Family Fun Day

As you already know, Mikey has a passion for transportation vehicles--mostly trucks and trains. His next favorite passion would be ELMO! Daddy went online in December and saw that Sesame Street Live was coming to the Boston area and we snatched up three tickets immediately!

So on the morning of Saturday, January 29, 2011 we ventured to Lowell, Massachusetts for the 10:30 show of Sesame Street Live. What an experience! When the characters first came out, I thought Mikey's heart was going to leap outside his chest! It was POUNDING! As the show progressed be got more and more into it---pointing, waving, identifying the characters, etc. He did a great job sitting through the hour and half show (with an intermission!). He bounced between both Mommy and Daddy's laps and even danced a few times! Mommy and Daddy were surprised at how many song tunes they recognized but with different words! It was definitely entertaining for the whole family.

Following the show, we grabbed some lunch and then ventured to Boston for the Yankee Dental Convention held at the new convention center. Daddy was so proud to show us all the different vendors and cool things he uses as a part of his dental profession. Mikey even scored a new toothbrush and toothbrush holder as well as a cup, pencil and lanyard from the US Navy booth. Another highlight of the conference was the bus we had to take from the parking lot to the convention center. Mikey was overjoyed to ride the bus three times---we accidentally got on the wrong bus going back to the car, so he got a free ride which he didn't complain about! What a busy day!

Computer time

Mikey is catching up on his favorite blog:

(In case you can't tell, AIM, it's yours! It's my favorite blog, too!)

And the Academy Award goes to.....

Free Entertainment

As many of you know, Michael and I have been looking for a house for YEARS now. We know what we want and we won't settle until we get it. Certain times of the year I want a house more than others----in the spring to plant flowers and veggies, in the summer to play outside in the yard, and in the fall to rake leaves into a big pile and play for hours.

And then there is winter. It's in this season that I am grateful to be living in an apartment. My car stays clean in the garage and there is NO SHOVELING. This means more time for baking and spending time together as a family.

I also know someone else that is happy we live in an apartment complex. There is no bigger highlight in an almost-two-year-old's life than TRUCKS, TRUCKS, TRUCKS!! And we have THREE of them that come through (quite frequently) to remove the snow! (Especially THIS winter---we have gotten approximately 50" of snow since December 1st!)


We live by the back entrance of the complex where the trucks enter. At the very first sound of the truck Mikey BOLTS to the window.......

and is completely mesmerized. He points and says "trrucK" over and over......

He literally does not move a muscle......

and when they are done, he turns to us and says "More! MORE!"

Just another benefit of renting......

This is for all you Florida people.....

DON'T YOU MISS THIS????

Come on....not even a little?

I didn't think so!

And I don't blame you one bit!

A Boy is...

Scuffed up knees, a freckled nose
with dimples here and there.
A daring, caring, sharing heart
a mass of tousled hair.
Boundless curiosity
the spirit to explore.
Two twinkling eyes, a smiling face
and energy galore!
A love of life, a bit of sass
a source of untold joy.
A wonderment, a dream fulfilled
God's miracle...a BOY!

-Author Unknown

This couldn't be more true about our little Mikey. In the past two weeks, I have quickly found out what I am in for in raising a BOY.

INJURY #1: Last week at My Gym, Mikey took a little tumble off a gym mat and initially wouldn't put weight on his foot. As the class continued, he was able to walk but limped around. He limped around for three days before he was back to himself!

INJURY #2: I usually have the gate up separating the kitchen area from the rest of the apartment, especially when I am cooking. I was in the pantry getting the peanut butter for Mikey's PB & J sandwich and I was aware he was watching me from the other side of the gate. As I was closing the pantry door, I see Mikey's little fingers in the door....yup, I pinched his pointer, middle and ring fingers of his left hand in the door. No "mother of the year" award for me this year. I ran his fingers under cold water, since he wouldn't let me ice them, and then distracted him by having him help me take the jelly out of the fridge with the injured hand. He was able to bend his fingers and quickly calmed down, which made me feel slightly better. During lunch he fed himself using both hands as well, however I couldn't get past the amount of Mommy guilt I felt. When I called Michael his phrase was, "Alli, you are killing our baby!". As if I didn't feel bad already.....



This is just the beginning I suppose.



I better toughen up.

Fast.

He's not getting any younger!

Daddy's Christmas Present

Since Daddy is so hard to shop for, Mikey had a great idea for Christmas. We planned a special outing to Boston College to see the men's basketball team play Georgia Tech. Daddy loved his gift and we had a fun afternoon! As always when being someplace new, overstimulating and loud, Mikey is shy and clingy. By halftime he was very comfortable. He clapped his hands, danced to the music and flirted with the little girl sitting behind him (we're in trouble!).

Mikey and Daddy---2 BC SUPERFANS!

Look at those eyes and coy smile he is giving the little 3 year old behind us......

