This is what Brad and I were doing:
OMG, can you believe how young we look?? Thanks to my Aunt Joyce (who I know reads from time to time), we have a fantastic wedding video to remember the day by...and this is the last couple of minutes of the video, that the videographer set to music and turned black & white. So much has changed in 8 years - the most obvious of which is the three amazing little girls we've added to our family. But one thing that hasn't changed is that I still think Brad's the greatest guy around, and I love him to pieces. I'm looking forward to many more years together.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Time Flies
Can it really be Sunday afternoon already? Where did my weekend go?!?
It's been hot and muggy this weekend, which has really been a welcome change from the odd cool weather we have been having. The kids got some fun time in their little pool and spent a lot of time playing outside with the neighbors. Today I took Maddie to College Pond for a swim while Sienna and Lyla were napping. (Slight vent here: this is seriously the only way I get out of the house these days, is by taking one or two of the kids and leaving Brad behind with whoever is sleeping. Otherwise, someone is ALWAYS napping in our house!) She had so much fun is definitely getting braver about going underwater and getting a little deeper. Swimming lessons start in a couple of weeks, and I think she'll probably make good progress this time around. She seems really open to the idea of learning how to swim right now.
Brad and I went out for dinner last night for our anniversary, which is coming up on the 29th. My mom offered to stay with the kids so we could go out (thanks, Mom!), and we ended up deciding to go with my brother and SIL. We don't see them all that often, but we have such a good time when we go out. We all agreed that we should try to make it a regular occurence. We had yummy Italian food at a place called Rustic Kitchen...mmmm.
It's been hot and muggy this weekend, which has really been a welcome change from the odd cool weather we have been having. The kids got some fun time in their little pool and spent a lot of time playing outside with the neighbors. Today I took Maddie to College Pond for a swim while Sienna and Lyla were napping. (Slight vent here: this is seriously the only way I get out of the house these days, is by taking one or two of the kids and leaving Brad behind with whoever is sleeping. Otherwise, someone is ALWAYS napping in our house!) She had so much fun is definitely getting braver about going underwater and getting a little deeper. Swimming lessons start in a couple of weeks, and I think she'll probably make good progress this time around. She seems really open to the idea of learning how to swim right now.
Brad and I went out for dinner last night for our anniversary, which is coming up on the 29th. My mom offered to stay with the kids so we could go out (thanks, Mom!), and we ended up deciding to go with my brother and SIL. We don't see them all that often, but we have such a good time when we go out. We all agreed that we should try to make it a regular occurence. We had yummy Italian food at a place called Rustic Kitchen...mmmm.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
I. Am. Tired.
Have I mentioned lately how tired parenting makes me? We just got home from taking the kids to the library, and stopping at McD's on the way home since it was getting late. I had somewhat of an ulterior motive though... I wanted to take out some parenting books to help give some guidance with Sienna. Man, does she wear us out.
Sienna is such a challenge -- she's so adorable and cuddly/lovable, but she's also such a handful and already a discipline challenge. She's very verbal and has been having tantrums since she was about 13 months old, but now she's becoming a force to be reckoned with. I always thought tantrums had to do with frustration over NOT being able to speak, but it seems like the more verbal Sienna becomes the more difficult her behavior is. Even the phrases she chooses to use can be fairly fresh...if that's possible at 20 months old?
Tonight, we were coming home from the library and I had to reach back to give Lyla her paci. I undid my seat belt and reached back, and Sienna looked at me and yelled "SIT DOWN! Sit down, Mommy!" I asked her the other day if she could help pick up toys, and she said, "Maybeeee...." as if to say, "maybe, maybe NOT!" Then, I had her sitting at the counter to eat lunch and she yelled "RIGHT NOW!" out of the blue. I asked her what she wanted right now, and she said "I want more grapes. RIGHT NOW!" I swear, I do not think she is getting this from us -- but it gives me such a guilt complex thinking that we're teaching her bad stuff already!
