soon to be 1...

It’s cliché, and I hate clichés, but I cannot believe how fast this last year has gone. In a flash, in an instant, right before my eyes, my baby girl is on the verge of 1 year old…

She’s a crawling and standing machine who (unlike her brother) loves to splash in the bath, and drink the bath water. She blows kisses and hides behind her blanket for peek-a-boo, and always claps in excitement when she appears. She falls asleep snuggling her blankie and
wakes up happier than anyone I know, as she sits in her bed in the morning, talking to herself contently until we scoop her up.

She eats almost anything, but always shares bites. She’s transitioning to whole milk and away from bottles and 3 hour schedules and baby-ness.

She’s in love with her brother, and vise versa. I’m the most proud when he is so kind and gentle with her, and insistent that he hug and kiss her and even wrestle with her (softly!). Jack loves to play with her, and they’ve made a fun game of crawling around the kitchen island and laughing upon finding the other. I hope they never tire of playing together...although that's probably a hope made in vain.

Nothing in my life is more endearing than watching my kids play together and love one another.

Time has gotten away from me this past year, and I can’t wink and ask it nicely to rewind, or start over, or slow down. It won’t listen to me, and that's okay. Seeing as I have no control it's a "let go and let God..." situation.

So in lieu of mourning the rapidness of time, I will try to celebrate it all: the past year, the baby girl turning into a little lady, the little boy turning into a protective brother...the rainbow of happy moments we've had, and to come.

PS: Lila's first birthday is a rainbow celebration...I don't know what I ever did before Pinterest!

Merry 3rd Birthday, Jack!

Jack, you’re 3 years old. Wasn’t it just yesterday that you were my little baby who came into the world on Christmas morning and made me a Mommy? After 2 hours of pushing, my little cone-headed boy joined my Christmas party and the whole world changed...


Always stay just as sweet and loving and honest.

Thank you for always being so excited to see me and never minding if I cover your face with kisses...

...and for being an amazing big brother and grandson and nephew and friend.

Keep saying please and thank you and sorry, because your manners (along with your intelligence) will get you places in life.

You make me prouder everyday. I don’t know how I got to be so lucky as to call you mine, but I cherish that fact everyday, because being your Mom is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.

Merry Birthday, baby boy. Slow down on the whole “growin’ up” thing…

Happy Birthday, Poppy!

Happy Birthday, Dad! Wish we were there in Florida with you to celebrate, but we will sing and have cake in your honor! Jack can't NOT eat cake, right!?!

Thanks to my bestest Aunt Pattie for the picture (and for making me super jealous!). Love you all!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy birthday, to...

my best guy...

the bearded man...

the cowboy...

the best Daddy...

and guys'-guy...

the joker...

and friend...

Love you so, so much! Jack is so excited to celebrate, that he made you a birthday cake out of a hamburger and french fries (100% on his own!) and proceeded to sing "Happy Birthday..." He must really love you!

Are you there world?

...it's me, Jen!

Well helllooooo! It’s been a whole 20 days since I last updated my blog! Someone has been slacking! (PS: That someone is me!). It’s been so busy the past few weeks, that when I do have a spare minute, I’d rather sit in front of the TV and watch Jersey Shore intellectual public programming, than update the blog, so I apologize!

Like I said, it’s been busy: someone very special turned 2, and oh yeah, Christmas came and went!

So prepare for a picture-heavy post in an attempt to rewind and playback the highlights of the past few weeks!

Here's Jack blowing out the candles on Christmas day.


And here he is showing off the outfit that Poppy bought him for Christmas Eve mass...please disregard the brown shoes with the black pants! Mom's mistake!

He doesn't look quite so happy with Daddy, but he loved dressing up all fancy!

And for Jack's birthday, we had a fire truck party...complete with a (pinkish) fire truck cake! (Seriously, how do you make red icing, because I used a TON of food coloring and it still came out pink!)

Jack and CC loved the cake! Oh and speaking of CC, it's her birthday! Happy birthday to the bestest aunt ever! Jack loves you soooo much, Care! It's just too bad you're so old! ;)

Icing kisses!

And the best, smartest, funniest, loving-est 2 year old I know. I'm beaming proud of the little man Jack is becoming. Everyday he amazes me...my Fireman Jack!

It's my Birthday :)

Yeah! Although, I'm officially on the "downward slope" of my 20s...but I'm having an amazing day...and it just reminds me how lucky I am!

My morning started off with over-sleeping (ugh)! But it was all uphill from there...with flowers from my boys and the best card from Jack (Jim):

It's true! And then I got a surprise card from my Pops on my car...he even stuck it in a zippie bag to avoid the condensation! Thanks, Dad!!! (love, Bones)

And then I came to work and got a big surprise with a festive-decorated desk and lots of delicious snacks!

And this sign that cracks me UP! (PS: I'm NOT 30!!!)

And another one that makes me laugh again...apparently, I'm a mini-cougar! (Don't ask!)

And THEN, I opened my inbox to find that Carey sent me some hilarious ecards that rocked my morning and made my face hurt from smiling...

Thanks, Care!

And I did get the musical birthday wishes from my Mommer :), who is the bomb and gave me my birthday present early...and it's been the best gift ever! Yes, it has contributed to my apparent incessant-picture-taking, but it's an obsession I l-o-v-e!

So now,

I'm off to be old, chow down, and party like a rock star (kinda)...if I'm lucky, Jack will sing "Happy Birthday" to me, like he did for Papa (check out the video at the bottom)!

Thanks to my family and friends...I love you to pieces and I'm so, so, SO lucky to have you in my life...you're the best :)

Happy Birthday, Herb/Papa!

Man in Boat with Golfclub:

Jack loves you so...

and looks up to you...

and loves to play around with you...

And he's glad you don't go on amusement park rides either: so he has a buddy to hang with...

and feed him snowcones that are bigger than his head!

You always love to have fun, and make us all laugh (see first picture: Man in Boat with Golfclub)

You're a good friend...

...and we all love you so much.

Happy Birthday!

And Mr. Jack wanted to say "Happy Birthday" and blow some kisses your way! Enjoy...

Those who love the young best stay young longer. (Edgar Friedenberg)