Cancun. Nuf Said.

We spent winter break in Cancun. 

We spent the week playing in the pool. Eating for hours. And having a generally AMAZING time. That's all. I mean seriously. What other words do you need? Really, you just need some pictures!

Get ready for some pictures!

 Napping. Everywhere and anywhere.

So happy in the pool!

YUM! 

No worries, I'll feed myself. 

Scuba diving. Emma's first time. 

Not Eliana's first time

El Meco.

More napping. More pool.

FIRST SNOW!!!

Oh snow! How I love you! Through a window. With a beautiful warm roaring fire in front of me.

December 2013

 Cuddling with my sweethearts!

 

We spent a lot of time watching Daddy outside and the dogs pee on the porch. 

She was intrigued. She enjoyed sitting in the snow. And then she touched it. And she no longer enjoyed the snow so much. 

Meeting the Families

Over the last few weeks, Eliana has met most of her family. She has met her Reese family, and she has met her Stamford family. She has not met her extended Stone family - that is happening this summer.

So a few weekends ago Eliana met her Reese family. We went to Grandma Linda's for Linner or was it Dunch? Anyway. We were there for a late lunch. Eliana was able to meet so many of her extended family members. It was a wonderful afternoon!

Eliana met her Great-Uncles & Aunts. She met 4 of her second cousins, or maybe they are once removed... who knows. And she was a little angel throughout the afternoon. She let everyone hold her. She wants to apologize for spitting up on Carrie. Her Great Uncles were thrilled to feed her. It was a lovely afternoon!

The following weekend she traveled to CT to meet the Stamford family. Her Nana & Grandpa's friends. It was also her time for her Baby Naming. It is a ceremony introducing her to the Jewish people. It was her turn to enter into the covenant.

It was a huge event. There were about 50 people there... overwhelming much? But it was lovely to see so many friends and "family" (you know the family that you don't share any blood with). It was lovely.



Over the summer, we are traveling for Eliana to meet her Great-Grandparents! We can't wait!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I have always loved Mother's Day. Just because of how lucky I am to have the mother I do. My mother is intelligent, caring, supportive, strong, and loving. She has welcomed every one of my friends into her home as if they were family; even the ones who didn't deserve it. She has shown me all the ways I can be successful in my life and then let me figure out how to do it my way. She held my hand when I needed it and left it available to me even after I rejected it. My mother is a truly remarkable woman.

And now that I am a mother also, the pressure is on. I want to be as great a mother to my daughter as my mother was (and still is) to my siblings and me. I want to be there for her and still allow her to find her own way. I want to teach her how to be a strong woman, to stand up for what she believes in, to look out for the people around her in addition to the people she cares about. I want my daughter to grow up curious and inquisitive. I want her to explore.

And I want to have the relationship that I have with my mom when we are older. I want to be her best friend. I want to love the person she grows up to be.

I love my mother to the moon and back. I wouldn't be anything worthwhile without her love. I wouldn't be competent without the lessons she helped me teach myself. She is a truly incredible woman. And I am lucky to have known her. But more so, I am lucky to be her daughter.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

I love birthdays. But I am AWFUL at remembering other people's. Regularly. I forget to call. I called my best friend two days late, because I wrote her birthday on the wrong day in my calendar... and my mom? This year I facebooked her and then forgot to call. I am seriously awful. Especially when my family and so many of my friends are so great about contacting me.

It makes me feel awful.

And then there are my siblings. They are too funny.

Take my brother. He and I have the same sense of humor. And he has the best way of wishing someone a happy birthday without making you feel old and fat. I mean. Yes. I mean. Ummmm. No just kidding. This note sums up our relationship. Love and teasing and love.


And then switch gears. Get a box of tissues. And get ready for this card from my sister.

The 30 Best Things About My Sister

In Honor of Her 30th Birthday

1. My sister refuses to quit.
2. My sister doesn't fight when it isn't worth fighting for.
3. My sister has a smile that lights up her whole face.
4. My sister is loyal.
5. My sister thinks things through.
6. My sister loves deeply with her whole heart.
7. My sister hates letting people down.
8. My sister laughs often.
9. My sister is funny.
10. My sister lets you be different.
11. My sister respects others.
12. My sister lets go of the past.
13. My sister teaches me.
14. My sister worries about other people.
15. My sister lets others make mistakes.
16. My sister gives great advice.
17. My sister teases without insult.
18. My sister tries.
19. My sister protects others.
20. My sister enjoys other people's happiness.
21. My sister cooks.
22. My sister understands the power of a cupcake.
23. My sister calls because she hasn't called lately.
24. My sister allows others to work things out on their own.
25. My sister is always there for you if you need her.
26. My sister makes you laugh so hard you cry.
27. My sister fixes problems.
28. My sister offers solutions.
29. My sister goes out of her way to take care of you if you're sick.
30. My sister goes for it.