She's also very independent. You can hardly do anything for her; she'll say "I do it. Do it MYSELF." about pretty much everything, from feeding to reading a book. She's the one who will take off her own diaper and get into the poop if you don't get her a new diaper quick enough (eww, just had another smearing incident yesterday); she's the one who will look at you and giggle menacingly when you tell her to do something, then do exactly the opposite; but yet she is the one who will be the first to yell "TIME OUT!" when Madelyn does something wrong -- so she clearly gets the idea of discipline.
At the same time, she is so sweet. She always, always says "please" and "thank you" for everything, and she says "excuse me" and "bless you" after sneezes. She never goes to bed without asking for one more hug. She never lets anyone leave the house without asking them for a hug, either. She says "I wuv you" regularly and just makes your heart melt.
So I'm hoping these toddler discipline books will help shed some light. Maybe we're just approaching it all wrong. I know it's easy to have selective memory, but I can say with absolute certainty that by this age, Maddie was listening and following directions a lot more than Sienna is. I know Sienna gets it -- because she acknowledges you and does just the opposite -- but she just isn't interested in following directions when it's not something she wants to do. And I'm not even getting into the tantrums, which are just world class.
I better get reading so we can save a little bit of sanity for when Lyla hits the toddler years...
Sienna is such a challenge -- she's so adorable and cuddly/lovable, but she's also such a handful and already a discipline challenge. She's very verbal and has been having tantrums since she was about 13 months old, but now she's becoming a force to be reckoned with. I always thought tantrums had to do with frustration over NOT being able to speak, but it seems like the more verbal Sienna becomes the more difficult her behavior is. Even the phrases she chooses to use can be fairly fresh...if that's possible at 20 months old?
Tonight, we were coming home from the library and I had to reach back to give Lyla her paci. I undid my seat belt and reached back, and Sienna looked at me and yelled "SIT DOWN! Sit down, Mommy!" I asked her the other day if she could help pick up toys, and she said, "Maybeeee...." as if to say, "maybe, maybe NOT!" Then, I had her sitting at the counter to eat lunch and she yelled "RIGHT NOW!" out of the blue. I asked her what she wanted right now, and she said "I want more grapes. RIGHT NOW!" I swear, I do not think she is getting this from us -- but it gives me such a guilt complex thinking that we're teaching her bad stuff already!
She's also very independent. You can hardly do anything for her; she'll say "I do it. Do it MYSELF." about pretty much everything, from feeding to reading a book. She's the one who will take off her own diaper and get into the poop if you don't get her a new diaper quick enough (eww, just had another smearing incident yesterday); she's the one who will look at you and giggle menacingly when you tell her to do something, then do exactly the opposite; but yet she is the one who will be the first to yell "TIME OUT!" when Madelyn does something wrong -- so she clearly gets the idea of discipline.
At the same time, she is so sweet. She always, always says "please" and "thank you" for everything, and she says "excuse me" and "bless you" after sneezes. She never goes to bed without asking for one more hug. She never lets anyone leave the house without asking them for a hug, either. She says "I wuv you" regularly and just makes your heart melt.
So I'm hoping these toddler discipline books will help shed some light. Maybe we're just approaching it all wrong. I know it's easy to have selective memory, but I can say with absolute certainty that by this age, Maddie was listening and following directions a lot more than Sienna is. I know Sienna gets it -- because she acknowledges you and does just the opposite -- but she just isn't interested in following directions when it's not something she wants to do. And I'm not even getting into the tantrums, which are just world class.
I better get reading so we can save a little bit of sanity for when Lyla hits the toddler years...
Monday, August 20, 2007
My Story (A Survey)
Hi, my name is: Dawn
But you can call me: um...just Dawn, no need to add to it!
Never in my life have I: Seen the Star Wars movies - any of them - in full!
The one person in my life who can drive me nuts is: Madelyn...because she's just so much like me it's scary!
When I'm nervous: I talk. A LOT. Try to fill every empty space in the conversation.
The last song I listened to: "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie
If I were to get married right now, it would be to: Brad, all over again -- but in a different dress!
My hair is: Desperately in need of a cut and color, which I'm getting on Friday -- hooray!
