First Halloween!

Madison Monkey

Jackson Space Explorer


More to come...

Pictures

My crazy girl STANDING in her crib. Doesn't she know she's too little to do this stuff??

Madison crawling all over Jackson yesterday. He obviously didn't have a problem with it.

This is Jackson sleeping with Auntie the last night of the World Series. It was pretty warm so she took off his clothes. They looked so cozy. Look at those rolls!! Slap some butter on them and they're good enough for eating!

Madison yesterday after a bath. This girl is either WICKED happy or
WICKED pissed off at any given moment. There's no inbetween for her.

Both are now holding their bottles like pros. This makes feeding time so much easier on me. I do still have to be near though. Yesterday after a couple minutes I looked at them and Madison was almost done and Jackson was completely done. I knew there was no way he could be done so soon so I checked to see if some had spilled...it had...the entire bottle poured out all over the chair they were laying on. I even was careful enough to put a blanket down under them to catch any drips. Guess it didn't matter. It leaked out a lot this morning too so I don't know what's going on with it.

They are both also loving the cat now. They give HUGE smiles when she walks by or meows (which is a lot). I've let them pet her but it's not so much pet as grab and pull ear or hit so I supervise very closely. The cat never voluntarily goes near them so I have to pick her up and bring her to them. They love it.

Check out this new trick!

The night the Red Sox won the World Series

My prediction came true!

Auntie Courtney and Uncle Steve came over to watch the game with us! Don't worry, Jackson only got a little bit of the beer ;-)

This is Madison doing the Papelbon dance. I entered it into a local new station contest so I'll let you know where you can go to vote.

Videos of Jackson

Jackson started this weird tongue sucking thing last night. It's very cute.



This is me tickling him and making him laugh.

Great Uncle Paul

We had yet another death in the family. Chris's grandmother's brother passed away last week. Paul was very close to his sister and was devastated when she died last month. We celebrated his life together with his wife, 5 children, 5 children-in-law, and 12 grandchildren. They are an amazing family. So fun and welcoming and caring. To see them lose their patriarch was heartbreaking.

Halloween in Salem

Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts is hardcore. We generally don't venture there since it's impossibly crowded and we're not really fans of crowds. However this year Chris's college buddy Ron came up fron New York with his girlfriend Kasha and her little sister Victoria who just turned 6. Ron and Chris are like two little kids when they get together. It's really funny.
Salem is so crazy that there was literally no place for us to park. Luckily Chris's uncle lives downtown so we were able to park in his driveway. The fee for parking was a visit after walking around. They live in a stunning open loft so it was a nice place to spend some time and have some wine.

Here are some random people that were walking around dressed like Shrek and Fiona.
Victoria posed for a picture with them.

Salem is such a pretty place with all it's historic brick buildings.

Ron and Chris being goofballs.

Ron, Kasha, and Victoria the fairy.

Me, Victoria, Madison, and Jackson with some creepy witch statue.

Updates

Jackson is sitting up almost perfectly now. He really enjoys being that way too. He looks like such a big boy like that! Madison has no interest in sitting up since she can crawl all over the house and get whatever she wants.

They are both eating food now wonderfully. They both open their mouths and swallow everything. Tonight they had applesauce and butternut squash (made with love by mommy).

My prediction is the Red Sox are going to sweep the world series. Just going on record.

Could my friends be any prettier??

These are four of the best friends anyone could ever ask for. They have known eachother for 29 years. I came into the picture only 24 years ago. It's just amazing to think of all we've been through together. I really can't even get into it all here. But we have all been there for eachother in good times and bad.

Every year we go away just the five of us and basically laugh for 3 solid days and nights. This year we spent our second year on the Cape at my uncle's house. It accomodates us all perfectly so as long as Susan doesn't mind traveling from Chicago every year I think we'll keep going there.

Unfortunately the above photo is the only one I am allowed to show. We all agreed that what happens on the cape stays on the cape. ;-)

Red Sox!

Cheering on the Red Sox in the WORLD SERIES!!! Oh yeah, and he's SITTING UP on his own!!

