an authentic French restuarant. We had goat cheese and spinach and ham and swiss crepes and french onion soup. The kids did surprisingly well, considering it was about naptime. Afterward, we walked to a gelatto shop to get some homemade gelatto- we both had Dulce de Leche.

4. We started Abigail on some solid foods two weeks ago. She would have liked to have passed on the rice cereal. And the jar of bananas she had for the first time two days ago- she could have done without that too, for the first half of the jar. But for the second half, I think I heard her ask for a straw.
She is still kind of a lousy nighttime sleeper.

5. Jack's vocabulary is growing so fast. Now he prefaces most things that catch his attention with "See a...," like when he sees a dog or a firetruck, he says, "See a dog," or "See a fiy-tuh." He said his first very clear sentence the other day when he was asking for "Abigee" while she was taking a nap. I asked him, "Where is Abigail? Do you know where she is?" He responded, "I don't know," with a very puzzled look.

6. We got to see two-day-old baby Jonas Kubilius on Friday morning. He is the cutest newborn I have ever seen (barring my own little pumpkins)- and sooo tiny, even thought he was about the same size as Jack and Abigail. Congratulations, Tom and Jessica and big sister, Molly!

7. I'll try to put another web album up tomorrow or Tuesday. So many photos... so little time to post them. Good night.

Happy Birthday, Honey!

Maybe it is how much you enjoy games, the pleasure you get when you see people eat, how you love a gathered family, the way you always made such a big deal at every little piece of schoolwork we brought to show you, how you always defended me, how you cheer us on so enthusiastically when we play tennis on your court, your long, tight hugs, your sweet southern accent, the way you dote over my babies, your ever-strong faith in the Lord, your immense compassion and gentleness, or all the ways I see myself in you, that makes you my favorite.
Have a wonderful birthday, Honey! I love you.

Whole Foods coupon

Expires tomorrow!

Thought I would share the wealth, for those who shop here.

Oh, bathtime.

We love homemade bread!

We've been in a bread-making craze lately. Here are three really yummy recipes we made in the bread machine in the past two days (all for 1 1/2 lb loaves on basic white cycle).

Ginger Pumpkin Bread

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 egg
2 TBSP margerine or butter, cut up
3 cups bread flour
1 TBSP brown sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp active dry yeast
2 TBSP fnely chopped crystallized ginger

Oatmeal Applesauce Bread

3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice (we used cider)
1/2 cup applesauce
1 TBSP margerine or butter
3 cups bread flour
1/3 cup regular or quick cooking rolled oats
1 TBSP brown sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp apple pie spice (we just used some cinnamon and nutmeg)
1 tsp active dry yeast

Poppy Seed Tea Bread
(I realized at 10pm, while I was adding ingredients that we were out of poppy seeds, but it was still very good without)

2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup dairy sour cream
1 egg
3 cups bread flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 TBSP poppy seed
1 TBSP finely shredded lemon peel
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp active dry yeast

Five on Friday (at least it seems like Friday)

1. Uncle Willie came all the way from Madison to visit us for a few days this week. The kids showed him how fussy they can be (and hopefully what a delight they can be as well). We enjoyed his visit.


2. Now that the family trips and visits are over, we will commence sleep training Abigail. We hope that adding more routine to her schedule will cut down on her crankiness in the evenings (and her 5-10 minute cat-naps in the dolphin swing).


3. We are ready for this presidential election to be over. For the record, we're not thrilled about either candidate. But that's the last I will bring up politics on this blog. This blog is for babies.

4. We are going to Kennywood's Phantom Fright Nights tomorrow night with a few friends from college and my brother. Mike and I were just thinking the other day that after six years of knowing each other, we have never been to an amusement park together. Babies and pregnancies put a damper on roller coasters. Thank goodness for sitters- we love our sitter!

5. I recently found out the exciting news that my friend, Lisa and her husband, Gabe, are expecting their first child in mid-April. Congratulations Mayhews!