When I was 4: I closed my brother's pinky finger in a heavy wood door at my baby sitter's house. He ended up having a big cast on his little finger and I remember climbing in to his crib each morning to give it a kiss! (I've just told this story to Maddie because she closed Sienna's finger in a door, gently, the other day and I've been trying to teach her to be careful of little fingers.)
Last Christmas: was the first time I realized exactly how much Sienna already knew at 1 year from having a big sister around, when she took one look at Maddie's new Dora doll and squealed, with perfect clarity, "DORA!" It was so much fun.
I should be: finishing off some emails and getting dinner ready.
When I look down I see: some leftover baby belly that I'm hopefully going to get rid of in the next 6 weeks of the Biggest Loser challenge.
The happiest recent event was: Lyla's natural birth -- what a wonderful, fantastic experience and an amazing baby girl.
If I were a character on 'Friends': I'd have to say Monica I guess...but I'm not sure I'm really any of them. I'm definitely not as anal or as organized as she is!
I know these girls: Who totally keep me going each day and aren't even living nearby! (Man do I wish they were closer!)
By this time next year: I hope we will have been back to Aruba, this time with two more girls!
My current gripe is: that all of the toddler/preschool activities around are scheduled during the week days, when I have to be working. And that working and breastfeeding are just so much work.
I have a hard time understanding: why I get sucked in to Noggin whenever it's on in our house... Handy Manny is for preschools and not moms, right?? What's the draw? LOL.
If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: Brad, followed closely by my Mom (because she's probably my biggest fan!)
I want to buy: a swingset for the kids
Where do you plan to visit: My inlaws in Virginia (hopefully soon), Aruba in March, Kristen in New Hampshire, my brother and sister in law in Boston every now and then!
If you spent the night at my house: you would be absolutely amazed at the chaos and noise that three little girls can create between the hours of 5 and 8.
The world could do without: mosquitos! SO annoying!
Most recent thing I've bought myself: A new lipliner. It's pretty much the only makeup I wear.
Most recent thing someone else bought me: a cute giraffe print signed by the artist to hang in the girls' jungle-themed bathroom. Thanks mom!
My middle name is: Well, I have two. Ellen is the middle name I was born with; Conner is my maiden name, which I retained as a middle name when I got married.
In the morning I: wake very easily and am anxious to get my day started.
Last night I was: cooking dinner for my parents...yummy ratatouille!
There's this guy I know who: is the best father a family could ask for -- I don't know how I'd do it without him.
If I was an animal I'd be an: absolute wreck -- I do not like animals!
A better name for me would be: Mommy
Tomorrow I am: working...what else is new?
Tonight I am: hoping to rally to do some scrapbooking. I'm getting behind!
My birthday is: December 17th
But you can call me: um...just Dawn, no need to add to it!
Never in my life have I: Seen the Star Wars movies - any of them - in full!
The one person in my life who can drive me nuts is: Madelyn...because she's just so much like me it's scary!
When I'm nervous: I talk. A LOT. Try to fill every empty space in the conversation.
The last song I listened to: "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie
If I were to get married right now, it would be to: Brad, all over again -- but in a different dress!
My hair is: Desperately in need of a cut and color, which I'm getting on Friday -- hooray!
When I was 4: I closed my brother's pinky finger in a heavy wood door at my baby sitter's house. He ended up having a big cast on his little finger and I remember climbing in to his crib each morning to give it a kiss! (I've just told this story to Maddie because she closed Sienna's finger in a door, gently, the other day and I've been trying to teach her to be careful of little fingers.)
Last Christmas: was the first time I realized exactly how much Sienna already knew at 1 year from having a big sister around, when she took one look at Maddie's new Dora doll and squealed, with perfect clarity, "DORA!" It was so much fun.
I should be: finishing off some emails and getting dinner ready.
When I look down I see: some leftover baby belly that I'm hopefully going to get rid of in the next 6 weeks of the Biggest Loser challenge.
The happiest recent event was: Lyla's natural birth -- what a wonderful, fantastic experience and an amazing baby girl.
If I were a character on 'Friends': I'd have to say Monica I guess...but I'm not sure I'm really any of them. I'm definitely not as anal or as organized as she is!
I know these girls: Who totally keep me going each day and aren't even living nearby! (Man do I wish they were closer!)
