Got 'em!

Colin has now popped another tooth today and I still have yet to document the first. For being an overly obsessive recorder and scrapbooker, I sure am being such a bad Mom. But alas, I finally got a photo....

 

P.S. Ignore my fingers.

Just To Brighten One's Day...

We Hit A Big Milestone!

My Nugget popped his first tooth!

At 6 months, 29 days old, Colin popped his lower front left tooth.

It's not so easy getting a photo of a little jagged tooth bud, but as soon as it becomes visible on camera I'll post that son of a gun as fast as possible!

In spite of being late: Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010!

The year 2009 has been are very hard year for me. I've seen laughter, pain, joy, sorrow, and confusion. I've been up and I've been far down. I have questions that I will never get the answers to. I've seen the best souls taken and the worst grow stronger.


Despite it all, I am thankful for a few things this year. Most of all I'm thankful to have my kids. They mean the absolute world to me and nothing less. In July I was blessed with the birth of my son, Colin. Despite having 7 months of crazy pregnancy hormones and 5 months (and counting) trying to understand them, I wouldn't change it for the world. Sure, my little man cries and cries and cries until I'm on the brink of tears. I'm tired and a little worn, but his smile alone melts me to the floor. At 6 months old, he finds sneezing hilarious. He is starting to sit up on his own like a big boy. He's even starting to sleep through the night most nights. He has the most kissable toes like his sister. And boy, is he a chunk! He's so handsome and I love him to death.


Kellan is growing into a beautiful, wonderful, confident little girl. Although I still try to sneak in some cuddle time with her like she were still my little baby girl, she has gotten so big. She has become the best big sister to her baby brother. She adores him every waking moment they have together. She started preschool with the big kids in September and it's made a world of difference. The child that never left my side is eager to start circle time on school days. She makes the most beautiful projects for Mommy to hang up at home. She's confident in all that she learns. She's made new friends. She was invited to her first real birthday party that wasn't for one of her cousins. In fact, she's been to three. Not only was that a learning experience for Kellan, but Mommy is now learning the true meaning of being "Kellan's Mom" and seeing where I fit in the outside world. She's potty trained. The child that I thought for sure would leave college in diapers now picks out her own big girl panties. She's starting to have a sense of humor and create her own jokes. She says the word "booger" clearer than ever. She loves to have her nails painted at all times, and if you call her she'll show you her pretty toes through the phone.


My resolution for 2010 will be to find myself again. Although I'm confident in my abilities to be a mother and carry out my duties as such, I need to find who Allison is again. Only time and patience will tell.

Twenty Two Years And Another Generation Later

It's been twenty two years to the day since my paternal Grandmother has passed away. Each year my father's family attends a Catholic mass at my Grandfather's church to pay their respects to her. It's kind of a big deal for us. This year? Both my kids woke up with pink eye this morning. I wasn't able to go.

The thought of staying home really made me sad. Even though I was only four when she died I seem to have put my Grandmother on a pedestal long ago. At 26, I think that pedestal is as high as the heavens. When I was 14 I legally added her name, Arlene, as my middle name (I was born without one). When I had my first child, a girl, it only seemed appropriate to pass that along. Her middle name is my Grandmother's middle name, Elaine. My father, myself, and my daughter look a lot like her. Even though I am closer to my mother's side of the family, I tend to identify myself a lot with her. It's a big reason why I dread December 15th of every year.

I couldn't stay home. I packed my goobery kids up in the car and headed to the cemetery. On the way there we stopped and picked out three red roses from each of us so we didn't go empty handed. I was excited to take Kellan there. It's only been lately that she's understood what Grandma's and Grandpa's are and their place in our family. I have a photo of my Grandmother hanging in the family room and she knows that's her Grandma "Busia" Arlene. I was proud to take her there and show her, even though I knew it would be over her head.

After Kellan picked out the flowers I was putting the kids back in the car when Kellan says "Almost there. Going to Grandma Arlene's house". I explained to Kellan that her Grandma had passed away and that we're going to visit her grave. When we got there I put the flowers on her stone and cleaned it up a bit before we left. As we were about to drive away I hear Kellan in the back "Goodbye Grandma Arlene. I love you. Merry Christmas." and blew her a kiss. I just about died in the front seat. I felt like someone had kicked me in the gut just before and elephant danced on my chest. It took everything I had to smile and not start crying. At that moment it hit hard that my Grandma will never meet my children, and my children will never meet their Great Grandma that I cherish. Driving away I would have given just about anything in the world for Kellan to have 5 minutes to meet her.

Merry Christmas Grandma

September 18th, 1921 - December 15th, 1987

"Welcome to the Neighborhood"

Hey Folks,

I'm just jotting down a quick post to let everyone know that I have explanded my blogging skills (or lack there of) onto another URL. You can also find me at the following: "A Blunder of Acute Perspicuity". This site won't include little wonderful tidbits like "Colin poopied on his onsie" and "Kellan poopied on the potty!" (which she did, by the way! Yay Kellan! Mommy is so proud.....)  I'm still working on my first real post. I can't promise anything smart will come of it, but I figure "eh, what the hell..."