7 Months

Dear Madison and Jackson,

Every month is going faster than the last. This is so frustrating!!

You have been getting up earlier the last few weeks. Madison is usually up at 7 and Jackson at 8. This makes for a very tired mommy since I don’t get to sleep until at least 1 am. I’ve even started giving you both 8-9 oz of formula 4 times a day but it doesn’t seem to be helping. I also just put up room darkening shades in your room yesterday but that didn’t make a difference either.

I usually play with Madison until Jackson gets up then feed you both. I am now able to lay you down on the carpet and you both hold your bottles! I certainly have to supervise and be on clean up duty but I am able to scratch my nose if I need to during feeding time! You both got very good at holding your own bottle just a few days ago.
After eating you’ll play for an hour or so. Play time now consists of being free on the floor. You both still like the exersaucers but definitely prefer the floor. After play time is a nap then Daddy comes home at 12 for lunch and I’ll feed you again. Around 3 you’ll both go for another nap that is usually pretty long.

We’ve been spending a few days a week walking with Stacey…sometimes with Danielle and Nick. We walk in our neighborhood and sometimes we’ll meet up in the neighborhood with 14 month old twins Aaron and Amelia and their mom Ellen. There are also 4 month old girl twins but we haven’t spent any time with them yet.

This month we went to the Topsfield Fair. I used to love to go as a kid/teenager/adult. Since Daddy and I have been together I haven’t gone. He does not share my love of it. It was real important to me that you two went during this first year of your life so I took you with Grandma, Great Aunt Judy, and cousins Ben and Jack. I think you enjoyed yourselves. I hope to take you every year.

You are both now able to take your binky out of your mouth and put it back in!

I have had a cold now for a good 5 weeks now. It took a while but you both finally caught it. It hasn’t been awful but it is sad to hear you all stuffy and having runny noses.

You still aren't crazy about food but you're getting better. We're not real consistant with feeding you (food) though so that could be part of the problem.

I love spending my days with you. You fill my life with laughter and happiness.

Dear Jackson,

I can’t stand how much I love you. Sometimes I hold you and kiss you until you squirm and yell to get a way! I love you so much.

Not too much new this month. You still like to be on your belly and go around in circles and kick your feet. You make movement backward but no signs of getting up on all fours. I think you’re just content where you are.

You are now needing size 4 diapers! Especially at night since you started waking up wet in the morning. I switched to the BJs brand because they are $11 cheaper per box and there are MORE diapers in the box! They seem to work just fine. Your clothes are now 6-9 or 6-12 months depending on the brand.

No injuries this month and I still just call you Buddy.


Dear Madison,

You had a big month of firsts! You started full on crawling and you got your first tooth!!

It was so fascinating to see the process of you learning to crawl. First you got up on all fours which just blew me away and you would rock back and forth with a lot of force. Then a few days later you would pull one knee forward then flop on your belly. Then a few days later you would take a step with one knee then the other then flop on your belly. Now you are able to crawl across the room if you want something. All this in two weeks time!

I just felt your first tooth 3 days ago. It’s not really visible yet but I can feel it and it’s VERY sharp! You have been playing with your tongue a lot since it came through. The sharp tooth must feel strange to you.

You have started feeling your hair with your hand. It’s so cute! Your hair has grown a lot in the last month.

You hit things with your hand a lot like if you’re laying on your belly you’ll slap the ground repeatedly or you’ll hit the bottle as I’m feeding you.

Grandma had some size 2 diapers left over so I’ve been using those on you during the day but at night I use the 2-3s. Your clothes are mostly 3-6 month. I think you finally seem to be growing a little.

You have gotten feisty lately. You do NOT like to be put down. You protest loudly but you are easily distracted by toys so you’re not training me to pick you up whenever you cry even though you’re trying to…for now, I’m smarter than you ;-)

I mostly still call you Baby Girl.

You had some bumps this month but nothing bad. Nana was responsible for a couple of them in one day! Then today my camera was hanging around my neck when I bent down to pick you up. The camera swung down and hit you in the forehead.

