The Next American Idol!

It's a long one, but SO worth watching!  Jenna singing her favorite songs; from "ABC's", to "Hello" from music class, she covers all the greats--all the while multi-tasking and drawing CIRCLES on her easel!  (Btw, these songs were not overtly taught to her, but she has been serenading us with a new one every few nights; catching both mommy and daddy completely off guard as we had no idea she knew any of them!)

Auntie Heidi and Uncle Gary Come Over!

A snowy MLK day afternoon was spent with Auntie Heidi and Uncle Gary.  Jenna totally enjoyed playing dollhouse and Maya was able to showcase how she can fall asleep at the drop of a hat in the Baby Bjorn.  A great time was had by all!

January Candids!

Some special shots!

Daddy and Jenna make playdough!

So it's 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon and Jenna has had a solid 3 hour plus nap and there's a few hours to kill, what do we do?  Have Daddy make playdough with her, what else?

Since we were without food coloring, Jenna and Daddy made a large tub of white playdough-perfect for then forming into a snowman!  He was decorated with chocolate chips, sprinkles, crackers, raisins and all.  Jenna was quite into eating his decorations, but always asked first!  :)

After completing the creation, which brought Mommy back to the movie Ghostbusters and resembled the State Puff Marshmallow Man, Jenna and Daddy dismantled him and put him away for another day.  What fun!   

Daddy Heads to Vegas..

On Wednesday night, daddy boarded his Jet Blue flight for Las Vegas for CES.  Jenna, Maya and mommy were at home until Saturday morning without our patriarch--famous for making some mean breakfasts for Jenna, doing some serious yoga ball bouncing with Maya and providing tlc and a key sense of humor for mommy.  

We did have the fun of Emmy and Sabba helping out in the afternoons and spending the night as well.  Jenna had the pleasure of making cookies with Emmy--one of her favorite pastimes, playing lots of tea party, baby, and doll house with Sabba and a special treat, having mommy bathe her each night, taking over one of daddy's traditional roles.  Maya was lucky to have Emmy and Sabba there to snuggle with, sing to her and bounce on the yoga ball too.  (They kept asking for a stroller to walk around the house with--Maya likes to be on the move!)

The sad/sweet/surprising event that took place this trip was a comment that was repeatedly made by Jenna.  To help her understand more about when Scott was going and when he would be home, we made a calendar and ripped off a page each day he was gone until the morning he came home.  Each morning we'd rip off the day and then Jenna would request to "Call daddy's cell phone!"  When we'd get Scott, 4 or so hours later--we respected the time difference as best as we could--Jenna would get on the phone with her daddy and say "Daddy, please come home soon!" clear as day!  It was only on Saturday morning that she gave me the BIGGEST grin when we ripped off the last page and she said "DADDY COMES HOME!"  Talk about a happy kid!  

Daddy was greeted with hugs, kisses and smiles galore!  (Plus some heartfelt artwork!)  It's great to have him home!

Tea Party With Some of the Guys!

Jenna found out about a wonderful game while at one of her sleepovers at Emmy and Sabba's house, tea party!  She LOVED it!  Coincidentally, the Grossman family kindly gave Jenna a tea set for becoming a big sister!  She is having a blast!  Baby and Ohsie Dog are invited each time, along with Baby Amy, Ariel and Baby Jack from the downstairs/old dollhouse.  Each invitee has his/her own designated space at the table and mommy and Maya are welcomed each time as well!  It has made for INCREDIBLE imaginative play and hours of fun!

Jenna and her buddy Matthew!

Check out the most recent photos of Jenna and Matthew Karen.  Need I say more?  

Maya is 3 months old!

Where does the time go?  Seriously?  I remember parents saying to me, you'll be shocked at how fast it goes by, but really.  Maya is growing up so fast!

Maya was wearing her 3-6 month clothing at just over 2 months of age.  She is a smiley little lady and even showing that she has our family's traditional ticklish tendency!  She giggles, which is too cute and coos---how precious!!!!!

Maya is sleeping and eating on a predictable schedule nowadays.  She eats every 3-4 hours during the day, usually eats her last meal around 6 or 7 pm, heads to bed after hearing Moo Baa La La La and sleeps until 3 or 4 am.  She then requests to be fed, heading right back to sleep until 6:30 or so.  Not bad!   She is still swaddled at night, however, has found a deep appreciation for her hand-particularly her left one--she sucks on it and we have found that leaving that side exposed at night helps her fall asleep on her own a bit!  

We always knew having another daughter was going to be fun, but Maya is an indescribable addition to our family!  We are so blessed!

Foxfire/Barefoot Neighborhood Part Deux!

Mommy grew up in a neighborhood that others call some type of surreal place.  Just like at Cheers, "Where everybody knows your name," Foxfire Drive and Barefoothill Road are where lifelong friendships were built.  

Mommy and the two Rebeccas-now Karen and Grossman, are friends since elementary school days.  Jenna and Maya are blessed to get to meet some of the next generation of that infamous Sharon neighborhood.  Evan and Matthew Karen as well as Ariel and future baby boy Grossman came over today for a snow delayed brunch at 4pm.  Art projects were done, babies were played with, rocketships built, hugs given, bagels eaten and of course, photographs documented the night!

Check out some of the best shots of the night!

New Year's Eve!

What a way to ring in 2010!?  Spending the night with some of our favorite relatives-Auntie Heidi and Uncle Dave!  In preparation for the big holiday, Jenna learned to say "Happy New Year!" as well as wish her good buddy, Uncle Dave an early Happy Birthday!

Auntie Heidi was so thoughtful; she brought with her a fun art/baking project.  Jenna, Uncle Dave and Auntie Heidi decorated red velvet cupcakes for Uncle Dave's upcoming birthday!  All the adults were totally amazed that Jenna did not eat the decorations until she was all done with her "work."  Only then did she inhale multiple M & M's!  YUM!!!!

Then the adventures began-Jenna and Maya were clearly trying to help prepare Auntie Heidi and Uncle Dave for the arrival of their daughter in March.  Uncle Dave played hours-literally-of doll house and dressed Jenna's baby dolls many times.  Boy did they look great!  Auntie Heidi got to learn some of Maya's tricks of how to soothe an unhappy baby and changed a few diapers too!

We all enjoyed daddy's homemade pizza for dinner, along with fruit, crackers and cheese and Auntie Heidi's delicious salad!  The girls were both asleep by 8pm and the grown-ups just chatted the night away. A wonderful time was had by all!