- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, September 17, 2010
The Breakfast of Champions... Or Superheroes
At this rate, Joey's Halloween costume may look pretty worn by October 31.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Sweet Talker
In the morning rush to get breakfast on the table, lunches packed, kids dressed and teeth brushed, it's extremely unhelpful if either Joey or Clara tiptoe into our bedroom and wake the baby up. But it seems to happen a lot, most often with a pounce and a "rooooaar" that they think is hilarious and sends them into fits of giggles.
I snuck out of the house this morning to take the trash to the curb, and returned to find the baby wide awake and on the verge of tears. I wheeled on Joey, and he promptly confessed (mostly because he's paranoid about Pinocchio's fate), and then spread out his hands like a bonafide Italian, palms up.
"But Mommy, I just wanted to see her beautiful eyes!"
We're in trouble... he's either a future con artist or, even worse, a future defense attorney!
I snuck out of the house this morning to take the trash to the curb, and returned to find the baby wide awake and on the verge of tears. I wheeled on Joey, and he promptly confessed (mostly because he's paranoid about Pinocchio's fate), and then spread out his hands like a bonafide Italian, palms up.
"But Mommy, I just wanted to see her beautiful eyes!"
We're in trouble... he's either a future con artist or, even worse, a future defense attorney!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Outnumbered
All of our readers who hop over to neighboring blogs will he happy to know that some of your favorite little people were all in one place. All of the Cecchin cousins except Tommy (who had preschool today) romped, played and got very wet at the Moraga park today!
The adult-to-kid ratio proved to be favorable for mischief; with Grandma Cecchin and I manning the little ones, Lucy and Molly, the big kids were left to their own devices, which included sprinkler fun, wrestling, and a lot of giggling.
Lucy and Molly turned 9 months and 4 months old, respectively, yesterday, so we tried to snap some pictures of the two of them. They were less than cooperative...
Thanks to Grandma Cecchin for trekking out to the East Bay to join us for some midday fun... and bringing Marco and Lucy along, too!
The adult-to-kid ratio proved to be favorable for mischief; with Grandma Cecchin and I manning the little ones, Lucy and Molly, the big kids were left to their own devices, which included sprinkler fun, wrestling, and a lot of giggling.
Lucy and Molly turned 9 months and 4 months old, respectively, yesterday, so we tried to snap some pictures of the two of them. They were less than cooperative...
Thanks to Grandma Cecchin for trekking out to the East Bay to join us for some midday fun... and bringing Marco and Lucy along, too!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Friday Night Lights... and a Flashback
We had a family first on Friday night -- we braved a professional sporting event event with all three kids in tow -- and it was a success!
We attribute this to three key factors: 1) It was at the A's stadium, so there was plenty of room to spread out; 2) there were plenty of wholesome, kid-pleasing snacks on hand like hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and hot chocolate; and 3) we went with our friends Eli and Amanda and their kids, including adorable 3 year-old Lucas, who is a *perfect* playmate for both Joey and Clara.
My favorite shot of the night might be this one, of Joey admiring Molly, seated on Daddy's lap in the row behind him. Could he look any more proud?
We attribute this to three key factors: 1) It was at the A's stadium, so there was plenty of room to spread out; 2) there were plenty of wholesome, kid-pleasing snacks on hand like hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn and hot chocolate; and 3) we went with our friends Eli and Amanda and their kids, including adorable 3 year-old Lucas, who is a *perfect* playmate for both Joey and Clara.
My favorite shot of the night might be this one, of Joey admiring Molly, seated on Daddy's lap in the row behind him. Could he look any more proud?
This was Molly's first taste of Major League Baseball (although she did attend a couple of Daddy's softball games this summer!), so we made sure to capture the moment.
Since this blog wasn't around when the other kids went to their first games, I dug up pictures of both Joey and Clara at their first A's games, and now I'm *really* confused about who Molly resembles!! Apparently all of our kids have their very own looks!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Family Filmmaker
As our firstborn, Joey's babyhood was immortalized with hours and hours of video, and many thousands of photos. Unfortunately, it seems that the quantity of photos decreases in direct proportion to the number of children you have, and poor Molly is destined to have less screen time than both her brother and sister.
Fortunately, Joey has recognized this injustice, and has shouldered the role of family historian. If that means pausing the monkey preschool game on Mommy's iPhone to properly document and record Molly's finger-sucking obsession, then so be it.