BONUS PUNCHES:

• My sister converts food into human
• My sister built forts
• My sister gives great hugs
• My sister warns you to leave when she farts
• My sister does her best.
• My sister blogs.
• My sister lets you babble about things she doesn't care about, because you do.
• My sister is honest.
• My sister has a great bitchface.
• My sister doesn't judge often and when she does, it's funny.
• My sister includes.
• My sister trusts you to get your shit done.

Mostly, I'm blessed to have you as my sister.  You're the only birth sister I'll ever have, and damn, did I get lucky.  Hopefully, I can be half the sister to you that you are to me.  Happy thirtieth birthday to my amazing, inspiring sister.

Okay - it's me again. I cried when I read that email from her. I mean, how could I not. Sarah & I have a relationship marked by roller coasters. We love and hate and love and love and hate and love again. I screamed at her two nights ago because I had to update the OS on my computer (which is still a very old OS by today's standards) and therefore I lost my programs and can't download new ones because my OS is still too old. She took my screaming in stride, and then told me I was scaring her, but came up with a solution for me nonetheless. 

While my brother and I coast through life experiencing whatever is in front of us, and enjoying most of it; my sister is a completely different person. She is beyond thoughtful and insightful. Especially when you don't want her to be. 

And back to the topic at hand... how am I ever going to live up to this email? My brother? I can call his ass at midnight and wish him a Happy Birthday. In fact, I was surprised he didn't do that this year. But grateful. Very grateful. But my sister? How will I ever be able to live up to her standards?

So I make a resolution. For my 30th birthday, the only present I want, is one that I have to give. I want to make the people with who I surround myself to know and feel cherished in the way that I actually cherish them. I want you to know that I love you. And that even though I haven't called recently, or emailed, or sent you a card in who-knows-how-long, I love you very much. 

I guess this isn't really a birthday post at all is it?

Here is the traditional stuff someone might write...

I did have a wonderful birthday on Monday. I spoke to my Grandparents the night before, always a treat! And made our first plans for this summer with Baby Girl. On my actual birthday? I received cards from two of my wonderful friends at work, as well as flowers and baby unrelated items. Shout outs for cupcake related gifts!!! After school, my Chanukah present for Matt came - a cleaning service. It was awesome! And my husband both made my favorite sandwich (meatball sub) and then cleaned up! I got a card that mentions farts. And roses. And sappy cards. And gift cards. And 3 beautiful pairs of earrings. A box filled with randoms. And a back-rub. I spent time putting things away in the nursery.

I didn't expect to freak out about turning 30. It's just a number. And it's not a very big number at that. I mean, imagine 75. That's a really big number. And this is the first birthday that I did not make a HUGE deal out of. I didn't do a countdown at all. Not because I was dreading it. But because I haven't really had the opportunity to think exclusively about myself in about 7 months. Everyone says having a child changes your life. But it also changes your perspective. It's weird and refreshing. 

So Happy Birthday to me. May my life be filled with family and friends. And love. And may I have make lots of opportunities to share that love with the people that I cherish. Which will be really easy this weekend! Expect a post on that next week! Yay showers!!! 

Winter Break 2012

So what did we do over winter break? Oh geez! So much. It is amazing how much we can cram into 10 days!

So we got out of school on Friday... and we went out to happy hour and then out to dinner. We found a new favorite restaurant. And if you are ever in the DC area, you have to eat there! We have actually eaten there 3 times since Thanksgiving! Founding Farmers is just amazing! That's my fried chicken, waffles, and macaroni & cheese. There were more beans at the beginning, but I had to eat them first to make sure I ate all my veggies...

On Saturday, we had a big day! We worked on Baby Girl's room all morning. We finished what we had.  The painting is done. The plugs are updated. The furniture is where it should be. There will be a separate post on this with photos and everything. Then we had a bigger afternoon. We went to IKEA. Matt's idea... for organizational stuff. There is a post on this!

Sunday, Matt went to Drew's and had a boys day watching football. I was left to make things work. I assembled the bookcases we bought and started moving things around and into their new home. 

Monday was Christmas Eve, and I finally got my blood work done for the glucose test. Then we headed to Linda's. It was the first time we got to see her new house and church. Her house is beautiful. It feels more like her and like home than her apartment did in Manchester. We had a lovely dinner, all of Matt's favorite foods - a Thanksgiving meal in fact. I love Christmas Eve services. But you know that. You read my post on the holidays.

