Happy New Year! (My 200th post of 2008)

Have you noticed an overabundance of posting from me during the last couple days? That would be because I suddenly realized how close I was to having 200 posts for 2008... and it became a 48 hour mission to reach that goal. And... with this post... I reach 200.

It's hard to believe that in less than an hour it will be 2009. Where did 2008 go?

I spent the first half of the year pregnant. As I posted pregnancy updates I got so many comments saying "How can you possibly be 20 weeks along already?" and "What do you mean you only have a month to go? Didn't you just tell us you were pregnant?" It flew by for you... and it really flew by for me. And now, as I look at Ana I can barely believe she is already 5 1/2 months old. I barely remember being pregnant (and I still owe you all a birth story). I feel like just yesterday she was this tiny blob of a newborn, and now she's growing her own little personality. She's such a happy girl... full of smiles. She also has a mean case of Mommy-love. The pediatrician couldn't get over how strong her attachment and preference was and said she's about 4 months early with separation anxiety (that's fun). She's growing a mile a minute. She's rolling over from tummy to back (and I've seen it a dozen times now!!!!). She grabs anything you put near her (including my dinner plate). Before I know it I'll be posting to tell you about how she's crawling and then walking and then chasing around after Zoe.

And Zoe... my big girl. She's grown so much this year. There is such a difference between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 years. I think becoming a big sister made her grow even more. She's constantly surprising us with things she can do and things she says. She is such a sweet and imaginative girl. She notices absolutely everything, and forgets nothing. Zoe started out the year in the toddler program and now she's a big preschooler. Her drawings have gone from "scribble scrabble" to neat attempts at drawing family members (complete with heads, faces, ears, hair, arms, legs, and a tushy). She sings songs constantly... and now she actually gets the lyrics (most of the time). She pretty much potty trained herself. She moved from a crib, to a toddler bed, to a big girl bed in her big girl room. She has had a year full of changes... and she has dealt remarkably. She is just such an amazing girl. It's hard to believe she will be a 4 year old in about 6 months (although if you ask her... she will be 1. I have no idea why.) I'm sure 2009 will bring some big adventures with Zoe.

And Nick... let's not forget Nick. You've heard repeatedly about how he's been on business trip after business trip. I've been left a "single mom" more times than I can count because he's had a very busy work year. He works very hard to give Zoe, and Ana, and me everything we need... and just about everything we want. He makes it possible for me to stay home with our girls... which, while not in our original plan, has ended up being the best thing for our family... and something I love being able to do. So, in short.... while Nick and I may drive each other crazy at times... I'm quite lucky to have married such a wonderful guy. (Now Nick... don't let that go to your head or anything. I'm sure you'll irritate me again in 2 minutes... lol. Love you!)

So, 2008 has been quite a good year for us here in Madison, NJ. Our little family of 4 is just happily living life... enjoying each other as much as we can. I hope 2009 finds more happiness, more fun, and a lot more little stories to share with you.
From my family to yours... I send wishes of a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2009!

Happy New Year!

Licking the spoon.

On Christmas Eve Zoe and I baked brownies for Christmas dessert, and I told her how when I was a little girl we used to make brownies with Grammy.

Uncle Jim and I would take turns putting in ingredients and stirring the mix until it was ready for Grammy to pour into the pan for baking. And then... when it was all done... Uncle Jim and I used to fight over who got to lick the spoon and how Grammy made sure we both had a spoon to lick. Zoe just gave me this look of complete lack of understanding... and said "Why Mommy, why did you fight with Uncle Jim?"

I think she understands now.

A last minute Santa visit

Every year Santa comes to Madison, NJ and spends some time in his little Madison house right by the train station. Every time we would drive by Zoe would ask if Santa was in his house... or at the North Pole. (Santa would only spend Tuesday and Thursday mornings and weekends in Madison, you see. Otherwise he had important North Pole business to attend to.) All month I would tell Zoe "We'll go see him soon." or "He's not there today." or "We can't go today, we've got swim lessons/dance class/etc."

Finally... the Tuesday before Christmas... Santa's VERY LAST DAY in Madison... we went to visit him (because what choice did Mommy really have after promising?). The snow had come the weekend before (the snow, and rain, and snow, and sleet, and rain, and snow) and the roads and sidewalks weren't very well cleared. The wind was fierce. Pushing Ana in the stroller over unshoveled, icy, snow packed sidewalks was a major chore.