Fortunately, Joey has recognized this injustice, and has shouldered the role of family historian. If that means pausing the monkey preschool game on Mommy's iPhone to properly document and record Molly's finger-sucking obsession, then so be it.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Fancy Dancy
When you have a little girl who nightly requests the same bedtime story, her older brother may or may not become similarly entranced. Should we be worried that Joey can now recite Fancy Nancy to Clara? Don't answer that.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Zooming Out
Molly's little cleft was such a surprise and shock at birth that it was hard to imagine there would come a day that I would dread "fixing" it. It gives her face an impish, lopsided charm that we'll miss immensely! We have another consultation with her surgeon at UCSF in two weeks, and her surgery will be scheduled shortly after that. In the meantime, I'm documenting my happy little baby as much as possible!
She's quick to smile...
She's quick to smile...
especially when she's being entertained by our travelling dress-up troupe.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Little Duck
Molly donned her first swimsuit last week during our heat wave, and took a dip in the pool at our health club. She loves pools as much as she loves her baby bathtub... It must be something in the Lamorinda water!
First Day of School
Over the summer, a mom friend of mine related in hushed whispers the horror of bringing her 4 year-old son to see Toy Story 3. It was traumatizing, completely inappropriate for toddlers, and may have turned him off movies for life. Despite some misgivings, we went the following week, and as we drove home from the theater with two deliriously happy kids, I couldn't help but feel like I had taken a seriously wrong parenting detour somewhere.
I felt the same way this morning, when I dropped off both kids for their first day of preschool, and they ran in without looking back, practically mowing down the timid toddlers in their way.
Molly and I were left feeling a little extraneous, so we headed out for our first of many solo adventures on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today we took a trip Lowe's...I can't wait to see what thrilling errands next week brings!
The excitement of the morning made for two squirmy, amped-up kids, but here are Joey and Clara as we headed out the door!
It's a very good thing they're not in the same class...
I felt the same way this morning, when I dropped off both kids for their first day of preschool, and they ran in without looking back, practically mowing down the timid toddlers in their way.
Molly and I were left feeling a little extraneous, so we headed out for our first of many solo adventures on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today we took a trip Lowe's...I can't wait to see what thrilling errands next week brings!
The excitement of the morning made for two squirmy, amped-up kids, but here are Joey and Clara as we headed out the door!
It's a very good thing they're not in the same class...
Monday, August 30, 2010
A Look into the Future
So much of parenting involves the here and now. Whether I'm tending to a diaper explosion, dashing to kiss a boo-boo, hurrying to fasten a carseat strap, preparing a meal, or fielding urgent questions about pirates while folding laundry, it's all very much in the present tense. There's definitely not time to contemplate our carefree, kidless past or our mind-boggling, kidless future.
But we went careening ahead a few decades during a recent conversation in the car.
Joey is often quiet in the "way back," but I knew he was gearing up for something big.
"Mommy, Mommy!!"
I turned down the radio in time to hear, "Mommy, when I'm a grown-up, will you still have birthdays?"
I assured him that I would.
"Even when you're as old as an old man?"
Um, yes.
"Will I still be invited to your birthday parties?"
"Yes! Who else will blow out my candles?"
Joey pondered this for a moment, and then said words no mother wants to hear.
"Okay, Mommy, can you send me a birthday invitation in the mail? And a map, so I know how to get to your house? I might not know how to get there."
I think my consternation was palpable, and even a four year-old male knew that he should backpedal. Quickly.
"Actually, Mommy, I won't need a map. You know what? I think when I grow up, I'll be your neighbor! I'll live right next door to you and Daddy, and come over for dinner every night."
He shot me a winning, firstborn smile in the rear view mirror. He definitely knows how to play his cards.
But we went careening ahead a few decades during a recent conversation in the car.
Joey is often quiet in the "way back," but I knew he was gearing up for something big.
"Mommy, Mommy!!"
I turned down the radio in time to hear, "Mommy, when I'm a grown-up, will you still have birthdays?"
I assured him that I would.
"Even when you're as old as an old man?"
Um, yes.
"Will I still be invited to your birthday parties?"
"Yes! Who else will blow out my candles?"
Joey pondered this for a moment, and then said words no mother wants to hear.
"Okay, Mommy, can you send me a birthday invitation in the mail? And a map, so I know how to get to your house? I might not know how to get there."
I think my consternation was palpable, and even a four year-old male knew that he should backpedal. Quickly.
"Actually, Mommy, I won't need a map. You know what? I think when I grow up, I'll be your neighbor! I'll live right next door to you and Daddy, and come over for dinner every night."
He shot me a winning, firstborn smile in the rear view mirror. He definitely knows how to play his cards.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Please, Call Me Joey
Clara has recently realized that Joey's name can be truncated to Joe - and has started calling him that when she wants to get his attention.
"Joe! Joe! Joe! Hey, Joe!"
Joey has a high tolerance level for most things, and can be counted on to go with the flow, especially when it comes to baby sisters. But this nickname business is serious stuff.
He finally snapped this morning.
