Daddy Jim and I decided we really wanted to do something special for our April Spring Break – we wanted to take the three of you to “Ground Zero.” Daddy Jim wants to tell you all about the trip, so I am just going to post some pictures to help him tell his stories.
“Hey Soul Sister…” by Train
Hey Baby –
You know this already, but on Tuesday I had Lasik surgery to correct the vision in both of my eyes. My biggest fear was that something would go wrong and I wouldn’t get to see every stage of your growing up. The next day when Daddy Jim brought you home from school, I just stared and stared into your bright beautiful eyes and touched your sweet face. We were both enamored with each other for quite some time… me because I could see so much more detail in your eyes and your face and your fingers and just everything… you because (I think) you were afraid something bad had happened to me b/c your teacher told you I couldn’t see well enough to drive and pick you up – I think you were a little afraid. You very quickly realized all was well, and we hugged and hugged.
Here is the picture of me and my docs – the one on my right is my surgeon/ophthalmologist and the one on my left is my optometrist – taken RIGHT after surgery. What a crazy experience!
Here is the description of the surgery I sent to Oma, Opa and all of my aunts and uncles and cousins:
I had Lasik surgery yesterday – It is QUITE the experience!!! Anyone out there do it? Since I turned 40 and had to switch to bifocal contacts, I have had nothing but trouble seeing.
We’re so blessed to have such an incredible medical center here, and a surgeon with an INCREDIBLE record and reputation:
http://www.stronghealth.com/services/strongvision/aboutsv/MacRae.cfm
Bottom line – the surgery went PERFECTLY. I had both eyes corrected. I can see things close in CRAZY detail – like the pores on Jim’s skin look like they are under a microscope! I can read the tiny print on receipts. You get the point.
I am far-sighted, so all of that is INSANE to me.
Here’s the bummer – Dr. MacRae said “Enjoy the Fountain of Youth” while it lasts – it won’t last too long. Far-sighted people have a strong tendency to regress, so they OVER correct intentionally – making my close vision super strong at the expense of my far vision. Over the next couple weeks I will see changes in my vision every day moving back closer to 20/20 – and slower changes over the next 4-6 months.
All in all though, no more contacts!! (I have been wearing them since I was 16!!) and no more glasses- except maybe very weak reading glasses eventually.
There is a still a bit of swelling on my cornea, so my far vision is still blurry and I can’t drive, but it’s getting noticeably better every few hours.
What an incredible blessing!! And, for those of you who are DYING to know – not that expensive – $1900 / eye with a $300 discount for University of Rochester employees and free 24 month financing. REALLY not bad.
You have been very tender and sweet with me as I heal. And I have spent much more time just watching you since the surgery – outside your classroom, while you’re sleeping, while you’re eating…. not that I didn’t simply adore being near you and watching you before. 🙂
Love you my Baby Girl!!
We were so busy CELEBRATING you around your birthday that I forgot to post pictures of the wonderful events! In our family, we have birthday weeks (instead of just birth days) – so we can celebrate many days.
On the Sunday before your birthday, you had your birthday party at a local YMCA and invited all of the kids from your class including 2 of your teachers. You wanted it to be a pj party, so we all wore our fanciest pj’s and had a gret time.
On your birthday (a Tuesday morning), I surprised you by coming over to your Daddy’s house for all of us to share breakfast together. You and your Daddy made me what you call a “smooth-i-lie.”
We went to school together for your birthday celebration – a special thing your school does where you dress in a robe and crown and a friend parades in the room with you while we all wave pretty wands. Your teacher Barbie lights a candle for every year of your life, and your Daddy and I told stories of each of those years – something special that we remember from that year. Daddy Jim filmed the whole special event (I will see if I can post the video here). What a very special, special time. Then Barbie gives you a very special heart pin.
You, your Daddy and I made special fruit cup treats for your birthday, and you shared them with the whole first floor and many others.
Daniel’s class play was on your birthday – so we all went and cheered him on as he was “Francene” in a play about Earth Day. He got to dress up like a girl – everyone hooted and hollered and he LOVED the attention!!
I picked you up at 2:30pm when school was out, and we played in the playground for a bit before swimming lessons.
Siobhan, Johanna, you and I drove to swimming lessons together. You did SUCH a great job. Then we headed to your birthday dinner at a local restaurant. Your Daddy and Meghan had decorations on the table when we arrived. We had yummy pizza and salad, opened some presents and sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY a few more times!!
What a wonderful day! Happy Birthday Baby Girl.