But... we made it.

And on the afternoon before Christmas Eve... this is where Santa asked Zoe to please remember to leave him some fresh baked cookies and milk... and some carrots for the reindeer.
Do you know what the stores were like that afternoon? But, after braving the treacherous icy snow covered path to Santa... Zoe insisted we must bake cookies... and that reindeer absolutely must have carrots.

Thanks Santa.

Please Ignore - Meter Count Readings

For my own satisfaction... I've been jotting down my meter counts a couple of times over the last month or so. I know that I can click on over to Google Analytics and figure out the same thing... but it's given me a personal rush to keep my own track of it. And, ever once in a while I click the tag to bring up all of my "site meter" posts and compare how this little old blog has done during various times.

So... boring boring boring... except to the blog writer. I have decided I'm done doing these meter readings.

So my resolution for 2009... no more site meter posts!!! (Thrilling right?)

30418 - 11/20

31074 - 11/29 (+656 in 9 days)

32,340 - 12/16 (+1266 in 18 days)

33,262 - 12/31 (+922 in 15 days)

Snow Beach

The weekend before Christmas we got bunches and bunches of snow. Zoe was thrilled and could not wait to put her new snow boots and snow pants to use. (I was not so thrilled. I don't really like snow. Unless I'm looking out the window at it. Then I like it.)
Like I said... Zoe was thrilled. I think she might roll around in it naked if we let her. (Ok... well maybe that's a tad bit of an exaggeration.)
She just loves sitting in the snow... and laying in the snow... and digging in the snow. (Look, there in the backround.... Nick breaking the snowblower. I actually had to get a shovel and help this year. Ugh.)
Then she started to get this look on her face. The "what in the world are we doing out here in this freezing cold???" look. (Or maybe that's "Mom, why didn't you buy me a real sled... this Rubbermaid bin is a crappy sled substitute.)
So, she did the logical thing. She told us she was at the beach... and she was warm and toasty.
She's just a snow lover. All pink cheeked and happy.

Hey Grammy and PopPop? I think it's time for us to come to Florida for a visit.

My big baby

Once in a while, I think that Zoe wishes she were the baby in the family.

Like the day she climbed into Ana's car seat and zipped herself right up into the "bundle-me" blanket.
I guess I should say "Who can blame her?" It does look awfully cozy on these chilly windy winter days.

Wordless Wednesday - I don't know why I'm having trouble blogging

Growing and growing and growing

When Ana was 4 months old we went for her well visit and she weighed 14lbs 7oz.

Just one month later, at 5 months old (when I went to see if she had an ear infection... which she didn't), she weighed in at 16lbs 14oz. That was a 2lbs 7oz gain in 1 month!!!!

And now, at 5 1/2 months (I took her in to have a rash looked at... which is "just viral... nothing to be done".) she weighs 17lbs 7oz. That's another 9oz gain in 2 weeks!!!

I am completely thrilled to have a happy healthy growing girl. She is well withing all the normal growth percentiles and all that. But seriously!?! She's gonna outgrow Zoe soon.

I have a confession to make...

I have started to do something I told myself I would NEVER EVER DO! NEVER! NOT EVER!

I have become that mom...

That mom that dresses her girls in (almost) matching outfits.

They don't seem to mind yet.

I suppose they WILL start to mind when their crazy mom HAS to take a picture (or 3) every single time they are dressed alike.

Paperwhites

Do you know what paperwhites are?

Zoe went to a bulb planting class at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum with Aunt Andrea and cousin Alex a few weeks ago. They brought home a pot of daffodils and hyacinth bulbs (which are in the fridge waiting for spring) and they brought home a pot of paperwhite bulbs (to grow and bloom now).

This is what Wikipedia says about paperwhites (scientifically known as the Narcisus papyraceus)

"Narcissus papyraceus (from papyrus and aceus ; meaning paper like ^[1]), commonly known as Paperwhite, is a perennial bulbous plant native to the Mediterranean region. The white flowers are borne in bunches and are strongly fragrant. It is frequently grown as a house plant, often forced to flower at Christmas. Paperwhites are part of the Narcissus genus which is typically associated with daffodils."

