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Crawling video works now

Scroll down to view. While I'm at it, here's an update on our baby boy. Evan is sweaty in this picture- that's not greasy hair! I'm grasping since there aren't batteries in the old camera and the new one isn't working. Damn soy sauce. I'm going to use my ma's camera this weekend so I should have some new ones soon.

He's been twirling his hair with his finger, and he's just starting to get super chatty in the past few days and says dadadadadadayayayayayayadadadadada. His facial expressions are priceless. Mine and Mike's favorite is when he scrunches up his nose and smiles with his mouth open to reveal his two bottom teeth and goes 'heeeeheeeee' like how Ernie from Sesame Street laughs. He tries to clap his hands when you clap yours. He'll grimace when he does it and and starts freaking out, banging his hands - sometimes they touch sometimes they don't. Sometimes he ends up hurting his hands when he does it because he bangs them on stuff. He won't cry, but he'll hold his hands and look at me with a sad face until you start clapping again. O ya, and I noticed that he's getting a top tooth while we were playing in the pool today!
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The Most Beautiful Baby in the Whole World Crawls!!!

My dad came home early from work on Friday to get ready to go to the race while Evan and I were hanging out. And guess what happened that very moment -EVAN STARTED CRAWLING!!! We placed toys all over the house out of his reach and he went for it. When I was taking a nap, Brittany had him going around the coffee table. At one point there were toys all over the living room and Evan was exhausted and stopped to rest his head on the floor.


This movie doesn't even do it justice. He scooches his little body all over the place.


And this movie is all washed out because it was filmed in the dark living room and then I tried to brighten it in imovie. It didn't work so well, but still so cute.


And tries to take off his shirt. He only got one arm out...


Here's the dude playing "soccer". Dad thinks he's going to be a soccer star. Momma thinks he looks like a human pinball machine. You be the judge...
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Evelyn, Aunt Doris & Egie

Once again we headed to grandmom and PopPop's during Mike's business trip - this time to Boston. I was as sick as a dog with a crappy cold. One good thing is that Evelyn and her sister Egie were visiting at Aunt Doris's house and got to meet Evan. Evelyn and her late husband Paul were known to me as Nana and Bumpa when I was little because that's what Katie and Julie called their grandparents. I also called Paul 'Paulie Bird' because he would whistle to me. Here's my mom and Evelyn at Aunt Doris's:


And here's Aunt Doris playing with Evan
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Evan learns to drive and befriends a gator

This ride was definitely worth the fifty cents. Evan loved the flashing lights although the jerking movement scared me a bit, he didn't seem to mind.


Here I am feeding my baby to a hungry gator


Here's my baby eating dinner at the end of a long day
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Lunch at Dino's

We met Aunt Genie, Aunt Wanda, Aunt Ella, Jess & Jeff for lunch. Evan had fun trying to eat everything in front of him. Including the crayons.

Evan with his big cousin, Jeff


Evan with Jess


And with the aunties
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More beach shots... sorry.

I found some more on my ma's camera from when Mike was in South America. It's from a few days of when Brittany, Sarah, my mom and I went to the beach.

Here's Evan with Yippy Dog (similar to the one in the house adjacent to ours - there's a miniature Daucshund that barks and barks and BARKS. It drives me crazy.) We ended up buying him the yippy dog and now he keeps taking the batteries out.


Here we are swimming in the ocean.


Little naked baby wrapped in a towel after a swim:


The beach made him tired...
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A day at the park

No photo for this one (we MUST get Mike's camera fixed). I'm not feeling too well today. I think I have a cold or allergies or something, so I took Evan to Gorgas park to get coffee and hang out at the playground on a big sheet while Evan played next to me. I brought his green beans & prunes in a thermal bag with guess what - formula! Daddy won't be happy...

I've mixed cereal with the free formula samples I got before (I haven't used the soy ones that were given to me... I heard it's not good for babies). Anyhoo, when we went shopping at the fancy, new SuperFresh yesterday I picked up some organic formula so that we can try to wean my baby boy. Last night, the formula didn't go over too well. Even kept it in his mouth while eating and let it all ooze out without swallowing. Pretty gross. However, today was progress. I let him drink it with a straw and he took a little less than an ounce. He ate all his green beans (which he wouldn't eat at Janice and Bob's) and his prunes (which he loves).

A bunch of kids hung out with us at our blanket. They put their dirty little sneakered feet all over it, but oh well - Evan LOVED them. He kept cracking up as they touched his hands and face and called him "cute baby". They would leave, then come back and Evan would stare at them waiting for them to return. When they did they always yelled 'TO THE BABY!' Maybe that's why Evan drank some formula and ate all of his food - he was trying to show off to the big kids!
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Words? A mother can dream...

