Maxine: Day Two

Sunday I woke early, anxious to shower and spend time with my newly expanded family.  

Derek joined us early.  He said he relived all of the events of the previous day in his dreams through the night - - not very restful. He was anxious to get his girl back in his arms.

She is so lucky to have a daddy like this - he loves her so much.
I am so lucky to have him as the father of my children and my partner.  So. Very. Lucky.

Big brother joined us again later in the day.  He pointed out all of her"little tiny" parts...one by one.

After we attempted a family nap (unsuccessfully) Grandpa & Grandma came to meet their new granddaughter.

Cole enjoyed the visit and extra attention.  The Easter Bunny delivered him some goodies to help out.

Derek and Cole headed home to run out some of Cole's energy and let Maxine and I get some rest between visitors.

Josh and Courtney came to visit later in the day.  Best Uncle & Aunt!

Maxine is a lucky little lady to have so much family to love her.

Maxine: Day One

We moved to the mother and baby wing about two hours after Maxine's birth.  We were so anxious to see Cole again and get his reaction to his new baby sister.  We were also on a total high - Cloud Nine - hormone and endorphin induced bliss....

Cole was adorable and a bit freaked out all at the same time.  I think we sent him into sensory overload by giving him some gifts, showing him his sister, and having visitors all simultaneously.  His first remarks about his new sister was that she is "beautiful."  My heart soared to have my two babies with me!

Na, G, and Josh brought Cole to the hospital to meet Maxine.  Unfortunately, they went unpictured because of the focus on Cole and his getting acquainted with his sister.

Opa came to visit later in the day.  He was over the moon with his girl. 

After all of our visitors left, Derek headed home to catch up on some sleep. We were all exhausted but so happy and completely in love.  I stared at this precious baby for a few hours before we passed out for the night a few hours until our next feeding session.

VD

I will defer to Jill to express some of how I am feeling about Valentine's Day this year.  I don't have teenagers, but I am doing plenty of cheek squishing, kissing and hugging.  Well said, friend!

I hate the commercialism - yet I love LOVE.  And I have lots of it.  And maybe a little of me wants to celebrate it!  However, I don't need overpriced flowers, jewelry (Derek says I wouldn't wear it anyway - and he's right!), or chocolates....no wait, I totally need chocolate!  

I would love to receive flowers some other day (Derek has planted me many lovely flowers!  I like the symbolism of that - living flowers over cut & dying ones).  Not today.  Not on the day when some women build up expectations and are often let down.  Not on the day that makes single people feel lonely (that was me so many years).  Not on a day that Hallmark created.

That being said, here's to love...because I love LOVE!

Cole made us so proud when he wrote his name on all of his Valentine's.  I may or may not have been so proud that I squirted a few tears.  Blame it on the hormones.

Despite my overall less-than-lovely attitude about Valentine's Day, we were completely spoiled on this day!  Cole brought home the sweetest Valentine's for his Mommy & Daddy!  Na brought by an adorable book for Cole (more about this in another post!) and an E-reader for Derek and I!  Opa sent cards and stickers for Cole!  Cole got a bag-o-loot from his friends at school!  And, our lovely neighbors, Mr. Greg & Mrs. Jen left a bag of treats & cookies in the mailbox! 

I chose to spoil my loves a bit too.  I tried not to "buy" in too much but instead made D his favorite cookies (gooey butter) and got Cole a few treats.  I hope that I show them how very much I love them each and every day - with a little extra 'sugar' on this Valentine's Day!

To my family and friends, I love you all very much - - every single day!  Thank you for year round acts of love and kindness.  

Here's to LOVE!
XOXOXO 

Laughter

This commercial gets them every time!  Just the first few seconds of the baby shaking his bootie in the diaper....

Thanks to the power of DVR, we can watch it again and again until their bellies hurt from the laughter!

<3

Hard times

Hard times are easier....

...with moments like this.

Lucky

I think I am one of the luckiest girls alive.

I've got...

 Fun.

 Beauty.

 and Love.

Everyday.

Wiggle, Wiggle to Twinkle, Twinkle

We love spending time outside (read: Cole loves to be outside and begs non-stop to be there!). He is quite the ham when he gets to get out and shake out his wiggles...