So... they are a beautiful white flower that grows from a bulb. They really are gorgeous... but "strongly fragrant" doesn't quite give a thorough description. They absolutely are some of the most foul smelling flowers I have ever come across. They wreak. And you can smell them from across the house if the breeze hits just right.

In addition to smelling horribly, they also grow to be quite tall and then they all fall over. As pretty as the flowers are... it's not very attractive to have these tall green stems and leaves just falling all over your table. And stinking.

Do you know how hard it is to throw away a growing plant that your 3 year old planted all on her own and is thrilled with on a daily basis because "MY PAPERWHITES! THEY'RE GROWING! LOOK MOMMY, THEY'RE GROWING!"????

So, do you know what I did?

I gave Zoe a lesson in flower arranging.





I've never been so happy to have flowers wilt and die.

Ana and the Moose

I had Ana in the car seat and we were almost ready to go out. Zoe decided Ana looked like she needed a blanket... and a moose. She actually told me "Mommy, I think Ana needs this blanket and I think she REALLY needs this moose."

So, Ana got a blanket and a moose.

She seemed pretty happy about it.

I, on the other hand... am not thrilled with my attempts to get away from the automatic feature on the camera. Outside of just playing around with your camera buttons (which I know is the best way to learn) what do all of my photography friends out there suggest? Is there a book you love? Some kind of "manual photography for dummies"? Help!

Hello Kitty!

I was going through the December photo file and came across these silly shots. It seems like ages ago... but it really wasn't. Nick took his business trip to Korea at the end of November (into the beginning of December). He brought us back some souvenirs... and Zoe ended up looking like someone threw up Hello Kitty! all over her.


What you can't quite see are the bracelets, and the pony tail out the back of her head. She was literally covered with Hello Kitty! accessories. Until that day she was barely aware of that cat. Now... whenever she sees it she's obsessed. Thank goodness Netflix carries some Hello Kitty! dvds. We're going to get a quick animation fix sometime in the next week or so.

A Very Merry Christmas...

We had a wonderful Christmas. Now that the hustle and bustle is behind us I'm finally looking through the photos I've taken. I'm realizing how many holiday moments I have to share. So, over the next few days (hopefully) you'll be getting a "Christmas in Review".

I warn you... it will probably be short on words and heavy on photos.

You'll be OK with that, right?

Yes?

I thought so!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and I can't wait to read up (or browse through the photos) that I'm sure you're all sharing.

Merry Christmas!!!

My little reindeer family hope that you're having a wonderful Christmas... and that the magic of the day stays with you and your families throughout year!

SOOC Saturday - Christmas Awe

As is... just out of the camera. Part of me wants to edit this photo to death... and part of me loves it just as it is.

A Rocking Christmas Show

We went to see Zoe's preschool holiday show last Wednesday night. Zoe's class did 2 songs... Bruce Springsteen's version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and Raffi's version of "This Little Light of Mine."

I think Daddy was quite proud of his Rock Star daughter (and of course Mommy was proud too).
She gets her guitar skills from Daddy.
Totally rocking it out.
Just so cool.
We also have a video. Unfortunately Nick's video spot was not nearly as prime as the spot I snagged to take photos from. My mom/photo blogger friends will understand that you gotta do what you gotta do to get the good shots. I was lucky to get this spot after the kids were already on stage but not yet singing. Daddy was not quite as willing to duck and weave and grab the open space. But still... we have a video. Zoe is in the front row... 3rd from the left. You can look at the pictures while you listen and get a great idea of how awesome Zoe was. (I'm figuring Grammy will be the only one to watch the whole thing. Hi Grammy!)

What have you done?

I copied this from Shash over at Diary of a Crazed Mommy.

Have You?

