okay, okay.....

.....yeah, I haven't posted in, like, a year (not that long, but somehow an exaggeration seems appropriate in this situation).

**WARNING** - there is no rhyme nor reason to the order of pictures.  Just try to keep up :-)

Anna is taking her role as a big sister very seriously, and we couldn't be prouder of the love and attention she pays her little sister.

I think (*hope*) we've established a new family tradition - dinner out on Friday nights.  Our first excursion was to Northside Grille.

This kid doesn't like to wear shoes.  Fine by me - I've always found I'm much more coordinated without shoes on (cuts down on the bruises - direct result of clutziness).

So studious....

Don't tell me this baby doesn't look a *little* bit like me.

A couple of weeks ago, we were thrilled to have the Cooke's over on their way back to NoVA from Williamsburg.  The girls were very eager to hold Alex, and each one of them did a spectacular job!

We were honored that Dave accepted our request to be Alexandra's Godfather.

Oh, the good ol' Bumbo.  It's really helping Alex hold her head up.

Bath time!

Anna has been quite the little social butterfly lately.  Our calendar is now filled with a plethora of activities, most of which consist of her friends turning another year older and cake.

Isabelle had her party at Chuck E. Cheese.  I've never been so grateful for a baby with the sniffles as I was that day.  The last time I set foot in a Chuck E. Cheese (10 years ago while I was nannying), I needed a heavy dose of narcotics to get over the headache and anxiety it caused me.  I'm not a fan.

Apparently, neither is Anna.  She told Eric, "Chuck E. Cheese needs to go bye-bye!!"

In case you need a refill on that glass of cute.....

We've been quite the entertainers lately.  We hosted a cookout over Memorial Day, and Anna made a new friend - Colin.  (He is the nephew of one of my co-workers).

Anna was a super helper.

Mom and I hosted a baby shower tea for Amy.  Cam got some great practice holding a baby as he prepares for his little brother.

I think Amy looks amazing!  I can't wait to meet this little guy.

Anna had a date night with her Daddy.  The Bowie Baysox were in town to play the Flying Squirrels (really?  Is that even a viable mascot???  Come on, Richmond....).  She had a great time, and I think it might become a regular occurence.

We ventured up to Baltimore early in May to see Grandpop and introduce Alex to her him, her Aunt Carrie, Uncle Greg, and cousins.

Poor Danny was no match for rough-and-tumble Anna.  We're working on keeping our hands to ourselves....

We took several stabs at getting a shot of all 4 grandkids.

I think this might have been the best of the bunch.

Those are teenage faces right there....

Natalie was such a natural holding Alex, and it was one of the ONLY times that afternoon Alex was calm and quiet.  She definitely has the magic touch!

Ummmm......can you say peas in a pod?

Gam and Pop were down in April (I'm beginning to realize these pics are in reverse, so at least there's SOME chronology).

We actually got Pop to hold the wee-bitty-bee. 

Poor Joe became Anna's new jungle gym.  She spent most of the weekend climbing all over him.

I love this picture.

Yesterday, we headed back up to Baltimore to meet up with the Badours and take the kids to their very first Oriole game.  They were playing the Cleveland Indians, the team my Grandpa played for back in the day.

Alex and I had fun trying out the new carrier.

I do believe that's Greg's mini-me.

 Sorry folks, but I have to say that she could have only learned that face from one source - ME.

I love that little guy.  Of course, that little girl, too, but Danny kept us in stitches all afternoon.

As did the happy little lady.  Her little smiles are plague-worthy infectious.

See?  Hysterical!

I loved this woman's hat.  I think Jane Davis needs to get on that.

Eric and his Natty Boh.

 Carrie and her mini-me.  :-)

I think I love this picture for the vast assortment of emotion being displayed.

The view from our hotel room:

Sunday morning laziness, brought to by  the Longo Ladies.

Who needs a teddy bear to snuggle up with when you have a cup full of Frosted Flakes?

So, there you have it - the past couple of months in a very long, concise nutshell.  We have a birthday party to plan for a very special little girl next weekend.  I wonder who that could be????

life as we know it

It's going to take us some time and lots of patience to get used to life with two kids.  Granted, the youngest is still in slug mode - eating, sleeping, and "outputting" like a champion.  She can't roll yet (though, trust me, she tries), so we can plop her pretty much anywhere and know that she'll still be there when we return (ie: from refilling a water glass or using the facilities or searching for the 2-year-old who just happened to open EVERY one of the six boxes of Girl Scout cookies and devoured some Thin Mints.....or written on the kitchen cabinets in Sharpie.....). 

But, despite some new kitchen decor, an extra load of minty-chocolate laundry, and a severe lack of sleep, we really are blissfully happy.  Alexandra is such a welcome addition to this house, and Anna loves her baby.

Headed home....



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Easter weekend came and went this year fairly uneventfully.  We managed to venture out for Alex's first "official" outing, and I'm still patting myself on the back for managing to make it the quarter mile to the playground on foot AND live to tell the tale (subsequent c-sections are NO JOKE, folks).

Our little daredevil is quite the risk-taker on the swings.  She LOVES to fly high, and it gives me a heart attack everytime I see her soaring, but it makes her ridiculously happy.  Who am I to complain?

The little bird was less than impressed. (*ever since her first ultrasound profile shot, I've thought she looked like a little baby bird....even now, she has this innocent little bird-like look to her*)

In spite of our failure to make a big to-do over Easter like we have in the past, the Big Bunny himself still managed to forgive us and regale the girls with some fun toys and yummy treats.

The sly hopper even managed to keep us on our toes Easter morning by hiding some eggs in random places throughout the house.  Found inside?  Chocolate, jelly beans, and MONEY.  That's my kind of rabbit.

Anna helped Alexandra with her first turn at tummy time.  It lasted all of about 4 minutes, but it made for some cute shots.  Furthermore, it gave our own little bunny a chance to practice stretching those neck muscles.  I swear she'll be sitting up by next week - she's incredibly strong.

~Hoping everyone else's Easter baskets were as full!  *xoxo*