HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT VONNIE!!!

CR2 and Aunt Vonnie back in the day...(2 months old)

Happy Birthday Aunt Vonnie! We love you because:

1. You are a good painter

2. You speak German really well...HA!

3. You are so good with CR2

4. You make funny monkey noises

5. You can chug a beer like a champ ;)

6. You have a big ol' heart!

7. You drive a tater truck ("you're a tater truck")

And the list could go on and on!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Love - JP, CR, and CR2

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha...

Looks like the handy dandy toothbrush feels pretty good on those gums. Teething has begun. HELP!!!

In other news... CR2 is now saying "ba ba ba ba ba" and my FAVORITE "ma ma ma ma"!!! I know that he hasn't put two and two together, but man am I trying to help him figure out that Mama is my name! As CR put it "Doesn't that just make your heart melt?" Yes it does my friends, yes it does!

And those little pursed lips while making his new noises...PRECIOUS!

Love to you all!

JP

HHI 2010

So it has become a family tradition to travel to Hilton Head Island the beginning of each year with CR's parents. We like to escape from the cold weather and enjoy a little shopping, golf, and good eats!

This years vacation was particulary great due to the fact that we brought along a new member of the family! CR2 travels so well; there is no better way to get a nap in than to throw that kid in the car.

We stayed at the Surf Side Marriott in a little condo suite. 2 bedroom, 2 bath, full kitchen and living area. The property also had a great pool area, shuffle board court, beach access, and the highlight of the weekend...the ping pong table. CR and Poppins played game after game, and Mama K jumped in a kicked butt a few times too. I on the other hand am lacking in the hand eye coordination and sat on the sidelines most of the time. I was on cooler duty ;) haha. CR is now on the search for the perfect ping pong table.

On Friday the boys played golf while Mama K, CR2 and I enjoyed a little shopping, lunch and a walk on the beach. It was so nice to put CR2 in the back pack and stroll along the water! That was the moment that I really relaxed and felt the bliss of vacation. Mama K and I agreed that visiting at home is great, but when you are able to escape from laundry, cleaning, and anything to do with household chores it is SO much more enjoyable. Packing, as I stated in the last post is a beast, but so worth it in the end.

Saturday was pretty gloomy with rain showers off and on. We ended up playing blockus, a family favorite board game, watching a few movies, and cooking a pot of white chicken chili!

On Sunday the sun re-appeared. We walked around harbour town, took CR2 to the top of the light house, put CR2 in the baby swing on the playground (what a reaction!), and enjoyed a nice lunch at The Pirates Tavern.

Monday was of course georgous! The boys played an early morning round of golf, we had gourmet pizza at a small Italian cafe', and then we headed home.

HHI, I miss you already and can't wait to return!

I Feel A Major Update Coming On!!!

OK...go ahead and say it! I am the world's worst blogger! I started this thing so gung ho, and ended up letting life get the best of me! The same life that I am supposed to be constantly updating you about. So... (take a breath)...here it goes:

We have officially purchased and moved into our new home!!! Yes that is right, we are now homeowners and are experincing all the joys and burdens of owning a home.

I have sucessfully hosted my very first Christmas with both families! What a joy and headache all at the same time. While I loved having everyone that we love in our home, I did experience the Christmas meal stress, and the joy of scrubbing my house down after everyone had left.

We have had some dish washer issues (blahhhh), but other than that are so happy to have SO MUCH SPACE!!! Some rooms, OK all of the rooms look like baby land, but all in all it is just perfect!

I am back at work part time. I had such a hard time leaving CR2 in the beggining weeks, but am starting to appreciate my time away. Sometimes we mothers just need a change of pace. It is good for me to switch roles, mommy to office manager, and be able to stress about something different. Ahh...wine is my friend.

CR and I spent our first weekend away from CR2 over the New Year. We headed up to Boone for a cabin weekend and had a great time. CR and I did get teary a few times, but enjoyed our time with friends and together. Minus the 5 degree weather, the weekend was perfect. And for those of you who were there..."I'm the B-O-G-P-O-P-PA!"

And now...for the much awaited CR2 updates:

1. CR2 is now 21 weeks old, and will be 5 months old on MLK day!

2. We are eating solid foods!!! Bananas, apples, peaches, sweet potatoes, green beans, rice and oatmeal cereal! CR2 is such a good eater and really lets you know when he likes something. Think of the dinner scene in "What about Bob". We love Bananas!!!

3. CR2 is rolling from tummy to back, and just this morning he rolled from back to front (one time only)! I am a proud mommy! The pediatrician says I am going to have to baby proof the house early. He is a strong little booger!

4. I think we have an animal lover on our hands. CR2 loves to pull on our cat Micha's head and petting = ripping fur. She is a sweetie though, and does not mind one bit. Petey (my mom) gave CR2 a little plush barn with noise making farm animals for Christmas. This is a favorite toy, and we have to keep one farm animal in each room for emergencies. Instant tear stopper! The duck is definitely the favorite!

5. CR2 is in the 81% for weight (big boy) and the 50% for height. We are hoping with Daddy's height this will change! haha. At our last doctors appointment CR2 was weighing in at 18 lbs.

6. First Christmas with the baby was WONDERFUL! What a present, we couldn't ask for anything more.

I am sure there is more to tell, but my brain is fried! Time to pack for our weekend trip to Hilton Head! So excited but why does packing turn into extreme chaos when you have children??? Shout out to my mom! You are a SAINT!

Love to you all!

JP