Request for Help!

Ok everyone, in case you haven't noticed, the title of my blog is no longer an accurate representation of my world. Thus, it's time to come up with a new title....

But I'm stumped!! So, I'm opening up the phone lines, in a manner of speaking. If you have a clever title that you think might work, please let me know by leaving a comment on this post.

All suggestions will be considered, and if I choose yours, you'll get a special shout-out on the blog. How can you resist that??? :)

Suggest away! And thanks!

Snow Day continued....

Here are some videos of the boys playing in the snow the other day. I was actually able to upload them!! Must have been my old laptop and not the internet connection (sorry Comcast!) - don't think I mentioned that Mitch got me a new laptop for Christmas. I think he was tired of listening to me complain about my old one.... :)

Anyway, enjoy these videos, and there will probably be more in the days to come - we got about 5 more inches of snow last night, and this weekend they're predicting another possible whopper! This is the snowiest winter we've had since I moved to Virginia nearly 11 years ago. I'M LOVING IT!!!

Snow Day

Yesterday brought more snow to Northern Virginia!! I know most Virginians don't like it, but I love it!! Here is the view out our front windows at about 11:00 a.m.:

It snowed all day - until about 10:00 p.m.!

The boys were anxious to go out and play in it. While Mitch went up to take a shower, the boys couldn't wait, so I had to get them in their snow clothes.

Here they are patiently waiting for Daddy, watching the snow out the windows...

Say "cheese"!!!

Tyler was more reluctant to get his picture taken...

Finally they made it outside!!!

While Maddy stayed bundled up inside...

I have to say I was a little jealous. It looked like a lot of fun out there! But since Maddy is a little too young to play out in the cold, I had to stay in. Maybe next year!!

All that fresh air and activity resulted in some tired little boys....

and one tired big boy.....

Even though the sun was out today, it was pretty cold, so we stayed inside. Here are some shots of the kids chillin' on the couch!

And now the weekend is over. Here's hoping for a good week!

Catching Up

How can it be that Madelyn is 6 1/2 weeks old already?!?!? And how can it be that I haven't posted for that long??? We've got some catching up to do.

Let's start with Christmas. Phew! Seems like a lifetime ago. I left the hospital on Sunday, December 20th. There was a tremendous amount of snow (we got about 2 feet), but Mitch was able to get to the hospital to pick us up. My mom was here (thank goodness!!!!), and she and I and Maddy spent a lot of quality time together. And Mom mastered taking the boys to school in the morning! Very helpful since in the beginning I couldn't drive, or physically pick the boys up.

On Christmas Eve, we headed out to Mitch's parent's house. Since no visitors were allowed in the hospital, it was the first time Fammy and Granddad were meeting their newest granddaughter.

And Aunt Ashley too!!

Granddad's lap is always a favorite spot for all the grandkids!

There was a wonderful dinner (though I missed most of it - I wasn't feeling well and went upstairs to lie down), and of course, PRESENTS!!

And some quality hang time for Tyler and cousin Charlotte....

Then we headed home and waited for Santa.

He didn't disappont!

Here is Maddy on her first Christmas morning!

A better look at her outfit:

Let the frenzy begin!

Here are the boys giving presents to Maddy:

Her stuffed bunny is (was) bigger than she is!!

We spent the day at home, and had a nice, low-key, family celebration. It was a wonderful Christmas, with much to be celebrated.

So far, the boys don't seem to mind having Madelyn around. They want to give her all kinds of attention, so of course they must be watched closely. I've got them trained that they can only kiss her feet (which are always covered), since they can't touch her head and I prefer they don't touch her hands with their germy little hands :)!!

I think Evan is mostly happy that the chair is back....

When Maddy was 11 days old, her cord fell off. Luckily it was when Mitch was changing her diaper because for some reason that seriously freaks me out!

It was time for her to have her first bath, but we didn't have her little tub yet, so Mom and I improvised in the bathroom sink:

Then wrapped her up in a warm pink towel!! She smelled good enough to eat when she was done! :)

A couple of weeks after Christmas, Uncle Doug, Jeannine, Jake and Max came for a visit. Here are the boys holding their new cousin:

And here's Uncle Doug - loving having a sleeping baby on his chest! Especially since he gets to give it back!! :)

Evan was quite taken with Uncle Doug on this visit too!

Mimi was happy to have lots of snuggling and bonding time with all the kids in the weeks that she was here.

And Mitch and I were so happy - AND GRATEFUL - for all the help she gave us. We appreciated it more than I can possibly express, and we all miss her!! We hope she'll be back soon (and not just because she has mastered loading the dishwasher - LOL)!!

We're in a bit of a routine now. The boys have switched to part-time preschool, so they are going on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, and staying home with me and Maddy on Monday's and Friday's. This is the first week, and I'm still trying to figure out how best to structure our time. I'm hoping for warmer days to arrive soon so we can spend time outside! In the meantime, my mommy skills are being seriously tested. Time will tell how I fare...

In closing, here are some cute pics of Maddy. I have a zillion more of them, but they are all on my Blackberry which has recently taken over as my primary mode of picture taking because it is always with me. I'll have to work on getting those pictures onto my computer.

Here she is in her super cute velour track suit. Mitch calls it her "Jersey housewife" outfit! :)

I promise to be back SOON!!!

A Princess is Born

Wednesday, December 16, 2009, approximately 6:45 a.m. The final belly shot.

10:40 a.m.

Welcome Madelyn Katherine Bath!!

I think Daddy is a just a little bit proud...

Here are some pictures of her first couple of days:

Here she is, bright eyed and bushy tailed - I believe this was sometime around 1:00 a.m. on one of the nights...

Today is our last full day in the hospital. We're supposed to be going home tomorrow (actually, we have to because insurance won't cover us to stay any longer), but it has been snowing since yesterday evening. We're supposed to get nearly 2 feet!!! I'm just hoping it slows down overnight and Mitch will be able to dig out enough to come and get us!

This was the view out my window SEVERAL hours ago:

There is so much more snow now, but it is too dark to take a picture.

So Maddy and I are just chillin' together.

Needless to say, I'm totally in love.