Saturday, April 25, 2009

The Gabriella-ish to English Dictionary

apple jimmy - uncle jimmy

happy copter
- helicopter

I see bum bum? - a request to get in on the action while I change her brother's diaper.

kooky mommy - me ... when I wear my hair curly.

thank you, mama. thank you, dada. - the assumptive close uttered right after she makes a questionable request but before we agree to it: Scissors? Mama, get it? I have? Thank you, Mama. Thank you, Dada.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Third time is a charm.

I finally survived an evening alone with both kids.

Granted, Dominic moved from the boob, bouncy, swing, changing table, bassinet and back to the boob ... all within a three hour period.


And Gabriella had to feed herself at one point, which resulted in a hummus mustache and a kitchen table fingerpainted with food.

But I didn't have a single Mommy Dearest moment and both kids were safe, fed, clean and sound asleep by eight. All's well that ends well.

Rain Check

The boys took advantage of this afternoon's rained out Red Sox game with the first of many father-and-son naps on the couch.

Dominic is literally smiling in his sleep!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Death Row

My mother is terrified of cats. We're talking "jump on the couch, close your eyes and yelp" terrified of cats. And I have a cat.

So for the duration of my mother's 11-day visit, we locked the cat in our home office with food and litter and a taunting view of the living room through French doors.

Gabriella, on the other hand, loves the cat. At least once a day, she set up shop by the cat's makeshift jail cell, bringing peace offerings and news from the outside, as if she were a mother visiting a beloved child on death row.

Gabriella would hold up a new pair of pajamas to the French doors and ask: "kitty cat, you like?" Then she would line up her stuffed animals--giraffe, bunny, tiger and duck--and demand "look, kitty cat, look!" Finally, she would sing, "kitty cat, I neeeeed you, kitty cat, I misssss you," before running off to her books or blocks or dinner and promptly forgetting the cat altogether.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Decorating Ideas

When it comes time to move Gabriella from crib to bed, I'm hoping this bedding from The Land of Nod is still available!

And once we get around to transforming our home office into a nursery for Dominic, I'm loving this shag rug in chocolate brown (also from The Land of Nod):

Monday, April 13, 2009

Happy Easter!

Easter kicked off my mother's extended visit to Boston to meet grandchild #3 ...


... while enjoying the thoroughly entertaining antics of grandchild #2 (pictured below with best pal Geoffers and matching rain boots).

Friday, April 3, 2009

Dominic's Homecoming

After eleven long nights in the hospital, the day finally arrived for us to bring our baby boy home. Here is the first official look at our new family of four:

Before leaving, the newly crowned big sister tried on gifts from her baby brother--sparkly bangles (right hand) and a clear plastic watch with pink smiley faces (left hand)--clearly intended to bribe goodwill and ward of jealousy:

The man of the hour (pictured below on his first car ride) took it all in stride, earning him the nickname The Godfather.