Enjoying the weekend with grandparents

Brenna got to spend the weekend with both of her grandmothers at the same time when my mother-in-law, who slept over after babysitting on Saturday night, joined my family for church and lunch at my parent's house.

I tried to get a picture of Brenna with both her grandmothers, but she needed a nap so badly at that point we decided to forget it. I did, however, look out the window from my parents kitchen at one point, and took these of my parents with their two granddaughters:

Despite my mother's short sleeves, it was still in the 50's, and we can't wait for the warm weather to teach Brenna about squirrels, bunny rabbits and the other 1,000 things Maura loves about backyards.

Happy Birthday, Kelly!

In two hours, Kelly turns 26.

We got her an Itunes giftcard. Woo-hoo. She also got two cakes, which makes you the coolest birthday girl ever in Maura's book. On the way home from celebrating Kelly's birthday yesterday, Maura called her, "Crazynuts."

I was just in a meeting, and I got a text message from Kelly: "Send the dress-up pictures," which she asked me to do yesterday, and I guess I don't move fast enough. Now that I have this blog, I never send shutterfly albums anymore. I either just post pictures on here, or send my favorite pictures to our immediate family every once in awhile.

I think this approach makes me less annoying because I don't force anyone to look at my blog (if you're here, you must like seeing the pictures, or you'd quickly realize that's all I do and just leave). But, if you were waiting for the pictures to get sent to you, like Kelly was in this case, it makes me more annoying because I'm slow to remember that.

Two weeks ago, Maura and Brenna played dress-up and it was the funniest thing ever! Maura looked like a bag lady princess on the 4th of July, and Brenna looked like a trampy, yet butchy, flapper with earrings. I don't know how I never put the pics on here. So, Kelly, for your birthday, I took the time to collect these pictures:

You can see the rest of the dress up pictures, and all the other pictures I took in March but never posted on here or shared with you here.

I hope that and the Itunes giftcard make you feel loved. I love you so much that I wish we still shared a room, and you'd wake in the dark with my face two inches from yours, waiting to scare you just like it was in the old days.

Happy Birthday, Kelly!

Apple Bottom Jeans

If you look up Apple Bottom Jeans on Wikepedia it says this: Apple Bottoms is a clothing line for women designed by rapper/artist, Nelly. It is referred to recently by the R&B singer Flo Rida in the song "Low" featuring T-Pain. The name of the line is derived from a term for a woman with large, rounded buttocks.

It is also - I am so proud to say - Brenna's current favorite song. It has taken the place of Alicia Keys, "No One." Well, maybe it's tied. Alicia is still her girl, and Brenna goes nuts dancing when Alicia's song comes on, but as soon as she hears, "She had them Apple Bottom jeans, boots with the fur, the whole club looking at her! She hit the floor, she hit the floor, next thing you know, shorty got low low low low low low low low..." my child goes crazy.

It's not my fault. I'm pushing the Laurie Berkner Band on her, and I'm putting her to sleep with lullabies, but her other parent went to a Jay-Z show by himself last night. I don't think the genes ended with the blue eyes, light hair and blank stare.

Dinner time!

Did I mention Brenna finally, finally, finally eats food?

Yesterday, she had a few tastes of birthday cake for Aunt Kelly, a taste of Rita's Water Ice and even lemonade! Since I already compare her to Buddy the Elf ("Is there sugar in syrup, then yes!"), it is needless to say, she loved it.

Here she is drinking her two drops of lemonade out of a real cup with Maura. Maura thought it was hysterical that we were allowing Brenna to do this...without lids!

The only downfall of her finally trying foods, is that this is what meal time now looks like:

Queen Bee

Brenna's daycare room has eight babies in it, four of whom will be turning 1 in April, and have begun transitioning to the 1-year-old room, leaving Brenna alone in the infant room with only 3 and 4 month-olds.

It is so funny, because she obviously knows she is bigger, and she is laying down the law:



Her, "I'm in charge," attitude has spilled over to her playing at home. She recently began fighting Maura for toys she wants to play with, rather than just giving in to Maura's every wish, and she has begun playing with baby dolls - feeding them bottles, pushing them in the stroller and carrying them around the house.


She does stop playing and bossing, though, to point out our failure as parents to completely baby proof.
Don't call child services... outlet covers were inserted in that outlet about 10 seconds after she found it!

Mike and Jen's Wedding

On Saturday, my cousin Michael got married to a great girl named Jennifer, in New Jersey. The wedding was fun, and full of pregnant ladies (including Jen, who, as you can see from the pictures looked so beautiful). When Michael included the baby's presence in his written vows, it was to the surprise of some of my other cousins who had not already heard the news. Haha.

We all had a fun time. I remember a few things: I remember that Andrea was the cutest, pregnant bridesmaid ever. And, I remember that I loved the wine cellar that the cocktail hour was held in. I know that I said a completely inappropriate word to Rob to get him to smile for a picture (think of the absolute worst word you know - it was that), and the table next to us heard me. And, then I jokingly made out with Jamie as he was leaving, so that table next to us officially thinks I'm crazy (and trashy), but they don't know that I was only joking. I always find a way to wake up from these events feeling guilty the next day.

Here are some pictures of the day...

Check out Andrea's cute belly - 3 more months!









Someone was getting tired!

Brenna, being the thoughtful girl she always is, was great for my mother-in-law and Ryan and Courtney, but then gave me the gift of waking up at 5:00 a.m. both yesterday and today, so I still haven't really recovered.

But, congratulations to Mike and Jen as they start a new life together in their beautiful new home in Colorado, with a new baby on the way! Baby L., you will be joining a crazy family, but you will be loved very much!

Maura explains her heritage

Maura and Erin are home coloring right now (I'm so jealous), discussing the crayons, and the following conversation takes place:

Erin: I like purple or green. They are my favorite colors.

Maura: You like green because you're Irish. I'm Irish, too. That's why I like green.

Erin: You're right. You are Irish. Do you know what else you are?

Maura: I'm Irish. That's why I like green. And Italian. That's why I like pasta. And, I'm a polar bear.

Happy Easter Bunny

When Jamie's cousin Stephanie was very little, she said, "Happy Easter Bunny!" and I've heard it quoted many times (in a 1/2 toddler, 1/2 speech impediment voice) in the family in the five years I've been around. Basically, it is the accepted internal Easter greeting.

He came! The Easter Bunny must be magical. He managed to find Brenna, even though she was almost 2 hours from home.



So, we say, "Happy Easter Bunny!" to Jamie's side (who we spent a lovely weekend with, minus Kevin, Ryan and Courtney who were visiting Pop in Florida) and to my family, who spent the weekend at the mountain house with my Aunt Mare's family (minus 13 of us!).

Which means, in the mountains it is only the twins, the dads, Mommom, Colleen and Caitlin (who are sending us hysterical emails as I type this about their time there that we are missing... by the way, girls, I love Marta, and I want to be her not stupid Louisa - she sucks!). Mom, I saw you called, but I didn't realize you were still there, and I called your regular house. We'll talk tomorrow. Until then, "Happy Easter Bunny!"

Pretty girls