Demographic Winter- the decline of the human family

Demographic Winter is a documentary that seeks to

"...reawaken society to the importance of the stable, intact family and engender a discussion and greater focus in the media, in academia, in the halls of policy makers, in religious circles, in the committees of civil society, and in households around the world."

It includes interviews by experts around the world- demographers, doctors, economists, sociologists- many non-Christians, who have researched and see objectively the imminent dangers facing our world that so few seem to recognize.

"The biggest problem we face globally is a declining population."

"We, as the policy makers, think that the best way to improve the demographic situation is by strengthening the family."

bad bear

This kid cracks me up. And I'm sure it has something to do with me being his mommy, but, allow me to indulge myself.

Last week, Jack came up to me holding his his bear. He looked as if he were about to cry while he exclaimed something in Jack-talk, emphasizing mostly, "Bii-da. Bii-da." He adds an 'a' to the end of almost every word, and with his teeth-chomping and pointing to his bear's mouth with his "hurt" finger, I pieced together that his bear had bitten him. I asked him if this was the case. Satisfied, he watched as I told his bear that it was not nice to bite Jack and that he should apologize. Jack raised his eyebrows, waiting for an apology. I asked if the bear needed to go in time-out, and Jack whirled around towards the pack and play (time out), dropped the bear in and just stared at his naughty stuffed animal. After a minute, I asked Jack if the bear knew what he had done wrong. He allowed me to take the bear from his punishment and proceeded to give the bear a big hug, which is what he always does to Mike or me after he comes out of time out.


On the way to my parents' on Friday, Abigail had been screaming for most of the trip. We stopped to have dinner, and I fed Abigail. Right when we started up again, Abbie commenced her crying. When we looked back, Jack had one of his ears covered with his hand, and the other with his monkey, while he exclaimed, "All duhn. All duhn." We wish, son. We wish.

Running around

We had a great time during our trip to Maryland, except for the time we were in transit. Both of the kids were pretty miserable in the car, and it took us 6 hours both ways (it usually takes 4, which includes stops). But we enjoyed running alongside Aunt Heather with the jogging stroller for part of the race (we jumped in around mile 25.5-- of 26.2) and just visiting with relatives and kitty and having a nice cookout later in the day.
If you see Jack, don't mention his beloved Monk. We left it at Mimi and Pop's

Happy Birthday, Boot!

We are sisters, you and I!
Oh, how I wish we had more family reunions to rehash the past. And to act silly. That's always been what we've done best...
...holding our noses and shaking trying not to lose it during the Christmas Eve service every year, dancing like fish to New Order's Blue Monday, bandanna-clad dance videos with Marvin the Monkey, traveling state by state with The State, driving with the doors open, imagining all the different possibilities for Prom themes-- "A Night in the Meat Locker," etc., "spit stance!," followed by too many inside jokes to name.
You have unleashed a love of nature and beauty in me...
...abandoning the REMobile to catch the sunset, spending hours in the "huth house," digging up salamanders and playing in the mud behind the lake, running along the beach, and listening to wondrous music.
From the time I was old enough to know any better, I wanted to be just like you. I cherished the days you would go through your clothes and hand down to me the ones you no longer saw fit to wear. And loved that you wanted me to sit with you and your friends at lunch when you were a senior and I, only a freshman. You were always the coolest big sister, taking me to concerts, surprise-visiting me at college, coming to the only race I got first place in when Mom and Dad could't make it, planning surprises for my birthdays...
And even though you conspired with Kenzie to tease me so many times at Honey's house, played tricks on me from time to time and wouldn't let me wear your pretty barrettes, I have always been proud to call you my sister. And you're the best aunt to Jack and Gail (doesn't matter you're their only aunt) .
Good luck in your race tomorrow! We'll be there to cheer you on!
I love you.

open studio 4

Abigail~3 months
5"x7"
Pencil

I felt guilty for not having drawn any pictures of Abigail, so I whipped one up of my sweet little girl last night while Mike watched the kids.