By this time next year: I hope we will have been back to Aruba, this time with two more girls!
My current gripe is: that all of the toddler/preschool activities around are scheduled during the week days, when I have to be working. And that working and breastfeeding are just so much work.
I have a hard time understanding: why I get sucked in to Noggin whenever it's on in our house... Handy Manny is for preschools and not moms, right?? What's the draw? LOL.
If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: Brad, followed closely by my Mom (because she's probably my biggest fan!)
I want to buy: a swingset for the kids
Where do you plan to visit: My inlaws in Virginia (hopefully soon), Aruba in March, Kristen in New Hampshire, my brother and sister in law in Boston every now and then!
If you spent the night at my house: you would be absolutely amazed at the chaos and noise that three little girls can create between the hours of 5 and 8.
The world could do without: mosquitos! SO annoying!
Most recent thing I've bought myself: A new lipliner. It's pretty much the only makeup I wear.
Most recent thing someone else bought me: a cute giraffe print signed by the artist to hang in the girls' jungle-themed bathroom. Thanks mom!
My middle name is: Well, I have two. Ellen is the middle name I was born with; Conner is my maiden name, which I retained as a middle name when I got married.
In the morning I: wake very easily and am anxious to get my day started.
Last night I was: cooking dinner for my parents...yummy ratatouille!
There's this guy I know who: is the best father a family could ask for -- I don't know how I'd do it without him.
If I was an animal I'd be an: absolute wreck -- I do not like animals!
A better name for me would be: Mommy
Tomorrow I am: working...what else is new?
Tonight I am: hoping to rally to do some scrapbooking. I'm getting behind!
My birthday is: December 17th
A little about me
Since Erika tagged me, I guess it's my turn to put up a little info. on myself! (Soon to be followed by the story/survey about me when I get a minute...)
Jobs I've had:
- babysitter
- camp counselor
- t-shirt imprinter (you know all those wacky decals and letters you could have put on a shirt?)
- salesperson at The Limited
- editor of technical manuals
- shipping room manager
- reporter/editor
- au pair
- class notes transcriber for deaf students
- financial services marketing intern
- web administrator
- legal assistant (criminal defense - now THAT was an interesting one!)
- senior brand manager (now we're getting to my career here, LOL)
Movies I never get sick of:
- Sense & Sensibility
- Armageddon
- Notting Hill
- Father of the Bride (1991)
- Legally Blonde
Places I've called home:
- Merrimac, MA
- Plymouth, MA
- Hanover, NH
- Chicago, IL
- Brookline/Boston, MA
- And for a short time... Baltimore, MD; Siena, Italy; Malpensa, Italy; and Buenos Aires, Argentina
TV shows:
- Grey's Anatomy
- Prison Break
- Lost
- Amazing Race
- Damages (new this summer with Glenn Cose -- SO GOOD!)
- Project Runway (it should be time for a new one soon!)
- Property Ladder
Favorite Vacation Spots:
- Aruba (Erika said it best: "oh.my.gawd - heaven"
- Anywhere on the coast of Mexico
- Lake Ossipee, NH
Websites:
http://www.connectedmoms.com/
http://www.people.com/
http://www.askdrsears.com/ (a lifesaver when you have a sick kid!)
http://www.kellymom.com/ (a lifesaver when you're nursing!)
http://www.celebritybabyblog.com/ (cheesy, I know, but I love all the gossip)
http://www.realtor.com/ (I'm a real estate junky and always a little antsy!)
Places I'd rather be:
- playing with my kids
- anyplace in the caribbean, sipping a nice frozen margarita or pina colada
- at a crop getting some scrapbooking done
- Chicago lakefront in the summertime
- riding a giant rollercoast...cuz you gotta love the thrill!
Jobs I've had:
- babysitter
- camp counselor
- t-shirt imprinter (you know all those wacky decals and letters you could have put on a shirt?)
- salesperson at The Limited
- editor of technical manuals
- shipping room manager
- reporter/editor
- au pair
- class notes transcriber for deaf students
- financial services marketing intern
- web administrator
- legal assistant (criminal defense - now THAT was an interesting one!)
