Busy Bees!

The title of this post hopefully serves as a partial explanation of the large gap between posts. Between daycare, work, school and a second job, we collectively have a very busy life right now. And, we really haven't had much time for pictures either, but what we did capture is priceless!

When we were hit by the remnants of a recent hurricane, Delanie donned the raincoat for the first time since we got it back in March. Delanie is starting to get the concept of different things - she is beginning to understand what a coat is, and how we put it on, for example. But, of course, we can't reason with her when she disagrees and throws the raincaot back off, which has happened since this pic was taken.


The second pic is sure to be one for the memory books, Delanie saying "Cheese" for the camera and flashing a million dollar smile (of sorts).

The third pic is Delanie in her Wipigaki shirt (Thank you Grandma and Grandpa). She really likes wearing big shirts to bed, which I also remember loving as a kid. Of course, she has had to wear pants the last week or so.

And the last pic is one of Delanie with her hair in a pigtail, wearing a sophisticated toddler combo (Thank you Great Grandma Clemons!). She looked like she was 4 years old that day, complete with the jeans and matching purple socks. What a doll! Of course, I thought about posting the picture I took two minutes prior, with her throwing a tantrum on the floor because she couldn't hold my camera.
And if there is one common thread in these photos that sticks out to me, its that mop of hair. She refuses to let me put it up, I was only able to do so recently because I used sophisticated diversion tactics (a Signing Times DVD). Typically, I show her what barrettes look like in my hair, then I put them in hers. Only to find that I am headed into the door of her daycare, and I am the only one wearing fuschia bunny barrettes in my bangs. Hairstyles do not last past the 20 minute drive.

This week, as seen below, I started using the adult ponytail holders. The hold the hair much better, and they are much harder for Delanie to pull out. They have held up well so far.

Her hair is at an awkward in between stage. We have cut the bangs a few times, but only found that other hair migrated to her eyeballs. So now we are attempting to grow out the bangs in hopes that it falls perfectly to the sides of her head.

Hair aside, Delanie had a pretty rough week. It was a week of reflecting for me, because it can be so difficult when we have so much going on to slow down and take care of things. I also was thinking about how I thought parenthood would go before reality hit. A few examples:

Before having kids: I fantasized about sick days. My child would wake up with a few sniffles, I would tuck her in on the sofa, and spoil her with ginger ale and crackers. We would snuggle up and watch Disney movies all day.

My reality check: As I am taking Delanie out of the car at her daycare, she throws up all over me, her and the car. She is stripped naked in the parking lot, then we head home. I spend half my day doing laundry and cleaning the car seat, while I am also tending to Delanie, who happens to be full of energy and a case of the "grumpies."

Before having kids: I would surely be able to "train" my children to sleep in until 9 and then we would leisurely eat breakfast as a family.

My reality check: Delanie is sitting up in her bed, wide-awake, at 4 am. She is crying for her "milk." After 45 minutes of attempts to get her down, we give in and get up with her. She gets her glass of milk and drinks it before I can even make her breakfast.


Before having kids: I thought that my daughter would easily entertain herself for hours on end, so I could do the house "stuff."

Reality Check: I had so much going on this week, and no spare quiet time, I brought long to-do lists with me to work. I had phone calls and electronic bills and even personal emails that I had been bad about responding to. It is mind boggling to me that a building with over 600 kids is quieter than a household with 3.

Of course, this humor doesn't take away from all of the wonderful time we have with Delanie, and now that Friday is here, we are all so happy!

Daddy's Little Girl

I am one lucky woman :)

Cape Cod Wedding

Our family headed to Cape Cod for Labor Day weekend to celebrate DJ and Justine's wedding. We had a wonderful time, both celebrating with family and friends and sneaking in some R&R on the beach.

Delanie had a blast on the beach, playing in the sand and water. Interestingly, though, she has developed an aversion to getting "diiirty." This proved a little inconvenient, seeing as water + sand = dirty toddler. So, we would have a pail of clean water handy for her to dip her feet in while she was in a lounge chair...

DJ and Justine were married on Saturday, August 30. This was such a beautiful ceremony. And, when you mix an Irish family with an Italian family, you know the reception will be a blast! It was so fun seeing family again! Dave and I danced for hours with everyone and stayed out later than we have in a while. A big thank you to Mr. Callaghan and Dr. Spinelli for including us in their special day :)


After the wedding, we took the ferry to Martha's Vineyard. The third photo is of Delanie sleeping in the ferry seat on the way home. She does not really like to be held or cuddled when tired, instead she just finds a spot and falls asleep.

Our travel home was a disaster, between getting lost in Providence during rush hour, having Delanie get sick all over everything in the car, toting luggage without a handle and then the mother of all tanturms during the entire descent to Raleigh...

And, although we had lots of fun celebrating with family, like all vacations, we are happy to be home!

August Update!

Let's see... where to begin...

We continue to be very very busy with, well, life. With Deanna returning to work and Dave returning to school, we have tried to cherish those precious weekend hours. We recently bought our ginormous toddler her first bedroom set (ironically, called "Delaney" at Target). The first pic is of us trying to put together a bookcase, while Delanie proceeds to climb in and out and on and off of it.

The second picture - we finally have a photo of her downward facing dog yoga sleep moves. Anyone with a child knows that a picture is worth a thousand words... unless of course, that picture wakes a sleeping baby. So, we have put off taking photos of her sleeping for, oh, 16 months or so. This has been her sleeping position since about 6 months old. Notice the baby appendages coming out from under her right arm...