"Clara!" he said, finally turning to her in exasperation. "My name is still Joey! It might be Joe when I grow up, but right now it's still Joey, okay??"
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
"Joe! Joe! Joe! Hey, Joe!"
Joey has a high tolerance level for most things, and can be counted on to go with the flow, especially when it comes to baby sisters. But this nickname business is serious stuff.
He finally snapped this morning.
"Clara!" he said, finally turning to her in exasperation. "My name is still Joey! It might be Joe when I grow up, but right now it's still Joey, okay??"
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Well, Hello New Neighbor!
Eight o'clock in the morning is not my finest hour. I'm usually dishevelled, bleary-eyed, and badly in need of coffee, but am instead usually changing a diaper, helping someone go to the bathroom, or nursing a baby.
Basically, it's definitely not the time of day that I would have picked to have our doorbell ring and meet our new neighbor. My grand plan was to deliver brownies this afternoon, surrounded by my well-dressed and well-groomed brood. Instead, I think the scene he stumbled upon may have scarred him:
Me, with major bedhead, rocking my Alpha Chi Omega sweatshirt and striped pajama pants, holding a squirmy, crying baby whose nursing session has just been interrupted, and who is sporting just a diaper. Peeking out from behind my legs is Clara, naked from the waist down, and bounding out on to the porch is Joey, who I know is dressed vaguely as a superhero, but in reality, could pass for a street urchin.
Welcome to the neighborhood! Luckily, they have toddlers, too -- and I still have a chance to at least impress the wife!
Basically, it's definitely not the time of day that I would have picked to have our doorbell ring and meet our new neighbor. My grand plan was to deliver brownies this afternoon, surrounded by my well-dressed and well-groomed brood. Instead, I think the scene he stumbled upon may have scarred him:
Me, with major bedhead, rocking my Alpha Chi Omega sweatshirt and striped pajama pants, holding a squirmy, crying baby whose nursing session has just been interrupted, and who is sporting just a diaper. Peeking out from behind my legs is Clara, naked from the waist down, and bounding out on to the porch is Joey, who I know is dressed vaguely as a superhero, but in reality, could pass for a street urchin.
Welcome to the neighborhood! Luckily, they have toddlers, too -- and I still have a chance to at least impress the wife!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Creating a Girly Garden
In a house that is more blocks, trains and superheros than fairies, princesses and dolls, we've finally carved out a feminine space for our little girls - future home of giggles, late-night whispers, and girl toys galore.
Many people deserve thanks for this room's creation:
- The UC Berkeley girl who sold me her twin box spring for $20, and even helped me uninstall carseats to fit said box spring in my car. I also have her to thank for making me feel much too Suburban Mom and not-so-much Cute Preppy College Girl.
- My trusty extra-large SUV, which is amply sized for hauling mattresses and bed frames.
- The Berkeley police officer who, after observing me 1) execute an illegal three-point turn in the middle of a four-way stop, and 2) check my phone repeatedly for directions because I was clearly lost, tailed me for four blocks with his lights on before finally getting my attention with his siren, and STILL let me out of a richly deserved ticket! I may not be Cute Preppy College Girl, but I can apparently still charm cops.
- Mop, for watching all three kids while I ran this errand, and then helping me haul in the box spring and bed frame and set up the room!
Without further ado, here's the finished product!
I hand-painted the girls' letters, and enlisted help from my minions to put up the handy-dandy wall decals, which were amazingly easy to apply and rearrange!
Molly surveyed the scene from the safety of her crib, and obviously approves of her new tulip sheet and cushy striped crib set!
Many people deserve thanks for this room's creation:
- The UC Berkeley girl who sold me her twin box spring for $20, and even helped me uninstall carseats to fit said box spring in my car. I also have her to thank for making me feel much too Suburban Mom and not-so-much Cute Preppy College Girl.
- My trusty extra-large SUV, which is amply sized for hauling mattresses and bed frames.
- The Berkeley police officer who, after observing me 1) execute an illegal three-point turn in the middle of a four-way stop, and 2) check my phone repeatedly for directions because I was clearly lost, tailed me for four blocks with his lights on before finally getting my attention with his siren, and STILL let me out of a richly deserved ticket! I may not be Cute Preppy College Girl, but I can apparently still charm cops.
- Mop, for watching all three kids while I ran this errand, and then helping me haul in the box spring and bed frame and set up the room!
Without further ado, here's the finished product!
I hand-painted the girls' letters, and enlisted help from my minions to put up the handy-dandy wall decals, which were amazingly easy to apply and rearrange!
Molly surveyed the scene from the safety of her crib, and obviously approves of her new tulip sheet and cushy striped crib set!
But the real test came when Clara spent her first night in her big girl bed! Here she is with Dolly and Soft Blankie, ready for her maiden voyage. She's only fallen out once so far!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)