Our new family member

Introducing Dorothy the Goldfish. Let's hope she makes it to April!

Our Christmas Portrait

We commissioned a portrait of Mojo from our friend Anessa as a family Chritmas present this year and it turned out great. Take a look. She is available for very reasonable commissions. I can send you her contact info if you are interested.

More photos from X-mas 07

Merry Christmas 2007

I can't believe my four-day Christmas break is over and I have to go back to work. I am really bummed that I have to go back today and wish that I could just hang out with Kristin and Mo through the end of this week. Our holiday was peppered with some illness; first Kristin had the stomach bug at the top of the break, and I was a bit under the weather the second half. We managed to have a great time despite our maladies. It's all a blur now, but I will try to recap the highlights:

My sister Chrissy came in from Knoxville, and we managed to see a good deal of her. We had dinner one night at Lynn's Paradise Cafe (a quirky little joint that everyone from out of town needs to see) and that was the night that Kristin came down with the bug. Even though it was not the cause of her illness, she will never be able to eat Lynn's meatloaf again.

We hosted Christmas Eve at our house after going to Church; both sides of our immediate families were invited. Last year we had to cancel our Christmas Eve gathering because of a sewer backup in our basement. We were on the verge of canceling this year because of illness, but I did not want that label as the guy who cancels Christmas so we pushed forward. It was a good time, though we missed out on going to the zoo with my family and going to a movie with Kristin's family because we had to clean the house. Mojo got to go to the zoo, and by all accounts, was thrilled to be there. Especially because she got to ride in a double stroller with her cousin Claire. I think next year we are going to skip the party so we can make ourselves more available to relax and hang out with the family a bit more.

Christmas morning was pure joy, watching little Mo open her presents. She went ape-shi* when she opened an Elmo's World DVD, and really got into her pots, pans and plastic food toys after she was done unwrapping. That was round one. Round two came at my brother John's house when she received almost as many presents from my family. By the time round three came at her Aunt Kathy and Uncle Scott's house, sensory overload took over. She really raked in the booty. We managed to stop off at the nursing home to see Mojo's great grandfather, Doc, but the timing was not right. He was not quite up to having visitors due to equipment malfunctions, so our visit was short, yet sweet. We will need to get back over there when the timing is a little better.

The day was capped off at Kristin's Aunt Linda's house for dinner. It was all very fun and exhausting. I'm usually bummed that the build-up for Christmas never pays off once the day arrives, but this year was the exception. I think it was a very nice holiday, and I feel privileged to have such loving and caring family to spend it with. Just think, by this time next year we will have two little ones to enjoy the holidays with. I don't like to use the word blessed, but I'd say that we truly are.

Elaboration

I really have not been focused on the blog here lately. I've been a bit busy at work, we've all had some sort of illness over the last four weeks, and the holidays seem to make everything more hectic. If you've read my previous entry, you know that we are, indeed, expecting our second and final (I think) child, due in late June. I guess this blog has come full circle, and I have to start spending equal time for #2 (I think we may just stay with the name "Number Two"; it has a nice ring to it, eh?) Kristin went to the doctor on Tuesday and heard the very strong heartbeat. As we move out of the first trimester we are comfortable telling all of our friends and family our great news.

Big news.

Maureen will be a big sister at the end of June.

Rag-a-muffin no more!

This is the first glimpse of Mojo's new do, and first haircut ever. Kristin just sent me this from her phone. They went to a place called Cookie Cutters, she got to watch Elmo's World, she got to sit in a pink race car, and she smiled for an official Cookie Cutter photo on her official Cookie Cutter certificate (complete with a lock of her hair) commemorating the experience.

Dad's sick.

I have a cold.

Mommy's B-day

Having fun with the web camera

Feeling much better.

Mo was out of school all week long with a cold and fever, and a case of the grumpies to boot. We got some much needed support from both Grandpas while we were having to shuffle to and fro. Kristin had to take more time off from the Girl Scouts than planned, but we managed to make it through and Mo seems to be feeling much better.
It's been a while since my last entry, so I wanted to get you up-to-date on Mo's latest accomplishments. She can tell us what a Kitty says - it sounds more Eartha Kitt's Catwoman than Lee Merriweather's. Today she was really into taking care of baby dolls. She was feeding them bottles and covering them up with blankets. Her "Shhh" is becoming a mainstay these days, putting her finger to her mouth and gurgling whenever someone (including the cat) is sleeping, or when she sees a photo of someone sleeping. She is walking all over the place, getting into as many cabinets as she can get her hands in, taking tops on and off things, coloring with crayons, and really enjoying looking at (not grabbing-yet) all the ornaments on the Christmas tree. Her musical talents are already shining through as she sings the word "All" during "The wheels on the bus". She's really attempting to say many words and surprises us often at how good some of the word/sounds are (including responding appropriately to the question "What does a cow say?")
We got new little PC camera set up, and have an account on SKYPE. It's a little weird video-conferencing and I find it hard to concentrate on a discussion while staring at the person on the screen. Mo thought it was interesting for about a minute.
Well, it's bed time for Mojo - will see you soon!
(This was a tag-team effort between Papa Sparky and Little Mama)

Christgiving Weekend.

