Big Week Sunday, FINAL RECAP FINALLY

All I can say is WOW! What a week. I don't know if there could have been a better, more fun, more exhausting week.

I won't lie, Big Week kicks this week's ass. Compared to last week's tidal wave of activity, this week is like a pebble skip in the lake of life. (Yeah, I just typed that, wanna make something of it?) It was exhausting (especially with a baby that still doesn't like sleeping at night and parents who like partying a little too late into the night) but it was simultaneously exhilarating and so exciting. We got to see our babygirl really enjoying her birthday for the first time, then we welcomed Baby Rachel into our play group and helped her celebrate her real BIRTHday (not to mention the industry's biggest balloon that was totally the bomb), next we got to watch the Tigers kick some serious Illini butt (I can't use ass twice in the same post..) and we even caught up with some fun girls-only bonding on the deck (we missed you A-Le), and finally it was Big D's turn to celebrate 31 years of life. Whew, tiring but awesome and, well, really, it just doesn't get much better then to recognize and appreciate all these kinds of awesome life events.


So....sigh.... farewell Big Week Sunday, I don't know if you will ever be topped. We'll miss you around here at Ivy Trace, especially all the "But, it's Big Week Sunday" comments. But we also know it's time to settle down - we recognize we're a little out of control over here, believe it or not. BUT, here's to you, future Big Week (raise your glasses everyone). I can see you looming out there like a Typhoon in the Pacific Ocean of time (uh-huh, I totally typed that, too.) and until we meet again, it's been real....

Big Week Sunday, Day 5 The Birthday Celebration

It wasn't going to be an Elmo party, but it just sorta happened that way. I sold out - Damn you Elmo and your cute little red face. Why does she have to say "emo" in a way that I just can't resist?

Unbelievably Bridget's BFF was there to share in some of the festivities. Even a newborn baby sister's first day home from the hospital couldn't stop this devoted friend !

Just like she did at his birthday party, Matthew was happy to lend Bridget a helping hand with a few of her presents. These two are just too cute. Can't wait to see what the future brings with 5 helping hands at parties! Oh, hello Mass Chaos, we've been waiting for you....

Finally, it was time to get her some cake! It was a quick few bites and then off to bed for this tired two year old and as of press time, this enthusiastic birthday girl is still requesting "happy birthday cake, bridgey's happy birthday"...

It was a great day for her and us! Thanks to all (and especially Aunt Aimee and Uncle Mike for making the party - can you believe next year our babygirls will be celebrating their b-days only one day apart?!)

Big Week Sunday, Day 4

Sheesh - Big Week Sunday is exhausting. I'll bring the events of BIG WEEK up to date tonight or tomorrow as we are capping off the week with yet another party today.

Until then, here's a pic to hold you over:

I'm wiped out from all this partying! Somebody stop them!

(Notice he's just starting to sleep swaddle-free these days and enjoying every stretched out moment of it! And, yes, I also realize the AAP probably does not recommend stuffed animals be placed on either side of the baby's head, but he really likes it!)

Big Week Sunday, Day 3 Another day, another Birthday!

I just returned from meeting this beautiful little babygirl and have the pictures in hand to prove it. She is so cute and has a full head of black dark hair. Big brother Matthew seemed to approve of his new little sister and was happy to show her off, pointing to "Baby Rachel". He was especially enamored with her after she gifted him with a way cool Thomas the Train set.

Oh, the flashes... enough.

Yeah, I'm talking to you camera girl.

Sweet pea

The new family of four. This is apparently only minutes before the new mommy decided to give everyone quite a scare with some clotting issues. I don't know all the exact details, but I do know everything is fine now, but I have a feeling it was a little stressful and upsetting for a while. Other than that, Aimee was doing great and looked so unbelievably good for just giving birth a few short hours before. We are so glad everything was fine, but please no more scary moments like that! :)

We love you sweet Baby Rachel! Welcome to the World -
you are one lucky baby and so are your mommy, daddy and big brother Matthew!

See all my pics here:

Rachel Elizabeth

Happy Birthday Rachel Elizabeth!

