Happy Easter!

Roo Bear, here getting love from her super big cuz Brendan, asked me to wish everyone a hip-hoppy-happy Easter. She will be spending the day with her Pop Pop, Gamma, Aunt Joanie and Uncle Neal in Jersey. BTW: Her other big cuz, Riptide Ryan, is now walking and couldn't be slowed down for the photo... maybe next time ;-)

Both Chris and I are back to work on Monday and Ry starts school (wish us luck!!) I think our only hope for survival will be to become the picture of organization. I recently bought a label maker to help in that department and have labeled everything from Rylee to Simon to Chris' beer... watch out... you could be next!

Rylee's Debut!

So... I'm back at work. I didn't think it was going to be so hard, but Lehigh Valley Child Care is keeping me busy. Chris is home with Roo this week, but we're going to her new school to officially register this afternoon. She'll start next Monday at LVCC at Stone's Crossing (our newest location).

I was at Stone's Crossing this AM to create a slideshow of images for our YouTube channel and I just had to sneak a picture of Rylee into the video ;-) Because every show needs a STAR! BTW: all the photography is courtesy of Carry Gerber (in case you need a photog for your little one!)

Our Big Girl!

Little Christiana has decided that she's going to take control of her own destiny! Daddy apparently isn't doing a good enough job holding her bottle, so she's taken to holding it herself! Such a big girl! Like her father, she understands the importance of downing a bottle, and she takes drinking very seriously!!!

Whelp... Mommy's back to work tomorrow. The extent of my depression is surprising. I had a fit when the maternal-fetal specialist told me it was time to leave work in late December. I bitched and complained for weeks about having to stay home. All I wanted to do was work. Now... the thought of having to leave Roo for 8 hours a day has me downright sick to my stomach. I can't seem to stop the tears -- which is ridiculous, because I completely trust her babysitter -- she's home with her Dad all week this week (Spring Break for Christopher). I just can't stand the thought of leaving her!!! *whimper* Apparently, Chris and Christiana have lotsa' plans -- Opening Day for the Yankees, the Masters... beer... formula... BIG WEEK!

I'm suffering with this new heart medication. I'm extremely fatigued, which both the doctor and the pharmacist said would happen. My resting heart rate has gone from 100 to 50 -- which is a bit shocking to my system. Poor Roo Bear doesn't even recognize the sound of Mommy's heartbeat. Chris says its gone from death metal to a nice ballad ;-)

I'm sure we'll all adjust...

Happy Birthday Roo Bear!

Rylee -- 8 weeks

Anyone who knows Roo's Daddy,

knows where these eyes come from!

She obviously got her angelic grace from her Mommy!

But again, those long, beautiful eye lashes are from Daddy!

Carry Med Update

So, on Rylee's 8 week birthday, Mommy finally sucked it up and started her beta blockers! Apparently, my blood pressure is now completely out of control. In addition, I have a heart murmur and possible mitral valve prolapse, but the beta blockers should help control everything... I'm officially old!

I go back to the doc next month for monitoring.

Rylee's Song

For those of you interested in auditioning for the coveted role of babysitter... we'll be calling for the first round of interviews in the next couple weeks. After the first round of interviews we'll be making the calls for second interviews. If you get a call-back, please be prepared to memorize and sing Rylee's favorite Lullabies... most importantly -- Rylee's song:

Hush little Roo Bear don't you cry
Mama's gonna sing you a lullaby
And if that's lullaby's off key
Daddy's gonna pour you a beer or three
And if that beers got too much foam
Mama's gonna buy you an ice cream cone
And if that ice cream cone's too cold
Daddy's gonna buy you a chain of gold
And if that chains got too much bling
Mama's gonna give you her wedding ring
And if old Simon eats that band
Daddys gonna bury him in the sand

If Rylee's song doesn't work, please be prepared with her other favorite -- Barry Manilow's Copacabana! Just replace "Lola" with Roo Bear and "dress" with onesie ;-)

The Scream Team

Roo is squirting real tears now... it's heartbreaking! She's just too freakin' cute! Chris and I can't believe how focused she is now. She stares at us so intently and even watches Ghost Hunters with us in the evenings. She's growing like a bad weed. She'll be two full moons old next week (that's for you, Aunt Susan!), so she'll go to the doc to get measured and weighed. I'm guessing that she's sneaking up on 9 lbs. She'll be on slim fast before you know it!