Cole wiggling his shadow.

being a stinker - with sidewalk chalk all over his face!

melting mom's heart with his pretty eyelashes.

and being a stinker - and needing a haircut!

He ended our outside session with a soulful rendition of Twinkle Twinkle!  He sings this song pretty much all of the time.  Have to say, I have never heard it sung any sweeter!  

He brings me to tears with his sweet little, "beedah, beedah yiyyu staw..."

Daddy Stuff: Playin' trucks

Sometimes I play trucks with Cole.  

Holy Cow, not nearly as well as Daddy does it!  

Little did I know all that went into playin' trucks!?

Daddy is WAY better at this.

AND, the space between the couch cushions makes a great ravine to rescue your 'guy' from.

Corbin & Carter

The Lange's welcomed Carter Daniel to the world on February 8, 2010, his Daddy's birthday!  Cole and I joined some friends to visit the expanded family.

Carter is beautiful, content, and makes the most adorable noises! 

Cole LOVED playing with Corbin and all of Corbin's toys!  

I loved the time with the girls.  

I love any time with the girls.  

I missed going to DiCarlo's and Lau Nae with them, but I loved the choice to spend the day with my little guy.

Cole and Corbin had lots of fun...with the bathroom sink.  It turned into a wet-shirt mess!  All in the name of little-boy-good-times.

Cheri makes it look easy.  

She is a natural.  

Her easy-going, laid-back, perfect mom-to-two-of-the-cutest-little-boys style is awesome.  

I am so glad to have her as my friend and soul mate.

 Don't forget that Cole loved Corbin and Corbin's toys.

Goofy Boy Stuff.

Girl Talk.

Baby Loving, Holding, Smelling, Talking, Cooing.

Lovely Loviness.

 

To top the day off I attempted to bribe Cole with a Happy Meal but had to drag him out of Corbin's house kicking and screaming anyway we ended with a Happy Meal.  

All that good-timin' left Cole WORN OUT!  

He fell asleep mid-fry.

We had a really great day.

So handsome

He and his daddy both look extraordinarily cute in this hat.

I am smitten with both of them.

Happy 33rd, Love.

Happy Birthday, Derek. It was a simple day, just work and life...and celebrating you. We were a one car family today, so I drove you to work and gave you and IOU book on the way with some candy. When I picked you up I had Captain and cookies waiting for you. The evening was low key as it was snowing.
We love you enormously, Derek. I hope we can help make your 33rd year the best.
Love,
Jenny & Cole

Up

Movie Night in the Albracht House:  Up.

We got *Up* as our Netflix pick. It was so fun to watch a movie with you, Cole! You really enjoyed the movie and found a few parts scary. Daddy and I enjoyed the movie as much or more than you! I think this one is worth buying! I would love to snuggle you and watch it many more times.

Slumber party with JayJay and 3 Minutes in the Snow

watching the pretty snowfall 

 

there's nothing better than an air mattress in the living room!

 while Cole slept... JayJay, Dada, and Mama hoped for a snow day to sleep in :)

We had a few, pretty inches of light, fluffy snow fall overnight while Jamie spent the night.  I attempted to go to work but roads were dangerous and appointments were canceled.  I came home and we bundled up to go play in the snow.  It was short lived, maybe 3 minutes.  The wind sent us back inside!

Lita LOVES the snow!

 

Phoebe does not love the snow

Cole loved the snow...but not the wind.

Happy 13th Birthday, Phoebe!

Happy Birthday, Phoebe! I can't believe that we've been partners in crime for thirteen years!
We've lived in: Red Bud, Belleville, Atlanta, Athens, Belleville, and St. Louis.
We've lived with: Sheri & Jamie, Melissa, by ourselves (you were my guard dog!), with Derek, then we added Lolita, and finally we added Cole!
You are such a trooper!
I love you, girl!

We welcome 2010 with love and food!

We spent NYE 09 with Na & G. We took the pups and spent the night as to avoid any driving after dark! We had a fondue spread and all ended up asleep before even the East Coast ball dropped! So, I guess we welcome a peaceful & restful 2010!

My Resolutions:

Serve & eat dinner at the table as a family.

Run 500 miles. (Sounds big? Break it down, it's just 10 miles a week.)

Achieve my goal weight and stay there.