I love you so much, baby girl!

Visit with the Great Grandparents and cousins

Last weekend the four of us went to visit my family in western Mass. We stayed with my grandmother. Saturday evening we went to spend some time with my other grandmother and grandfather. Grandma made shephard's pie which is one of my favorites! My aunt and two cousins came over too. It was a tight squeeze in their tiny apartment but Jackson was showing off his smile to everyone and Madison showed off her crawling skills. Then they both fell asleep while being held.

After that we went back to Grandma's and watched the red sox game. Unfortunately we all fell asleep and missed the end. Also unfortunately in the morning we found out they lost.

Sleep wasn't great that night. M&J took turns waking up crying all night long. Luckily it just took a binky to fix but made for a very tired mommy the next day.

Sunday Chris went golfing with cousin Mike while Grandma, M, and J and I went to cousin Alissa's house. Her son Tyler is 9 and other son Jacob is 3. Cousin Jen was also there with her 2 and a half year old son Hunter. They both got to meet M&J for the first time!

We all had fun playing on the floor with baby toys. Although Hunter and Jacob fought over all the toys. The cutest thing was when Hunter was hiding behind a wall and kept peeking out. Grandma thought he was playing a game with her. After a while Jen went to see what he was doing. He was sneaking sucks of Jackson's binky! It was the cutest thing ever!

This picture cracks me up...two babies that do not want their picture taken!


Madison, Hunter, Tyler, and Jackson
Jacob refused to be in the picture and Hunter refused to be happy.
Madison and Hunter are the only red heads in the family!


Hunter was fascinated with Madison...he was just staring at her.

Tyler was SO great with the babies and so helpful. He helped me make bottles, he rinsed toys off that Jackson spit up on, he got new toys for them when they were bored with the ones they had. I think he enjoyed himself. Too bad we don't live closer!


Jackson and cousin Mike have the same head!

Random pictures

Jackson in his argyle sweater...just like Daddy

Madison in her hand-me-down from Jackson that he never got to wear!

This was the night I noticed Madison's tooth. She had been sticking out her tongue like this all night. Nana thinks it's because she was feeling the tooth!

Go Red Sox!!!

This is my new favorite picture. (not sure what the beard is all about)

Sunday October, 14th

My baby girl got her first tooth on Sunday. It's not noticable above the gum yet but I felt it and it's so sharp. I'm now grateful I'm not breastfeeding.
You need to click on the image to make it bigger in order to see better inside the circle. It's not white just a different shade of pink. It looks like it's coming in crooked which is fine with me...I think crooked teeth are cool.

Still lots more stories and pictures to come...SO busy!!!

More to come but I'll leave you with this...

Jackson gurgling

This is dark because I was trying to be inconspicuous, but he caught me.

Pictures

Madison on the prowl

I'm not sure what I did to evoke this kind of anger. Where did she learn that anyway?? (Auntie?)







First time at the Topsfield Fair


Auntie was trying to pack up Jackson to take home from Great-Nana's house



Madison and Nana in Great-Nana's chair


Daddy and I took too long getting ready to go visit Gia and Loren


Jackson was keeping an eye on Loren. He's a shifty character.

Madison crawling

This was about a week long progression. The first in the series is the one of her a few posts ago in the crib rocking back and forth on her knees.

In most of the videos you'll hear my sad voice in disbelief of how big my tiny baby girl is.

This is #2 (Sept. 30th. I probably should have edited it because the good stuff is at the end)



This is #3 (Sept. 30th)



This is #4 (Oct. 4th. I was actually crying in this one.)



This is #5 (Oct. 4th)

Peek a boo

There are two different kinds of people in this world. Those that pee themselves laughing at America's funniest home videos and those that don't. I feel blessed to be the prior because it means that I get a lot of enjoyment out of life...even if it is at the expense of others being startled, hurt, or saying something stupid on national television.

So now you understand that I seriously almost pee my pants every time I see this video of Madison. I can NOT control the laugh that comes out of my mouth. I hope the "other" kinds of people in the world don't think I'm too cruel.