She's here! I can't wait to meet her - Rachel Elizabeth born at 11:31 am, 7lbs 7ounces. (eerily similar from what I can tell so far to her big brother's birthday). Mommy says she's a little more worn out, but generally doing well!

I'll update more after I've seen the new little lady, but we're so excited you're here babygirl! Now, Auntie eej has GOT to try and do some work today - I'm just too excited by you're arrival FINALLY!

Big Week Sunday, Day 3

What a great night! I got practically no sleep, but got fun updates via text and in between baby shane awakenings I had crazy dreams that the new babygirl was born with pigtails, but she was adorable!

Aimee is such a trooper so far - texting and posting! I just got word her water is broken and things are moving along... It's gonna be an exciting day!

Big Week Sunday, Day 2 - The actual Birthday!

Day 2 of Big Week Sunday was just as exciting as day 1! A little more exhausting than I expected (I blame my little man for that as he has decided that sleeping through the night is suddenly NOT COOL), but babygirl had a great birthday and got lots of attention, especially from her friend "A.J." at school. Which - note to A.J. - I'm keeping my eye on you. I'm not sure if there's something going on here, but Bridget talks about you quite a bit. In fact, between A.J. and Matthew, I'm not sure who she is more infatuated with currently. DO I smell a baby love triangle?

Anyway, so the actual BIRTHday is over, but the fun of BIG WEEK SUNDAY is just beginning. I just got word that A-Le might be starting pitocin tonight so we could be celebrating another birthday sometime in the wee hours of the morning (just like Bridgets!) so that has got me all excited! Maybe when the aforementioned baby night owl has me up in the wee hours of the night again, I'll get updates on baby m's progress like Kim and I did just 3 short months ago...

So, until then, here's a recap in pictures of day 2. Enjoy!

Getting ready to leave for school with her birthday cupcakes!

(Insert lots of hours in between at school and work here... boo...)

Finally home and ready to party with the family (and elmo)!

Big present - her "bike" - she knew what it was even though we've never talked about one before?! We were set to surprise her with this as the big present, but my hiding place in the laundry room didn't work out too well when we had a cranberry juice incident and she followed me in there to change her shirt. All I heard was, "bike, bike" and I knew I had busted that play big time!

Tim snuck this little license plate in our cart, but I can't blame him - how cute is that?

Capping off the evening with yet another piece of "appy earthday cake"
... all is right in her 2 year old world!

Happy Birthday babygirl - you are "two" funny!

Big Week Sunday, Day 1

Day 1 of BIG WEEK started out with the backyard being finished FINALLY! It's fully fenced, the sod is in and both Bridget and the boys were free to run...

Can you even believe this is our yard? We're taking bets on how long it stays green...

Of course a photo shoot broke out at some point in the day. This pic is about 1.1 second before she said "all done" and Shane flopped to his side hitting the stairs. It was not our best moment of the day...

We then spent some time making cupcakes for her "school" birthday party tomorrow... Isn't it impressive how she not only knows how to spell her name, but how to decorate cupcakes, too?

And, then of course we had to eat one of those for "practice".

Then, we took pictures of ourselves and ate Pirate's Booty - God, isn't it uncanny how much we look alike?

Lastly, we capped off day one with a little song...

Stay tuned for more from BIG WEEK SUNDAY! (I don't know why I'm calling it big week sunday, I realize that doesn't make any sense, but that's what I called it in the previous post, so I'm going to stick with it.)

Closing ceremonies open BIG WEEK Sunday

Normally by Sunday nights I have one of a few emotions; these emotions can range from exhaustion from a full weekend with two kids and two dogs and lots of events to sadness that the weekend is over to, honestly, sometimes happiness that the weekend is over and I'll get a break from the house and kids by being back at work! But, anyway, my whole point is this: NOT THIS WEEK, PEOPLE!

This Sunday is different. This Sunday I have a different emotion. I am jittery and shaky (and no I haven't been drinking caffeine again) with excitement. This is one of the biggest weeks I can remember in some time and I'm even including the week of May 1st in there, although that was a big one, too.

