{johnny new year}

Mommy had some photo fun with baby today. Click HERE to see baby new year :)

Random Sightings

all swaddled up in his new blankie from the stine's...
playing with some new christmas toys...

she lined mickey & the gang up and told them it was time to go "nigh-nighs"...

Breakfast Tea Party

Alissa took Kyleena to her 6 month well visit this morning, so Ellyana came over to play rather than hang in the doctor's office. We're so glad she did--the girls had a great tea party for breakfast, then promptly danced the calories off for the next 20 minutes! They got some good time in with the kitchen, the doll house and of course, the rocking horse.

Dance Party...Ellyana doing a great "bunny hop".


Ellyana is an awesome, experienced big sis. She was so interested in Johnny.

Can't only imagine what he's thinking! He was REALLY into the girls and their "energy"...

My cheeks runneth over!
Giddy up.




Looking at this pic, there is no doubt he is MY son! I'm glad we got one that looks like me and one that looks like Daddy :) It's all about sharing, hehe.

Playroom Re-Design

John went out to IKEA this afternoon to get our new organization system for Lola's (and now Johnny's!) Playroom. I changed my mind last minute (shocker) and decided to go with two lower bookcases rather than the 5x5 huge one I had planned--and I'm so glad. I measured right before he left and two low ones, side by side, ended up *just* fitting along the back wall. We know have three levels of storage space--and all toys remain within Lola's reach.

He worked hard to get it all finished tonight because he knew how badly I wanted to get this project done. We are both in love with the finished product. It's amazing how happy an organized, uncluttered space can make two parents. Lola and I are going to head out to Oak Brook in the morning to do a little shopping and pick up a few more fun colored bins to finish it off.

Saying Prayers

"In the name of the Father..."
"Amen."

New Toy

Enough posting about Lola's new toys. Time to show you Mommy & Daddy's big gift for Christmas! We got our new fancy phones this morning--the Sprint HTC EVO. This baby has all the bells and whistles you could imagine--just to name one--it's a mobile HotSpot and we can run our Mac off its internet! (Yep, doing that right now.)

I really should show you the phones we had before this. It could best be explained like this...we used to be the Flintstones. Now, we're the Jetsons! :)

Three Becoming Four

Just a few days before Johnny arrived, our family of three had the complete privilege of working with Kristina Carter again. We had hoped one day we’d have the chance to be captured again through her lens and we can’t imagine her documenting a more exciting time in our lives...as our three was on the verge of becoming four.

So on a windy fall day, we met up in Hyde Park at Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece--the Frederick C. Robie House. I love FLW architecture thanks to my dad and I thought it would be a really unique location. KC captured us perfectly among the sharp lines, unique brick and famed art glass.

You can check out the entire album by clicking on the icon below or visit the Vrai blog HERE. Thanks again, Tina! We can't thank you enough for your amazing work and friendship over the years :)

Three Becoming Four

Johnny One Month

Happy One Month Birthday, Buddy! We love you so much...
(Special song chosen by Daddy...)

Lola's First Tea Party

John, Johnny & I were honored to be the first guests at her table...

Tea Party Time!

Lola's big gift from Mimi & Papa this year was her first table & chairs set, perfect for tea parties (!!!) John just finished assembling it and then I put her awesome new tea set out. Can't wait for her to wake up so we can have our first spot of tea together. She doesn't know it yet, but her special 3rd birthday gift from Mommy is going to be Afternoon Tea at The Drake. This pretend play will be great practice for that!

Christmas Day

Christmas Day started out with Lola & I picking Dad & Sue up and heading over to St. Michael's for Mass. It was going really well, until just at the tail end of the service, Lola started to get really crabby. And then proceeded to have a full blown, hour and a half meltdown. No joke. She finally went down for a nap after much protest and woke up a new child. That happens from time to time in the life of a two year old...

So around 3 pm we made it over to Uncle Kenny & Auntie Cheryl's to celebrate Christmas Day. It was a great day! Dinner was AMAZINGLY delicious and just like yesterday, Lola & Johnny were showered with love & Christmas gifts from our family. They are two very blessed children.

A special one...Great Papa & Johnny.
Kylie & Jess with Lo.
Auntie Karen, Lucy, Papa & John.
"Santa, wow! You really came through for me."
Sharing Christmas cheer.
Uncle Kenny & Auntie Cheryl's mantle all trimmed. They have such a beautiful home, as you can see from the pics!
Johnny got to meet so much family these last two days. Here he is with Leah...
Sisters.
And here he is with Auntie Karen.
Papa couldn't wait to have Lola open a present, so she got to open a big one before the real action started.
A Dora Trike!
Thanks Papa & Mimi!
And here he is with Kylie.
Cute Baby Reindeer Butt.
Me & Bro with Babe.
Dad, too :)
This is Donald, a very special friend of our family. He's celebrated many a holiday with us over the years. We love having him with us!
Sleepy guy.
"Trying" to get a picture with my girl. Yea, like that's going to happen! Lil Miss Hyper :)
Uncle Kenny & Auntie Cheryl's Tree.
Chattin' away.
It's ok, you can be jealous. Uncle Kenny roasted one fine piece of meat on the grill tonight for us to enjoy.
With Mimi.
Papa, too :)
Surprisingly, something shocking came out of my dad's mouth--hence Sue's expression.
Cheese.
So, I used to feel like a little Mommy to Kylie, since I was a teenager when she was born. I see the same thing happening now with Kylie and Lola. Whenever they're together, they're two peas in a pod. Kylie is awesome with her.
Papa & Lucy.
Lola eating Christmas dinner. Loved it!
Ronnie modeling some vintage sport coats. Don't you do that on Christmas?
My Papa is a master woodworker, and over the years, has made some great things--including these Christmas pointsettas.
Ok, let the showering of generosity begin! Lola got a bunch of Sesame Street books from Auntie Leah & Uncle Phil!
And a very special book for big sis.
We can always count on Auntie Karen & Uncle Dave for some GREAT new puzzles! We're moving up in the world--on to jigsaw!
Papa & Mimi's big gift to Lola (and Johnny) was a table and chair set from Pottery Barn Kids.
We can't wait for Daddy to put it together this week and have our very first tea party!
Auntie Cheryl and Uncle Kenny always get her goodies from the Disney store, which she LOVES. She got a mini Lotso and was so excited!

Mimi got Lola her first Barbie--DENTIST Barbie, of course!
Uncle Kenny & Donald.

A baby Donald for Johnny.
Cousins. I'm starting to think I need blonde hair to fit in :)
A GREAT baby toy that will grow with Johnny from Leah & Phil. We didn't have this with Lola and I'm really excited about it.
From Auntie Karen--and yes, she is!
My Mama's Rock! Mom got Johnny a huge stash of cloth yesterday and then Sue got him some really cool ones, too. Baby boy is going to have one cute bum!
I couldn't wait to give this "love" gift to Leah--I am so excited to be her Matron of Honor come July. It's my favorite style bag from Thirty-One and it has her new initals embroidered. LMH
It's hot pink and black (their wedding colors)...I couldn't resist.
Lil Trouble Maker.
Great pic of these guys :)
Minnow got swedish fish, so he's happy.
And last, but not least, our wonderful host & hostess. Thanks for a GREAT Christmas party :)
Ok, time to go!