- senior brand manager (now we're getting to my career here, LOL)
Movies I never get sick of:
- Sense & Sensibility
- Armageddon
- Notting Hill
- Father of the Bride (1991)
- Legally Blonde
Places I've called home:
- Merrimac, MA
- Plymouth, MA
- Hanover, NH
- Chicago, IL
- Brookline/Boston, MA
- And for a short time... Baltimore, MD; Siena, Italy; Malpensa, Italy; and Buenos Aires, Argentina
TV shows:
- Grey's Anatomy
- Prison Break
- Lost
- Amazing Race
- Damages (new this summer with Glenn Cose -- SO GOOD!)
- Project Runway (it should be time for a new one soon!)
- Property Ladder
Favorite Vacation Spots:
- Aruba (Erika said it best: "oh.my.gawd - heaven"
- Anywhere on the coast of Mexico
- Lake Ossipee, NH
Websites:
http://www.connectedmoms.com/
http://www.people.com/
http://www.askdrsears.com/ (a lifesaver when you have a sick kid!)
http://www.kellymom.com/ (a lifesaver when you're nursing!)
http://www.celebritybabyblog.com/ (cheesy, I know, but I love all the gossip)
http://www.realtor.com/ (I'm a real estate junky and always a little antsy!)
Places I'd rather be:
- playing with my kids
- anyplace in the caribbean, sipping a nice frozen margarita or pina colada
- at a crop getting some scrapbooking done
- Chicago lakefront in the summertime
- riding a giant rollercoast...cuz you gotta love the thrill!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Baby no more...
Sienna is officially turning into a little girl. She's losing some of her "baby" look, among other things. Just thought I'd post the latest pics of her, though I don't have much to say about them other than what I just posted below...man, do they grow up fast.
Houston, we have a problem!
My 3.5 year old is getting married. Yes, that's right. Married. At least that's what she has been insiting on lately. She and Jonathan, our neighbor, are getting married -- his idea. His aunt is going to make her a chocolate chip wedding cake, he says. He has told her this numerous times lately, and she has seemed pretty excited by the idea of scoring her own wedding cake. But then one night last week she told me, "Umm...I don't really like chocolate chip wedding cake, Mom." Hmmm...
This is the picture that is hanging in our kitchen right now:
It's a picture that Maddie drew of her and Jonathan. (She's the one with hair on the right, in case you couldn't tell.) I love how each of them have a million fingers. It's just too cute.
But after she hung that up on our sliding door, she told me that Jonathan says he'll come over for a sleepover one day. And I watched him plant a big kiss on her cheek a couple of times this week. (I'm starting to get nervous -- how are we gonna make it through the teenage years if we're starting at age 3, LOL??) Jonathan leaves her notes in our mailbox regularly, cute little drawings he has done with "messages" for her. She's also left a couple for him...who cares about violating postal laws when you've got a preschool romance to maintain? Guess I'll be looking for that wedding invitation to appear in the mailbox soon. Man do they grow up fast.
This is the picture that is hanging in our kitchen right now:
It's a picture that Maddie drew of her and Jonathan. (She's the one with hair on the right, in case you couldn't tell.) I love how each of them have a million fingers. It's just too cute.
But after she hung that up on our sliding door, she told me that Jonathan says he'll come over for a sleepover one day. And I watched him plant a big kiss on her cheek a couple of times this week. (I'm starting to get nervous -- how are we gonna make it through the teenage years if we're starting at age 3, LOL??) Jonathan leaves her notes in our mailbox regularly, cute little drawings he has done with "messages" for her. She's also left a couple for him...who cares about violating postal laws when you've got a preschool romance to maintain? Guess I'll be looking for that wedding invitation to appear in the mailbox soon. Man do they grow up fast.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Butterflies!
For the past couple of years, my mom has raised monarch butterflies to release into her garden. She's made this a really fun project to share with Madelyn, and Maddie has become quite the little expert on everything from caterpillars to metamorphasis to crysallis...and finally, to butterflies. It's really cute to see her using my mom's magnifying glass to watch the caterpillars eating through milkweed leaves, or to see her concerned about cleaning out their home and getting new leaves for them to chomp on.My mom bought a little mesh laundry hamper than she's using to keep them contained in the house once they emerge from their chrysalis, until Maddie gets a chance to come over and set them free in the yard.