This week we get to celebrate TWO big birthdays! Not only is my babygirl turning two on Tuesday, we will also be welcoming a new member of the playgroup the very next day. Well, that is unless that babygirl gets her act together and decides to come in to this world tonight. (Which, by the way, baby r/k, could you please do that? I know your mommy would appreciate it and Bridget would really like her newest BFF at her birthday party).

I just can't believe sometimes how fast this time has gone and how in such a short amount of time so much can change (see that - I used the "c" word - yeah me!). I remember back to last New Year's Eve (wiggle your fingers here and make that doodly doo sound Wayne and Garth make when they're having a memory) when just Matthew and Bridget ruled the roost and we had three mommies to be at the party - which by the way doesn't make for the craziest new year's party, but it was fun nonetheless. We sat around talking about how things would change - ah! there it is again - by next year and how different having two kids would be and how much fun Mark and Kim would have on their first go around and on and on... Now we are about to come full circle with the newest babygirl joining the other two new people that we didn't even know that new year's - Shane and Amelia. It just seems so unreal to me at times, almost more so when I see other people like Aimee and Kim go through it then when I go through it myself. Such an amazing thing.

Okay, to stop the sapiness (can you see how thick it is -yuk) I'll just say I CANNOT wait for this week! Bridget actually understands it's her birthday and walks around singing "Happy Birthday Bridget" which actually sounds more like "oppie earthbay ridgey" but we know what she means, and we're cutting her some language slack again being only her SECOND birthday and all! I'm so excited about the presents we bought her and to have a birthday party for her where she'll have more of an idea about what's going on AND on top of all that, then we get to go meet the new babygirl and shower her with birthday presents, too! What a great week! I almost can't stand it.

I can see next New Year's eve now - 5 little munchkins running around (okay, well two running around and three just looking adorable as three little babies can look) and three new-ish mommies with a camera in one hand and a well-deserved cocktail in the other.

So, as I watch the closing ceremonies tonight, I think I will always remember these Olympics and the end of Summer '08 as being the beginning of a new chapter. One part the kick off of a new age for babygirl (terrible twos and all, I have a feeling this is also going to be one of the most hilarious and fun times with her to date) and the other part, the beginning of another brand new life that I just can't wait to have be a part of mine. Ah, isn't is all amazing, and oh so much fun?!

OMG, I just reread this and I better stop now before there's no more sap left to make maple syrup ever again...

Who says you can't get in a quick round of golf on your wedding day?

Happy 3rd Anniversary Mark and Kim!

Cheers!
We love you guys and remember how fun that day was!

When you push a tender moment to the max...

As I'm putting Bridget to bed tonight , after we've read books, sang "twinkle song" at least 19 times, and rocked, I take her to the crib and we do last hugs before we say night night. The conversation tonight went something like this, bear with me as I'm paraphrasing with toddlerese:

Bridget: night, night mommy

Me: night, night babygirl, can I have a hug?

Bridget: oooohhhhhh (she always illiterates her hugs)

Me: can I have a kiss?

Bridget: aaahh (big wet snotty kiss)

Me: I love you

Bridget: bluv you, bluv you

Me: Daddy loves you

Bridget: All done mommy, all done (makes a break for the crib)


Okay, kiddo I can take a hint.

Oh, how I've missed you big green...

Welcome back, we missed you! Nevermind the fact that this is decaf, but that's another story for another time.

Mystery on Ivy Trace (Perez Hilton style)

Approximately three months ago, my mom bought us a lovely intertwined hibiscus plant to fill a space in the landscaping that needed some added interest. Below is an artist's rendering of what that hibiscus looked like....before the mystery....

Here you will see the current state of the hibiscus is that it has ONE, yes ONE measly full blown growth left on the plant. This is the SECOND time this plant has been vandalized in less than a week. You might need to blow it up to see the pathetic state of the current plant as compared to the artist's rendering above.Approximately one week ago I went out to the car to find that about 1/2 of the beautiful plant was suspiciously missing. Just yesterday, I went outside to find that EVEN MORE of the plant had been compromised. Below you will see a tight shot of the scene of the crime, the cut/gnawed ends of the stems. Forensic testing is currently underway.

