blue angels

How cool is it when your Oma works at the Naval Academy and gets you VIP seats to the Blue Angels air show? Almost as cool as the free bus ride to the academy!!

all spandy

11th tooth

Hello new tooth!

hitching a ride

1-year photos

A few of our favorites!

picture day at the mall

One reason for a 3 1/2 year old to behave while getting professional pictures taken? A carousel ride!! The whole family was able to go on. So fun!

 

jewel thief

We were standing in line at Panera just behind a 20-something girl. In the blink of an eye, Tyler was at her feet pulling on her shoes. I could not figure out WHY he would be so forward or interested in her shoes! Well, her flats had jewels as decoration and Tyler said, "Look Mommy, she has pretty rocks!" She was a great sport about it and Tyler learned that we don't touch strangers' things!

long standing

Jenna is standing for minutes at a time now.

new toy struggle

With new toys comes the struggle to play with them without interference from your big brother! Get off my new baby laptop!! Luckily for Jenna she is learning to stand unassisted (and has been on the verge of walking for quite some time) so she can quickly scoot over to her favorite pink shopping cart (thanks Granny!). Jenna likes to put things in and then empty them out -- over and over again. Gotta run, clean up in aisle four!

1-year checkup

Jenna is doing really well. According to Dr. Plotnick, at one year Jenna has already met all of her 15-month milestones.

Jenna's stats are:
Weight: 21 pounds, 11 ounces (50-75th percentile)
Height: 30.125 inches (75-90th percentile)
Head circumference: 18.25 inches (75-90th percentile)

birthday party time

I made Jenna's cake the same size as Tyler's first birthday cake. You will recall that he devoured the entire thing. Jenna was much more lady like and gently dipped her fingers in the icing. However, Tyler couldn't let good cake go to waste so he just started munching on the other side sans plate or fork. What can I say? It was efficient.

outstanding

It was the evening of Jenna's big birthday celebration. All the presents were opened and all of the people were gone. It was just the four of us sitting at the kitchen table and in Alex's conversation with Tyler, he used the word, "Outstanding." Tyler then tried to say it and Alex helped him practice until Tyler got it right.

That word struck a chord with me. I thought back to that day in December when my Dad lay in his hospital bed struggling to survive and I told him that the baby growing inside me was a little girl. I couldn't understand my dad's response, so I gently lifted his oxygen mask and he mustered his strength and forced out a booming "OUTSTANDING!"

I looked over at this amazing and beautiful one-year-old girl and was flooded with sadness that my father never got to meet her, which I know that he wanted to so badly. My eyes filled with tears and I couldn't contain the sobs that rolled out of me.

Tyler became alarmed. I told him it was ok, that Mommy was sad because she missed Grampy so much. And then Tyler rubbed my arm and consoled me, "It will be ok Mommy. It's ok. You will see Grampy tomorrow." It was bittersweet because I was so sad, but Tyler's compassion was soothing and warmed my heart.

Tyler was also right. I dreamed the next morning of my Dad. In my dream I walked to my boss's office, but in his place was my Dad decked out in his academic regalia. It was nice to see him again.

happy first brithday!!!

Who's the cutest birthday girl ever? That would be Jenna Marie (b. 5/15/09).

We did our birthday ritual of the whole family coming into her room in the morning singing Happy Birthday. Unfortunately, Mommy had to work Commencement (I had missed the previous year since I had a newborn!). Daddy brought both kids to the ceremony so I got to show off my cuties and then we went to lunch to celebrate. We ate at Red Robin where the waiters sang to Jenna and Tyler cried because "they were too loud," which he didn't mind telling the waiter later.

In addition to the day marking the first anniversary of Jenna's birth, it was also the day that she got her tenth tooth and started using a big girl sippy cup.

The family napped the afternoon away while Mommy prepped for Jenna's birthday party. We are all exhausted. I hope we have enough energy to make it through tomorrow!

P.S., Can you tell how much interest, or lack there of, Jenna had in taking her photo in the seat along with her bear?

what's that?

While lying down in bed, out of the blue Tyler said, "What's that Mommy?" pointing to his foot. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I directed him to point to exactly what he was referring to, and then I was finally able to answer him; "Tyler, that is your ankle. It let's your foot bend up and down." To which Tyler replied, "Oh." And he moved on just like that.

9th tooth, first molar

FINALLY!! Jenna's first molar finally poked through after a LONG period of excessive drooling and gnawing. It's her lower right first molar. One down, several more to go.

plain silly

3 1/2

Tyler is officially 3 1/2 today!

first sign

More, More, MORE!!! Jenna used sign language to communicate; her first sign was the symbol for MORE. Now I need to brush up on my signing skills so I can teach her many more!

vrrrm, vrrrmmm

park fun

mother's day

A day of pampering! I had a belly full of Belgian waffles, eggs, and the best strawberry and banana smoothie I have ever had and a heart full of love from my cuties (Alex included).

The kids went to the park with Daddy so mommy could relax for a short bit and then we all headed to the store to pick up some materials needed for Jenna's first birthday party. After an afternoon full of naps (well, the kids at least) we went to dinner at Rocky Run so Mommy could get some yummy fried pickles. Mmmmm.

Just an awesome day with my family!

baby sister