First of all, I'd like to add that at the family fun festival at Strawbridge Lake, Evan was getting very tired. When he's tired or hungry he starts yelling at me to take him. He was VERY TIRED at the festival. We had him in his stroller and were taking him back to the car and he was mad. He was yelling and shaking his fists staring intently at me and this came out of his mouth: MAAAAAAA! Was he aware that he was calling his mother? Probably not, but I'll take that as him trying to say 'Mom'. He also said 'BooBoo' a few times before I was about to feed him. Was he asking for milk? Again probably not, but I'm going to say he was. Ask Sarah.... he said it in front of her too!
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Evan's First Pony Ride

Calling out to the grandmoms!!! Not only do we need a chicken coop now, but Evan would like some ponies too. He loves them so much. Please?!





These pictures are just one of the many things Mike, Evan and I did for our planned "relaxing" weekend. Yup, didn't end up too relaxing, but it turned out to be so fun. We don't have many pictures because Mike's camera hasn't been too happy since we spilled soy sauce on it.

Our weekend started out on Friday when Evan and I met Sarah at Cabrini College. We walked around her campus, hung out in her apartment and met her roommates. Evan tried to eat her biology book. Then we got lost driving home. I know I lived on the Main Line for a few years, but damn - it's still so confusing to navigate. We then met Mike at Adobe Cafe for some delicious Mexican food. Here are my boys at Adobe:


The next day, we drove to Sea Isle for the fall festival (I wanted to get some jeans - I bought a pair of Citizens of Humanity jeans for $60!)

Oh ya, and Evan rode the ponies...

Right after that we drove directly to Janice and Bob's for a party. After the party, we drove a sleeping Evan back to Grandmom and PopPop Bock's and slept over. The next morning we drove to breakfast with the grandparents. Then directly to Arlene and Joel's to see the Toussaints, Dalys and Mima and PopPop. Did we go home after that? Hell no! There was a family festival going on at Strawbridge Lake. So we walked around there and guess what - there was a petting zoo! Goats, geese, lamas, sheep, ponies and yes - chickens! Evan was in 7th Heaven and even a bunny rabbit (he pet the goat too and tried to grab his ear. The goat was trying to eat his stroller). We finally went home after that. Woo! What a relaxing weekend. Evan is passed out right now recovering. So is Mike.
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Baby Boy is 8 Months Old

Happy Birthday, big guy!

Here's a bit more of an update. Last month, Evan has been super grabby. He never sits still and I can't hold him in my arms too long for a cuddle unless he's sleepy (although he still likes cuddling). He grabs EVERYTHING... door handles, crumbs of dirt on the floor (with his thumb and forefinger!), food... If it's within 5 feet of him, it's either in his hand or in his mouth. He'll scooch himself across the way and get it. He can also suck through a straw now. Plus he got his first marriage proposal by a girl who works at Starbucks. He graciously declined. After that we visited his girls at Banana Republic. There were 3 ladies standing around us in a semi-circle fussing over his cuteness.

There's another birthday today too! My Godmother's Aunt Chicky!! You can't see it here, but his shirt says "I'd rather be naked". I thought this was very appropriate for my feisty godmother.

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
I love you, Aunt Chicky
Come see me really soon!
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Evan's Starbucks Milestones and Memories

I know this picture has nothing to do with anything, but I didn't want to have so much text without a photo.



So Evan and I ran some errands today and we decided to take a walk down Main Street, which we haven't walked in ages since we've been so busy this summer. I had him in the Bjorn, which I haven't used for a long time and was surprised at how comfortable it still is to carry his weight on the front of my body. So I started reminiscing of when he used to be so tiny that I would wear him facing my chest where he would lay his head and fall asleep as we cruised around. Alas, he's a big baby now and faces out, smiling at everyone we pass (especially the young girls). We ended up at Starbuck's, where we used to hang out all the time when he was a little peanut and the weather was cold and I needed to get out of the house. The people at this Starbucks know us. There's a sweet older woman who works there who always comments on Evan's eyes and how sweet his is. Even the dudes who work there love him. I thought back to first sign of when Evan suffered from acid reflux. I had gone to Starbucks to escape the house - tv, laundry, phone, email, etc... to just walk around and feel like a normal person after being cooped up in the house after his birth. We were tucked in the small room in the back of the store. I had brought a bottle of pumped milk along with me (that's how long ago this was... he must've been 2 months old). When he started fussing I started to feed him the bottle, he gagged and he tried again and again, then started screaming. I could tell the girl on the laptop was pissed at us. She packed up her stuff and left, so I immediately started breastfeeding Evan thinking that maybe he just wasn't feeling the bottle that day... Same deal. It was the first time that I noticed his suffering while eating. I had thought it was a fluke, but it took another month or so for me to figure out that me eating dairy was the problem. Evan's been cool now for a long time - actually since he was 3 months old, but he stopped accepting the bottle completely after the reflux stopped. Maybe because he associates the bottle with bad memories? I dunno, but it sucks for me.

