a little (second cousin) love

Katie and Alex were driving home from Niagara Falls and stopped by for awhile on Sunday afternoon. It was a much overdue visit. The kids got to see Katie and Alex in Niagara Falls back in November, but I hadn't seen them since we went to Sesame Place last summer. Nicolette loved playing with Alex. We wish them lived closer so we could get together more often.










Alex will be 2 in a few days, and I know he is a boy, but look at that height difference! My nicolette is such a peanut! You don't really notice it until you see her with another child!




And some randoms of days past...

What a day, and then some...

Today was a crazy day. Not a bad day in all aspects, but just busy! Our favorite college basketball team, who btw, was ranked #1, lost to Butler tonight and it was sad. We were all decked out in our Syracuse attire, and got one, crappy, shot of the family! Uncle Chris is in town, and the guys went to the Dome to see the NCAA games.

Speaking of which... Cole and Nicolette are in love with Uncle Chris! Seriously, Cole cried when I tried to take him out of Chris' arms. They have found a new playmate for the next 3 days! We really miss having Aunt Mary here too, but we'll see her soon enough, when she has our first neice, Mattie! Nicolette kept telling/asking me where Uncle Chris' car was. Of course I explained to her that he flew on an airplane, but she told me I needed to buy a car while he was here. Um... if only I could, if only I could...

Cole turned 15 months this week and he had to go see Dr. Nicholas. He weighs 21 pounds 12 ounces and is 29.75 inches tall! He's still a little man, at the 10th percentile, but he's growing really well and most importantly, he is healthy! He's talking more and more and points to what he wants, saying "this", which comes from when he couldn't communicate much and I would give him a million things, saying "this?".

This morning he was in his bedroom with me getting dressed and nicolette was in the bathroom with Jon. Cole kept calling her and calling her. I loved listening to him call his best buddy! She ignored him, but it was still adorable to listen to.

On Saturday we made a trip to the mall to go to the bouncy house, but sadly it was closed for a private party. It was so hard to tell Nicolette we couldn't go, especially since she saw kids in there playing. As a consolation prize we went to Friendly's for ice cream, with sprinkles of course.

now i lay me down to sleep...

There is nothing better than being a mommy and it's something I've always wanted, despite my high school vows to never have children. I feel like my life is complete and I get to re-live my childhood, through the eyes of my light haired beauties. I love the playing, and the kisses, and the so very cute, almost making out kisses nic and cole give each other.

But, at the end of a long day, when we're all starting to get cranky because we played hard during the day, and a bit past our bedtime, I look forward to this...

...and getting in my own comfy bed and drifting off to dreamland, so we can do it again the next day.

There is something about sleeping children that makes my heart happy. I don't know if it's because it's the one time of the day that they are still and quiet, or if it's the peacefulness I imagine they feel, or if it's the rare chance I get to reflect on what a blessing they are and how very lucky I am that both of them were put in my life. How my life is so much more enriched just because they were born.

When I stop and look at their sleeping bodies, I sometimes don't know how I got here. Like my life is on autopilot and I fell asleep for the last 10 years. I feel like I should still be in high school dreaming of my family to be, with that perfect husband. It always seemed like a dream for my future. How am I here, living that dream? How did I get to be 29 and have 2 kids?? I'm not old enough to be a mom!

To sleeping babies!

my little diva

The camera is constantly in the kids face, so you'd think they'd be use to it by now. No, no, no... they hate to look at the camera and do any kind of posing. It was quite a different story when Nicolette put on her new bathing suit. I'm a Sucker, with a capital S, when it comes to tutu's, so I fell in love with this pink tutu bathing suit. I couldn't believe the poses nicolette was striking before swimming one night!




And some more tutu pictures, because, ya know, it's tutu cute!

what are YOU enjoying??

Spring has sprung! We've been looking forward to spring, when the weather gets warmer and the snow melts. Last week we heard birds chirping outside our windows- a sure sign spring is on its way!

Today was beautiful- warm and sunny, just the way we like it. We got the bikes down, and the wagon too. It took all I had not to get and use every.single spring thing in the garage or on the deck. This is the first time Cole has really gotten the chance to walk, well, run, outside, since he was just walking in October. And nicolette is old enough to remember doing stuff outside, hence the "member yesterday" comments. "Mommy, member yesterday when I went potty", "Mommy, member yesterday when I rode my bike", "Mommy, member yesterday we went to the market". Yesterday means in the past, not just "yesterday" but anytime before this moment! I love her "member yesterday" comments. I just see the wheels turning.

So, all this nice weather brings me to enjoyment. I'm enjoying lots of things these days.

1.) Pictures of both kids, actually looking at the camera, in the same picture.

If you have 2 kids almost 16 months apart, you know exactly what I am talking about! Even with the digital camera, it's next to impossible!

I caught this cute one really quick one night.

2.) The energy this city has for it's basketball team.

I am a baseball fan, a Yankees fan to be exact. I could take basketball or leave it. I enjoy watching the 'cuse, but am not a die-hard or anything. But, Syracuse does have a good team, and I've really gotten into it lately. Jon and I had a date night awhile ago and went to a game at the Dome. They got a #1 seed for this years NCAA tournament and this city has gone crazy! Today they played the #16 seed, Vermont and everywhere I went, all I saw was orange, or blue.

The kids showed their spirit for their mom's alma mater by proudly wearing their orange and blue!

3.) good books

I love to read. I mean, heck, I have a master's degree in literacy. It's one of the top important things a child will ever learn. I want to instill a love of books in my kids, and I want them to be enriched by the many places books can take them. I will save my soap box speech for another time, and leave it at books are important, and fulfilling, and one of the best inventions of all time!

I don't have the time in my life right now to read. I need motivation, because, at the end of the day, as much as I would like to curl up with a good book, I am just too tired or I have more important things to do. I know if I am into the book, I won't put it down, and my life will be in shambles because of it.

In the meantime, I rely on children's book, which, I have to say, are equally as satisfying.

4.) Pictures on my new camera

I have A LOT to learn, but I am slowly figuring some things out. I can't wait to learn more tricks and be a pro!

Umm, hello, little boy!

Clapping boy!

Pretty girl, in the Stampin'UP! headband I made her!

Who knew she loved salad!?! She had to have the whole bowl to herself!

Little boy in a baby pnp!

Playing! What a mess!!

Dance class! This picture cracks me up!

A quiet little corner!

Loves to eat!

Watching his big sister!

Playing!