New Hair

Ta Da!

(This last shot was taken at Roger Williams Park in Providence. The boys are wearing adorable new shirts from Target via Aunt Jenny. The temp. and humidity were both around 100 which is why all three boys are completely wilted...as is my hair.)

Baby School

A lesson all babies should learn:

Don't puke on the boob that feeds you!

It's a good way to get yourself weened!

Weekend In Review

Friday: Strawberry picking at Salisbury Farm with friends.

Saturday: Faezer flys back to town for the last leg of her month-long East Coast Adventure. Doug had a dental conference so I drove to Boston without him, (but with the three boys) to pick her up at Logan Airport. We drove around the city a little (saw "Cheers") then stopped at Boston Common where we ate hotdogs and played at a playground.

Sunday: Gabriel's Baby Blessing!!! He looked extremely dashing in an outfit borrowed from his buddy Jaren. We were dismayed to find that not one of our siblings showed up in Rhode Island for the event dispite the two-weeks notice and e-mailed invite! How RUDE! Spent all day making a bloody Strawberry Pie for my husband. Luckily it was good. Then sat around trying to remember what we were forgetting. (Our friends' farewell party...whoops)

Monday: Grandma Fae sews up a storm and turns out a Pirate Booty Bag, Pirate Cloak, and new baby blanket. Max is ecstatic. I get a cute short haircut after 7 years of trying to get the okay from Doug. (I'll take a picture the next time I get all purdied up.)


Tuesday: One last trip to Christmas Tree Shops with my mom before her evening departure. She gives me money to hire my babysitter to clean the house in preparation for house guests arriving late p.m. Jessica saves the day! (I try to help inbetween nursing sessions and dinner preparation and fail miserably.) Our good friends arrive from Ohio with their two little boys.


Let "Boy Fest 2007" commence!

All About Baby

Gabe had a photoshoot yesterday. This is the outfit he wore to church. (Thanks for the cute shirt Aunt Kris!)

We kept him home for his first 6 weeks as suggested, so yesterday was his debut.He's been taking daily smiling lessons and they've paid off. This is me using a high-pitched voice: "Ahhboobooboobooboo!Where'syoursmileGabey?Where'syourprettysmileAngelBoy?Ahhboobooboobooboo!"
What a heart breaker!
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Ode to Doug

I wish I could write poetry. If I could, I'd write a really witty and clever "ode to Doug" for Father's Day. It would include stuff like this;

You'll shop for me at the store

And you hardly ever snore

You like to cook

Which is "off the hook" (I don't even know what that means)

You're a wonderful dad

Which is totally rad

I think our boys are so lucky to have a patient, thoughtful, spiritual man to be their example and teacher and friend

It's time for this poem to end

You know...something like that.

I love you Sweetie Pie!

Happy Father's Day!!!

P.S. Speaking of Doug, he's been working on a new blog header which I think is extremely cool so check out his new look.

I'm Not The Sharpest Tack In The Box

I know, I know...I've said before that I'm a genius. But even geniuses (or is that geni?) have their moments of stupidity.

Yesterday I went to Parent/Child gymnastics with Sammy. He really doesn't enjoy it much, but we go every week nonetheless. The class consists of an obstacle course of different activities like jump on the spring board, roll like a log, swing like a monkey. So I came to a card I hadn't heard of, and asked how to do it. I believe it's called a front pike somersault. The Instructor demonstrated it for me, and it looked fairly easy, so I decided to demonstrate it for Sam in an effort to get him interested.

Here's what you do. Spread your feet far apart, bend at the waist and touch your toes. When you're in this position, tuck your head in and fall forward doing a somersault without bending your knees.

Well, I did it. Or at least some bizarre version of the move. When I righted myself the teacher asked "Did you see stars?" Well, no, but it definitely didn't feel fluid and graceful like I imagine it should have felt. (And I'm sure it looked even worse.)

A few minutes later I found myself rubbing my neck. By the time I got to the car after class, my head, neck and shoulders all ached.

Here's the moral of this story: If you are me and you have the coordination of a slug, and you never took a single dance or gymnastics class in your life, DON'T BE AN IDIOT!!! Even if a two year old can do it, you can't. Don't try.

Lesson learned.

Cape Cod Report and Other Important Matters

As you may have gathered from the post below, we've just returned from a quick over-night trip to Cape Cod accompanied by my mom. It was very beautiful and very fun. We stayed in a room right on the beach and had a great time relaxing and taking in some of the sights. I even broke out my travel Watercolor set! (Which I always take on vacation and never before have had the chance to use.)


Unfortunately, the trip culminated with us dropping Faezer off at the airport in Boston where she took a flight to D.C. to visit my sister Jenny. (I'm trying not to begrudge her equal time, but it's hard...) All of us were very sad to see her go, but especially me. Having another mom in the house made my life so much easier.


In other sad news, my friend Jen (aka Fabulous Photographer Jen) just moved to Utah three weeks ahead of schedule. I'm really sad she's gone and sad we didn't get to see her one last time before she went. (And I'm sad she wont be around to take any more beautiful pics of my kids!) We'll miss you Jen and family!


Now for an update on the Dub boys:

Douglas came home from work tonight and fed the boys, mowed and edged the lawn, made cornbread with the boys, bathed the boys, and got the boys ready for bed. All while I went grocery shopping. From my perspective, I'd say Doug is doing well. REALLY well. Also, he's been blogging more lately which I think is fabulous.

Maxwell recently finished Pre-K and has the summer off. He's recently developed a love of painting and wants to spend his summer days creating colorful works of art, going on walks to the beach, and violently playing pirates. He really REALLY likes pirates, so if you're at all interested in sword fighting, please schedule a play date with Max.

Samuel is working hard at potty training...again.
He had it down pat until the arrival of his baby brother, and then decided he needed to mark his territory to remind us of his presence. (We hadn't forgotten.) He accepts bribes for good behavior in the form of "Cars" cars. He's collected quite a few. In fact, I don't know if they are helping or hindering his re-training. Hmm...

Gabriel is taking daily smiling lessons from Mommy and Max. This is where we both beam down at him while tickleing around his mouth and making silly cooing noises while asking "Where's your smile?" in baby talk. So far, all we managed to do is give him gas. Doug and I are also giving him "sleeping through the night" lessons which are equally effective.

Also, Gabriel is exactly 6 weeks old now! And you all know what that means...it means I can start EXERCISING. Not that I'm going too, but I COULD if I wanted! (All of you who thought I was referring to something else, get your minds out of the gutter.) ANYWAY, Gabe is such a sweet baby and he's only slightly spoiled from being held non-stop while Grandma Fae was here. We're all in love with him.

That's all the news I've got for you! But don't worry, if Gabe smiles or Sam goes on the potty without a reminder, YOU will be the first to know!

TTFN!

Old Cape Cod

If you're fond of sand dunes, and salty air

Quaint little villages, here and there

You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

If you like the taste of a lobster stew
Served by a window with an ocean view,

You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

Winding roads that seem to beckon you Miles of green beneath the skies of blue
Church bells chiming on a Sunday morn,
Remind you of the town where you were born

If you spend an evening, you'll want to stay
Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay

You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

...and we did!

lyrics by Patti Page