Well, another monumental thing happened today in Starbucks - a good thing this time (besides the fact that Evan ate his peas today - Peas! He used to hate them!)

So anyway, the big update. We were sitting on a big purple, comfy armchair. I was sipping my soy iced coffee (I at least can eat cheese now and have an occasional ice cream, but I like soy better than dairy milk now, so I'm sticking with it). Evan was playing with his sippy cup. He was sitting up, then got down on his belly on the seat, then grabbed the arm of the chair and hoisted himself up in a STANDING position against the chair arm! He then started rooting through my diaper bag on the table, pulled out a pack of tissues and shoved them in his mouth. THE BOY PULLED HIMSELF INTO A STAND! He has been able to stand while leaning on stuff, but he has never pulled himself up before. Of course he was leaning on the arm and I'm sure it was easier to do on a squooshie surface versus a hard surface, because he's never done it at home before. He did it again, but didn't quite make it with his feet, so he was in a plank position with his feet at the bottom of the one chair arm and his hands propped up on the opposite arm - stretched out diagnally, hovering above the seat. Herules! Hercules! Tomorrow I'm going to entice him with something on the arm of the couch - like tissues - and see if he does it again! Yay!
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Wildwood with the Cronins and Giffords

Yes! He's home! Mike had the camera for his trip so I wasn't able to update the blog with the Wildwood pics. So here they are now for your viewing pleasure. I think they're in order... maybe.

Day 1 we visited PopPop Bock at Pier 47 and Evan pretended to ride a waverunner:


And hung out on the docks:


Evan with Aunt Kelly in the condo:


Watch the Giffords on the tram-car please! Wa-wa-watch.


Here's Mike in the Wildwood Triathlon... Once again Evan and I missed Mike's big finish. So we reanacted it!


We have a special shoutout to Jack Gifford for his support. The kid stayed up all night before the big day and made signs that he posted all over the condo. He made Mike's day even more special!

Storytime for the cousins...


Romance is in the air!


Here's a shot of the all the men. Poor Evan is blocked by Mike's head (he's in the backpack).


Here's Jack and Evan on the boards cruising for potty-trained chicks.



One night Evan got an awesome airbrushed t-shirt. I had to have dice on it. Unfortunately, the guys who made it didn't really follow our color palette and gave us some lip about the dice being "custom". Whatever, it's so damn funny. Here's shirt and the wonderful artists who created it. Thank you, boardwalk airbrushers for your talent.



The boys rode the carousel too. Here's Evan...


Getting a smooch from mommy.


And Jack...


A big yummy french fry.


Evan enjoying the excitement. He loves the night life... Especially if it means staying up past his bedtime.


THE END!
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FELIZ CUMPLEANOS, PAPA!!

Happy Birthday, honey! We miss you so much and wish you were here with us.... but we'll have a surprise for you when you come home.

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Scary Chicken

There was this crazy looking chicken costume on the boardwalk. The mask was all ripped and it was wearing a sign that said "Get a piece of me at Lulu's". Gross. EVan loved it.


Evan at the beach.


Not such a big fan of Mr. Peanut.
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Sleepover Party Aftermath

Please ignore my ugly, tired face here. The next night, EVan was up ALL NIGHT. I must've slept a total of 3 hours. He's standing here, barely holding onto the chair and I'm hardly noticing because I'm so damn tired.


Aunt Genie, Jess & Jeff came over to visit too. I took Jess, Jeff & Olivia with me to get an iced coffee. So sleepy.
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Sleepover Party

Evan and I have been staying at my parents' house while Mike is traveling in South America for business. Marti, John and Jude met us at the beach on Thursday and then stayed over night for Evan's very first sleepover party with his friends. My cousin, Olivia, came over to help. We had so much fun... The Daly boys are so cute. John and I had some fun swimming in the ocean. We saw a huge fish swim right by my knee then bury itself in the sand below the water. John asked me where the waves come from and I replied "from the tides". He sat in the water and thought for a minute then asked where the tides came from. I was like uhhhhh... the gravitational pull of the moon? I dunno. Here are some pics.

Evan rolling around in the sand. He never wants to stay on the beach blanket


Evan and John in a hole that Marti and I dug out. Evan seriously thought he was one of the big kids.


At the sleepover....




Jude has that big egg on his forehead from falling in the driveway at his grandmom's house. The kid is completely fearless.

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Shopping with Grandmom

My mom came to hang out with EVan as I did a little shopping. Here's EVan in Circuit City watching the tvs. He's such a man... so facsinated by the damn television.



And testing the beds at Bed Bath & Beyond.