This time there was some evidence of an intruder left at the scene of the crime.

After the FBI completed it's criminal profiling, the sketch artist released this rendering of what may be occuring:


So, we know what the FBI thinks could be happening to the hibiscus on Ivy Trace, but I want to hear from you , internet peeps - what the bleeping bleep is going on?

All Star Game 2009 - what's your vote?

Am I the only one who doesn't like this logo? How do you feel - official poll at right.

Welcome to my own private Choo Choo Soul hell...

Q: How many consecutive times can an almost-two year old ask to watch the following 2-minute video clip:

A: Yet to be determined

Q: How many times can a barely 33 year old be forced to watch the previous 2 minute video clip without wanting to hurl herself out the window?

A: 1-2, 1-2-3
(ps-That answer won't make sense unless you actually subject yourself to watching the video. *Warning* Should you do that, you WILL BE singing it for the rest of the day, if not the week - Right aunt meme? 4-5, 4-5)

Lazy Sunday (only without Chris Parnell or Andy Samburg)

Gameday ready for when daddy gets home!

Thanks for the cool hat, Aunt A-Le

Logging lots of pool time this weekend

Riley loves the pool, too!

Chheeeeesssseee Riley

ps - Just in case you need a little lazy sunday pick me up...
Happy Weekend All!

Here you go, Mom (as Bridget would say)

I finally optimized and posted all the fourth of July pics. Somehow, I have none of Amelia and just these few of Shane. Sorry babies! Mark/Kim - do you have any to add here?

070408 4th of july

Tim said my previous title made no sense SO, Kim, this post was for you in response to the comment you posted on the previous entry... better, tpd?

Kim, I'm glad you asked about this as I do have an opinion/something to say about this notion of the "push present". Let's start here - the def of a push present, or you can read this NYT article here. FYI - I also think, for people like me, there should be a "17 hours of labor only to have my stomach and uterus sliced open" present.

Now, my true feelings about this whole "push present" thing - besides the fact that I absolutely cannot stand the name - is that it's kind of just another way our society is "pushing" (yes, pun intended) superfluous marketing down our throats that is beyond superficial and ridiculously sickening at times, “She delivered your first born; now give her twins.” Puke, puke puke... If I look through another Parenting/Pregnancy magazine with a mom holding her newborn and smiling down at both the baby and the new big whopping piece of jewelry on her neck/finger/wrist, etc. I seriously might throw up in my mouth a little (sorry, that's totally gross, but that's how I feel about that crap marketing). Now, having said that, understand I'm not knocking the actual gift-giving if heartfelt and thoughtout, but more the baggage heaped upon it by marketers and the media. So, that being said if a husband wants to do something well meaning and as a token of his love for his wife and their burgeoning future after the birth of a baby, like say buy her one of these, or take her out to dinner here, who am I to judge?

So, Lil' G (and Michael you might want to take note, too) - I've assembled a few photos of things I think you might need now or in the very near future:

A lovely May birthstone ring for Amelia's birthstone (sorry about that whole pearl thing now Kim - didn't know you were gonna up and have the baby a WHOLE MONTH early and screw up my necklace's symbolic meaning - i'm just kidding of course - sort of)
Personally this next one is a little too much for me, but hey to each their own. The mother and child necklace:

Or you could always roll Marc Anthony style with one of these:

Or, lastly, maybe you are more Keith Urban chic with one of these $73,000 gems:


Glad to help you boys (and the baby marketing industry) out.

ps - No, if you are wondering, I really don't have this much time on my hands these days.

Cheers to you Delant...

Here's to another great year! It's a hard one with lots of work, but lots and lots of rewards... we are lucky people!

Thanks to friends and family for all your continued support - you make us who we are! Who can guess where we are?

If my mom were with the KGB, this is how you could get her to talk...

I also thought about giving this to tpd as a present, but then I decided that I like fish too much for that.