Here are pictures from all these events:
1. The PARTY
2. Breakfast with Mama and Daddy @ Daddy’s
3. School Birthday Celebration
4. Daniel’s Play – He was “Francene” and was fantastic!
5. Playing with friends with slate after school
6. Swimming Lessons
7. Birthday Dinner
What a wonderfully full day!! Happy Birthday my wonderful love bug!!
Your little shoes next to mine melted my heart….
Again – you are perfect…
On the way to the doctor’s appointment, I explained, “Baby, the doctor is just going to make sure you are healthy and growing up strong. She will check to make sure you are getting taller and are about the right size for a 5-year old.”
With all seriously you assured me, “Mama, I am only 4-year old tall. Five-year old tall would be this tall,” and you held your hand a good 6 inches or more above your head.”
So sweet…
Your pediatrician gave you far more than a clean bill of health. She said you were doing just terrific in your growing and developing into a wonderful girl!! We could not be more happy or proud of you!! At one point, she said “I bet all of her teachers love her!! She is such a great listener and has so much spirit and energy!!” What joy you continue to bring to everyone you meet.
Here are some very fun pictures from the day!
Your statistics with your quick drawing. You are DEFINITELY five-year old tall my Sweet!!
Hey there Baby Girl…
You, your Daddy, Daddy Jim, Madeline, Daniel and I ALLLLL went over to Aunti Judi & Uncle Jim’s for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner… It was so great for us to all be together for that – Your Aunti Judi and Uncle Jim have a beautiful gift of nurturing the development of family among many unrelated people. We are so grateful they are in our lives.
But before dinner, we went to the Christmas Play at church – and you were a STAR!!!! Check it out!!! (The first 2 pictures were from rehearsal – you can find you by looking for stipey pants. the third picture is from the performance.)
Dinner at Judi & Jim’s
You selected and painted a lovely ceramic cat bank as a gift for your Autie Judi and Uncle Jim:
You sure love your CJ:
Daddy Jim and the girls:
Maya and Delilah:
This is the only picture I was in – not a good one, but I wanted you to remember I was there. : )
Shall we toast?
What a silly girl!
Barbara (Libby’s daughter/ Jim’s niece) and Uncle Jim toast:
Our good friend Coral (Do you know that she almost delivered you? She is an OB/Gyn in my practice. AND a good friend! Pretty cool!)
Delilah’s Mommy, Martha & of course, Auntie Judi
Wrapping Libby:
This picture TOTALLY cracks me up -I call it, ‘Ok, enough CJ.’ 🙂 You two are TOO fun to watch!
Christmas Morning at Dad’s
Christmas Evening at our home
Julie, Madeline & Daniel’s Mom, joined us for the celebration (You love Julie!!). We invited your Dad too, but he wasn’t able to come:
CHRISTMAS TRIP PART I – A SKI TRIP @ SEVEN SPRINGS, PA WITH AUNTIE JENNY AND HER WONDERFUL FAMILY
Auntie Jenny & Grandma Judy:
Crazy Hair:
All of us on the ski hill
Skiing with Jim Dandy:
Cousin Anna:
Cousin Abigail:
Madeline:
Cousin Matt (snow boarder):
Daniel:
Cousin Jonathon Jr:
More skiing:
Hanging with Jenny:
Swimming fun!
Hanging with Jim Dandy:
CHRISTMAS TRIP PART II – A VISIT WITH UNCLE MARK, AUNT BIANCA, NIKLAS AND OUR NEW COUSINS (WHO WE GOT TO MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS TRIP), GABRIELLA (12) AND MOISES (WHO TURNED 16 WHILE WE WERE THERE – ON JAN 1)
Mark, Bi & Niklas:
Fun in the snow:
So the end of the semester clearly got a way from me…
Before it is more distant, let’s see what I can remember from your Cobblestone Halloween.
* I spent the day with you… helping to set up for your party, having lunch with you, just basically enjoying you and sharing in the fun of the day.
* You and your friends made adorable little bats or spiders to decorate the place and a few of the other Moms went to TOWN on the room – it was spooky and fun!
* Barbie had many fun things planned for the day including a school-wide treasure hunt complete with eye patches for each of you, treasure maps for each of you, and of course, treasure!!
* After all of you show up in your costumes, Barbie and Greg organize a “Fashion Show” by themes…. So you, as “Tinkerbell’s Friend” and Olivia as “Peter Pan” walked the runway together. 🙂
* You also had a fashion parade through all the rooms of the school.