Delanie's vocabulary continues to expand. Some of the latest words: tractor, lawn mower, trees, cheese, Nicky (neighbor's dog), kitty, mail, swim, peanut butter, bath, trash, clean, dirty, and phone. The one word that she has just about perfected - "NO!" She says it with a head shake and usually some sort of hand gesture such as pushing away from us. And she likes to repeat it over and over for emphasis...

Last week, Delanie got a little package in the mail from her Mamo (great-grandmother). Inside, two adorable little outfits! Here she is below, posing in her new outfit, accessorized by Mardi Gras beads. We cannot seem to coax her to keep any hair accessories on her head longer than 2 minutes, but she regularly wlaks around the house with some sort of necklace.

And, the last picture is just proof that we have morphed into parents - we took joy in taking photos and video of our daughter, looking miserable under a too-big bike helmet. Here she is riding her new bike for the first time. Since she has been a B-I-G girl her whole life, she really hasn't ever fit on those ride-on toys, her legs are just too long. So, we went ahead and got her a bike a little early, hoping she will be able to enjoy growing into it. We just have to work on her with the helmet.

We are off to a few weddings over the next few weeks - one in Virginia and one in Cape Cod. We are looking forward to seeing so many family and friends, and perhaps getting a little R&R in as well. We will surely have lots of pics when we return!

Delanie Footage!

Here is some video of Delanie with her baby! I know it's sorta long, but the grandparents will be happy! The cutest part is the last two minutes or so.

She's a B-I-G Girl!

Delanie continues to enjoy summertime! And, now that she is a full fledged walker, we are putting her in all those cute summer dresses! With her growing mass of curls, we attempt to do her hair, but hair accessories typically only stay in for five minutes. Delanie is starting to get the idea of "posing" for the camera, as evidenced by this photo!

Here is Delanie doing her version of the sign for "water" in her adorable ladybug dress (Thank you Papa Dave and Nana).

Unfortunately for our animals, Delanie is going through an aggressive stage with our pets. She tugs tails, pulls ears and pokes eyeballs. She has taken to chasing Bailey (our ornary cat) into a corner using her play lawn mower, then trying to ram right into her. With the dogs, she climbs on their backs or stomps on their tails, then laughs in delight when they jump up out of fear. We hope this stage will pass quickly and it is just an exploration into "cause and effect," not a future career in World Wrestling Federation!

And, despite her sometimes aggressive nature, she loves all three of her pets, no one can make her giggle more than her dogs or cat! (Thank you to our groomer Anda for dressing our two dogs in VT bandanas!)

Then there is the other side of this wonderful little girl - her new obsession with baby dolls. She has adopted two new babies since our last post. The first, pictured here, is Mommy's old half-naked Cabbage Patch Kid doll. Now, for a woman who grew up in the 80s, handing down a CPK is a dream come true! The other adoptee is a baby at daycare that actually belongs to her teacher's daughter, Georgia. Georgia accidentally left her doll in her mother's classroom. Well, Delanie hasn't been willing to part with it yet! So, the baby actually has joint custody - she spends each day with Delanie and goes home each evening with Georgia.

She shows such care and attention to the babies, offering goldfish crackers or wrapping them in blankets. One is always with her, and there is even a seat reserved at the dinner table. She has started brushing their teeth with her toothbrush and brushing their hair with her hairbrush. She makes sleeping noises after she puts one to bed on her old Boppy pillow. And, anyone who knows Delanie, knows that she never has a shortage of things to say, so she narrates the entire sequence of events for her baby!

15 Month Update - The Jolly Blonde Giant!

That is the nickname that Dr. Durand has given to Delanie after her 15 month check up today. And once again, both the doctor and the nurse looked me up and down then confirmed that no, my husband is not tall either. At Delanie's last appointment, Dr. Durand said she thought Delanie might slow down for a bit, allowing her peers to "catch up." But, instead, she continues to grow at the same pace. And with each appointment confirming her growth, the doctor is becoming more certain that she will be a tall child (and maybe even a tall adult). Dr. Durand even pulled out her growth chart to show me how impressed she was. If you look at a standard growth chart, there is this large shaded curve that represents "normal." Delanie's growth follows the shape of the curve very precisely, except she is well above the shared area. So, here are the 15 month stats (drumroll please):
weight: 26.5 lbs (93%)
height: 33.5 in (>97%)
head: 18 1/8 (52%)

Delanie is right on target developmentally, although her parents (and grandparents!) think she is also way above the curve in that area also. She is at the most fun stage, Dave and I are so happy to be around her and watch her little mind work each day. She continues to be a chatterbox, mixing gibberish with words. She will try to parrot back just about any word you ask her to, and does a pretty good job with sounds and syllables. She is also becoming a great mimic, repeating motions and gestures. Delanie has also recently become attached to her baby. The baby sleeps and eats with Delanie, and they spend most of the day together. If Delanie gets involved in play, after a few minutes she will get a concerned look, hold her hands out with palms up, and say, "Baby?" And, in terms of mimicking behavior, she hugs, kisses, feeds and holds baby much like she's witnessed Mom and Dad do with her.

Here are some of the cute things Delanie did TODAY:

- While waiting for Dr. Durand, she placed the baby on the rolling chair and rolled her around the room, saying, "Whee!"
- When I got out of the shower, I found Delanie with a pair of my shorts on her head and my sunglasses on her face.
- While playing hide-and-go-seek with Dave, Delanie peered her head around the corner and said, "Boo!"
- When I went in Delanie's crib this morning, I found Delanie and her baby with heads on her pillow (new addition to the crib as of yesterday), blanket over them and Delanie talking to baby.
- As I type this at 9 pm, Delanie is singing to baby in her crib and her parents are beaming at the baby monitor!

So, bottom line, if we could freeze time right now, I think we'd jump at the chance, we are just loving this time with such a happy, silly, smart girl!