E-I-E-I-O

Here is our little farmer (or if you were everyone in the neighborhood you'd call him a cowboy). He loved trick or treating (but he may have loved passing out candy to the kids that came to our door even more). This was the first time we've had kids come by (Chicago condo one year, and in Furry Creek last year... no trick or treating in our area). Well we didn't know what to expect, but I bought a good amount of candy, and would have been enough if the first two hours weren't so slow, we started giving them a few pieces at a time (I didn't want any leftover for me to eat!). Then all the sudden we were slammed with kids... we made it through by taking a bit of the candy Braden had gotten and shutting the light off when it was time for Big B to go to sleep. I know we can't get away with that again next year!

And finally... I realize didn't dress Viv up. I know it was her first Halloween, I just couldn't bring myself to spend $30 on something that she'd wear for an hour. I couldn't be thrifty and shop in advance because I had no idea how big or little she'd be by now.


Final stop with mom... back to our house, we were dad's first trick or treater! Vivian was sleeping so after my turn, Chad took him out for more.

One for the books...

Wow. It's been the only word I can use to describe the wedding we went to this past weekend in Atlanta. The couple... Joel and Robyn. Two people completely and perfectly matched for each other. Joel and Chad were roommates for awhile in college, Joel stood up in our wedding and Chad did the same for him last weekend. Joel has also been a good friend to me through the years and I was happy we were able to pack up the whole family (took Viv on her first airplane at just 4 1/2 weeks old) and share this big event.

*** And I must say... Robyn looked every bit the blushing, gorgeous bride. The dress was... well... WOW, but not everyone could pull it off and she did so with beauty, grace and style.

This... was just for the dinner after the rehearsal! An old, charming mansion. Joel's parents invited all the people that came in from out of town too... a well planned, and fabulous event to kick off the wedding festivities!

A traditional Jewish ceremony... how beautiful is that???
The room for the reception, this picture makes it look nice (the lights were a soft, but distinctive pink), but I'm telling you it was breathtaking.
The band... I'll admit it, I'm usually a DJ kind of gal, I like to make requests or at least hear a wide range of music genres. But THIS. BAND. ROCKED. Here I could post pictures of me dancing with the lead singer, but I won't to spare you all my post baby bod squeezed into a black dress, but the dancing all night was off the hook... yo!

The Dubinsky's first dance... thanks guys for such a great weekend, we're so happy for you!

A huge thank you...

Guess who joined us in Atlanta... Grandma Ramsey! She came to see a bit of a city she'd never been too, and kindly watch both kiddos for us while we did wedding festivities. I just had to give her a big public thank you. I really needed a good night out... and it was great to catch up with so many friends. Chad would have gone to the wedding there either way, but I was only able to go because she met us there, so I really appreciate it.

While we were there Grandma, Braden, Vivian and I went to the Aquarium... said it was the world's largest! It had many impressive exhibits, but I was disappointed the whales and dolphins are on loan to the San Antonio aquarium while they remodel. I remember being so impressed with dolphin shows and was a bit disappointed Braden didn't get to see them fly through the air. Aside from that... a really nice day - which was only possible because I had an extra set of hands! Braden had a lot of fun!

Thanks again Paula! :)

Atlanta special visit

We spent 5 days in Atlanta last week... and one of the highlights was my half-brother Blaine driving up from Macon, GA (with his cutie girlfriend, Logan!) to have dinner with us. Shortly before my dad died (20 years ago), he was remarried and had his long awaited son (he always wanted a son). They named him Blaine and wow... we were all so happy to have a baby in the family. Our dad died when he was just 8 months old, and right after his death my sister, mom and I moved back to Illinois, so chances to see Blaine were few and far between.

I saw him again when he was 2, 10, 15 and now 21!

He's grown into a handsome (has a very, very strong resemblance to our father), really kind and respectful young man! He's got his own lawn design and maintenance company and when the time is right he's like to become a fireman too! I was so grateful they made the trip up to see us... hopefully we'll see each other again before another 6 years go by!