Right now, she's downstairs drinking beer and cheering on Pitt with her Daddy. He claims that she's a huge basketball fan and that she loves all things P-I-T-T. Of course, I know she's going to grow up to be a Penn State fan, but, for now, I think she just appreciates that Daddy's recliner rocks back and forth. She just sucks on her pacifier and rocks back and forth, back and forth. Every once in a while Daddy screams at the TV. Rylee's nightly screaming just blends right in -- in fact, we've renamed our basement -- "the screamatorium" ;-)

The Nomadic Roo Bear

On the Boulevard in Long Beach Island

Daddy teaching Roo about "Open Container Laws"

Roo is adjusting well to her parent's nomadic, gypsy lifestyle. She's in Pittsburgh one week, Long Beach Island the next. It's a hard life ;-) But she seems to be adjusting well. Luckily for us (like her older brothers), she digs long car rides!

To see more pics of Rylee's first trip to the shore, click on the image of Chris and Roo above.

The Good Side of the State

Roo and I have gotten out of dodge. A couple weeks ago we decided that we could recover from her birth just as easily on "the good side of the state" so we met my Mom and Dad in Harrisburg and headed West for a week of rest and relaxation. Fortunately, and unfortunately, rest has not been in the cards... because Rylee's social schedule has kept us VERY busy! It turns out she has just as many fans on this side of the state! It's only Wednesday and she's already had the pleasure of meeting her Aunt Susan and Uncle Rick, Aunt Kathy and Uncle George, Nancy, Mary Ellen, Aunt Maura and "the cookie lady" Louise! She also got to spend some quality time with her Gram and Pap, Aunt Carly, Bracken and Brantly.

I know that her time with her cousins was one of the highlights of Rylee's trip so far (only because she didn't have the pleasure of eating her Aunt Susan's "shipwreck" -- yum! yum!)

Tonight, Mommy had dinner with Aunt Maura while Gram and Pap babysat. They gave Roo a bath, since she pooped all over herself earlier today requiring yet another wardrobe change. (On that note, it's a good thing I packed Rylee's entire closet, because... since we've been here, she's been changing more than Madonna in concert!)

Rylee and I are enjoying our retreat, but we miss Daddy terribly! We can't wait to see him in a few days...

Happy Birthday to Roo!

Yesterday was Roo's one month birthday. We celebrated by visiting Dr. Sion for our one month check up. Luckily (for the doctor, nurses and other families in the waiting room), Roo got most of her screaming out that morning from 8 am to 1 pm, so she was a perfect angel for her outing! She didn't even cry when they took all her clothes off and put her on the freezing cold scale (7 lbs 8 oz!)

The queen did exercise her lungs a bit when they gave her a shot in her adorable chunky little leg. But, don't worry... she stopped quickly. She wanted to save her best stuff for the 6 pm to 6 am shift! Roo obviously doesn't want her sick mother to get any sleep!

Enjoy these pics of Roo at one cute month...



http://www.flickr.com/photos/28821684@N04/sets/72157614725654061/show/

Get Well Soon, Pap!

Dear Pap:

Mommy told me that you had an unfortunate run in with a cow and were injured yesterday. At first I was confused, because I'd never heard of a "cow." But don't worry... Mommy got out one of my (many!) farm books and showed me a picture. My first reaction was "Wow! That's a big animal! Much bigger than Pap! What was he thinking messing with such a large animal???" Then I thought... "I wish I lived closer to Pap so that he could hold me in his one good arm. I bet that would make him feel better..." But since we live sooooooo far away, Mommy taped this little video of me in my pink and white striped coveralls -- I hope it makes you feel better.

I have to go now. These little stuffed bears keep circling above my swing and I'm on a mission to catch one. I hope you heal fast. In the meantime, stay away from animals that outweigh you by a ton!!!

Hugs and Kisses,

Sunshine

Dear Daddy...

No... it's not the roo-meister... it's Marley. Remember me? Your first born. In my opinion, the easiest one in the house to live with... I'm not saying I told you so, but I told you so! Life was much easier... and happier... when it was just you and me. Now... I've come up with a plan to do away with the kid. You just say the word...



We'll have to discuss how to get rid of the crazy brown dog and the old lady.

Love ya'

Marley