It's been a nice break from work. Thanksgiving weekend was transformed into Christgiving weekend so we could celebrate both holidays with Kristin's brother (Dolberry) and family, Kristin's sister (Carrie) and boyfriend (Gabe), and her cousin C-Lo and wife Annette. We exchanged presents on Saturday night around the Christgiving tree, sang Christgiving carols and even ate Christgiving Filets (always a Christgiving tradition!) Maureen was truly in the Christgiving spirit and figured out what it was all about - PRESENTS!!

She was jazzed about her Dora the Explora buggy and we have heard the song it plays over and over and over and over and over again - thanks Carrie and Gabe! She also loved her Frog, Giraffe and Llama book (Is your Mama a Llama?)

I think my present from Dolberry was the treasure of the evening - a team T-shirt from his winning softball team - The Law Office. It's currently up to $1.20 on EBay!

Saturday morning was spent with my family for brunch. It was good to get with them because we missed them on Thanksgiving Day. I did, however, manage to give Brother John a call to let him know that Alice's Restaurant just started on one of the public radio station - it's a dreadful tradition, but it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without Arlo Guthrie (in three part harmony!)

Here are some photos of the week.

Rock N Roll T-Shirt

Hello. I find that nothing helps jump start a blog better than insomnia. It's 2:50 am and I really need some sleep. I thought I would post some shots I took of Mojo over the weekend. The Rock N Roll Shirt was a present from her Aunt Chrissy - This is the sort of thing Maureen wears when her Mommy doesn't have the chance to dress her.

Update 11/7/07

We once again will have a Democrat as Governor - hurray! It's been a long, long term.

Mojo Halloween

Hello Mojo fans. We had a fun night last night tricking and/or treating with the MOJ. We went to about 8 houses on our street and stopped in for a very quick visit with Grandpa Joe and Uncle Joe. We were too late to catch Cousin Claire at Grandpa's house, but we did receive a photo of her in full Princess Leia costume, provided below. We also have a photo of Maureen's pink eyes from a couple of days ago.

Moojo updated

Maureen has pink eye, a sinus infection and an ear ache.

Moojo

Here's a preview of what's to come this Wednesday night - IF Maureen starts feeling better. She has pink eye, or, as of this morning, she has pink eyes. If it doesn't look any better, we can dress her up as Rocky Balboa (after going a few rounds with Apollo Creed).
The poor baby looked miserable this morning - Kristin is staying home from work to take her to the doctor. I'm sure daycare would not let Mojo in the doors with two swollen eyes.

Happy Friday to everyone. We got some good reports yesterday from the daycare (Parents Day Out or PDO for those in the Know) that Maureen has been very sweet to babies. And that the younger tots look up to her. I'm not sure, but I think she is running for class president.

It's getting colder here and it truly feels like autumn - the leaves are FINALLY turning. I'll probably be raking well into late November. We are having some happy hour folks over for some chili (while it lasts) beer and appetizers tonight. After a while, we'll all walk to a neighborhood Halloween party for the kids nearby. I just need to make it through the workday and the fun can begin. I'm going to stop right here before I babble any further. Have a great weekend and feel free to leave some comments (I'm running out of ideas for entries - can you tell?)

Mooooooooooo

Maureen will be a cow this Halloween. No hidden meaning here, someone gave us a costume. We even found a small, red cowbell to hang around her neck. Should be fun. We'll post photos.

Observation

We were at a party last Saturday night celebrating the birth of Katherine, daughter of friends Christopher and Anne. Maureen was there as were several, several children, many of whom were close to her age. Maureen pretty much camped out with some kids in the endless pit of toys. Now, I don't get a chance to see Mo in action with other kids her age to often - usually she's either by herself, or with much older cousins. At daycare I just drop her off and leave before the interaction starts. We've never received complaints about her playing with others. Imagine my surprise when I saw that little Mo is a toy snatcher - and not shy about it. I was both appalled and proud. My mouth said "No", but my head said, "way to go!" How do you raise a kid who's confident, but not a jerk. Seems like a fine line to me!
I hope you've had a great Monday. It's rainy here, but this rainy-day Monday is not getting me down.