Relationship Moments...

This one is just for giggles! :)

The first thirty days...

Vivian is one month old today. The time has gone by fast of course... but at the same time it feels like she's been with us forever!

Just a few things about Viv at this point... as we did with Braden, we're learning as we go since all babies are different. She likes to spend long periods of awake time (3-5 hours... but then snoozes on and off for the rest of the day/night.

She loves, loves to be held and rocked.

Like her brother she is a fantastic, frantic, fast eater... and like her brother she's a bit of a "spitter-upper". Fingers crossed she'll grow of it, each week it's gotten better.

I love staring at her (not much else to do with newborns! :) Can't wait to see her little personality evolve!

It's been a fairly smooth adjustment having two kids, getting around (although Chad deserves some credit for handling a couple barks from me in the middle of the night when I was really, really tired).

Here I imagine her thinking... "Oh Mom... you aren't ever going to put that camera away are you? Someone help me get away from the crazy picture lady!"

Lost Control...

So... a few months back over dinner Braden said what sounded like "Damn"... now, I won't say that Chad and I don't ever swear from time to time... but it's not habitual and certainly not around Braden. Chad and I were so caught off guard, and it was so odd hearing it from his mouth, I kind of lost it... laughing that is. Well as Braden got a reaction he continued to do it over and over... and we realized then he was actually saying "BAM"... thank goodness. We totally blew that had it been a teachable moment!!!

Well... last night Braden was all dressed up in his "team shirt" and football pants for the Bears game. While we were eating dinner a conversation when a little like this...

Me: Braden... you want to be a quarterback or linebacker?

Braden: Linebacker

(Chad with a huge grin)

Me: Do you want to be like Urlacher or Butkus?

Braden: Butkus...

Here's the thing, it sounded NOTHING like Butkus... it sounded like... "F word us". And he kept saying it over and over and over and over and over (and over) again.

Apparently I'm immature and what sounds like a toddler swearing puts me into hysterics... like I was crying from laughter. Maybe I just needed a good chuckle and once it started I couldn't stop, but seriously I need to be better prepared. Although I'm pretty confident that if he had been actually, and intentionally using those words I would have an entirely different reaction (with a consequences!).

Just had to share the story as one of those for the memory bank and journal that is our blog.

Just Because...

The Real Thing...

We're doing good here in Washington... but something has been missing since we left Chicago. Our friends.

Chad and I have always been really social people, and next to family and friends not being close to see the kids more often, the next hardest thing is missing our friendships. We're so lucky that cell phones and emails makes keeping in touch much easier... but nothing is quite as good as the real thing. And after having Vivian, not having my friends around was that much harder... we didn't have people around the clock trying to schedule a time to see our new addition... and I have been missing my friends that much more.

This weekend... I got some of "The Real Thing", and my heart was so happy.

Katie and her 9 month old son, Jack, made the trip out to see us last week from Thursday to Monday. It was a different kind of trip... our old parent selves were in bed by 10pm one night... and we really spent most of the time around the house, with child play and girl talk. Chad was kind (and brave) enough to tackle all three kids one morning so Katie and I could enjoy some time at the spa (facial and massage, yea!). We went to the mall, out to lunches and hit up a pumpkin patch and apple farm.

Thank you Katie (and Baby Jack too... who by the way is so handsome, sweet, good tempered and smiley) for taking the time to come see us. I loved introducing you to our Vivian and your godson, Braden, is completely taken with you. Thank you for giving me "The Real Thing".

Eyes Wide Open...

An overall update on our babe:

Generally, Vivian has been a pretty easy baby. A bit fussy the past few days, but nothing that can't be handled and it's easy to figure out it's from being overtired (seriously Viv... newborns do not need to stay awake for 4-5 hours at a time!). Here are a few pictures of her during some awake time... her eyes are blue right now (a darker blue, but getting lighter every few days). I also have a prediction on her hair (oh wow... all that hair... it will be getting it's own blog post). I think it will end up being lighter than it is now. Right now it's a solid, darker brown, but underneath it almost looks like highlights coming in!