Last weekend (gosh, it's been a while since I blogged!) we went to my parents' house and a few more butterflies had emerged. Maddie and my nephew, Hunter, had fun letting them go in the yard. Hunter was a little scared of them, but Maddie (being the pro caretaker at this point, LOL) put her finger right out for the butterfly to climb on. Sienna was a little more perplexed by the whole event, and seemed alarmed that we were letting them go.
Friday, August 3, 2007
It's Friday!
While I'm thrilled that today is Friday, I have to say that this week has gone by REALLY fast -- despite the fact that Brad was out of town for a couple of days, which always seems to make things go by much slower. I'm embarassed to say I had a little "incident" while he was gone that made me feel like I'm sort of helpless without him around... I was taking a break on Wednesday, making myself lunch while the kids were eating, and all of the sudden all of the fire alarms in the house started going off simultaneously. Seeing as we have a new construction house that's right up to code, we have about a million of them -- one in the basement, one in the attic, one in every single bedroom, three in the downstairs hallways. Truly ear shattering levels of high pitched noise. Needless to say, the baby (who was trying to go to sleep) started screaming, Maddie and Sienna were understandably alarmed and pretty agitated, and Rachael developed a headache about 5 minutes in. I sent them all outside while I tried to figure out how to turn the darnn things off, to no avail. I had already checked all throughout the house, and knew there was no smoke or fire anywhere. I couldn't reach Brad, who is often inside the equivalent of a fortress while on his business trips (meaning no cell coverage!) and while my dad tried to help over the phone, nothing would work. I tried disconnecting individual ones, pushing the test buttons, flipping each circuit breaker and then even the main breaker for the whole house, thinking it might turn them off. Nothing worked. I ended up having to call the fire department, who brought a truck and all the gear and figured it out in about two minutes flat. We were all so relieved to have some silence after at least an hour of blaring fire alarms. And I was so relieved that the fire department at least left the sirens off...maybe just a little less embarassing!
On a different topic altogether, the kids are starting today VERY happy little campers. I finally found an eggless pancake recipe, so I made some pancakes from scratch this morning. We've been on a pancake strike ever since Sienna's appointment with the allergist, where he confirmed her serious egg allergies. Never underestimate how happy a yummy pancake will made a toddler or a preschooler, though! :-)
On a different topic altogether, the kids are starting today VERY happy little campers. I finally found an eggless pancake recipe, so I made some pancakes from scratch this morning. We've been on a pancake strike ever since Sienna's appointment with the allergist, where he confirmed her serious egg allergies. Never underestimate how happy a yummy pancake will made a toddler or a preschooler, though! :-)
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
I'm getting a vision...
Of my daughter in her teenage years. Scary, my friends, scary! Just kidding, of course. But take a look at how I found Madelyn this afternoon:
What a character. She's such a fan of the camera these days, and after posing from some pics, proceeded to ask me to videotape her singing a song, etc. She put on her best "fancy" poses (a la "Fancy Nancy") and had quite a bit to say. I'm going to have to try to get that one up on this site, but I'm not quite that good at blogging yet, LOL.
While Sienna wasn't dressed for the occasion (and it would have been hard to top Madelyn, though she would have tried!), she decided to join her sister for a pose or two. I just love how the two of them play together now, and love to be together. They do their share of fighting, but seeing them together always reminds me why I wanted a sister.
What a character. She's such a fan of the camera these days, and after posing from some pics, proceeded to ask me to videotape her singing a song, etc. She put on her best "fancy" poses (a la "Fancy Nancy") and had quite a bit to say. I'm going to have to try to get that one up on this site, but I'm not quite that good at blogging yet, LOL.
While Sienna wasn't dressed for the occasion (and it would have been hard to top Madelyn, though she would have tried!), she decided to join her sister for a pose or two. I just love how the two of them play together now, and love to be together. They do their share of fighting, but seeing them together always reminds me why I wanted a sister.
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