(what I have actually done is in red with some variations in parenthesis)

1. Started your own blog (you're looking at it)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disneyworld)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (at the ice cream shop in LBI)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Visited the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (just the Scottish ones)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie as an extra
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Made amends with someone who offended you
101. Flew in a small plane
102. Ran out of gas
103. Eaten fried okra
104. Swam in the ocean or a foreign sea
105. Peed in a swimming pool (but not in a LONG time... and not in your pool PopPop!)
106. Rented a beach house
107. Hosted an exchange student
108. Been a Secret Santa to a family in need
109. Worked on a political campaign
110. Coached a sports team
111. Gone kayaking in the ocean
112. Certified as an elementary teacher
113. Been the mother to twins!
114. Eaten sushi
115. Swam with sting rays
116. Married someone you met online
.117. Lived in China
118. Ridden through the floating market in Thailand
119. Given your kids a big kiss and hug just because
120. Had your name in U.S.A. Today
121. Been to Mexico
122. Shot a gun
123. Mountain Biked in Moab
124. Learned to Snowboard
125. Originated an idea and had it published
126. Tried out for Reality T.V. or Game Show or Talk Show
127. Wasted lots of time on blogs and the internet (not all wasted)
128. Made up an original recipe
129. Won a writing contest
130. Won a trip to Disneyland
131. Won something on the radio
132. Had too much time to do things like this
133. Thrown a surprise party for someone
134. Gone without sleep for 48 hours
135. Survived in the wilderness without matches or fresh water
136. Worked at a Ski Resort
137. Taught group fitness/aerobics classes
138. Visited all 50 states
139. Lived in NYC
140. Roller bladed in Central Park
141. Been a member of the New York Road Runners Club
142. Ran a marathon with your Grandma
143. Visited the grave of your Great, Great, Great Grandfather
144. Totaled more than two cars
145. Had a pet----- hamster, frog, mouse, rabbit-only for one day
146. Eaten a whole carton of ice cream at once
147. Gone tanning in a tanning booth
148. Had a ride in a limo
149. Driven a giant-front-end-loader
150. Served as a tour guide
151. Paid off a credit card in Full!
152. Given everything up to be a Stay-at-Home-Mom and hold the world in your hands!

If you decide to do this too... let me know. Interesting little bits of info!

Bloggy Friends

I received this snazzy little award from Jeanette over at Jenty's Ramblings.


I've been blogging for almost 2 years now... and have been reading blogs for over 3 years... since November 2005. (NaBloPoMo sucked me in even when I wasn't writing!) I didn't realize when I started that I would find people I would actually consider friends.

So, to my bloggy friends... I pass on this award. I only wish the cute little card would actually work and help out with the rest of the Christmas shopping!

Mary
Carrie
Christina
Lindy
Kimberly
Allison

I'm limiting this list to the first 6 people I could think of off the top of my head. (Names... not blog address... if I could memorize all the blog addresses that would be a miracle!) I'm sure if I really spent some time going through my blog list I'd come up with about 2 dozen more names I could add to the list. But... I'm limiting. Now you 6 go pass it on. I'm sure some of our friends overlap!

BSM - NOT our Christmas Card Photos

Since having my little anxiety attack about our Christmas cards not having been mailed (or received... or ordered... or designed... yikes) I have actually not only photographed the girls (a billion times) and designed the cards (or 5) and ordered the cards (100 and then a second order for 20 more) but, I have actually MAILED the cards (well... at least the first 100... I'm still waiting to get the next 20).

For Best Shot Monday I just had to share the photos I didn't use.

Zoe and Ana were pretty cooperative about giving me one good photo per "pose". There weren't any hard decisions. I just had to scan the bunch and say "Yep, there it is... the 1 in a million that turned out well!"

Like this first photo? This was one of 33 in the same position. They're both smiling and happy and sparkly eyed. It was the very first shot of 33. The rest involved tears, and crossed eyes, and Ana falling over, and Zoe looking at the ceiling. But this one? Perfection. We didn't use this on our card though.

My next pose had the girls on the blanket on the floor. This shot is (again!) the first shot of 28. They just both look so happy. Cheery little sisters. Not quite perfect (Zoe's undershirt strap sticking out, eyes a little squinted shut by both girls...) but it is SO my girls. Together and giggling. The other 27 shots were also cute... but started to involve Ana realizing she could get Zoe's hair. You can imagine how the photos progressed. This is also not our card photo.

Then I thought I might use a separate photo each of the girls. These "photo shoots" were much calmer. But... Ana was only happy for about 2 clicks of the camera. She enjoys having her picture taken much more if Zoe is involved I guess. But... I liked this one (although I was thinking of going black and white). Again, not on our card.
Zoe is hard to photograph alone. She gets silly or annoyed or bored. She is at that point where she has a hard time understanding how to put on a "nice smile" rather than a "cheese". Again, she also seems to take better pictures with Ana rather than without her. I took about 50 photos of Zoe alone... about 3 had a nice smile... the rest had a tongue, or eyes covered, or her head on the floor, or... like I said... a big "CHEESE". This shot turned out alright (and was going black and white) but is still not on our card.