And my final note... for my own records. The umbilical cord JUST fell off last night!!! It took an amazing (and gross) 25 days!!! Something just isn't right about that (usually they say 10-14 days). Anyway... finally it is gone, thank goodness!

Just enjoying all the newborn sweetness because it does pass quickly (She'll already be a month on Monday... what?

Shhh... Miss Vivian needs her beauty sleep

Good Golly Miss Molly!

So... I think Big B has his first school "crush". Each day he goes to school we talk about what he did all throughout the day. I ask a lot about the other kids, who he plays with and who his friends are. For the first few weeks he just talked about "kids"... but the past week or so he's been telling me "Mommy, I play today with Molly and Zachery". Molly's name has come up more and more. Well today before class while we were in the bathroom washing his hands, in walks a beautiful little girl and Braden turns to face me and loudly says, "MOM... THAT'S MOLLY! Hi Molly!" Molly's mom is there and I say, "Braden has been talking about Molly quite a bit" and she says to me "Molly talks about Braden ALL the time". She was just adorable, Braden has good taste!

How cute! I'm sure for most this is a lame story... but for me I had to record this so I remember! (Who am I kidding, I doubt I would forget, you're talking about the girl who remembers her preschool boyfriend, Justin... his mom made me balloon animals!)

It can make you sick...

So... yesterday evening Braden had a talking to (and time out) about playing with the toilet water (judgers not welcome, I got to him right away, with a newborn literally attached to me, and the toilet had just been flushed. He's discovered that when Viv is "drinking her milk" that it's a convenient time (for him, not me) to be a bit mischievous). On with the story...
I explained to him that "It can make you sick to play in the dirty water and we just use the toilet to go potty".
Well today on several occasions Braden has answered me with "It can make me sick". For instance...

Me: Braden, you have to leave your shoulder belt on (in his car seat).
Braden: It can make me sick
Me: No, it's so you can be safe.

Me: You cannot jump on the couch
Braden: It can make me sick
Me: No, you could get hurt and that's just mommy's rule.

But just a few moments ago as we were cleaning up all the paper he tore off his crayons, and he found one on the floor, just as he was about to test the color on the hardwood floors...
Me: Do NOT use your crayons on the floor, on paper only.
Braden: It can make me sick.
Me: No... but it will make mommy mad.
Braden immediately turned over the crayon to me without further prompting!

Do they look alike?

The verdict is still out... I sometimes see Braden in Vivian (usually when she's sleeping), but I have to admit, all that hair is a bit of a distraction! Here is a picture of both of them about 2 weeks old. (Viv's hat was knitted by my friend in West Virginia... thanks Angela!)BRADEN

VIVIAN

Viv says, "I'm ready for my Close Up"

Just a few pictures from Vivian's first two weeks. We had her two week appt today and all is great! She's 9 lbs, 2 oz - and in 75th percentile for all her measurements. We don't go back until she is 2 months old. She is a champion nurser... she's giving me a 5 or 6 hour stint at night, a quick feed and back to sleep for another 4 hours. Can't get much better than that! :)

Just 2 or 3 days old... still looks like a little newborn here.

And finally...

After bragging on Braden for his brotherly love... and giving the Grandmas a shout out for all their help I have one more person to love on. Chad. I know that day in and out I'm not always easy and laid back, but I do appreciate that he is. He's a great dad... from rough housing with Braden to stealing an hour of sleepy newborn cuddle time with Vivian, I do realize how lucky I am he's hands on and involved. I imagine after working all day to come home and relaxing doesn't happen for yet a few more hours it's probably exhausting... but I must say...

Thank You Chad. We're building quite a nice little family and even when I'm a pain thanks for dealing and keep doing what you're doing. Braden absolutely adores you, and I know as Vivian gets older she'll be your little girl. Two great kids and an involved Dad... I have a lot to be thankful for.