Can you tell I have lots of time on my hands right now (with three blog posts today)? Because of the shots this morning, Abigail has been sleeping all day, and Mike went to bed early because he wasn't feeling well. Jack joined them shortly after. I'm catching up while I can. Don't expect this trend to continue.

La cuisine

Previously, with its greasy orange cabinets (so much more detestable in person) and shiny red walls



The less-greasy version (Allow yourself to move beyond those butterfly-bandage hinges)

This little piggy (4 months)

Both kids had doctor's appointments this morning. And that was a production of extreme sorts, even with Mike there to help. Abigail weighed 16 lb, 11 oz (Jack was 14 lb, 2 oz) , and I don't remember her length, but she grew more than 3 inches in two months, which I guess that is a lot. The doctor said to start her on rice cereal, so we may be trying that out with her soon.
She is struggling (as am I) with my attempts to keep her and Jack on a similar schedule as of late. She's been waking up an awful lot (just to nurse), and I've been trying different things every night to try to get her snooze sessions to be a little longer...a softer surface for her to lie on, a tighter wrap, a hat, a white noise-maker, you name it. This girl must eat!
And she is the smiliest little baby, especially in the mornings (long before Mommy and Daddy are enthusiastically returning those cheeky grins).

seven on sunday

1. Jack. When asked his name, he always responds, "Abigee." We've tried and tried, with no luck, to get him to say his name. Whenever Abigail spits up, he wrinkles up his nose and says, "Eeeeeeeewww." He loves working with various "Puh's" (puzzles), though they're all a little advanced for him now, and he can't quite get any in the right place. And he adores the "Kee-eee" below, which my mom made and painted for me when I was a little girl (it's a boy kitty).


2. We'll be heading to Maryland next weekend to watch my sister run her second Baltimore Maryland. The last time we went to cheer her on as spectators, I was 3 1/2 months pregnant with Jack. I think this time we'll hit up the Baltimore Aquarium with the kids and not do so much running around.

3. Tomorrow will be the third Mom's group that we have hosted at our house. It's been going well, though we miss the people who inspired it in the first place!

4. We've been thinking about it for a while now, but having two kids is what nudged us over the edge. We decided to become members at Resurrection Parish, which is less than a block from our front door (As opposed to Sacred Heart-- a half-hour drive). We're excited about the possibilities of becoming more involved.

5. I got tired of our kitchen being torn apart, having child safety gates up all of the time, not being able to cook on my stove and having no doors on the cabinets for weeks on end. So we "finished" the kitchen on sub-par standards. The cabinet doors have those custom-made hinges that are curved to fit the door and have a little lip on the inside, which makes finding new hinges that work an inconvenience. We'll have to wait on those and live with the country cottage-looking ones (painted black and rubbed off a little) for the time being. We'd eventually like to get a new sink and counter tops, but those will also come in time. This remodeling project was all done on less than $200. I'll post some before and after pictures later in the week

6. We just received some flattering photos from the finish line of our race last week. I love the first one, which gives the impression that I pulled away from Mike at the end. Mike was just blocked off for a few seconds, and I was more aggressive in my getting-ahead tactics than he. Our microchip results for the race were 25:01 for 3.1 miles.

7. By the way, our web album link on the right is fixed.

The first of October

The cool weather came right on schedule- the first day of October. Amazing how it now takes twice as long to get ready and out the door when we're going somewhere when layers are involved. Needless to say, we missed story time at the library this morning.

So we got some groceries instead. When I was unloading some of the cold things, I noticed the kids were unusually quiet in the family room. Never good. I poked my head in to see Jack carefully drawing on Abigail's head with a ballpoint pen (who knows where he found it-- I don't just leave them lying in arm's reach). She was adoring it though, and it washed off easily.

I made the mistake of getting Jack some markers at the store today. There were three chunky markers in the container, shaped like animals, which made grasping them with tiny hands a chore (though the box stated otherwise-- it also said 18+ months). They left a watery-mess when marked on paper, so Jack had red, green and brown all over his fingers and clothes.

There is a new photo album for those interested in random photos of our kids.