* Your Dad came for the party b/c he heard that you were hoping he would be there.
* And the party was something for sure!! Really great games and activities and the healthiest food I have EVER seen or imagined at a party – especailly for a Halloween party! There was no candy in sight! Crazy.
Here are some pictures from the day!
You and your friends started the day as a pirate –
Arghhh, Matie!!
Then you turned into Tinkerbell’s Friend:
daniel & madeline
teachers
We spent the next night (the real Halloween) with your good friend Delilah and her family
Last weekend, you got to be a real princess – the flower girl – for my cousin Jonna’s wedding. She was such a beautiful bride, and it was so wonderful to re-connect with so many very special people – Jessica & Dave, Janessa (and got to meet Nick), Jolene & Cash, Jeremiah & Amie, Muriel & Gene, Gretchen, Bruce & Alka, Gus & Betty. It was fun to take cabs, ride the subway, get your hair done all fancy, shop and eat local fruits from a farmers’ market downtown Manhattan, sleep in a beautiful hotel… Both Saturday and Sunday morning, we spent a LOT of time snuggling and giggling and sharing interesting things for breakfast in bed – you and I took a bath together.
Here are some pictures from our adventures:
Gus & Betty
Bruce & Alka
Tonight while I was rocking you, you were telling me random stories as they popped into your head. It was quite sweet. Something about “very exciting news!” “What’s that Sweetie?”
“Siobhan will be in after care 4 days!”
“That’s so great!”
“Yeah, I love her so much. She’s my BESSSST friend.”
Something about “Today I chased my brother all over. He didn’t like it so much, but I had to. Know why? Because I love him so much!”
It was quiet for a minute or so, and then you circled your straight arm around and into the air.
You said, “You know what this is Mama? This is what we do when we want to say something.”
And you circled your arm back into the air and held it there.
I ask, “Really? What does your teacher say when you do that?”
“She says, ‘Yeeessssss?'”
[pause]
You continue…
“And if this arm gets tired, you can put it down and put the other one up.” (you demonstrate for me.)
[pause]
“And if they BOTH get tired, you can put them down and just give them a break.”
Ah, and school has begun.
Since I haven’t had time to post these – here are the very precious first day of school pictures I took.
So excited to put on your new school outfit, still half asleep on your way to the bathroom:
A yummy, special breakfast- thanks Daddy Jim!!
A nature find on the walk up the driveway of school:
Walking in the door – what a big day!
“Indoor shoes” – you take off outdoor shoes and put on your bright pink indoor shoes when you get to school each morning.
You were asked to pose for a picture but the camera was on “video” settings. Look at all the kisses I got!!! I am so blessed:
Your first homework assignment – “Decorate a bag and put 1 or 2 things in it that will tell us something about you:”
I think you put a shell and a stuffed raccoon in your bag because, as you said, “I’m an out-door girl.”
My big girl – you’re growing up!! I couldn’t be more proud to be your Mom.
I love you my Sweet.
Hey Baby –
Here are some pictures from our adventures in DC over the 4th of July. I had to give a talk at a conference on Thursday, so you and Daddy Jim played in Museums and such for a couple days – and then I got to join you and we all played for a couple more days. The fireworks were SPECTACULAR!!!!
Our flight was delayed, so in our spare few hours, you and I got our nails done together – how fun!! What a special treat – certainly a brand new adventure for you… you quietly took it all in – every once in a while shooting me a huge, surprised smile. As a bonus, Amy did a beautiful french braid on your hair… Life is so fun with you.
On our first day, we went to see “Orack Obama’s” house – “It’s White!”
Day 2, The Zoo
The NATIONAL ZOO! What a treat!!
Day 3 was the 4th of July!!
An amazing parade and some incredible fireworks
After the parade, we spent some time on the Mall
Finally, fireworks next to the Washington Monument
Day 4 – The final day
Our final rides of many Metro rides – this time to the Aquarium, and then an airplane ride home… Thanks God for a wonderful adventure!
Okay – looking back to Memorial Day weekend (around May 23rd I think) – Daddy, Grandma and Papa took you to a family wedding in Connecticut… Here are some pictures from your time there! It’s clear you had a blast as did they!! Again, you bring JOY everywhere you go!
Instead of going to the reception, Daddy, Grandma & Papa took you to the PLAYGROUND!! Do they rock or what?!?!?!
And while you were away, we headed to Letchworth Park to watch an amazing thing – a major hot air balloon launch! It was really fascinating…
We really missed you!!