Blizzard: Round 2

Holy Snow! We got pounded with over 20 inches of snow yesterday!

Grandma and Mimi

Dear Grandma and Mimi,

After looking back at the blog, we seem to have A LOT of pictures of the Grandpa's and not so many of you fine ladies. Next time we see you....be prepared! We are going to take LOTS of pictures and bombard this website with you!!!

Love,
Mommy and Mikey

New Years 2011

New Years Day we made the trip from New Jersey to New York (via a stop in Newburgh to meet Daddy and say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa) to celebrate New Years with Mimi and Grandpa Scialabba, Great Grandma Ruth, Honorable Ernie, Great Uncle Mark, and Uncle Timmy. The weather was mild and so we were able to get outside and do some walking with the stroller and get some fresh air. Boy did we have cabin fever after being in the house in New Jersey for most of the week!

I opened my presents which were a new desk, markers, crayons and stickers. I had a good time coloring and sharing my stickers with the family.

Mommy didnt't get a chance to take many pictures from Queensbury, except this one of Mikey and the tree. Happy New Year!

Time to make the coffee....

One of the little traditions my Dad and I shared when I was little was putting on his belt. Each morning I would stand on his hope chest and put his belt through the loops of his suit pants. It was "our" thing.

Mikey and Grandpa have already started their own tradition....making coffee together.

Initially it started with the simple push of a button when Grandpa was done filling the beans and water into the machine. Now that Mikey is older, he participates even more.

He puts in the basket,



helps fill the water tank,

and (his favorite) pushes the button to grind and make the coffee!

What a big helper!

Blizzard in New Jersey December 26, 2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010

The day after Christmas we had a HUGE storm in New Jersey. This is the most snow I think I have ever seen! We went out as the snow started to accumulate so Mikey could play in the snow for the FIRST time. He found his beach toys from Grandma in the garage and immediately got to work! He was busy scooping, shoveling and sledding for at least thirty minutes before we all got really cold (and it was time for the Giants game to start!).

All bundled up....

Hard at work....


Getting a sled ride from Grandma and Grandpa in the street (that used to be Mommy's and Auntie's sled):

Family shot in the driveway:



Monday: Grandpa and Daddy shoveled a path from the garage to our car.....where was the snow plow?!? Daddy wasn't sure if he was going to be able to leave NJ to get to work!

Tuesday (the morning after Daddy and Grandpa shoveled the driveway when the snow plow never came), the neighbor came with this to help us out.......

Daddy was able to leave for work that morning at 7:30 and got to work for his patient at 1:00.

Mikey loved watching the "trucK" (he really embellishes the "k" sound) and so did Grandpa!

Christmas 2010

I can't remember the last time I spent Christmas in my childhood home. For the past ten years I have spent Christmas either in Florida or Queensbury, New York. For this reason Christmas 2010 was definitely a special one.


We traveled to New Jersey on Christmas Eve morning. The ride from Boston was quick and easy--making it in a little over four hours! (By now Mikey handles these road trips without an issue---he sleeps, eats and listens to his Music Together CD--at least twice!)



Christmas Eve (AKA: the seafood feast) was spent with Grandma and Grandpa Ecker, Auntie and Uncle Scott. Mikey and Scott were BFF's on Christmas Eve. Mikey was constantly seeking out Scott, taking him by the hand to show him something or just chilling out on his lap.

Following dinner, Auntie and Uncle Scott gave Mikey his presents! What a hit! He loved EVERYTHING----his new piggy bank, panda pillow pet, and most of all, THE TENT! Everyone loved the tent and wound up sitting in it at some point over the holiday! (This doesn't even include the fabulous train stocking stuffers he got as well as his Santa cup!)

Mikey wore his Christmas pj's to bed and slept well dreaming of sugar plum fairies....or maybe trains.....

On Christmas morning, everyone got ready and went to church first. When we got home, we ate breakfast and moved on to the PRESENTS! This is what the tree looked like on Christmas morning.

Grandma and Grandpa really spoiled Mikey with all of his Christmas presents. He got lots of toys, books, clothes and even his own motorized train! He was in heaven! (This is why we went to church and had breakfast first!) Mikey opened presents for TWO HOURS! After opening each present (his unwrapping speed increased as the morning progressed), he would turn to us, sign the word "open" and immediately want to play with each toy prior to moving on. He really enjoyed the entire experience.....almost as much as we enjoyed watching him!

On Christmas Day, Great-Grandma Ruth, Aunt Eileen, Uncle Manny, Gene and Gabe came to Grandma and Grandpa's house for dinner. Auntie and Uncle Scott came back, too! On this day, Mikey moved on from Uncle Scott to Gabe. They hit it off and we hardly saw the two of them all night! They played in the tent, rode on the train together and put together Mikey's wooden train set!

Gabe also entertained us by playing us some holiday music on his saxophone. It was great!

Merry Christmas!