Linda gave a wonderful sermon. There were a number of different parts. She talked about how this year was different. We were all there together for the first time. Which was true; there were people missing from years past and new people in the pews (us) and on the pulpit. She also talked about the lenses we wear. I could completely relate. After taking the Intro to Judaism course, and because I am pregnant, I am seeing a lot of the same things from different and new points of view. It was very interesting. I don't remember how that part related back to the story, but I took stuff away from it, and that has to count. Right?

Then there were presents that night because Phil & Lauren were spending the night with us and they were spending the morning with her family. We had breakfast together and then took a tour of the church. It was beautiful! Then we spent the day doing what we do on Christmas day - we went to the movies. Matt, Linda, & I saw "Life of Pi." It was beautiful and wonderful. And the 3D was to die for!

That night, Matt left me at the train station. No worries, I had a ticket. I took the train from MD to CT to spend a few days with just the ladies. We woke up the next morning and went up to Canyon Ranch. Three days of relaxing by the fire, watching the snow come down, eating healthy food (I think I learned that meant no preservatives more than anything else), and getting massages. It was a wonderful way to spend almost three days with just my mom & sister. And, as per the usual, we were talking about going back before we even left.

While I was away, my husband stayed home and worked on the house. Yea that's right. I went and had massages, and Matt painted the master bedroom. And yes I know that we have painted every room in the house since we moved in (except the guest room, living and dining room) and that maybe we should inhale less pain fumes, but we are looking for the right colors. And the colors I liked when we moved in, don't do it for us anymore. He also "had to" play video games and drink beer - I put that on the list also.

Friday, we went home to CT. DUH - it was Shabbat! And Matt was coming!! And Dan was coming!! And Dan was bringing his GIRLFRIEND!!!!!! Holy cow! (Hi Emma!) There were so many happy things all coming together in one house!  So Friday night, Shabbat, Matt got stuck in tons of traffic... eeks. Stupid Delaware turnpike. Stupid New Jersey construction on the turnpike. We hate you both! So we had a late dinner, which was appropriate because we were also having a late Chanukah. We celebrated Chanukah the first time at Thanksgiving, but we didn't get a chance to eat latkes (Matt's favorite part), so we had them for Shabbat. Then we opened presents.

And I know you are wondering what I thought of Emma... well she brought me cupcakes! I guess they were really for everyone, but they were chocolate with peppermint frosting. So clearly they were really for me! I am so easily won! Does that make me easy? When it comes to cupcakes - I am OKAY WITH THAT! But honestly, she is a sweetheart. And my favorite part of her? Aside from the part where she makes cupcakes? She likes my brother, and he likes her back. And they make each other happy. Also, she had no problems handling the Stones - which was really impressive. And she learned how to play Settlers without complaining. So Matt is 100% on board too!

Saturday? We had a ladies morning at the nail salon. All 4 of us. No longer 3. And soon to be 5. Crazy counting skills right there! And then we got snowed in. All day.

Misty was in heaven! It is the only time she acts like a dog!

And the boys had a great time! Snowballs. Snow angels. Dan. Emma. Matt. Andy.

But no little dogs. It was too cold for their little legs... They maintained control of the porch, with Sarah.

I love my family. Biological. Extended. In-laws. ALL of them.

"I almost farted everyone out of the house! I was sad-face because then I was lonely." ~~ Matt wrote this for you, no worries, its still about me.

We played games. And sat in front of the fire. Some of us picked fights (gotta do what we do). and we watched movies. Lovely.

Sunday. The snow had stopped and the plows had come. And Andy's keys were missing... we spent an hour searching in the house before we thought about the outside... and we had been playing all over the front yard and driveway. And then they plowed... but not worries - they were in the SNOW ANGEL!

And then it was time to go home. We decided to drive through PA instead of down through Jersey. The drive was so much prettier! And smelled so much better!

Then it was New Years Eve. Crazy to think about it being 2013. We dropped off my car at 7 in the morning for some recall work. Want to hear how stupid it was? If the front seat passenger side airbag was off - so was the back seat. That's no good. Especially with a baby on the way. So that was dealt with. Then I ran errands and Matt assembled the baby's furniture. When I got back, he was mostly done. I couldn't believe it. And standing there in the doorway, it was beyond real that this Baby Girl is on her way, and soon!

For NYE, we had friends over. A lovely pajama party. I made dinner. And then we played games all night. The ladies helped me with the Baby's room and helped me see what I was missing. We all stayed up until the ball dropped, and then I dropped. Why should I stay up any later?

New Year's Day, we always go to Matt's Great Aunt's house in Baltimore. Ann Louise has been hosting an afternoon lunch for as long as I have known the Reese's. It is always nice to be with family around the holidays and it is a great time to catch up.

So that is our "break" in review.