Spring has Sprung~

Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah! Lala how the life goes on...The Beatles

My little infant is growing into a boy before my very eyes. Everyone warned that the time goes very fast and to enjoy every moment, I happily took the advice to heart and truly relish in all of the moments, but never could I have ever realized how fast they grow up. It is so bitter sweet, of course I want my child to grow and progress, but with each step forward is one more step away from the the precious infant that once was...
I was recently laid off (mid Jan.) and what felt like such a hard, painful blow at the time, has come to one of the biggest blessings in my life. Spending every waking moment with Michael Henry is sheer joy! Being greeted every morning with his huge smile (with two bottom teeth and all) is completely sublime!
Michael is approaching 8 months old, and more delicious than ever! YUMMY! YUMMY!
He laughs hysterically when we say things (in that high pitch voice) such as..."DVD", "Vienna Sausage", "Your an awesome baby"...odd and random I know, but when something we say puts him into a fit of laughter, we stick with it.
He is now so curious about the world around him, and delights is hearing his own high pitched squeal and seeing his own reflection in the mirror. His is incredibly social. We take him anywhere and everywhere and he just loves it. He sits up on his own and plays with all of his toys ("his guys") for long stretches of time...he never gets bored, and that is great, because in my opinion only boring people get bored. His sleeping habits are perfect, he loves his crib and is always more than happy to get to bed after his productive days, he also loves his cat naps (sometime only for 20 minutes or so, but enough to rejuvenate). We are yet to come across a food he dislikes.
In the coming months, we look forward to visiting Nonny and Poppy in Fl., Seeing Great-Bubby for her 85th Birthday, visiting Gram and Grandpa in Maryland (for Easter), our vacation in the Bahamas in May...and many, many more exiting adventures!

Santa baby

Michael Henry is just so excited for his first Christmas, I just love this picture of him and had to share. I can not even believe how much I love this child!!

Thanksgiving 2008 in The Garden State

Our first Thanksgiving with Michael Henry was superb. My family was together at Michael and Lia's new home, which is the perfect party house, fully equipped with a “beer tender” and a fire pit. We managed to get through the day (actually twos days as we all stayed the night) with nary a squabble...with the exception of a minor altercation about the rules of Texas Hold Em...which was settled expeditiously enough...
football was watched (and played)…kids rumbled around the house wreaking havoc….wine made me aglow…food and company was top notch and all and all great times were had and memories made.
Michael Henry could not have been more in his element; he loves to be around people and as usual he was simply a complete and utter joy to be around! Michael even participated in the traditional Thanksgiving feast, he had his first bite of sweet potato! He loved it!

blog about a blog -Volume I, Chapter 7

I am simply blogging about this so that I do not forget this idea later on.
Assuming I continue this blog, my ultimate idea is to put the blogs into a book form with each year being a new volume....by the time Michael Henry is 18 years of age he would be the proud new owner of 18 volumes of blog goodness from his mommy!
(LOVE YOU MICHAEL! By now, you may have started reading volume I, and I presume your first semester at Harvard has already commenced...but Harvard or the local community college, I am sure I am very proud of you!)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!

I have a wonderful halloween costume for our little Michael Henry that I received at the shower my Donghia friends threw for me. I have known what my son was to be for Halloween since before he was even born. Now, low and behold the little pea pod costume is still packed away somewhere in this flurry of boxes (our move has been majorly DELAYED!!)...Once unpacked and settled into our new place, I will be sure to put him in the costume and properly post his first (belated) Halloween picture!

A Halloween thought, memory and recipe....

For all of the parents out there who loathe all of the candy that is around for days, even weeks after the kids trick or treating adventure, I have a friend who started a tradition of letting her kids take 10 or so pieces of candy, then buys the rest from them! They weigh it out on the bathroom scale, and they get 2 bucks per pound (or whatever the going rate may be), she dutifully takes the candy to work and lets her co-workers go at it...everyone is happy! I love that idea!

When I was in grade school, my friend Regan always had a Halloween slumber party, I have some very fond memories of bobbing for apples, doing the "time warp" and staying up all night telling ghost stories...

Black widow martini
2 martini glasses, preferably frozen
1 1/2 ounces Chocolate liqeur
1 1/2 ounces freshly made expresso
1 1/2 ounces Patrón XO Café
2 teaspoons sugar syrup
Hard ice cubes
Garnish: espresso beans and chocolate shavings

Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and then strain into the glasses. Add a few whole espresso beans and float chocolate shavings on the top.

Letters to Elliot...

Some people are so brave. This was their first child, and these parents were not at all naive to the fact that their precious baby was not long for this world, but grieving was not an option while Elliot was still with them on this earth. The road of courage and love chosen simply blows my mind. This video shattered me to my core, and when I realized that Michael was just a couple days over 99 days, I was overwhelmed with the notion that every day I have with Michael hence forth is another day more than they had with baby Elliot, I can only imagine what they would have given to have just one more day or even just another moment with Elliot. My own gratitude is unequivocal. Lest not let life pass us by without stopping to realize that every single day we are graced with our children's presence is a gift. I love you Michael and I look forward to the next 99 years with you...every single day!

What is it about the Fall?

Invariably Autumn always make me nostalgic. The quality of the light and the air inspires me and now the added factor of it being the season I got pregnant with Michael only adds another layer to the perfection that is Fall.
When the first chill comes a rollin' through I am instantly reminded of my first experience of going away to college for the first time in Upstate New York. My best friend and I looked at one another as our parents pulled away, and not a word was spoken because we both already knew what the other was feeling----total and complete LIBERATION...sheer EXHILARATION!!
Ironically Autumn is a time when nature around us begins to die yet the energized spirit of the people walking about seems palpable. Poets write, painters paint, hermits are inspired to come out of their shells...what is it about the Fall?
There is so much I love about Fall that I can go on forever, but to name a few...Cooking in the Fall....drinking wine in the Fall...spending time with friends and family in the fall....montauk daisies in the Fall...new boots in the Fall...Sunday football in the Fall....
And now with a child, the Fall seems even more brilliant, can't wait to take Michael pumpkin and apple picking...for a drive to see the foliage...to Montauk...
I think I might even bake a pie this Fall!
Enjoy the season (I know I will)!

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
as I have seen in one autumnal face"....John Donne