So now you have an idea of what is NOT going to show up on a Christmas card. These were the best of a couple hundred attempts. I'm very happy with how our cards turned out... and I'll share them with you all soon. I don't want to spoil it for anyone getting the actual card in the mail though... so I'll wait a little longer.

And... if any of my bloggy friends would like to swap cards just e-mail me your address and I'll send you mine. (Although it may mean I have to order a few more cards. haha)

Roll Over.... Roll Over

I'm with Ana 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (for the most part). I'm ALWAYS with her. (You know what I mean.)

Today Grandma came over. I took Zoe to school. I then had the luxury (yes, luxury) of shopping ALL BY MYSELF until I had to pick Zoe up from school. (Thank you thank you thank you Grandma!!!) Do you understand? No wondering where Zoe was running off to. No watching the clock for when Ana would get hungry, or tired, or pooped. I spent a full 2 1/2 hours at Target all alone. (Yes... ALL ALONE IN TARGET!) It was heaven (and I just KNOW there are a bunch of you out there just saying "Wow... she's soooo lucky!") I tried on clothes, I dilly dallied through the infant section. I ogled over the baby and toddler clothes. I browsed the toys. I really really shopped. I think I actually finished Christmas shopping (except for the little odds and ends I'm sure I'll think of later.) It was lovely.

But... do you know what Ana had the nerve to do while I was away from her for like, 3 hours??? She rolled over. She rolled over for the very first time. Grandma put her in her crib on her tummy to nap... and when she went up to find out why Ana was awake and crying after only 45 minutes she was surprised to find her on her back.

Rotten kid.

It's a good thing she's so cute. (And it's a good thing she was all by herself alone in her crib when she rolled over therefore giving me the chance to be the actual first person to SEE her roll over.)
See that? I just look at a picture of her and I feel guilty for even jokingly calling her a rotten kid. Oh I could just eat those cheeks... nom nom nom.

SOOC Saturday - Blaaaaah!

This is Zoe's new favorite thing to do. She tells me "Andrew showed me to do it." Oh, what wonderful things they learn at school from their classmates.
And, I have to add this one too. (Also sooc.) Ana is now the smiley-est baby on the planet. I have a million pictures from the last week that look just like this (or very similar). I'm loving it.

It's too early, right?

We received our first Christmas card in the mail today.

It's December 4th.

That's too early, right?

I shouldn't feel any anxiety over the fact that I haven't sent my cards yet, right?

Or that I haven't even ordered them?

Or that I haven't "designed" them?

Or that I haven't edited the photo/photos of the girls I want to use?

Or, um... that I haven't actually taken any specific photos meant for our cards yet?

It's too early, right?

Please, just humor me. It's too early.

Wordless Wednesday - Ho Ho Ho Ho

2005
2006
2007

??? Missing ???
Will have to search and find and add later.
It was an ordeal
???

2008

The Real Mom Meme

I was tagged by Jeanette at Jenty's Ramblings for the Real Mom Meme.


REAL MOMS

1. Real Moms don’t flinch when they talk about boobs. They do make you laugh your brains out.

2. Real moms go on vacation. Real moms go on vacation and learn to play traffic cop.

3. Real moms brag about their kids

4. Real moms do not mince words when they present the truth.

5. Real moms juggle

6. Real moms “resist the guilt and embrace the journey”

7. Real moms don’t give a damn to media generated Mommy Wars

8. Real moms have kids with potty mouths.

9. Real moms sometimes forget about toddler-proofing

and mine...

10. Real moms know poop happens (and sometimes you just think it does.)

The rules:

• Copy the above text to your blog, leaving all links in tact, and add in who tagged you.
• Add your ‘real mom’ contribution to the list.
• Tag as many moms as you can.
• And meme-ify!

I'd like to see what Carrie, Natalie, Kimberly and Christina have to add to the list.

(If you click over to Jenty and the person who tagged her and the person who tagged her, etc... somewhere along the line something relating memes to mutations was added in... but I didn't understand any of that. So... if you want to find it... click back.)